Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
A cool breeze rolls through campus and students everywhere know what that means. It’s that time of year again. No, it’s not the High Holy Day season that comes to mind, but football season. For Jewish college students, it’s the start of another potentially conflicted semester. As Jews celebrate Shabbat each weekend, campuses around the…
It’s sundown on Friday, and I have just turned off my laptop. I walk downstairs to light the Shabbat candles, and I prepare myself for 25 hours without technology. After a nice Shabbat dinner, I retreat to a warm and cozy couch. I settle in with a book in one hand and a magazine in the…
Not Jewish enough [Huffington Post] While it is widely known that the Orthodox world does not accept the halachic decisions of the non-Orthodox (Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, etc.), including their conversions, being one of those converts carries with it a certain emotional weight: the knowledge that, for many, you just aren’t “Jewish enough.” In this powerful piece,…
After one of Jerusalem’s largest ethnic clashes, no arrests made [Haaretz] It became one of Jerusalem’s largest clashes between ethnic groups. Yet when the smoke cleared, not a single arrest was made, and no charges were pressed. After a soccer game, a group of Beitar Jerusalem fans poured into a shopping mall and began harassing…
Rabbinical Assembly’s May conference sparks discussion about female speakers [Forward] After information regarding an upcoming conference hosted by the Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative Judaism) was released, debate has been sparked as to whether or not enough women speakers will be present at the event. Since the initial report, the RA has released a statement stating that…
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,…
Tent? Check. Warm coat? Check. Sleeping bag? Check. Shabbat candles? After looking over UF Hillel’s weekly e-newsletter, I read about an event that I think has potential to change up modern day Shabbat services. Sure, there’s the typical get dressed up, sit for two hours staring at a siddur, and schmooze during dinner, but one…
“No Shabbat on Friday, March 6th due to Washington Universities Spring Break!” So read an email I received a year and a half ago, during my senior year of college. Leaving aside the grammatical errors, I laughed. Of course there was Shabbat; There was just no Shabbat dinner at Hillel. I assumed that they’d forgotten to…
Some things never change… According to the New York Times archive, frats have been hosting loud and obnoxious parties since before World War I. [EV Grieve] Are you scared of gentile baby-sitters? Fear not! Your troubles are over. [Heeb] Here’s an entertaining list of American Jewish communities–with comments and reflections–where one man has spent Shabbat. Find…
The headline says it all: “Council of Jews welcomes Hitler exhibition” [Deutsche Welle] Speaking of anti-Semites, the Riverdale bombers are going to prison. [CNN] Speaking of New York Jews, here’s what GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino taught us about the ultra-Orthodox and elections. [Yeshiva World News] What’s driving the Palestinian economy? The kippah industry. [BBC] Should the…
Obviously, judging from the posting date/time on this, you’re going to see I’ve got just a few issues to deal with regarding the above topic. But I promised you uncomfortable food for thought, so I’m out on the net with the rest of the folks who are up at 9:00 (PST) 12:00 (EST) and for…
Gmail. Facebook. Twitter. University of Florida e-mail. I’ll admit it, I’m addicted. As a student at the University of Florida, Monday through Friday I see students plugged in, tweeting, texting, spacing out and status updating (for what has to be the fifth time in an hour). On the bus or at the Southwest Recreational Center,…
Obviously, technology has changed ancient traditions as it has evolved over the years. Jews who are accustomed to observing the Sabbath by giving up the use of electronics now face greater challenges. Last Saturday (March 20) Reboot held the first annual National Day of Unplugging. On this day, Reboot encouraged thousands of younger Jews to…
A few weeks ago, I wrote about community, specifically the Jewish one amongst the colleges and universities in Pittsburgh. While the University of Pittsburgh’s community is flourishing (at least, that’s how it appears on the outside), the sense of community at Carnegie Mellon University is waning. As I talk to friends, both Jewish and goyim,…
Challah seems to be the first food that runs out at the Shabbat dinners at Franklin & Marshall’s Hillel. While the rest of the meal is catered, the challah is handmade by students and faculty earlier in the day. Each table gets one plain challah and one sprinkled challah, both of which are braided. It…