Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
Ben Smith at Politico has spotted the Jew in the Obama reelection launch video! Watch the video below to see if you can find it, then click through to Politico for Smith’s answer. [Politico] Oscar Goodman, the mayor Las Vegas is a gin-swilling gambler with showgirls at his campaign events. And now his wife is…
This reading list also counts for Friday. Can’t get enough Jewish a cappella? You’re in luck! Kol HaOlam, the first Jewish student a cappella competition, took place this past weekend, and some videos are here. [Gather the Jews] Speaking of Jewish a cappella, here’s the Pesach offering from the Fountainheads. Rebuttal, Maccabeats? And speaking of…
I have never been opposed to interfaith, but have always found it very fake. It was never genuine. It wasn’t a religious Jew and a religious Christian looking to grow from their interactions, but more a “let’s all love each other and forget we have any differences. I’ll sit through your service if you sit…
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…
Surveying the headlines in Turkish papers (in Turkish or English), you will not see the name Goldstone anywhere. Goldstone’s words would force the Turkish government to say something substantial, which would increase the pressure for it to mend fences with Israel. There is little that can be done to ensure the Turks take into account…
Crossposted to Crystal Decadenz Here’s something you ought to know about me. I like Orthodoxy in theory. I do. But I also really, really think that women ought to be obligated in all mitzvot, and I really, really think there is a halachic precedent for it. Now. Knowing that, I recently realized that even though…
Bernard Avishai has a really excellent essay (PDF) based on survey data (summarized by Haaretz here) from the Macro Center for Political Economic Research. It’s a long read, but worth every bit of it. A highlight: Approximately 40% of young Israeli Jews believe (about a third, strongly) that the state should not offer civil marriage….
Max Keisler’s preceding kosher-by-habit post makes a lot of sense to me. But had he seen the video I did yesterday, I have to wonder if he would consider moving from “semi-traditional” to 100 percent traditional. What did I see yesterday? Probably one of the most revolting yet incredibly entertaining videos on Youtube. It’s called…
Recent posts on Pesach got me thinking about my own kashrut practices. To my non-Jewish friends, I’m that guy that’s really Jewish. I have a mezuzah up on my front door and my bedroom door; I have thick glasses and a not insignificant nose; I work at a synagogue. And I kind of keep kosher….
Beginning in 2006, I began the process of converting to Judaism – orthodox style. I came from a mixed family (and my Mom eveven converted via Conservative Judaism!), and for me it was probably inevitable after so many years of searching out the Jews. I lived in a pretty goyische town and grew up with…
A synopsis of an article about the University of Wisconsin’s Jewish community from 1924: “The author defends the Jewish student population at the University of Wisconsin, declaring that such Jews do not engage with Jewish communal life because communal institutions have no interest in accommodating their specific requests.” Sound familiar? [BJPA] 45 years later, Woody…
Every Pesach, it’s the same routine. Wipe down our pantries, pull out the “special” dishes, and discard of all the delicious bread products that are practically a staple item in my life. But recently, I read an article from Heritage: Florida Jewish News that will make me think twice about what I do with my…
In Lod yesterday, Israeli Arabs and liberal Israelis demonstrated in commemoration of Land Day – an Israeli Arab and Palestinian day to protest the seizure of private Arab land by the Israeli state. But it has taken on more significance this year. That is not because of the protetss sweeping the Arab world, but regardingthis…