Jewish Life in the New York Subway World

By Derek M. Kwait September 17, 2013

The first thing you should know about the new editor is that I am new to New York, having moved here from my native Pittsburgh just after Rosh Hashana to captain this rickety little ship they call New Voices. The second thing you should know about me is that I have a long subway ride…

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Soul by Soul: Pittsburgh’s Growing Pre-Aliyah Community

By ckessler December 1, 2010

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…

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What does your DNA look like?

By ckessler October 11, 2010

Now, normally this would not be my ideal dinner-table conversation, as my DNA knowledge is limited to 9th grade biology (and that is light years in the past). But, with the Victor Center’s testing for Jewish Genetic Diseases coming up this Wednesday, this topic is certainly on my mind. I hate to plagiarize, and since…

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The Reading List: Why did Norman Mailer hate masturbation?

By Ben Sales October 8, 2010

Like the dwindling Christine O’Donnell, he condemned self-flagellation, but back then no one cared… kind of like no one cared about his mayoral candidacy. An amusing article from the Forward. [Forward MitzVote] Speaking of masturbation, the very Jewish Columbia  University ranks number one in terms of sexual health! [PR Newswire] Speaking of smart Jews, well, there are lots…

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Back to the (Community) Drawing Board

By ckessler September 14, 2010

It’s been just a week since I returned from a Hillel Leadership Retreat with a sore back, campfire-smoke in my hair, and a beaded bracelet (well, a piece of string with four beads) on my wrist. But it feels like it’s been a lot longer than that–those of you in college realize the time warp…

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