There are certain moments in our lives that are particularly suited to self-reflection. As graduation is steadily approaching, I’ve found myself more enveloped in these moments, thinking about how I’ve changed — and noticing the changes in others. Thinking about…
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.…
A lack of communication in the fight against BDS
The global movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction the world’s only Jewish state ignites a pervasive controversy throughout not only campus life at UCLA, but the Jewish community as well. In previous years, the Jewish strategy was to take…
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…
New Year, New Rabbi: Moshe Nachbar Joins JAM
It’s a rainy day, which, aside from forcing all of the umbrellas and slightly warmer jackets out from the back of students’ closets, signals another change in the UCLA landscape: endless lines at Kerckhoff Coffee House. Eager caffeine addicts and…
Staff Picks: upcoming events for Jewish Bruins
Now that the wave of Jewish holidays has ended, you may find yourself struggling to decide what campus events and activities to attend. To help you decide, Ha’Am’s staff members shared the events on campus that they are most looking…
UCLA Dining, catering to all? Muslim and Jewish students vie for halal and kosher options on campus
This article was written in collaboration with Al-Talib, the Muslim student newsmagazine at UCLA, as an echo of the Muslim and Jewish students’ combined efforts. A special thanks to Devorah Friedman, Kashif Iqbal, Alexa Lucas, Alan Naroditsky, Rachel Menitoff and Miriam…
The Jews go Greek
Parties, friends, ladies and chaos — these are all components of what appears to be the fraternity lifestyle, as portrayed by the film industry. With such shallow-seeming incentives, many bystanders cannot understand the reasons for joining such groups. However, the…
Shtar shines at UCLA
Shtar (meaning “Talmudic contract” in Hebrew), a Jerusalem-based hip-hop group, made a stop on their tour at the UCLA Jewish Awareness Movement house on Thursday, April 11. Originally created by two Yeshiva students, Ori ‘M’Ori’ Murray and Brad ‘Binyamin Adam’…
Orthodox Judaism in the western world: a harmonic business deal
Businessmen Steven Spira and Paul Cohen address a roomful of students at the JAM building at UCLA. (photo by Tessa Nath) Observant Judaism and the modern world are not always seen as a completely cohesive pair; people often equate the…