Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
Since you are reading this it means that you probably fall into one of two categories: -people that like to read -or people that write, as writers often tend to be a case of overall word addiction But as you probably know, the job prospects for aspiring writers is in some nasty shape. Journalism is…
I could write a whole article just listing Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow’s achievements. Kaufman is the founder and former director of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, the first, largest, and possibly the most prestigious Jewish film festival in the world. She has been on the boards of the California Council for the Humanities,…
It was almost two years ago now that I first saw Dida Pelled strumming her guitar as part of a jazz trio in a Jerusalem café. Her eyes squeezed shut as her fingers danced across the instrument. Her sound was understated but unapologetically passionate. Pelled has been playing guitar since she was 11 years old…
Last Friday at San Francisco State University, the atmosphere of Malcolm X Plaza was thick with music and cheers. The sun was out and so were students. Spontaneous circles of hora dancing erupted in the quad. Students and Israel fellows wearing brand new, bright blue shirts with a tri-lingual peace logo blazing across the chest…
“There’s a lot of dialogue and but it’s the silent minority. The loud majority doesn’t want dialogue,” said Gila Hashkes, Israel Fellow at UC Berkley Hillel. “We (at Berkeley) had a whole week during apartheid week, we had a big tent with a sign that said: “Let’s Talk.” And it was really interesting.” The tent…
I’ve heard about it at two Passovers now, both the one at home in L.A. and the night up in San Francisco with some Israeli friends, the fog playing Elijah as it floated in wisps all around us, a constant yet absent presence. Somehow or another the topic of Mel Gibson arrives. Deep breaths are…
On Saturday April 10th UC Santa Cruz hosted the first intercollegiate Macabiada games, sponsored by the Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco. It was modeled after the international Jewish sporting event, the Maccabia Games. 120 students from the Hillels of UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Berkley, San Francisco State, Chico…
I was sitting in class the other day chattering to a friend about my Passover plans when the Hawaiian girl next to me, Leah Lau, leaned over and said that she was also Jewish. I did a double take, drinking in her features and wavering tan line. Her mom is a Jewess from the east…
Two weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of participating in the Jewish Farm School alternative spring break at Tierra Miguel Farm in southern California. Hillels from the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, and New York University brought students from all over the country (including students like myself with no relation to that specific Hillel but…
Two years ago, an Egyptian student in my history of the modern middle east class referred to Jewish culture as stolen culture, the Mizrahis eat Arab food and the Ashkenazis eat schnitzel so, he concluded, basically Israel was a country of stolen identities. I’m usually pretty peacenik/organic-granola-and-free-lovin but for some reason that statement gave me…
My 20 year old brother has finally started asking me about how to apply for Birthright. He’s not alone. Birthright has just received a record-breaking number of applicants. What can an older sister say to her pre-birthright brother? I only want what’s best for him. I don’t think that Birthright is the most authentic version…
This spring, The Jewish Federation of the East Bay in California will be presenting the 16th annual International Jewish Film Festival. These are the five film offerings which most enticed yours truly, along with some grade-A peanut gallery commentary. March 8, 11 a.m. @ Contra Costa JCC “Jubanos” I once attempted to explain the diversity…
Adi Nes sways when he replies to someone, inclined towards the questioner with the smooth motion of a broken wave rolling forward. There is such an unassuming gentleness to his posture it’s hard to believe this Israeli, with his sleepy smile can count Elton John among the ranks of his patrons. He is one of…