jcohen

I felt the storm before I saw it. The humidity made the hairs on my arms prickle and gave me the impression that I was walking in an oven. Walking outdoors with my friend, I saw massive black clouds run across the horizon. We looked at each other knowingly; each of us felt that there…

The other day, I was talking to my boyfriend Nick about God (I am religious and he is not). He asked me why I believe in God? My initial response was “because,” but then, I paused and thought more about it. Why do I believe in God? If there is a God, why do so…

Sweat clings to my face as stale air gets whipped around by my laughably small room fan. I stare at the keys of my computer because, for once, I don’t know what to say in my blog post. I could talk about the weather, which is unbelievably humid and unpleasant. Or I could talk about…

Most colleges do not promote “flunking,” but here at Knox College we celebrate it (just not in the way that you think). Flunk Day is a school holiday when classes are cancelled and students are roused before dawn and partake in carnival games and general shenaniganry. Half of the fun of Flunk Day is that…

I am not what you would call a naturally confident person. In fact, I go out of my way to put myself down, in the hopes that I will not only seem a more approachable person, but that someone will tell me that I am wrong. The only problem is I have stopped believing those…

Passover is one of the most commonly practiced Jewish holidays, and yet, I’m pretty sure it’s one of the holidays we qvech about the very most! For many, eighth days without chameitz is a nuisance. But, I really enjoy a week without bread and other such foods. It helps me renew my appreciation for the…

This term, my parents and I put on our most stoic of faces and parted ways knowing that I, for the first time ever, would not be home for Passover. The three of us encouraged each other that this was the best of plans; I would be spending the first and second seder at school…

Debbie Friedman’s music has always had a significant place in my life.  Her friendly verses taught me the Aleph-Bet and prayers said in services. My mom used to play her music at night to help me fall asleep. Even as recently as this summer, I grabbed my Walkman (yes, they still exist) and sang along…

I don’t think anyone can officially call themselves a college student until they have been cancelled out of a class. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, what’s the big deal? So you can’t take ONE class this term. La-de-da. Well, that’s not the real problem. Getting closed out of a class thrusts you into…

Baking has always been a huge part of my family’s Jewish identity. In my household, each holiday and Shabbat requires some sort of sugary confection, be it brownies for an ordinary Friday night or sufganiot for Chanukah (P.S. I don’t recommend making these if you don’t like oily doughnuts). Lucky for me, my spring break…

I have always believed the phrase “clothes make the (wo)man.” You cannot deny that when you look sharp, you feel special and people treat you accordingly. Dressing up makes you the center of attention, but this term, I learned a little something about dressing down. A few weeks ago, I was just lazing around the…

It came to my attention last night that this is the seventh annual Israel Apartheid Week. A time in which cities across the world, and several colleges across the United States, protest Israel’s displacement of the Palestinians as a result of becoming a state. The official website goes so far as to declare Israel to…

On a rainy Friday afternoon, my friends and I were released into the Jerusalem shook (marketplace). There were only a few hours until Shabbat and the streets were so crowded, it was nearly impossible to see the ground beneath my feet. There were so many hurried bodies and bulging bags, it was easy to get…

After hours on the humming, bouncing bus, we arrived at the Bedouin camp. Surrounded by night, the only thing we could see out the windows was a sea of sand undulating alongside our coach bus. But when we finally came to a stop and stumbled down the little stairs, being awake was the easiest thing…

With Valentine’s Day upon us once again, I, for the first time have a man I love to call my valentine. He and I share so many interests: a love of jazz, classical, and rock music; a passion for outdoor activities like hiking and climbing; unappeasable academic curiosity; and a soft spot for animals. I…