Ha’Am 2015-2016 Staff Video, “So Many Jews”

“So Many Jews,” a parody of “Too Many Cooks.” Sung by Soof Hacohen and Jackson Mercer with impressions by AJ Goldsman. Edited, filmed and directed by Joey Levin. http://bit.ly/haamsmj

On today’s tragedy

This morning, June 1, a terrible shooting took place at UCLA in the Engineering complex. Two people died and the entire campus was put under lockdown for more than two hours. Ha’Am extends condolences to the families of the dead. We…

Henna around the world

This past Tuesday afternoon, the JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa) Organization hosted a henna event at UCLA Law School. Over food and henna drawing, attendees discussed the practice and meaning behind henna from numerous parts…

The first annual Jewish graduation

This past March, Aaron Ebriani, a Bruin graduating this June, informed me that this year’s departmental commencement ceremonies fall on either Saturday (June 10th) or Sunday (June 11th). As fellow a Shabbat-observant Jew, he asked me to sign his petition…

Response to Daily Bruin submission: Israel Independence Week is a celebration of survivors

An Israeli response to the Matan Neuman’s plea to allow UCLA’s pro-Israel community to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and the important concepts it conveniently overlooked I appreciate and agree wholeheartedly with Matan Neuman’s words regarding Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations: the Israeli community…

Shabbat: A time to look back and look forward

This article is dedicated to the boards of the Transfer Undergraduate Students at Hillel, Bruins for Israel and the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus for all of their hard work and dedication. A special thank-you goes out to Hillel at…

An Orthodox Jew’s guide to UCLA

As someone who was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family and environment, attended Jewish kindergarten and day school from age two to 17, and then attended a learning-intensive girls seminary (also known as midreshah) for a year before starting UCLA, I…

Photo Essay: Yom Ha’Atzmaut 2016

Today Bruins came from across campus to celebrate Israel Independence Day in Bruin Plaza. This is a yearly event organized by Bruins for Israel where students celebrate with great music, food, and world class dancing.  

Jews and Bruins United: A parasitic relationship

Last week, the UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) elections resulted in a huge victory for the Bruins United “slate,” or campus political party, which secured nine of 14 spots on next year’s student council table. Bruins United has long benefited from…

Rabbi Kaplan: My optimal rabbi

There are times when simple words are not good enough or sharp enough to get across a message. How can you thank a person that has given so much of himself, not only to a community, but especially to you?…