“What Are You Going to Do With a History Major?”

By Yisroel Ben-Porat November 30, 2016

Originally published in The Commentator, the official student newspaper of Yeshiva University. As a history major, I’m often asked, “What are you going to do with that?” This question reflects a dismissive attitude toward the study of history. Although such a view is understandable – as scholar Peter Stearns points out, “Historians do not perform…

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Why I Say Shema as a Secular Jew

By Josh Daniels October 31, 2016

Throughout my university experience, I sat in the middle of a seesaw – spirituality on one end and skeptical materialism on the other. As I took my classes, the weight of skepticism seemed to get lighter and lighter, and the seesaw slowly shifted closer towards spirituality. But no matter how much I read, I could…

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The Reading List: Wise words on the Jewish Standard controversy

By Ben Sales October 13, 2010

It seems the debate over same-sex wedding announcements in the Jewish press will go on, but Gary Rosenblatt offers some wise final words on the Jewish Standard issue in his weekly column. [JW] Some cool Jewish philanthropy: a wealthy Jeiwsh Chilean is donating money to help the rescued miners. [JTA] Thought the “rabba” controversy was…

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