Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
The Israeli band Shmemel recently released a controversial, tongue-in-cheek video single entitled Berlin(English translation and annotation here, courtesy of The Forward). In the song, the band sings a ballad of Israelis leaving the country – for economic opportunity, for the madness of living in a state of constant war, or for a better and more…
Some people study whales. Some people study epistemological analysis. I study white people. More specifically, I am interested in diaspora networking and migrant housing stock, but I am also interested in the way whiteness as a concept affects these in host countries. A lot of the time, that idea means things like deeply…
Joseph Goebbels takes on Heeb Magazine [Heeb] As Heeb Magazine celebrated its 10th anniversary of… well, being Heeb Magazine… with a crazy party, it seems the Jews aren’t the only ones paying attention. This little gem cropped up online yesterday, and we’re not sure, but we think it means Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels was…
My three-week academic study trip to Poland withnine other graduate students set off on Thursday, June 30. We were going, as students of history and the Holocaust, to look at modern issues concerning Jewish-Polish relations. We arrived in Krakow, smack in the middle of the Jewish Culture Festival, which as we learned pretty quickly, is…
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…
Despite the unrelenting rain, seven people made it to Pittsburgh’s first Pre-Aliyah Community Meeting on Tuesday. The purpose of the group is two-fold — to bring people together and create a network of those interested in aliyah; and to provide resources to the group from the Jewish Agency and Nefesh B’Nefesh. After the meeting started on Jewish…
Some say that a British accent makes everything better. But can an accent improve hatred? A new book out, entitled Trials of the Diaspora: A History of Anti-Semitism in England, by Anthony Julius, investigates anti-Jewish sentiment in the land of nobles and fish ‘n’ chips. A blog by Canadian writer Barbara Kay examines what she…
One of the most exciting events, and a personal favorite of mine, is seeing Jews arrive in Israel for the first time.  Before they arrive in Israel they brew up high expectations that cause them terrible excitement.  Therefore, they are generally overcome by  emotion when they do arrive in Israel.  I have only hazy memories of…
Part of my volunteering in Israel consists of talking with junior high students. The idea is that when the students are talking to someone who exclusively talks English, unlike their teachers, they will improve their communication skills. The idea of sitting with students for an hour at a time, just talking, at first seemed like an…
As a child a tale was told to me of the Halutzim, the pioneers who came from the diaspora to the land of Israel and cultivated the parched, barren earth into the beginnings of a fruitful nation. I did not doubt this tale, or the image drawn for me of the proud pioneers as they…
As copycat Birthright programs proliferate, what are the limits of the melting pot?
“We Are So Fucking Serious About What We’re Doing”