As wintertime rolls around again, the most universally celebrated Jewish holiday —Hanukkah — will begin. When the average Jew is asked about the historical events leading up to this beloved holiday, he will claim the classic Jewish holiday line: “An…
Trumpflation, the Student Debt Bubble and Jewish Socioeconomics
The election of Donald Trump surprised a vast majority of pollsters and pundits, with many predicting that Trump had a mere 15% chance of winning prior to the election. Many were shocked at Trump’s success due to the huge swaths…
Persian Jewish Life at UCLA: A Reflection
At UCLA, Bruins are encouraged on a daily basis to familiarize themselves with their origins so as to better understand how their identities were formed and have shaped their lives. Persian Jewish Bruins are no exception to this campus phenomenon.…
Praying With our Feet: Jewish Activism in the Age of Trump
Growing up as an active member of Jewish youth groups and continuing my involvement through Jewish campus groups at UCLA, I have always been fascinated by the history of Jewish activism in America. Practically every American Jewish institution these days…
Kosher Thanksgiving— Trader Joe’s Style
Photo courtesy of pixabay Thanksgiving is, perhaps, one of the American people’s most beloved holidays and with good reason. It is a day during which we emphasize the values of gratitude, humility and community. At the same time, it is…
Ha’Am Fall 2016 Print Edition: “Transitions”
Click here to see a full, online version of print edition, or pick it up at a UCLA Student Media kiosk near you!
Taste of Torah: Noah and Gilgamesh
By Rabbi Zvi Dershowitz Editor’s note: The following piece makes continuous reference to the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, an ancient Mesopotamian tale that some historians credit with inspiring the biblical story of Noah. Was it the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, from 2100…
Meet the Hanflings: UCLA’s New JAM Couple
As we start a fresh academic term on campus, it is only appropriate that we get to know the new family running the Jewish Awareness Movement (JAM) at UCLA, the Hanflings. For those of you unfamiliar with JAM, it is…
Taste of Torah: And Then We Begin
By Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan Rabbi Kaplan is one of the JLIC educators at UCLA. This past Monday and Tuesday, many congregations throughout the United States and around world finished the annual cycle of reading the Torah in its entirety. The…