Not just a public-health concern! A holiday hypocrisy! Coming from a proud Persian family, my exposure and experience with hookah was an integral component of family life. As a young girl, I vividly recall parties where my family, particularly the…
The Great Mechitzah of Trump
Editor’s note: This article may be satire. On June 16th, 2015, the very face of America was irrevocably changed: businessman, entertainer, and (now) politician Donald Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States. Of particular interest was Trump’s…
Israel’s secret humanitarian battle
On Feb. 16, 2013 Israeli ambulances brought wounded Syrians into an emergency room in Ziv Medical Center. In the two-and-a-half years since, more than 2,000 wounded Syrians have been admitted into a number of different Israeli hospitals. Since the beginning…
Remembering Yitzhak Rabin through art and music
Exploring the spectrum of Israeli music, from Aviv Geffen to HaDag Nahash, and art exhibits that commemorate Rabin and honor his contribution to the State of Israel. It was the day that democracy in Israel was murdered. Just over 20…
Taste of Torah: Spices instead of tar, and faith in details
This week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev, begins the narrative of Joseph and his brothers and contains some of the most dramatic episodes in the Torah. Vayeshev opens with rivalry between Joseph and ten of Jacob’s other sons over Jacob’s apparent favoritism of Joseph and…
How Judaism can help students maintain sanity
A college student’s lifestyle can be extremely unhealthy. Besides the physical health issues that may come from binge-eating ramen noodles every finals cycle, students may also develop mental health issues such as severe anxiety and depression, which may be induced…
Azerbaijan: A “Model for Tolerance”
Along the shore of the Caspian Sea lies the republic of Azerbaijan, a country that gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Although composed primarily of Shi’ite Muslims, this country is still the home to “the largest all-Jewish settlement outside the…
An open letter to the UC Regents working group for the Principles Against Intolerance
Dear Eddie Island, Norm Pattiz, John A. Pérez, Bruce Varner, Avi Oved, Linda Katehi, Dan Hare, and Yvette Gullatt: Your most recent task as regents, chancellors and university leaders is to debate, revise and re-construct the UC Statement of Principles…
Unity by music, division by BDS
For many musicians, “Good evening, Tel Aviv!” is a brave political statement. Just to perform in Israel, singers and renowned musicians from all around the world are forced by opinionated fans to take a political position on the highly nuanced…
The Judaism in thanks-giving
Thanksgiving is perhaps one of the American people’s favorite national holidays. It is a time when individuals unite with friends and family to bask in one another’s company, increase their caloric intake, and brag about the items they intend to…