Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
Pesach just got sweeter. And no…I’m not just talking about my mother’s delicious chocolate torte she makes every Passover. Brought back by popular demand, I had to share the news. KOACH at UF just announced on Tuesday that they will be hosting their annual Chocolate Seder at UF Hillel right before the holiday festivities begin….
Vancouver turns 125 tomorrow, as April 6 marks the anniversary of the city’s incorporation. And way back in 1886, as Canada’s first transcontinental railroad tracks were laid in the area, a Jewish businessman from Germany arrived as well. Originally settling in Victoria, British Columbia, David Oppenheimer and his brothers used the province capital as headquarters…
Debbie Friedman’s music has always had a significant place in my life. Her friendly verses taught me the Aleph-Bet and prayers said in services. My mom used to play her music at night to help me fall asleep. Even as recently as this summer, I grabbed my Walkman (yes, they still exist) and sang along…
We at New Voices have become a little obsessed with Jewish college a capella recently. With all of the buzz/hate/fascinated disgust that Rebecca Black’s Friday video has been getting, we’ve been wondering, WHERE’S THE SHABBOS PARODY VIDEO?! Not that there no parody videos out there, but they’re all beyond terrible. They’re just more painful than the…
The Conservative movement recently unveiled its new strategic plan. The Reform movement recently announced the identity of its new leader. The Conservative strategic plan’s original draft would have killed Koach, the Conservative college group. Thanks to the efforts of a group of Koach members, the new version preserves it. Two years ago, a round of…
Ben Smith at Politico has spotted the Jew in the Obama reelection launch video! Watch the video below to see if you can find it, then click through to Politico for Smith’s answer. [Politico] Oscar Goodman, the mayor Las Vegas is a gin-swilling gambler with showgirls at his campaign events. And now his wife is…
This reading list also counts for Friday. Can’t get enough Jewish a cappella? You’re in luck! Kol HaOlam, the first Jewish student a cappella competition, took place this past weekend, and some videos are here. [Gather the Jews] Speaking of Jewish a cappella, here’s the Pesach offering from the Fountainheads. Rebuttal, Maccabeats? And speaking of…
I have never been opposed to interfaith, but have always found it very fake. It was never genuine. It wasn’t a religious Jew and a religious Christian looking to grow from their interactions, but more a “let’s all love each other and forget we have any differences. I’ll sit through your service if you sit…
Two weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of participating in the Jewish Farm School alternative spring break at Tierra Miguel Farm in southern California. Hillels from the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, and New York University brought students from all over the country (including students like myself with no relation to that specific Hillel but…
Surveying the headlines in Turkish papers (in Turkish or English), you will not see the name Goldstone anywhere. Goldstone’s words would force the Turkish government to say something substantial, which would increase the pressure for it to mend fences with Israel. There is little that can be done to ensure the Turks take into account…
Crossposted to Crystal Decadenz Here’s something you ought to know about me. I like Orthodoxy in theory. I do. But I also really, really think that women ought to be obligated in all mitzvot, and I really, really think there is a halachic precedent for it. Now. Knowing that, I recently realized that even though…
Bernard Avishai has a really excellent essay (PDF) based on survey data (summarized by Haaretz here) from the Macro Center for Political Economic Research. It’s a long read, but worth every bit of it. A highlight: Approximately 40% of young Israeli Jews believe (about a third, strongly) that the state should not offer civil marriage….
Max Keisler’s preceding kosher-by-habit post makes a lot of sense to me. But had he seen the video I did yesterday, I have to wonder if he would consider moving from “semi-traditional” to 100 percent traditional. What did I see yesterday? Probably one of the most revolting yet incredibly entertaining videos on Youtube. It’s called…
Recent posts on Pesach got me thinking about my own kashrut practices. To my non-Jewish friends, I’m that guy that’s really Jewish. I have a mezuzah up on my front door and my bedroom door; I have thick glasses and a not insignificant nose; I work at a synagogue. And I kind of keep kosher….