Written by Rebbetzin Elisa Gurevitch, Chabad at UCLA The holiday of Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah, is always preceded by the Torah portion of Bamidbar (the first chapters of Numbers) — “In the desert.” The reason for…
Jewish Humans of UCLA: united in our differences
Growing up, I was always fascinated by the diversity of Judaism. I loved the idea that the religion was portable and adaptable; that each person could make it his or her own, yet feel one hundred percent assured of the…
A “frank and open” conversation with Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Lau
This past Sunday afternoon, current students and alumni of UCLA, USC, CSUN, and SMC gathered to ask questions about American Jewry and the State of Israel to Rabbi David Baruch Lau, the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, during his first…
Campus rabbis: the mensches and martyrs of UCLA
Growing up, I belonged to a synagogue with two rabbis — one senior rabbi and one associate rabbi. I was close with one of them, but mainly because we studied together in the weeks leading up to my bat mitzvah.…
Are we breeding a society of takers?
Roughly 12% of UCLA’s student population is Jewish, and these 3,000 or so students may be the luckiest across the nation. They are not only supported by a vast network of Jewish Bruins, but also by various organizations that exist…
Taste of Torah: Cosmic wrestle-mania for the world’s soul
Written by Dovid Gurevich, rabbi of Chabad at UCLA. Three adventurers from France, Italy and Israel were captured by vicious Caribbean cannibals. In an attempt to be “civilized,” the cannibals offered each captive one last wish before being thrown into…
Matisyahu in concert: music and religion on trial
Matisyahu, also known as Matthew Miller, is a Jewish reggae artist who has reached international acclaim — but maybe you already knew that. Maybe you also knew that Matisyahu began his musical career as an Orthodox Jew of Chabad-Lubavitch affiliation,…
A hodgepodge of campus organizations — which to choose?
The sun beats down on the tops of students’ heads as they shuffle from table to table, sampling organizations at the Enormous Activities Fair. The scene is a familiar one, replaying itself every fall quarter at UCLA. A new student…
Russian Shabbat at Chabad
For the attendees of this past week’s Shabbat dinner hosted by Chabad at UCLA, the Russian-themed Shabbat was a welcomed comfort, especially at a time when, for many college students, stress has increased with midterms. The theme of Russian Shabbat…
Chabad Welcome Back Grill & Chill BBQ keeps sustenance flowing to the Westwood Bayit
In the Westwood Bayit’s second BBQ of week 1, Chabad at UCLA brought burgers, hot dogs, and kebabs to feed the hungry students. While Rabbi Dovid Gurevich diligently flipped the grilled meats, Elisa Gurevich’s conversation and salads made their way…