Think twice before you say you want to date a “nice Jewish boy.” Jewish gender stereotypes, whether flattering or pejorative, are harmful to the survival of our people. Not only do they express inaccuracies about Jews, but they affect how the outside world perceives us. Before delving into the reasons for this, let’s examine some of the common stereotypes of...

Growing up, I was always fascinated by the diversity of Judaism. I loved the idea that the religion was portable and adaptable; that each person could make it his or her own, yet feel one hundred percent assured of the fact that he or she was a link in the intricate chain of the Jewish people. How are we able...

Do we have it too easy? I woke up this morning with a song stuck in my head. It took me less than a minute to log onto iTunes and purchase it, enjoying it while I made some instant coffee before I went to class. When I got to class, I realized that I had forgotten my textbook at home....

In the world of ever-evolving consumer high tech, it should come as no surprise that an app has been created to assist Shabbat-observant Jews. There are other apps to assist Jews out there, like Rustybrick’s Minyan app or G-dscast’s Wake Up World app, which is narrated by Randi Zuckerburg, but the current talk of the town is the Shabbos App,...

Last week, I visited the Israeli consulate to renew my passport. As the lady at the desk was happily typing my information into her computer, a sense of relief quietly overcame me, knowing I would soon be one step closer to being home again after nearly a decade. The playback of a tearful Hollywood family reunion at Ben Gurion Airport...

The tragedies of the summer of 2014 in Israel began with the abduction and murder of three Israeli children, Eyal, Gilad and Naftali. Though the vast majority of Jews across the world had no direct connection to the boys, we held our collective breath, hoping for their safe return. Our communities banded together in prayer and then, tragically, in mourning,...

Background: Throughout our history, Jewish communities across the world have developed slow-cooked stews in order to have warm food on Shabbat without violating its laws. Ashkenazi Jews developed Cholent, and Sephardic Jews came up with similar stews like Chamin and Dafina. The following highly imprecise recipe for a large batch of Cholent was conveyed to the author by a Rabbi...

Finals week is upon us, and stress is in the air. Nights in Powell and YRL feel a lot like massive sleepovers — except instead of fun, they are filled with deep regret and self-doubt. Around this time last quarter, I swore: I would not find myself spending another night in the library catching up on five weeks worth of...

On Tuesday, Mar. 10, UCLA's Undergraduate Students Association Council voted on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism. The resolution was drafted by leaders in the Jewish Bruin community, and gained support via signatures from 17 organizations across campus — including Hillel at UCLA, Chabad at UCLA, the Jewish Awareness Movement at UCLA, Ha'Am, and Alpha Epsilon Pi (Xi Deuteron), to name but...

People tend to love my honest opinion and unique persona, although at times my outspoken personality has gotten me in trouble. I enjoy expressing my thoughts and helping others; thus, I have decided to create a column in which I can freely answer questions, give advice and/or go on rants. Enjoy!You may submit your burning questions and/or inquiries through this...