Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
You may recall the “BDS conference” at the University of Pennsylvania earlier this year. Well, strap in folks, because an even more overly niche-y conference has the Jewish community crying foul. A report in the Algemeiner alerted me to this gem: The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at City University of New Yorkplans to…
Does Bugs Bunny have a thing against Arabs? [Tablet] In this piece from Tablet Magazine, Marc Tracy takes a look at some of the Arabic stereotypes in Bugs’ cartoons, in light of accusations that the work fuels hatred and mistrust of Arabs in general. “Thing is, she has a point! 1957′s ‘Ali Baba Bunny‘ is a little…
Is ‘TED’ all it’s cracked up to be? [Tablet] In this piece from Tablet Magazine, Liel Leibovitz explores the popularity of the TED series of educational videos, and claims that the TED-Ed program (new from the series) leaves some things to be desired: “Which is not to say that there’s no room for video, audio, and…
Orthodox rabbi “comes out” as LGBT ally [Jewish Journal] In this compelling piece from the Jewish Journal, Orthodox rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz expresses his feelings on the “LGBT issue,” hitting some key points about the debate on sexuality and religion. Yanklowitz writes: “I began to wonder if I was failing at making myself accessible enough to students…
Prominent Reconstructionist rabbi passes away (z”l) (Reconstructionist Rabbinical College) The Reconstructionist movement has announced that Rabbi Jack Cohen, an influential leader within the movement, has passed away at the age of 93. Cohen (z”l) was close to Reconstructionist figurehead Mordecai Kaplan. “He held various positions with the Foundation and with the Society for the Advancement…
Majority of Jews support marriage equality [Forward] Though it probably won’t come as a surprise to most of you that there are liberal Jews (GASP!), turns out an overwhelming majority of Jews support the equality of all persons to marry their partner, regardless of sexual orientation. Specifically, 81%. The Jewish Daily Forward writes: “Marriages between…
Outing, after Admission [New York Times] College diversity programs are looking to expand and bring outreach to another historically discriminated against minority – the LGBT community. In the past, a handful of colleges, either overtly or covertly, have targeted gay students as part of their diversity outreach programs. Now, the University of California system proposes, admitted…
Israel has more non-orthodox Jews than Haredim, study finds [Jewish Journal] A recent study demonstrates that Israel’s Conservative and Reform populations appear greater in number than that of its Haredim (ultra-orthodox), though not by much. Could this knowledge spell a shift in representation for an Israeli population that doesn’t seem to make as much political…
Anybody from AU knows that our homonymic nickname is “Gay Jew,” given the University’s large population, and administration and student support of, both the LGBT and Jewish communities on campus. But this weekend at American University in Washington, D.C., the campus got a dose of both in one when the National Union for LGBT Jewish Students…
Avi Shafran’s recent article in the Forward discussing gay “reparative” therapy has made me reflect on my philosophy of life. It’s always difficult for me to know the balance between halacha and happiness. I grew up in a world where Judaism came before all else. I still believe strongly in the importance of keeping the…
Kudos to Jewlicious on this amazing post: an unofficial guide to whom you can and cannot have sex with on Birthright. “Bus Driver: No. Are you insane???” [Jewlicious] Israel has appointed an openly gay judge. [YNet] Students at Columbia are calling on their president, Lee Bollinger, to resign from the board of Kaplan University because…
Following the controversy over the Jewish Standard’s same-sex wedding announcement last week, Jewish publications (irresponsibly, in my view) published unproven allegations that the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County, one of northern New Jersey’s largest Orthodox rabbinical authorities, pressured the New Jersey Jewish standard in a variety of inappropriate ways. In particular, Tablet Magazine reported that:…
I last blogged about the controversy surrounding Pride Toronto’s decision to ban the group “Queers Against Israeli Apartheid” from marching in this year’s pride parade. Since then, the controversy has done anything but slow down. After the decision, QuAIA accused the city of censoring their freedom of speech, and organized resistance in an attempt to…
The Global Citizen is a joint project of New Voices and the American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Throughout the year, a group of former AJWS volunteers will offer their take on global justice, Judaism and international development. Opinions expressed by Global Citizen bloggers do not necessarily represent AJWS. In the beginning of my time living…