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Trump’s War on Harvard
Trump has declared war on Harvard. This comes after Harvard has shown time and time again that they do not seriously value protecting their Jewish students against blatantly antisemitic behavior on its campus. Since October 7th, Harvard University, like many…
UCLA Anarchy Club Organizes “Two Weeks of Unrest”
By Liana Nitka and Bella Brannon On Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, a student group calling itself the “Anarchist Breakfast Club,” a name that tries for whimsy but lands somewhere between smug and sinister, distributed pamphlets across UCLA’s campus announcing…
Finding Our Seat at the Table: Building a Jews of Color Space at UCLA
A few days after October 7th, my Public Affairs professor at UCLA opened class with what he positioned as a fair and unbiased discussion of the conflict. But within minutes, it was clear he was out of his depth. He…
Kernels of Truth: The Jewish Attraction to Law
With another Trump term in full swing and law school applications up by 20.5%, the legal profession has captured national attention. Loads of articles are being published on the future of the legal profession and its increasingly diverse applicant pool.…
Bridging Faiths: Hillel Welcomes All to Its Second Annual Interfaith Seder
On Monday, April 14th, Hillel at UCLA hosted its second annual Interfaith Seder, an evening dedicated to fostering unity, empathy, and mutual understanding among diverse cultural and religious communities both on campus and across the greater Los Angeles area. Held…
Opinion: Foreign Student Visa Revocations and Combating Antisemitism
In the few months since Donald Trump’s inauguration, we seem to have new executive orders released every week, always accompanied by explosive reactions employing maximalist charges like “unconstitutional” and “authoritarian”. The most recent frenzy that has touched our campus most…
The Hidden Costs of Fighting Antisemitism
Over a year and a half after October 7, 2023 and with the war in the Middle East still raging on, antisemitism continues to propagate throughout our society at an alarming rate. [1][2] Jewish students are still being harassed outside…
Too Both for Either
The Israel-Palestine conflict is often presented as a zero-sum game, an existential struggle between Jews and Arabs dating back to 1948. As the son of an “off-the-derech” (secular) Arab Muslim and an Ashkenazi Jew from Pennsylvania, and as a student…
Satire- Six Additions to Your Seder Plate to Prove Your Moral Superiority
Passover is a time for celebrating our freedom, ancient rituals… and reminding everyone at the table that you’re spiritually evolved and ethically advanced in ways they could only hope to be. So, why stop at the traditional Seder plate? I’m…
From Our Seder to Yours: Passover Recipes by Ha’Am
Whether you’re craving sweet or savory, nostalgic or new, these Passover recipes are chametz-free, holiday-approved, and full of flavor. Chag sameach—and don’t forget to save room for dessert! Roma Yukilevich’s Matza Arayes Inspired by @sivanskitchen Makes: 12 pieces Ingredients: Directions:…
Navigating Celiac in a Culture Where Wheat Holds Immense Significance
Challah: a warm and fluffy pastry that braids its hair and puts on its finest egg-bath suit. Sufganiyot: the Jewish take on a New Orleans beignet, only rounder, sweeter, and fixated on having its besties, jam and custard, accompany it…
Opinion: UCLA Must Enforce SJP’s Suspension—Not Just on Paper
This weekend, UCLA recommended an indefinite ban for Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) following their suspension. However, if the university continues to fail to impose consequences on students who violate the rules, the ban will remain nothing more than…
StandWithUs International Conference Unites Diverse Pro-Israel Advocates
Feb. 27 – March 2, 2025 Los Angeles, CA In the wake of the October 7, 2023 attacks and the subsequent surge in global antisemitism, the StandWithUs International “Israel In Focus” Conference welcomed a diverse coalition of advocates to confront…
Anti-Israel Demonstrators Protest the March UC Regents Meeting
Demonstrations took place on March 18th and 19th against the ongoing University of California Regents meeting which is set to last from March 18th until March 20th. In the period leading up to this Regents meeting, there were two instances…
Anti-Israel Demonstrators Occupy and Vandalize Engineering Building During Finals Week
This morning, UCLA Palestine affinity groups called for the “occupation” of the Engineering IV building, stating their intent to rename it the Adnan Al-Bursh Liberated Zone after a Palestinian orthopedic surgeon who died in an Israeli prison in April 2024.…
Cautionary Tales from an Ex-Soviet Jew
Being raised by parents who fled the Soviet Union and immigrated to America after decades of systemic antisemitism in the USSR, I am filled with gratitude for the ability to be openly Jewish, a privilege unknown to the generations of…
Opinion: The Daily Bruin Editorial Board’s Distorted Portrayal of UCLA Disciplinary Policy
By Hillah Greenberg and Mia Toubian The Daily Bruin Editorial Board has a responsibility to engage with contentious issues with intellectual rigor, sound argumentation, and journalistic integrity. Their recent editorial, however, seemingly engages in fallacious reasoning, misleading rhetoric, and a…
Opinion: A Jewish Response to Chancellor Frenk and Professor Gabriel’s Initiative to Combat Antisemitism
At 9:01 am this morning, UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk, sent a long overdue email calling for a campus-wide “Initiative to Combat Antisemitism.” While October 7th certainly served as a catalyst for the anti-Israel and antisemitic frenzy that has erupted across…
Opinion- The West’s Willful Blindness: Confronting the Reality of Extremism
Now that we have seen Gazan children parade the bodies of the murdered Bibas boys, many Jews must confront the reality that the leadership of Gaza is indoctrinated with Jew-hatred. The sight of young children, grinning as they hoisted the…
Bridging Faiths, Defending Truth: Christian Zionists in the Emerson Fellowship
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.” The Christian, StandWithUs Emerson Fellows are not just friends of the Jewish people; they are bound by a deeper recognition…
Satire: Roosevelt Scolds Polish Commander for Failing to Work with Hitler, Accuses Commander of not “Being Respectful”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The highly anticipated meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Polish Commander-in-Chief Edward Rydz-Śmigły took a dramatic turn on Friday, as Roosevelt, alongside Vice President John Nance Garner, publicly dressed down the Polish leader for Poland’s failure…
The Debt America Never Repaid: Haym Salomon, the Sephardic Jew Who Financed the Revolution
Jews can claim credit for some of the world’s most valuable inventions—Google, pacemakers, Adam Sandler, stainless steel, Barbie, aspirin. But perhaps their most overlooked contribution? The United States of America itself. Haym Salomon, a Sephardic Jew, was not merely a…
A Message from the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor of Ha’Am regarding a recent video posted by US President Donald J. Trump
By Hudson Roddy and Bella Brannon On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video on the social media platform Truth Social depicting a future Gaza Strip transformed into a luxury resort destination, complete with golden statues of himself,…
A Diaspora of One: Navigating Jewish Identity in a Changing World
As my time at UCLA nears its end, I find myself reflecting on the transformation of my Jewish identity over the past four years. I was raised almost entirely in Jewish spaces, shielded from the reality of antisemitism until, at…
Jewish Values, American Ideals: A Shared Legacy of Liberty
In Judaism, it is a commandment to thank one’s hosts in the Birkat Hamazon prayer after a meal. Between Friday night meals with my honored Rebbetzin, my roommate’s homemade soup when I was sick, and the hospitality of strangers who…
Bruins 🧡 Bibas
Anyone Jewish recognizes the two redheaded children, Ariel and Kfir, and their parents, Shiri and Yarden, after seeing footage of their brutal kidnapping by Hamas on October 7th. Many of us felt connected to the children and deeply identified with…
Anti-Israel protest at UCLA takes place after interim suspension of SJP and Graduate SJP
An anti-Israel protest took place on UCLA’s campus yesterday, February 18, 2025. The protest was marketed as a response to the UCLA administration’s interim suspension of the Students for Justice in Palestine and Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine chapters…
Baking for the Soul: How Challah-Making Elevates and Inspires
Growing up, challah was a staple in my household, as it is in many Jewish homes. As a child, I would braid challah at school on Friday mornings, bake it, and enjoy it on my way home. It also graces…
A Judaism Engaged: Tikvah’s Answer to the Intellectual and Moral Challenges of Our Time
In an interview hosted by Yeshiva University with the honorable Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, when asked about his opinion on the concept of “Modern Orthodox Judaism,” he urged the institution to drop that phrase, and instead elect an identity that…
UCLA Suspends SJP: Why Did It Take So Long?
On February 12 at 3:18 PM, the UCLA community received an email from Chancellor Julio Frenk announcing the interim suspension of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine (GSJP). These groups were responsible for…
Confessions of an October 8th Jew
October 7th came at the close of my second week of college. I was fresh into my political science studies, full of idealism and passion for liberal-progressive values. I had formed friendships with like-minded individuals who seemed to share the…
Ha’Am Valentine’s Day Grams
Roses are red, violets are blue, give a Ha’Am Valentine, it’s the mitzvah to do!
Seeking Shelter, Finding Faith
Everyone has their own connection (or lack thereof) to religion, especially within the Jewish community. As the country navigates trying times, including political strife, societal divisions, inequity, and further challenges, individuals may search for stability in their communities. Myself and…
Faith in Care: Religious Concordance Between Patients and Physicians
Imagine you are searching for a new doctor—perhaps due to persistent neck pain, because your relatives haven’t had a physical in years, or because your previous doctor has retired. You find yourself scrolling through a list of physicians at a…
Satire: Kanye Now Selling Autographed Copies of ‘Mein Kampf’ Outside L.A. Gas Stations
In his latest attempt to redefine unhinged self-destruction, failed freestyler and self-proclaimed Nazi Kanye West has spewed a now-infamous series of tweets, including his groundbreaking linguistic experiment: “I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THE FUCK ANTI SEMETIC MEANS ITS JUST SOME…
Pro-Palestinian Protestors Vandalize Home of UC Regent Jonathan “Jay” Sures
The home of Jonathan “Jay” Sures, one of the regents of the University of California, was the target of vandalism by pro-Palestinian groups the morning of February 5, 2025. The perpetrators of this act claimed to be a part of…
Statement by Bella Brannon and Eli Tsives on the Resignation of Alicia Verdugo
By Bella Brannon and Eli Tsives Restoring a truly inclusive campus climate requires accountability and Alicia Verdugo’s resignation is a step towards that goal. While she has framed her departure on their own terms, the reality is that her tenure…
Satire: Everything I Don’t Like Is a Nazi
Orwell said it best: “The word Fascism has no meaning except in so far as it signifies ‘something not desirable.’” Some call his prophetic wisdom a societal indictment, but I call it mighty convenient. If someone has a point I…
The Beauty of Shabbat (and Why You Should Join Sinai Scholars!)
This past weekend, I completed my third fully shomer Shabbat: no technology, no driving – the whole deal. Keeping Shabbos is an ideal that I’ve been working towards for the past few months. Now that I’ve observed a few “full”…
Our 2025 Ins and Outs
By Bella Brannon and Megan Freeman Ha’Am is saying “chai” to 2025 with our list of 18 ins and outs for the new year, curated by Bella and Megan. In Out
Why are you in College? Jacob Goes to Haran U
In this week’s Torah portion “Vayetzeh” we learn how our forefather Jacob was sent by his ma and pa to college, a seven-year program at the University of Haran, ostensibly to escape the wrath and missile rockets of his evil…
Judicial Board Grants Hearing Regarding Alleged Antisemitic Hiring Practices by UCLA Cultural Affairs Commissioner
A Petition for Consideration alleging antisemitic hiring policies by the Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) was filed last week with the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) by Bella Brannon, Editor-in-Chief of Ha’Am. The petition has been granted and will proceed to…
Lost In Translation: A Letter from the Editor
Ha’Am is celebrating the release of our Fall Print Edition today, themed ‘Lost in Translation.’ Readers can pick up a copy from Hillel, at our Thursday Challah Bake with Chabad, or at media kiosks around campus starting tomorrow, 12/04. The…
Evidence Suggests Jewish Students Denied from Cultural Affairs, Judicial Board Petition Claims
On Monday, Bella Brannon, Editor-In-Chief of Ha’Am, filed a Petition for Consideration with the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) Judicial Board, alleging that the Cultural Affairs Commissioner discriminated against Jewish students during the Fall hiring process for staff positions. The…
The Photographs That Survived Auschwitz—A Legacy of Remembrance and Resilience
If a tree falls in the forest with no one to hear it, how can we prove it made a sound—and, years later, that it even fell at all? If six million people are murdered, with few images to bear…
From Darkness to Light: UCLA’s Oct 7 Memorial
Leonard Cohen once wrote, “there’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” It’s impossible to find a silver lining on the anniversary of the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Shoah. But UCLA’s community is a source…
The Hunt for LA’s Best Kosher Challah
By Jonas Holdaway, Jacob Pearl, and Alex Rubel “Let them eat Challah” — a French princess once famously opined. For us, the real question is: which one? To find out, our team took to the Jewish neighborhoods of Los Angeles…
No Room for Israel: How the “Drop Hillel” Movement Misses the Mark on Judaism
Since 1923, Hillel has been a safe haven for Jewish students where they can worship, learn, grow, and have a Jewish space away from home. As the largest Jewish organization serving college campuses, Hillel has been there for Jews throughout…
Are Gen-Z ‘Activists’ Protesting or Performing?
In the sweltering summer of 1983, Seneca Falls, New York—a town steeped in the legacy of women’s rights—once again became a crucible of protest. Ten thousand women from around the world set up camp there, where they would remain for…
From Shul to the Polls: Ha’Am’s Election Day Playlist
Political pundits and undergraduate students have dubbed today, “the most important election in recent memory.” From multiple assassination attempts to Biden stepping down before the convention to never looking at cats the same way, it’s been a whirlwind campaign season.…
Combating Antisemitism: A Bipartisan Failure
In a year where violent anti-Israel protests have dominated the news, any Presidential candidate would hypothetically be jumping at the chance to win over the most targeted group: Jewish voters. For the past century, American Jews have consistently voted Democratic.…
Dear Undecided Jewish Voters…
With the most pivotal election of our times rapidly approaching, you’d think everyone would be sprinting to cast their ballots come November 5th. This sadly couldn’t be further from the truth. The majority of Jewish students I come across are…
Inclusivity Excluded: Disabled, Jewish Student Highlights Lack of Accommodation at Cultural Affairs Event
In a room with a sign proudly proclaiming ‘no isms/phobias,’ one student found herself excluded for precisely the thing the event vowed to fight against, ableism. But for a disabled Jewish student, this wasn’t just ironic; it was routine. On…
Protesters Defy UC-wide Encampment Ban as Ben Shapiro Event Sparks Controversy at UCLA
Just months after a UC-wide ban on encampments, anti-Israel students at UCLA set up tents in Dickinson Court North at 6:30 pm on Oct. 21, alongside a Gaza solidarity Sukkah— a religious structure that traditionally commemorates the Jewish exodus from…
The Evolution of the Rophe: How the Power of Healing Transfers from God to Man in Jewish Tradition
As the followers of the world’s first monotheistic religion, the Israelites placed resolute emphasis on God’s omnipotence, especially within the domain of healing. The descendants of ancient Israel continued to observe Hebrew law and tradition, but refined their interpretations of…
Four Jewish Students Banned from ‘Fuck Your Bans’ Event
By Bella Brannon and Mia Toubian, Cover Image by Grace Overman UCLA’s Cultural Affairs Commission promotes its open mic series as “inclusive,” but if you wear a Jewish star, you may be barred at the door. On October 23, four…
New Anti-Israel Encampment Takes Form of Sukkah
By Benjamin (Benjie) Katz and Samantha Reavis At approximately 9 AM, Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA announced via Instagram their Sukkah and encampment for Palestine. While the sukkah is traditionally a temporary structure dedicated to commemorating the…
A Father’s Fight: Yehuda Cohen’s Plea for Peace on the Anniversary of His Son’s Kidnapping
On October 7, 2024, the anniversary of his son’s kidnapping, Yehuda Cohen wasn’t laying low or grieving in silence. Instead, he was speaking to Americans, urging them to push for a ceasefire. He says that this is the only way…
Art Gone Wrong: A Case for the Role of Women in Orthodox Judaism
On September 21, 2024, I eagerly woke up for the first Shabbat of the academic year, excited to attend Hillel’s Shabbat services organized by the OU-JLIC branch. After the morning prayers, I headed to the OKT lunch room for the…
A Letter to the Friends I’ve Lost Since October 7
To the friends I’ve lost since October 7— my childhood best friend, a high school love, the girl who introduced me to my favorite band, among others. I never imagined that a day would come when I would have to…
My Father’s Restaurant
Nagila Pizza, located on Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles, holds a place of prominence among kosher pizza establishments across the United States. For me, it’s more than just a renowned restaurant; it’s a cherished part of my upbringing linked to…
Finding ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ in Seoul: A Moment of Jewish Unity Abroad
September 14, 2024 was a hot, yet incredibly humid day in Seoul, South Korea: I am surrounded by buses, lights, and cheerful conversation. I nervously navigated to the infamous Gwanghwamun station, a station known to be the home of countless…
Satire: Ha’Am Recognizes Rabbi Linda Goldstein for Inaugural Tikkun Olam Award
Written by Bella Brannon and Jonathan Cohn. Ha’Am recognizes Rabbi Linda Goldstein as our inaugural Tikkun Olam award recipient. Rabbi Linda Goldstein, the renowned Chief Rabbi of Gaza and advisor of Jewish “Issues” to Ismali Haniyyeh, represents a region flourishing…
World Arts and Cultures Department Displays Pro-Hamas Artwork: Jewish Student Perspectives on Their Culture’s Exclusion
World Arts and Cultures (WAC) at UCLA prides itself on establishing a community that embraces diversity. However, within the halls of Kaufman, the home of WAC, laid a more sinister display. Laden in the central walkway for all eyes to…
Opinion: UCLA SJP Post Implies Violence Against All Israelis
As of this morning, UCLA’s SJP chapter has posted a series of screenshots to their Instagram story originally posted by the account savesheikhjarrahnow. One post reads that “the notion of a good ‘Israeli’ settler is every bit as absurd and…
Satire: Keyboard Warriors Unite, From Overnight Geopolitical Gurus to Dancefloor Diplomats
Following the UCLA administration’s not-so-stellar handling of pro-Palestinian encampments, any organization with a keyboard saw a golden opportunity to appear well-informed by issuing statements of solidarity. By the magic of copy-paste from Instagram’s finest, these groups transformed overnight into geopolitical…
My College Dream Turned Nightmare
“College is going to be the best four years of your life.” When I was in high school, I had heard this statement countless times and spent my senior year envisioning what the next chapter of my life would look…
Free Exercise from Smith to Fulton
Not long ago, if you were to survey religious liberty litigators regarding the biggest obstacle to defending religious liberty, many would have pointed to a Supreme Court case called Employment Division v. Smith. In Smith, the Supreme Court determined that…
Unraveling Unity: How Chaos Won at Universities
When was the last time you defended something that you believed in? Was it discussing dinner with your partner? Perhaps talking about an upcoming election or standing up for a friend in need? Now, think about why you defended it. Was…
Satire: Statements by Student Organizations Provide Moral Clarity, Actionable Solutions for UCLA and the Middle East
Notes: This story is inspired by recent events in the larger world and on campus. The situation in this story is not meant to resemble any one entity in particular. The views expressed in this post reflect the views of…
Opinion: Good Discussion Requires Good History
Rational discussion about the Israeli-Palestine conflict has been overridden by morally loaded language that hinders achieving productive dialogue. The rise of social media and the subsequent spreading of misinformation has exacerbated this problem. Morally loaded language such as “apartheid”, “settler-colonialism”,…
At UCLA, Waving the White Flag Turned Campus Dark
Image captured by Hailey Zill Oscar Wilde once famously said: “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he’ll tell you the truth.” Late on Tuesday night, April 30, precisely such a…
From Shoah to Our Shelves: Nazi-Looted Books at UCLA
Since 2021, UCLA Jewish and Israel Studies Librarian Dr. Diane Mizrachi has been uncovering Nazi-looted books in the UCLA Library collection. While the repatriation of Nazi-looted art has been a subject of debate, there has been a dearth of academic…
Believe Israeli Women
Recently, Amit Soussanna, an Israeli woman who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th, held hostage for 55 days, and eventually released as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, said that a Hamas terrorist raped her at gunpoint.…
“The Place”
Growing up, I attended Jewish day school where I interacted with Jewish wisdom, community, and culture on a daily basis. Since coming to UCLA I have felt more distant from the Jewish community and have had to define what Judaism…
Opinion- An Encampment of Ignorance
Written by Bella Brannon and Adam Thaw There’s something almost too ironic for jest about setting up a faux refugee camp in a city where 75,000 face homelessness, miles away from Rodeo Drive. As of this morning, UCLA’s SJP has…
Melodies of Memory: Inna Faliks’ Tribute to Jewish Heritage
Jewish pianist, composer, writer, and professor Inna Faliks continues to highlight themes of collaboration and unity in her artistic output. Immigrating from antisemitic persecution and violence in the Soviet Union’s Ukraine to Chicago, Faliks was musically gifted from a young…
Purim 5784: Our place in Jewish history
Upon a surface-level study of Megillat Esther, one quickly realizes that the Scroll of Esther — read twice a year on the evening and morning of the Purim holiday — is a book unlike any other in our literary canon.…
Jewish Pride at the Bayit
The resurgence of rampant antisemitism has clouded the Jewish community’s experiences, thoughts and conversations. This shift has been felt on UCLA’s campus, where some UCLA Jewish students feel uncomfortable to publically share aspects of their Jewish identity. Just this month,…
Upon Three Things…
There is a classic Jewish teaching that has become mainstream to such an extent that, I believe, it rarely gets the full contemplation it deserves. Yet, in our current day and age, when many of society’s building blocks are being…
Opinion: Unmasking Antisemitism Expressed by USAC’s Cultural Affairs Commissioner
Cultural Affairs Commissioner Alicia Verdugo encourages protesters to wear masks to conceal their identity but doesn’t try to hide antisemitic sentiments in social media posts made on their UCLA-affiliated social media account. USAC’s Cultural Affairs Commissioner should represent the cultures…
“Ben Gurion Looks at the Bible” Holds Wisdom for the Current Chapter of the Jewish Story
Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, was a socialist who rejected the Marxist belief that all important struggles are economic. Rather than believing that religion, nationalism, and moral ideals obscure economic struggles, he saw intellectual and moral struggle as important…
On Campus, Jewish Students Now Confront the Quintessential “Covenant of Fate”
When he delivered his essay Kol Dodi Dofek to an audience of American Jews on the eighth anniversary of Yom Ha’atzmaut in 1956, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik formulated his vision of post-1948 religious Zionism by referencing the terrors of Treblinka,…
Daily Bruin Investigation on Israel Rally Reveals Bias
Written by Bella Brannon and Adam Thaw On January 16th, the Daily Bruin published a front-page article titled “Documents reveal details behind planning process of Bruins for Israel rally.” The title suggests a grand exposè. Language describing a “deep search”…
The Language of Hate: Confronting Antisemitism at UCLA
Never again is now. For almost three excruciating months, we as Bruins have sat idly by and witnessed the delegitimization, implicit praise, and neutrality to the horrors of October 7th, where Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel and slaughtered, kidnapped, raped, tortured,…
Am Yisrael Chai- UCLA Jewish Community Stands Together Amidst Terror Attacks in Israel
This article contains information about the attacks in Israel. For those who wish to avoid recounting the events of the past few days, or have lost friends and family, we recommend you stop here. ———— On the 50th anniversary of the…
Bruin Bash on Yom Kippur
Growing up attending Jewish day schools, I never had to worry about choosing between my education and my Judaism. While my friends in public schools stressed about missing classes in order to attend High Holiday services, I had days off…