Los Angeles represents a cross-section of cultures, an amalgamation of different peoples populating and repopulating the same expanse of land. But what happens when one group moves on, leaving behind only the structural remnants of the rich life it led?…
Celebrating 40 years of Ha’Am
Black and white with small, cramped lettering running down the side of the page. It hits a break and disappears in the white expanse of empty space. Larger font, then a sea of sentences swimming together. A photo, maybe. Gray,…
Politically correct America: a nation in fear
In the age of advertisements and billboards, almost no public space is devoid of banners, announcements, or commercials. In New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, a fiery dispute over a series of controversial ads posted on various municipal…
Kosher Korner: Latkes and applesauce
“So put on your yarmulke, here comes Hanukkah,” and what is more funukkah than eating massive quantities of fried carbohydrates? Although most Jewish people claim that their mothers make the best latkes, they cannot possibly compare to my mom’s. Every…
Why go kosher?
I find myself keeping kosher for the first time. Do I believe in the strict guidelines? No. But in respecting my roommate’s lifestyle, I have reevaluated my own stance on Kashrut. Here is how I make sense of it: It…
Got kosher (meat)?
Assuming you’re not a vegetarian or vegan, how do you get your meat? The store, the restaurant, The Shack at Hillel…it all comes in a crisp, clean package or steaming and savory on a plate. But farmers don’t raise vacuum-sealed…
30 Years After and the threefold identity of Iranian-American Jews
Eager as can be, with my program in hand and my nametag around my neck, I made my way into the ballroom of the historic Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles for what would be a momentous gathering. I had…
A short-term scare: Hungarian lawmaker calls for a list of Jews
Unless your name is Oskar Schindler, making a list of Jews has never led to anything positive. Last week, in a shocking and disgraceful turn of events, Hungarian Parliament member Marton Gyongyosi offered a vile tidbit of advice in response…
“Pharaoh” Morsi and Israeli foreign relations: is the broker for peace broke?
What do false goatees, megalomania, and President Mohamed Morsi have in common? Pharaonic rulership, according to a number of disgruntled Egyptians, quoted by The Guardian as believing their country to have acquired a “Mubarak with a beard” after Morsi declared presidential “immunity” from judicial oversight and the ability to pass laws as he pleases. The engineer-come-dark-horse-politician has…
A review of Geraldine Brooks: stories that transcend time
School was out and it was time for my customary summer bookstore expedition. After taking an unnecessarily long, albeit usual, amount of time browsing the shelves, I happened upon People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. Based on the history…