New Voices

Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.

Article Archive

Obama Tells D’Var Torah, Defends Israel Record [URJ Biennial, day 3]

By Zach C. Cohen | December 18, 2011

Seeing the president of the United States give a Torah sermon was quite the treat for this Jewish journalist’s 20th birthday. It’s an unusual sight to say the least. President Barack Obama knew exactly what to say when he addressed the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial on Friday. After all, there’s a resident expert on…

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Pay students to get students to be Jewish, Hillel says [URJ Biennial, day 2]

By Zach C. Cohen | December 16, 2011

Yesterday, I talked about the uncertain future of college Jews in organized Reform Judaism. Now there may be hope, but from Hillel rather than Union for Reform Judaism, whose biennial convention I’m reporting from. About five years ago, Hillel realized there was a dirth of Jewish life on college campuses. When they asked themselves how…

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A place for college students in Reform Judaism? [URJ Biennial, day 1]

By Zach C. Cohen | December 15, 2011

The Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial convention, held this year at a gargantuan conference center/hotel outside Washington, D.C., is bigger than ever: It sold out when 5,000 people signed up before registration closed. But the excitement is palpable for another reason: This is Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s last, and Rabbi Rick Jacobs’ first, biennial as president…

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