The Reading List: Some things never change

By Ben Sales March 31, 2011

A synopsis of an article about the University of Wisconsin’s Jewish community from 1924: “The author defends the Jewish student population at the University of Wisconsin, declaring that such Jews do not engage with Jewish communal life because communal institutions have no interest in accommodating their specific requests.” Sound familiar? [BJPA] 45 years later, Woody…

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The Feinstein Challenge: JFS Gets Ready for Pesach

By akinman March 30, 2011

Every Pesach, it’s the same routine. Wipe down our pantries, pull out the “special” dishes, and discard of all the delicious bread products that are practically a staple item in my life. But recently, I read an article from Heritage: Florida Jewish News that will make me think twice about what I do with my…

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The Reading List: Birthright Alumni Fail

By Ben Sales March 30, 2011

Check out the above picture of a sweatshirt, put out by the Birthright Israel Alumni Community, an initiative of the Jewish Enrichment Center: not only did they spell “Israel” wrong, but the Victoria’s Secret panties that this sweatshirt refers to aren’t even made in Israel. In fact, they’re made by Palestinian laborers in Jordan. Good…

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Land Day: For Arabs and Jews

By greback March 30, 2011

In Lod yesterday, Israeli Arabs and liberal Israelis demonstrated in commemoration of Land Day – an Israeli Arab and Palestinian day to protest the seizure of private Arab land by the Israeli state. But it has taken on more significance this year. That is not because of the protetss sweeping the Arab world, but regardingthis…

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Keeping an open mind

By jcohen March 29, 2011

I don’t think anyone can officially call themselves a college student until they have been cancelled out of a class. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, what’s the big deal? So you can’t take ONE class this term. La-de-da. Well, that’s not the real problem. Getting closed out of a class thrusts you into…

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How to do a seder in 30 minutes or less on your campus

By David A.M. Wilensky March 29, 2011

Crossposted to The Reform Shuckle JewishBoston.com, the genius website that every other federation in the country should be clamoring to imitate, has created a new haggadah, “The Wandering is Over Haggadah.” Much to the delight of people who get bored during the seder, they claim that this haggadah’s version of the seder should take only…

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Jewish media conspiracy takes over Chicago

By David A.M. Wilensky March 29, 2011

How did Rahm Emanuel become mayor of Chicago? Maybe it was all because of the efforts of the Jewish media conspiracy, which has apparently completely overrun TV news in the Windy City. This cover story from the Chicago Jewish News–cleverly headlined, “And in local news, JEWS”–points out that no less than three Chicago television stations…

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Reading List: The Jewish Skull & Bones, Facebook removes third intifada page and more…

By David A.M. Wilensky March 29, 2011

Facebook removes page calling for third intifada… and a new page saying the same thing appears. [Haaretz] If you haven’t read Jeffrey Goldberg’s defense of J Street in the face of the McCarthy Knesset investigation of the group, you should. And manages to critique them at the same time. [The Atlantic] Time is all over–kind of–Eliezer, the…

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Music, Food and Jews in SoCal

By jagross March 29, 2011

The sights and sounds of Jewlicious Judah Ari Gross is a senior at the University of Maryland and the editor in chief of the Maryland Mitzpeh.

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The Druze between Israel and Syria

By greback March 28, 2011

In Israel, Druze are overrepresented in the Israeli Defense Forces and the Knesset relative to their population. In Lebanon, Druze had their own militia during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and have their own political party today. In Syria, Druze rebels were instrumental in fighting the French during Syria’s 1925 uprising. The basic idea is…

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What’s Wrong with the JVP Statement on Violence

By Ben Sales March 28, 2011

In what should come as no surprise to people who pay attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the last couple of weeks have seen a lot of death in the Holy Land–on both sides. Jewish Voice for Peace, the American Jewish pro-BDS group, released a statement on this violence last week. In its mission statement, JVP…

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The Reading List: What Do YOU Think about the Conservative Movement?

By Ben Sales March 28, 2011

A couple of JTS students ask Times Square passersby in the hilarious video above. Here’s a cool feature where high school students talk about their future. Even cooler game: debate which of these high schoolers may or may not be Jewish. [NYT] And here’s a video where a bunch of younger kids–all Jewish–talk about the Jewish future….

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Goldstone’s Amen Corner

By Sam Kerbel March 28, 2011

The Goldstone Report, which sought to analyze the 2009 Gaza War, has become one of the most controversial documents of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But those who want a less polemicized debate over the Report’s findings should not look to Nation Books, which published a biased analysis of the document this year.

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Comedy Club Shabbat

By ahowie March 28, 2011

“Free, Funny, and Full-of-Food.”  That is how we advertised for Comedy Club Shabbat, which occurred last Friday night.  A free dinner-show style buffet began at 7pm and the comedy began as dessert was served at 7:45pm.  Two members of Miami University’s stand-up comedy club started the night off, warming up the crown with some humor…

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Why I Love Yeshiva University (and places like it)

By Laura Cooper March 27, 2011

Because they really stick to their guns. Yes, this is coming from someone who advocated for school uniforms in sixth grade. But my point is cogent. It’s not all pluralistic free-for-all “As long as you’re not naked”. It’s akin to not letting shoeless guys in, either. As much as it’s what’s on the inside that…

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