Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
Some pray, some preach and others paint. Organized by UF Hillel, Rosh Chodesh was given an artistic touch. Do Art, an interactive art and pottery shop in Gainesville, Fla., held the first Rosh Chodesh event of the semester by bringing together amateur and professional artists alike. The two hour, girls-only event was paid for up-front…
Earlier this week, Yossi Chajes, author and senior lecturer in the Department of Jewish History at the University of Haifa, was asked to lead a mini series at the University of Florida’s Hillel called “The Kabbalah Unveiled: A Mini Course on Jewish Mysticism.” Not your typical Hillel crowd, the audience was mostly comprised of older…
What happens when you put a student from Yale, a snowboard instructor from Colorado and a journalist together in the same room? It sounds like the beginning to a joke. Instead, it’s the beginning to a night to remember. In December, I wrote about a Jew Crew reunion I was putting together with my friends…
“Who’s Hitler?” That is what my friend was asked the other day by a coworker while finishing up work. At first, I thought it was a joke. Then, I realized he wasn’t smiling. Literally in shock, I continued to ask my friend how could someone be so uninformed. He continued to surprise me by responding,…
While Christmas tree lots empty and malls turn into theme parks, this holiday season has seemed to keep everybody on a festive high. While most kids around the world will be anticipating presents and cookies, I’m waiting in anticipation myself. No, not in hopes of getting goodies in a stocking or a thick slice of…
In religious school, it was about who had the best Bar/Bat Mitzvah party favors. In middle school, it was about who was dating who. In high school, it was about who could get into the best college. In college, we don’t quite know what the big goal is. Flashback to religious school in 2003: A…
As some may have read recently on the New Voices blog, UF Hillel’s menorah was uprooted from the ground and vandalized on site this past Saturday morning. The menorah that acted as a reminder to the Jewish student population that we stood as a strong community, lay broken and shattered in Hillel’s front courtyard. Deeply…
“Latkes with sour cream, latkes with cheese, who wants latkes? “We do, please!” Latkes with applesauce, latkes with fish, Latkes alone on a blue china dish, Latkes tomorrow and latkes today; We just love latkes any old way!” -“Latkes Please” Christmas has candy canes; we have latkes. We all know it, those scrumptious potato pancakes…
Ashrei. That was the start to the service I led at my temple two weeks ago. Standing at 5’3, squeaky voice me, I stepped up to the bima at my local Conservative synagogue. A mere 40 minutes later, the service concluded with “yasher koach” being whispered left and right. But after stepping away from the…
With the season of giving just around the corner, UF Hillel kicked it off with a bang. UF Hillel hosted the first annual Mitzvah Day on Sunday. Students and nonprofit organizations joined from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to work on different service projects. While waking up to a horrible loss the night before at…
With every beginning comes an end. Sound like an introduction to Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities?” Well, not quite. On Oct. 27, I wrote a blog post about the possibility of science eventually disproving religion entirely. Yesterday, scientists came a step closer to proving one of the most highly controversial subjects: The Big…
“True leaders are not those who strive to be first but those who are first to strive and who give their all for the success of the team. True leaders are the first to see the need, envision the plan, and empower the team for action. By the strength of the leader’s commitment, the power…
Microsoft. Apple. You name it. I probably know it. Each week I try to come up with topics that relate to technology and Judaism, from the Kindle to BibleMap. Sometimes coming up with unusual ideas can be a challenge. After all, in some ways, technology contradicts the ways of Judaism. Nevertheless, I try to find…
Like the bell on Wall Street blaring off to the start of a chaotic day, my e-mail inbox hits the ground running at the sound of my alarm. Aside from the numerous Facebook notifications about who-said-what-to-who, I make sure to open UF Hillel’s weekly newsletter. Communication in the 21 Century. Filled with the inside scoop…
Let the gator growl. These are the words students at my university, the University of Florida, will be screaming Friday night. This weekend, most of Gainesville will shut down and celebrate Gator football homecoming with a lineup of events like Gator Growl, a.k.a UF’s pep rally, the homecoming parade and the homecoming game. But what…