Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
Some could argue that Shabbat worship is at the very crux of religious Judaism. Experiencing the beauty of Erev Shabbat services is one of my favorite things about being a Jew. And perhaps the best thing about Erev Shabbat is that it is never the same in any two synagogues. The benefit of not affiliating…
How naive I must have been, just eleven short months ago, to think that when I elected Barack Obama the only thing I would be getting was a liberal, articulate and intelligent Democratic president focused on reconciliation, progressive policy and transparency in government. What I didn’t know, and what I’ve since discovered by the grace…
Naomi Klein on Putting Jews in Context
The award winning journalist talks with us recent developments in Israel, what it means to be a Jewish intellectual, and how the lessons of the Holocaust influence her thought.
Hillel is something that we all have most likely scene and/or participated in during our times at college. Yet what is it? Jewishenyclopedia.com, that well-known source of Hebraic wisdom, recalls the rabbi Hillel, who taught his followers to imitate “his love of peace….his love of man…and…leading mankind to a knowledge of the Law.” Since the…
Latkes, matzah, kugel, and hamantashen: these are all foods that I feel like I was born to love. They are just a few of the many foods associated with Judaism on select days of the year. While these all have some religious significance, there are many foods, like bagels, that are coveted by so many…
Sukkot reminds me of the American Midwest of popular imagination. And this Sukkot has so far been all about hardy corn-fed boys braving snappy fall weather to erect a temporary structure in which to conduct the business of life for a week. I did not build the Sukkah that currently stands proudly behind Swarthmore’s dining…
This is a bit of a cop out post this week, but I’ve been reflecting. Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who said, “It’s a weird time to be young and Jewish. Then again, it’s always a weird time to be young and Jewish.” I think he’s probably right. There’s so much attached…
For as far back as I can tell, my family has been Jewish. I don’t necessarily mean that every relative kept the Sabbath or kept every commandment, but they, at least nominally, adhered to the Jewish religion. Sure, I do have relatives that converted to Judaism, but my direct ancestors, as far I as can…