Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
The Midwest does not get enough credit for its foundational role in the American Jewish community. However, the first campus Hillel was established in 1923 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In an atmosphere where Jewish campus life was largely non-existent, the first Hillel marked a new age for American Jewish students who endured…
Our very own Lex Rofes — New Voices opinions editor and student representative on the board of Hillel — has joined forces with J Street U President Simone Zimmerman for a truly cracking op-ed at JTA about Hillel’s pluralism shortcomings: (JTA) — Throughout our four years in college, Hillel as been our home on campus….
Reform rabbi added to religious council in Israel [Times of Israel] Mazel tov to the most recent addition to one of the many religious councils in Israel: a position typically held by Orthodox authorities. “Rabbi Alona Lisitsa said she did not feel hostility from the rest of the representatives — all Orthodox — of the local…
Back in 2007, New Voices reported on the “demise” of a curious creature called Jews in the Woods. I am enormously excited to tell you that this weekend it will happen again! Over fifty young Jews will come together in beautiful North Scituate, Rhode Island, for two days of praying, singing, hiking, meditating, discussing and…
In New Voices’s first installation of the new Bloggers’ Round Table feature (props to Ben and David for this, I think it’s a great idea), I and several other NV bloggers offered our thoughts on the propriety of Brandeis Hillel’s rejection of the campus JVP chapter. You should read it – check out the comments…
The Talmud refers to Elisha ben Abuyah as acher, “other.” He is a public violator of Shabbat, obviously not condoned by the Talmudic Rabbis. Yet Rabbi Meir, a central Talmudic figure, is said to have gone to great lengths to “learn Torah from [ben Abuyah’s] mouth.” The rejection by most Orthodox Jews today of interactions…
As the Religious Chair of a small-ish sized Hillel at Miami University of Ohio, I hear the word “pluralism” frequently. And I too am guilty of branding our Hillel as pluralistic. “We have a pluralistic minyan,” I tell prospective students. But despite my dependency on the term, I question whether a pluralistic minyan is possible,…
I’ve been given a unique experience in Israel: to partake in a conference, organized through the Jewish Agency for Israel, that is training Shlichim to go to American camps. Shlichim are Israelis ages 18-40 (most are in their early 20’s but there is a speckle of older Israelis) who are being trained to understand American…
Yesterday afternoon, I spent two hours on the phone for Brown/RISD Hillel’s fund drive. Â We asked parents and alums for donations ranging from $20 to $1000. Â About half of the funding for our Hillel comes from board members, and the rest from other donors like the ones we were calling. Â The implications of funding an…