Jews Around the World

Garnethill Synagogue - Glasgow, Scotland By Marina B. Nebro
Queens College   It's crazy how people of different nationalities can be so different, but have the same Jewish bond that holds them together.

Around the World By Aaron Fineberg
Tulane University   A new riff on the idea that, "wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish."

USY Goes Global By Teri McGuire
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   The only thing better than USY would be if there was USY in Israel.

Why is this Knight Different? By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Director, KOACH/College Outreach   How can a play on words help us find new answers to old questions?

Freedom of Religion

Taking Advantage of Guaranteed Freedoms By Stephanie Blumenstock '16
Wesleyan University   I believe that if following certain Jewish customs is important to you, you should try to follow them whenever possible, rather than saving them for another weekend or another year.

The Shortcomings of Religious Freedom By Gila Goldstein '16
University of Massachusetts, Amherst   Google "religious freedom" and see what comes up.

Religion vs. Belief By Alyssa Blumenthal '14
KOC Editor
Queens College/Macaulay Honors College   Is freedom of religion an obsolete freedom? Would freedom of belief be more appropriate for today's world?

Freedom and Responsibility By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Director, KOACH/College Outreach   Channeling Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Joshua Heschel and Pogo - celebrating the freedom to.

He Could Have Been a Doctor or a Lawyer... (Read More...)

Jewish Ethics

Working Together to Remove Barriers By Kenny Kalman
American University   Both the commandments and the characteristics our Biblical heroes show how important it is for the Jewish community and the world to recognize that we cannot continue to suppress individual potentials through discrimination.

More than Knowledge By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Editor
Queens College   Judaism teaches us that wisdom and knowledge are not enough, for if we do not apply what we learn to our lives, our knowledge holds no real meaning.

It Took a Synagogue to Raise Me By Teri McGuire
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   I have been taught a great deal in my nineteen short years of life. I have learned not to be selfish, I have learned to play well with others and I have learned to not say anything at all if I have nothing nice to say.

The Face of the Other By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Director KOACH/College Outreach   I agree that we as Jews do not have a monopoly on morality (indeed, there are moments when I'm quite convinced we don't).

On a Bus (Read More...)

The Ideal Rabbi

The Ideal Rabbi and Identity By Gregory Segal
University of Pennsylvania   The best rabbi possible is one who recognizes that he or she is still growing, something to which any person can relate.

Beyond Ideals By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Editor
Queens College   Now I know I'm supposed to be talking about ideals, but I have something better. I have reality.

Humanity and the Rabbinate By Hannah Kober
Brandeis University   This demystification of the position of the rabbi may be slightly blunt, but even the "best" rabbi is just as human as the old man who just fell asleep in the last pew during the sermon.

I Just Want My Rabbi to Text By Teri McGuire
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   Maybe if everyone's rabbi texted them, a new generation would be more inclined to come to shul, be part of a youth group, or explore Judaism in any way. Maybe that's all it really takes.

My Ideal Rabbi By Dana Diamond
American University   When the traits of my ideal rabbi are all combined, the end result is a passionate, energetic role model who strives to make his/her community more enriching.

The Ideal Rabbi? One Rabbi's Ruminations By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Director KOACH/College Outreach   You don't have to be a rabbi to change the Jewish world. Maybe it's even better on a certain level if you aren't.

A Special Note By Richard S. Moline
USCJ Chief Outreach Officer   As some of you know, after a long career with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, I will soon be leaving for a position with the National Ramah Commission.

Little Mitzvot, Big Meaning

Power from Darkness By Sam Hollander
Rutgers University   Human compassion began to power campus when there was no light to be seen.

Smile to Save a Life By Teri McGuire
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   Don't underestimate your power as a human being. You have an immense impact of which you may not even be aware.

The Leaders of Today By Elly Steiker-Pearl
New York University   What qualifies something as a mitzvah is not the act itself, but the inspiration behind the act.

What Goes Around Comes Back Around By Miriam Beit-Aharon
University of Massachusetts - Amherst   Reading Torah at my KOACH services at school, while a small action, showed me that even three psukim (verses) can make a big impact.

Higher and Higher By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Director KOACH/College Outreach   Light one candle...and change the world.

Voting Jewishly

Beyond Party Lines By Carly Gerbi
Queens College   As a Jewish American voting in the coming election, having someone who truly cares for the Jewish population in our country and who puts effort towards helping Israel as well is someone who I would consider voting for, whether they are Republican or Democrat.

My Jewish Values and My Jewish Vote By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Editor
Queens College   Voting Jewishly means much more than simply voting with Israel in mind.

How Would Jew Vote? By Aaron Fineberg
Tulane University   Dear Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney, remember that the Jews are in America, they care, and they vote. Good luck to both of you.

Support for a Jewish State By Dov Berkman
Binghamton University   American Jewry is still deeply committed to Israel. As the election comes closer, let us reflect more on that commitment, and on whom else we'd like to be committed to Israel as well.

Happy Heshvan! By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Director KOACH/College Outreach   The essential holiday which fills the void.

The President Goes to Brooklyn (Read More...)

High Holidays

Buckle Up By Felicia Siegel
Rutgers University   You cannot tackle Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simhat Torah by yourself, and by focusing on the power of community during these holidays, we can eliminate some of the stress of this season and enrich our experiences in incredible ways.

How Harry Potter and Nickelodeon Changed My Life By Teri McGuire
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore taught me, "There is no good and evil; only power and those too weak to see it."

New Beginnings By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   Kol hathalot kashot - all beginnings are difficult.

The Divorce (Read More...)

Back to School

My Connection to KOACH By Rebecca Cushman
New York University   For me, there is something special about KOACH that makes Friday night services particularly inspiring and fulfilling.

Geography of Judaism By Noam Zilberstein
University of Pennsylvania   Going to college really cemented my identity as a Conservative Jew. For the first time, I was part of a Jewish community that was my community and not my family’s community.

The Old and the New By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Co-Editor
Queens College   I am headed back to school with a vision of how I would like to better my community in the months to come and with the motivation to start doing it.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Elul Edition By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   Having a cow? You're right on schedule.

What Did He Say? (Read More...)

Jewish Entertainment

Jewish Humor: Where is the Line? By Douglas Kandl
Pace University   Jewish jokes run on a wide spectrum in terms of offensiveness. Does staying within the sphere of courteous humor rely on tone, situation, or joke quality? Is there a standard by which we can measure appropriateness?

"Lord, Can You Hear Me Now?" By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Co-Editor
Queens College   "Cold Water" by Damien Rice is by no means a Jewish song. It is not really even a religious song. Maybe, some would say, it is not even a spiritual song. But for me, it is.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Av Edition By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   My heart is in the East...and for the moment, so am I.

I Think Therefore I Am? (Read More...)

Jews Abroad

Living Jewishly in Granada By Andrea Bromberg
University of Delaware   Staying true to myself and my religion, my semester away helped me grow both as an individual and as a Jew.

Bridging Divides By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Co-Editor
Queens College   As Jews, we are inextricably connected through a shared history and tradition, and even distance cannot diminish the fundamental connection we share.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Tamuz Edition By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   It's a powerful time for words and transformative relationships. Can we do better?

You Don't Look Jewish (Read More...)

The Meaning of Giving

Tikkun Olam in Miami By Haley Schulman
Binghamton University   Judaism teaches us that we have an obligation to give to others in whatever ways we can.

What Giving Means to Me By Maggie Weinreb
Union College   For me, giving is making one person smile each day.

The Act of Selflessness By Rachel Shwartsman
Elon University   Giving is an act of selflessness, but you gain the biggest reward in knowing that, in giving, you have helped change someone’s life for the better.

Giving Back By Gabriela Geselowitz
KOC Co-Editor
Hunter College   Beyond the coins in the tzedakah box and back again.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Shavuot Edition By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   We yearn for the comfort of confirmation of God’s existence, God’s caring. If the heavens would open in that moment, what might we see?

Why Are American Jews Zionists?

Two Jews, Three Opinons By Israel Geselowitz
University of Pennsylvania   The dynamism of a healthy lack of consensus on Israel.

Love of the Land By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Co-Editor
Queens College   We remember that not too long ago, the idea of having a country to call our own was a distant dream. And now it is a reality. After years of wandering, we have finally found our home.

Special Feature: Our Prayer By Juli Goodman
KOACH Intern
Rutgers University   This is not my prayer, nor is it a prayer for Rutgers, or even specifically for KOACH, but rather was intended as a prayer for any college student, any college community that recognizes that it is a distinct part of the continuum that is Jewish tradition. This is our prayer.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: My Heart is in the East… By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   The watch on my wrist perpetually shows the time in Boston and the time in Jerusalem. And some ticks of the clock are more intense than others.

Jewish Arts and Culture

My Jewish Life in the Theatre By David Kaplinsky
University of Illinois   Art is my life, Judaism is my life, and as far as I’m concerned, they are one and the same.

A Two-Way Street By Ethan Goldberg
Brandeis University   What if we really had a worldwide Jewish culture?

There’s No Business Like (Jewish) Show Business By Gabriela Geselowitz
KOC Co-Editor
Hunter College   A paean to Harnick and Bock...and many others.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Hametz-Free Edition By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   Check the corners carefully. Hametz sneaks in where you least expect it.

Conservative Judaism’s Relationship with Other Denominations

Pluralism Starts with Self-Confidence By Paula Sass
University of Washington in St. Louis   The role of Conservative Judaism as the "center" of the Jewish denominational spectrum allows us to help unite the Jewish people, and to remind the entire Jewish community to focus on our commonalities.

Spanning Denominations By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Co-Editor
Queens College   The interplay between tradition and progressivity in religion is a tricky thing to navigate, but I think that Conservative Judaism does a pretty job of finding a middle ground.

A Vital Religious Center? By Ben Goldberg
Northwestern University   The influences of Conservative Judaism on other denominations provide evidence that there exists a "vital religious center" that the institutions of the Conservative movement are uniquely positioned to lead.

Really Talking the Talk By Gabriela Geselowitz
KOC Co-Editor
Hunter College   This Movement prides itself on its pluralism, and for good reason.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Be Happy, It’s Adar Edition By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   Sometimes you have to see past the noise.

Jewish Food

Tradition! By Daniel Saltzberg
University of Delaware   I truly believe that Jewish food is unique because of the people with whom we enjoy this food.

Uniting over Food By Ariel Gad
Queens College   Unity is of the utmost importance for Jewish individuals, and food is the key to that goal.

A Taste of Tradition By Helaine Firestein
Binghamton University   In my family, it doesn’t matter what holiday it is, we know what’s coming and the order in which it will be served.

Jewish (Without the Cholent) By Gabriela Geselowitz
KOC Co-Editor
Hunter College   There is a whole world of delicious vegetarian food (including great meat-substitutes), and I wish that kosher and Jewish culture would realize that the choice to eat meat is just that-a choice, and you do not have to say "yes" every time.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Eat, Be Sated and Bless By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   For many years I have remained silent when these words were recited, a personal protest in the face of an affront.

Jewish Education

An Education: In and Out of the Classroom By Andrea Bromberg
University of Delaware   From days in a Hebrew school classroom to summers spent at Camp Ramah to years of engagement in Hillel...

The Importance of Religious Foundation in a Secular World By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Co-Editor
Queens College   Hebrew school taught me the basics, but the most lasting aspects of my Jewish education came from sitting in a public school classroom and learning that I had the knowledge, ability, and desire to defend my religious faith.

Early Jewish Education: How Early is too Early? By Rebecca Marcus
University of California, Riverside   When learning Hebrew becomes fun, so does Judaism and being Jewish. And, really, isn’t that what Hebrew school should be about?

God Never Came To Hebrew School By Jodi Schwartz
University of Washington   As we are said to be God’s Chosen people, God made us a great nation. Now, what are we to become without God?

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Lighting up the Night By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   No matter how wild and woolly the afternoon has been, when I close my eyes to recite the brakhah, it’s as if the day, the week, all disappear.

Politics

Lashon Hara and Politics By Douglas Kandl
Pace University   Even though the Jewish ban on lashon hara, gossip, is of ancient roots, it is not irrelevant in today's politics and in today's world.

A Modern State's Moral State By Adam Kisting
Queens College   Israel has been charged with the task of being Or Lagoyim, a light unto the nations, but what does it mean for a modern state to also serve as a moral example to the world?

Politics, Respect and Judaism By Samara Kravitz
Stony Brook University   Judaism teaches respect for almost everything: our parents, neighbors and even our pets.

A Rebellious People By Gabriela Geselowitz
KOC Co-Editor
Hunter College   Jewish rebellion has a long history.  The Maccabees, of course, were successful enough in their revolt to establish a dynasty (and the story for the most well-known Jewish holiday in popular culture).

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: The Little Nes that Wasn't By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   As the days grow shorter and the velvet nights deepen, we are given to crave warmth and light. It comes as no surprise that so very many religious traditions confront the darkness with winter celebrations which try to banish the shadows.

Jews and the Environment: Nature and Prayer

Ahavat Olam By Miriam Beit-Aharon
University of Massachusetts, Amherst   There is a certain peace in noting something natural and beautiful and Shabbat, especially, is the time when we are supposed to stop, look around, and emulate what God did after creating.

Concentric Circles By Nicole Richards
Binghamton University   In times of hardships and struggle, people go to a place in them where they blame God and shy away from him.

The Colors of the Wind By Ayal Prouser
Clark University   A critical Jewish value is our deep connection to the environment, and Israel has been in the forefront of environmental efforts for many years.

Basking in Creation By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Co-Editor
Queens College   Somehow, somewhere in this great big world of mountains and oceans and valleys, we hold some small significance and have been granted the privilege of experiencing this magnificent world for a lifetime.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: A Blessing on Your Head By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   Now, entering the month of Heshvan, we have the opportunity to take a deep breath and rediscover our spiritual center.

High Holidays

Teshuvah as a Way of Life By Jodi Schwartz
University of Washington   As we approach the High Holidays, let us aim for a new level of self-awareness, one in which we evaluate who we are and who we want to be, not only in this season of repentance, but throughout the entire year.

From Teshuvah to Geulah By Judy Gerstenblith
University of Maryland   In this, the holiest time of the year, let us take the opportunity to rid ourselves of our unfulfilled vows. But more importantly, let us work to guard our tongue and escalate our actions.

Starting Anew By Gabriela Geselowitz
KOC Co-Editor
Hunter College   It is not just a new year for Jack, but a new life, and he can now find a balance between the Old World and the New.

Repentance and Release By Kay Lodge
List College   The juxtaposition of unambiguously releasing oneself from responsibility and asking forgiveness has always struck me as odd. Why would the holiest day of the year start with a legal formula and why atone when, according to Kol Nidre, no one has broken any vows?

Mitzvot and Mindfulness: Extreme Sukkah Edition By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director   In a world of do-it-yourself shows and home improvement competitions, how fortunate we are to have an annual construction opportunity built into our calendar.

Back to School

Uncertain Times By Daniel Oren Stalbow
Queens College   Just as we as Jews must prepare to deal with what might happen in Israel during this coming year, we as students must make the best of our uncertain situations as we head back to school.

Making the New Newer By Reuben Berman
Columbia University / JTS   Reflections on Shabbat at and away from college.

Returning to Your Home Away from Home By Carly Rubenfeld
Binghamton University   A student returning to college for the first time reflects on her first year, and what she learned about herself

New Beginnings By Alyssa Blumenthal
KOC Co-Editor
Queens College   College offers us the unique opportunity to be surrounded by our Jewish peers and to engage in programming specifically targeted towards our age group and our interests.

Mitzvot and Mindfulness
By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Associate Director for KOACH   This new ezine feature will address a different mitzvah each month, considering its origins and its potential in our lives. This month: Elul Wake Up Call

"Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?" - Job 38:16 (Read More...)

Dating Priorities (Read More...)

Jewish Entertainment

A Warm Welcome   KOACH welcomes our new ezine team.

The Line Between Worship and Entertainment By Ethan Goldberg
Brandeis University   The line between worship and entertainment music depends on the context it is being sung in.

Judaism's Effect on Entertainment By Shira Novack
KOC Editor
Binghamton University   How does one's being Jewish affect the way they view and choose their entertainment?

What is Jewish Music? By Max Keisler
Harvard Extension School   The definition of Jewish music can be defined broadly, including based on the content and artist.

The Sweet and Sour Taste of Revenge By Logan Bayroff
University of Pennsylvania   When everything you've ever wished for finally comes true...then what?

The Definition of Jewish Entertainment By Rabbi Shalom Kantor
Binghamton University   I spent a lot of time thinking about what defines Jewish entertainment and my conclusion is that there is no one definition.

Jews in Other Countries

A Fond Farewell   KOACH says goodbye to three beloved staffers.

Living with a Jewish Host Family By Michelle Chonofsky
University of Delaware   Jewish communities in the most unexpected places can make you feel at home.

Experiencing Jewish Communities Abroad By Alex Howie
KOC Assistant Editor
Miami University of Ohio   Being exposed to Jews and Jewish communities in other countries can give you new perspectives on what it means to be Jewish and what Jewish means to you.

Inspiration in Spain By Abby Cohen
George Washington University School of Law   Although my study abroad experience in Spain did not give me as many chances as I would have liked to learn more about Judaism in a different country, I appreciate the learning opportunities I had as well as the chance to teach others.

At Home Across the Globe By Richard S. Moline
Chief Outreach Officer, USCJ   Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish...

The Meaning of Giving

Tikkun Olam in New Orleans By Alissa Platcow
University of Massachusetts, Amherst   I had a life-changing interaction with tikkun olam while on my alternative spring break with Hillel in New Orleans.

Forget Giving: Learn How to Receive By Joel Udwin
Boston University   It is not enough to just give tzedakah. It is equally important to understand the problems you are trying to correct.

When We Give By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOACH Fieldworker   There are plenty of opportunities in Judaism to give, but where does our motivation come from?

Hillel's Teachings and Tikkun Olam By Shira Novack
KOC Editor
Binghamton University   Small acts of loving-kindness can help make this world a better place.

The Many Layers of Giving By Alex Howie
KOC Assistant Editor
Miami University of Ohio   Giving is a vital part of all of our lives and there are many different ways to give – to others, to God, and to yourself.

"See, a time is coming- declares the Lord- when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah." – Jeremiah 31.31 (Read More...)

The Complications of Keeping Kosher (Read More...)

Zionism

The Choice of a Homeland By Elizabeth Phillips
Northwestern University   Having a Jewish state and the option of living there empowers us as Jewish people, even if we don't live in Israel.

A Reason to Celebrate Israel By Dov Berkman
Binghamton University   Support for Israel stems from the lessons of avengement and remembrance that come out of the Holocaust.

Stand Up Taller, Speak Up Louder By Leo Nayfeld
Miami University of Ohio   Our support for Israel is extremely important. We must be vocal in opposition to BDS and Holocaust-minimizing speakers.

Israel's Centrality to Judaism By Alex Howie
KOC Assistant Editor
Miami University of Ohio   As Jews, we know that Israel is our homeland. But historically it seems we love it more when we don't have it. Do we take it for granted when we have it?

Life Happens By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Associate Director for KOACH   In that moment I wondered again, as I wonder almost every day, why we have asked our children (and ourselves) to swim upstream.

Jewish Arts and Culture

Jewish Film at its Finest By Alisha Kinman
Unversity of Florida   The University of Florida’s first annual Jewish Film Festival explores what it means to say, "I am a Jew."

Jewish Art through the Ages By Alex Howie
KOC Assistant Editor
Miami University of Ohio   Jewish art has not made an impact on the world the same way other religious art has, but it has its own importance and relevance to the Jewish community.

Some Thoughts on Jewish Culture By Rabbi Ed Romm
Director, Center on Campus
Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism in Israel   For Jews, the line between religion and culture is not always very distinct.

Jewish Culture in a Bible Belt College By Hannah Schwartz
University of Tennessee   In the heart of the Bible Belt, a small group of college Jews have made the effort to celebrate their Jewish culture.

Music meets Manhattan. I succumb. By Alyssa Blumenthal
Queens College   Music allows me to pause and forge a deeper connection with my Jewish identity.

Jewish Heroes

MiShenikhnas Adar Marbim B'Simhah! By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Associate Director for KOACH
USCJ Department of Youth and Young Adult Services   A special Adar Bet message from Rabbi Elyse Winick and KOACH about the USCJ-Hayom Strategic Plan.

What is a Hero? By Emma Green
Brandeis University   How can Merriam Webster's definition of a hero be applied to Judaism?

My Jewish Hero By Lily Glushakow-Smith
Towson University   What it takes to be a hero on a college campus.

The True Heroes By Shira Novack
KOC Editor
Binghamton University   There is a difference between a heroic figure and someone who is actually a hero.

Heroic Values By Rabbi Helene Kornsgold
KOACH Rabbinic Field Worker   In Judaism heroes are role models who we can all look up to for their principles. We can all be heroes by following mitzvot.

Conservative Judaism and Other Denominations

Talking at or Speaking with? By Matt Nover
Rutgers University   Fostering an environment where productive dialogue takes place is essential to overcoming ignorance about different strains of Judaism.

Learning and Appreciating Through Teaching By Jessica Albalah
SUNY Oneonta   Teaching in a Reform Hebrew school has allowed me to be more comfortable with other forms of Judaism as well as to better appreciate my Conservative upbringing.

Learning about Ourselves from Our Differences By Alex Howie
KOC Assistant Editor
Miami University of Ohio   In the Talmudic era, Rabbi Meir learned from everyone he encountered. Today, we must strive to do the same.

Denominational Relationships in Israel and America By Naomi Freedman
Shlihat Aliyah to the Conservative Movement
USCJ Department of Youth and Young Adult Services   There are noticeable differences between how the Jewish denominations function in Israel and America.

"...to a land flowing with milk and honey." Exodus 3.17 (Read More...)

The other side of denominationalism. (Read More...)

Jewish Food

The Complexities of Kashrut By Shira Novack
KOC Editor
Binghamton University   Judaism is a religion filled with special foods defined by the regulations of Kashrut.

The Magic and Complexities of Jewish Food By Danielle Lerner
Binghamton University   Food is something that helps to define us as Jews, but it's more complicated than it might appear.

Learning through Eating By Gabby Leigh
American University   Sharing traditional Jewish foods with my non-Jewish friends enables me to teach them about Judaism and helps me learn about my own culture and religion.

Memories and Traditions of Food By Monica Benedikt
Miami University of Ohio   Jewish food is delicious, and it can bring Jews of all different backgrounds together.

What Is It About Jews and Food? By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOACH Field Worker   We all have our own associations with foods we might term Jewish, whether they're related to a holiday or not.

Jewish Education

Learning in a New Setting By Alyssa Miller
York College of Pennsylvania   Going from a very Jewish environment to one with fewer Jewish people gave me the opportunity to teach others about Judaism and find new ways to practice my religion.

Education is Life Itself: Is day school the only way? By Elena Miller
University of Delaware   Being active in USY and KOACH has enabled me to appreciate the Jewish education I have received even though I did not attend Jewish day school.

The Need for Modern Midrashim By Alex Howie
KOC Assistant Editor
Miami University of Ohio   Judaism needs to find a way to return to a vibrant religion in America. Creating new ways of connecting to the religion is key.

The People of the Book By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Associate Director for KOACH   The volumes are stacked from floor to ceiling. Is this Jewish education?

Politics

Justice and the Death Penalty By Sarah Kuras
Binghamton University   The Torah commands us not to kill, and that's not the only problem with the death penalty.

The Politics of Peace By Aaron Jacobs
University of Arizona   We all have been told to refrain from discussing politics at the dinner table. But why?

The Politics of Change or a Change in Politics By Eric J. Schorr
List College / Columbia University   Is "are they good for Israel?" the right question to be asking?

Politics and the Pulpit By Alex Howie
KOC Assistant Editor
Miami University of Ohio   What role should politics should play in a Conservative synagogue, and should Judaism affect one's politics?

Amendment to Israel's Citizenship Law By Naomi Freedman
Shlihat Aliyah to the Conservative Movement
USCJ Department of Youth and Young Adult Services   Should all new citizens be required to pledge allegiance to a Jewish state?

Jews and the Environment: Nature and Prayer

Finding Jonah By Miriam Beit-Aharon
Stony Brook University   Spending the High Holidays on the SSV Cramer has given me a whole new insight into the book of Jonah.

Eating Meat Once a Week...On Shabbos! By Rachel Salston
Brandeis University   Eating meat only on Shabbat is environmentally friendly, but is also a time honored tradition.

The Prayer Experience By Jason Rembrandt
Miami University of Ohio   Praying outside can be more meaningful but also requires more focus.

The Blessing of the Sun By Shira Novack
KOC Editor
Binghamton University   The sun has a special significance in Judaism, celebrated with the Birkat Hahamah.

Nature: God's Gift to Us By Rabbi Ed Romm
Director, Center on Campus
Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism in Israel   In Judaism, we are instructed not to destroy God's world.

Kol Nidrei: The Significance of Annulling our Vows

Welcome to 5771! By Rabbi Elyse Winick   New Year Greetings from Rabbi Elyse Winick, Associate Director for KOACH.

Forgiveness and Growth By Gabriella Spitzer
Barnard College   The Jewish calendar is rhythmic and can be used for positive personal growth.

The Yom Kippur Mirror: Reflections on Repentance By Arielle Feit
List College/Columbia University   Is repenting on Yom Kippur a means to an end or is there a deeper meaning in it?

The Power of Words By Ben Goldberg
Northwestern University   Kol Nidrei gives us the opportunity to release ourselves from promises and oaths we have not lived up to and frees us from our unfulfilled actions.

L'shana Tova Tikatevu V'Techatemu!!! By Rabbi Helene Kornsgold
KOACH Rabbinic Field Worker   Words are very powerful in instances when they are included and omitted.

Contemplating Kol Nidrei By Alex Howie
KOC Assistant Editor
Miami University of Ohio   Kol Nidrei is the service with the most attendees, but how many actually understand the reasoning behind the prayers said?

Back to School

Dear Campus, We’re Back By Andrea Bromberg
University of Delaware   I am a strong believer that, even though mom and dad may have insisted on attendance at a university with a high number of Jews, the strength to pursue one’s Judaism must come from within.

Jewish Joy at Johns Hopkins By Ariela Fleisig
Johns Hopkins University   Johns Hopkins (don’t forget about the s at the end of Johns) has an extremely vibrant Jewish community that is always looking to expand.

Jewish School-life and a Jewish Life By Shira Novack
KOC Editor
Binghamton University   This summer, with applications looming, I’ve taken the time to reflect on the impact the Jewish community at Binghamton has had on me.

Back to School With the Wings You Can't See By Rabbi Shalom Kantor
KOACH/Hillel Rabbi, Binghamton University   The long days of summer are the perfect opportunity for us to prepare for the challenges that come with a new school year.

Mishpahah to Mikhlalah: From Family to College By Sarah Schneider
Miami University of Ohio   Many students probably feel that practicing Judaism in a college setting has caused them to reexamine their own Jewish identities more fully, just as college and my experiences beforehand have caused me to reexamine mine.

Jewish Film

Jewish Actors and the Hilarity in their Films By Amanda Friedman
Binghamton University   Since they are Jewish, they are allowed to make fun of themselves without there being real controversy...

Seriousness in a Funny Cosmos By Matthew Creighton
Boston University   ...part of the reason why A Serious Man is so excruciating to sit through is because one cannot help but laugh; it is a comedy intensely flirting with schadenfreude

Israeli Movies By Naomi Freedman
Shlihat Aliyah to the Conservative Movement   Many great films have been produced and Israeli films are winning awards in various film festivals around the world

The Year in Jews in Film By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Editor
New York University   The least seen of the three was the British movie An Education, which tells the story of a teenage girl in London in the 1960s who is introduced to a whole new world by an older man.

"Alas! Lonely sits the city / Once great with people! She that was great among nations / Is become like a widow; The princess among states / Is become a thrall." (Lamentations 1.1) (Read More...)

Jews Hopping the Pond

Memories from Being a Jew Abroad By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Editor
New York University   Most memorably, stopping to ask anyone on the street where to find a synagogue always elicited the same response: look for the police car.

A Date with a British Jew By Marisa Davis
University of Pittsburgh   I did have the pleasure of going on a few dates with an Orthodox Jew from Stratford, which is located inconveniently on the end of the Jubilee Line. He was obsessed with Friends, and wondered if "New Yorkers really acted like that."

My Life Abroad in London By Jillian Gruber
Binghamton University   One thing that I usually do or take part in at Binghamton that I did not get a chance to do in London was to be a part of the Jewish student body.

Many Nationalities, One Ethnicity By Laura Yanushpolsky
New York University   Even as I experienced these wonderful Shabbat and holiday gatherings and explored the rich history of the Jewish people, my travels reminded me of the enormous struggles that Jews have faced and the choices that we must make about assimilating to national customs and retaining our religious traditions.

Foreign Workers in Israel By Naomi Freedman
Shlihat Aliyah to the Conservative Movement   Today in Israel there are 2800 children whose parents are there illegally. These children were born in Israel, speak Hebrew and go to Israeli public schools. Their parents, however, are not Israeli citizens and are facing deportation from Israel.

"It is true that we aspire to our ancient land. But what we want in that ancient land is a new blossoming of the Jewish spirit." - Theodore Herzl (Read More...)

The Jewish Olympics (Read More...)

Interdating

Ethnocentrism, Interdating, and Integration By Alex Howie
Miami University of Ohio   Looking back at my upbringing, I am grateful for every opportunity that my mom and dad provided for me and the open atmosphere in which I was raised, allowing me to develop my own thoughts, opinions, and beliefs.

Why I Don't Care About Interdating By Lily Glushakow-Smith
Towson University   Essentially, if the people you surround yourself with bring you happiness and comfort, then their religion is irrelevant.

Interdating - Ideals and Realities By Shira Novack
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   My sister is engaged and is getting married next June. My family really likes her fiance and most importantly he makes my sister very happy. The only reason I am writing about this here is that he is not Jewish.

The Future is Now By Rabbi Elyse Winick
Associate Director for KOACH
USCJ Department of Youth and Young Adult Services   The old models of prevention no longer obtain. Tevye may have wanted to pretend that Chava was dead, but she wasn't. Too many hearts were broken by that approach and intermarriage rates did not decline.

Masorti / Israel

Pluralism in Israel By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Editor
New York University   It is extremely important for Conservative Jews to feel comfortable in Israel.

Proud to be an Israeli By Rabbi Ed Romm
Director, Center on Campus
Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism in Israel   Israel is far from perfect and a complicated place and I do work for change. However what country is perfect?

Kibbutz Hannaton: Living and Working Pluralism By Raanan Korinow
Binghamton University   Kibbutz leaders want Hannaton to be a model for Israeli society; people with a diversity of religious observance living in harmony.

A Visit Sparks both Controversy and Discussions By Ben Engle
Union College   Outside Memorial Chapel, students and community members waiting in the line that stretched past the Nott Memorial were welcomed to a group of protesters including students, faculty members, local residents, and Hasidic Jews from Brooklyn who were against the former Prime Minister's visit.

Medinat Yisrael's Debt of Gratitude to Masorti Judaism By Adam Shery
University of Hartford   Masorti Judaism, has been at the forefront of countering the dearth of religious commitment among a vast number of twenty-first century Israelis.

Jewish Music and Dance

Musical Changes By Rachel Channon
New York University   There is something about singing prayers or a niggun that elevates my soul, and ultimately my voice, in a completely unusual way.

Israeli Music By Gabriela Geselowitz
Hunter College   Like American reggae star Matisyahu, Judaism often (but not always) plays an important role in their music.

The Power of Music By Cynthia Schweitzer
Binghamton University   The presence of music, especially Jewish music, in my life gives me a chance to slow down and escape from my hectic schedule.

The Hora-A Circular Dance of Life By Shira Novack
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   The hora is so important in Jewish celebrations, and yet other cultures have dances that are comparable to it. This leads one to ask what is it that makes Jewish dances Jewish as well, what is it that makes Jewish music Jewish?

Familiarity in a Foreign Place By Rabbi Helene Kornsgold
KOACH Rabbinic Field Worker   Jewish music can help you feel at home in a foreign land. It has also helped to bind Jews together since biblical times.

Conservative Judaism

My Problem With Conservative Judaism By Noah Weingarten
Columbia University / JTS   People have told me that the Conservative Movement is in trouble and for a long time I have had trouble identifying why.

Connecting Judaism to Israel By Jessica Mandell
Binghamton University   One of the most important values in Conservative Judaism is keeping a focus on Israel.

The Science of Judaism By Sandy Johnston
KOACH Intern
Columbia University   The idea of embracing both tradition and modern methods of study provided the intellectual underpinnings for Conservative Judaism's ability to embrace modern life as well as Jewish tradition.

Considering the Phrase, "Jewish Barbarian" By Richard S. Moline
USCJ Director of Youth and Young Adult Services   I not only vehemently disagree with Steinhardt, I can provide evidence that proves him wrong. I am one of thousands who is a learning Jew – educated from within Conservative Jewish institutions and secular university systems. I would hardly consider myself a "Jewish barbarian." The real shandah is in the statement itself.

Pluralism By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Editor
New York University   It doesn't come as a shock to me when I hear that an Orthodox Jew attending Conservative Friday night services for the first time was surprised by how similar they were to the Orthodox services he or she attends on a regular basis.

"[...] the same days on which Jews enjoyed relief from their foes and the same month which had been transformed for them from one of grief and mourning to one of festive joy." (Esther 9.22) (Read More...)

A Chelm story about the economy... (Read More...)

Jews and the Environment

Something to Build Upon By Rachel Slaff
New York University   Alone, I cannot save the manatees or stop the glaciers from melting — but, thanks to the Jewish community at NYU, I know that being Jewish links me to something greater than myself.

Saving Water By Elyse Horowitz
University of Massachusetts, Amherst   These small tasks may seem trivial in one's day-to-day happenings, but can have a great influence on the water usage of certain regions in the country.

Climate Change By Alex Freundlich
Boston University Law School   But how does this Talmudic verse apply to the environmental issues of our day?

Awareness of the World Around Us By Rabbi Shalom Kantor
KOACH Rabbi, Binghamton University   We can see the relationship between all the moving parts of the world and appreciate the miracles that surround us.

Jews and the Environment By Shira Novack
KOC Assistant Editor   Trying to limit our personal waste by turning off the lights when we leave a room or not letting the water run too long are forms of tikkun olam.

Jewish Education

Adult Education By Shira Novack
Binghamton University
KOC Assistant Editor   There is no one right time and it is never too late for a person to start or further their Jewish education.

The Delicate Art of Collective Effervescence By Samuel Cohen
New York University   Isn't that what an educator seeks to do—implant vivid memories that will outlast the activity itself?

A Jewish Educator By Kelly Kossar
Binghamton University Alumna   Working in a community like AHA has solidified my decision to go into a career that works towards building Jewish community, going beyond the everyday Jewish labels we all use to define ourselves.

The Jewish Bubble By Arielle Feit
List College/Columbia University   ...unique to Jewish Education is the emphasis on ethics, on morals, on being a good human being and not simply a good student.

Outside the Classroom By Rabbi Ed Romm
Director of Education and Campus Programs
The United Synagogue Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center   An important aspect of Jewish education is not only what goes on in the classroom, but rather, what takes place "outside."

Politics

Obama, Israel and Jewish Voters By Ethan Klapper
American University   ... have the Obama administration's recent foreign policy stances towards Israel caused some Jews to regret voting for Obama?

The End of American Democracy? By Lucas F. Tesoriero
Binghamton University   Trust is implicit in these relationships and without trust, American democracy will surely fall.

In Support of Israel By Jacob Shapiro
List College/Columbia University   Just as Israelis themselves fiercely argue the merits of every governmental action, so too it is acceptable for Jews in the United States to debate and discuss Israeli strategy.

The Good Inclination By Rabbi Shalom Kantor
KOACH Rabbi, Binghamton University   As Jews it is our duty and obligation to be involved in the politics and government of our country, but we must be aware of the dangers that come with such associations.

Change By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Editor
New York University   The example of American acceptance of an African-American president suggested to European citizens that their countries might be closer than they thought to a similar sort of open-mindedness and ability to proceed forward with change.

To eat, or not to eat. That is the question... (Read More...)

Speak to Aaron and say to him, "When you elevate the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand. (Numbers 8:2). (Read More...)

Jewish Art

Exhibiting Jewish Art By Shira Novack
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   Where else can Jewish art be found in places that we don't expect it?

Jewish Art: A Term or a Topic? By Mel Rivkin
Binghamton University   What society often has a misunderstanding about is that art is formed everyday. So what is Jewish art?

Jewish Art in Poland By Miriam Iken
University of Massachusetts, Amherst   Art can be found in many different forms: a painting, a sculpture, with color, and in black and white.

Questioning Judaism and Art By Sarah Quatrano
Washington University, St. Louis   People often look down on graffiti as a form of art, but in reality it is extreme and progressive art like this that keeps our culture in check.

The Question By Michelle Kaman
KOACH Field Worker   As with art, a significant principle in Judaism is the question.  

With so many of you playing the new Beatles: Rock Band for Wii, we got to thinking... (Read More...)

I have set My bow in the clouds, and it shall serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. (Genesis 9:13) (Read More...)

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Will the Ducks Really Eat My Sins? By Heidi Lumish
Tufts University   Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, against God’s request, yet they were forgiven. With each New Year, we are reminded by this example that our sins can be pardoned.

This Time of Year By Marc Epstein
University of Rochester   How have I changed from this time last year? Why have I changed? Are those changes for the better? And what do I do now?

Doing More With Less By Michelle Rubin
Florida State University   While we may be poorer financially, we are no less rich.

High Holidays and Forgiveness By Shira Novack
KOC Assistant Editor
Binghamton University   With the process of actively asking forgiveness, we are acknowledging publicly that we have committed a sin.

Contradictions By Richard S. Moline
USCJ Director of Youth and Young Adult Services   We enter this new year with lots of questions and very few answers.

Tashlikh Redux: More Than Your Average Sin (Read More...)

KOACH on Campus ezine is adding a new feature. Each month there will be a quote from a Jewish source and we will be accepting submissions of photographs or other visual art forms which interpret the quote. The vision behind this is to be able to incorporate other forms of expression into the ezine and enable people to contribute in other ways. We may be the People of the Book, but we express ourselves with more than words. (Read More...)

Back to School

Transitions By Jonathan Hack
Clark University   After spending four years trying to help build a Jewish community on campus, it became clear that my life truly revolved around educating others about the unique joys of Judaism and a traditional Jewish lifestyle.

There's No Place like School By Matt Tepperman
Indiana University   When making a transition from summer to school, no matter where you live, there will always be some, if not a lot, traveling and schlepping things around, so much so that you truly don't know where you belong anymore.

A Return to Community By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Editor
New York University   In college, no one's forcing you to observe Shabbat, and coming to services becomes a positive elective activity.

In the Month of Elul By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Associate Director   Whichever way(s) you choose, don't let the month of Elul pass you by. Unpack last year to prepare for the next-and you'll be the richer for it.

Dial your way to forgiveness... (Read More...)

Jewish Culture Corner

A Jew in His Movies By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   Allen has moved on to a new part of his career, where he's desperate to reinvent himself because his old shtick just isn't quite working as much anymore, but is he abandoning his roots?

Jews with the Blues: A Cultural Look at our Place in the World of the Blues By Corey Abramson
Temple University   Bloomfield grew up on Chicago's North Side and chose his bar mitzvah present (a guitar) over his family's catering business.

Limbo By Sam Shuman
Columbia University / JTS   He's not a prophet (as far as I am aware), a heretic or a Jewish philosopher. He's simply a storyteller.

American Jewish Musicians and the Jewish Tradition By Simeon Cohen
List College   Thus, just as the ancient Temple priests and the hazzanim of the Gaonic period used music to connect with God in a spiritual sense, so does Mike Gordon of Phish.

TV Jews   In an era of reality TV which feels anything but real, a little dose of relevance is more than welcome.

Sing Along with the Bible (Read More...)

Heroism

What Makes a Hero? By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   There are many definitions of the word "hero," and it's impossible to pinpoint any one characteristic to qualify someone as a hero. Selflessness and courage are high at the list of heroic traits and every person will give different qualifications that make up a hero for them.

Being a Hero, Being Jewish, Being Good By Joel Chorny
George Washington University School of Law   Like Dershowitz, "I have never quite understood why people who firmly believe they are doing God's will are regarded as 'good' even 'heroic.'

Heroes at Home By Julia Auster
Skidmore College   Don't get me wrong, I am a huge Superman fan and I love Christian Bale, but heroes don't always wear capes. They just do a little good every day that makes a big difference overall.

Heroism Through Tzedakah By Michelle Kaman
KOACH Field Worker   To be a hero, to me, means to positively have an effect on someone's life.

Making Mischief (Read More...)

Homosexuality

Lessons from Abraham: Creating Welcoming Communities By David Schwartz
Washington University in St Louis   Abraham is a role model for us for many reasons, but his best known trait is being welcoming.

Change: It Will Take Time By Paige LaMarche
Baltimore Hebrew University   As a Conservative Jew, born and bred, I have my opinions, and mine include the absolute inclusiveness of homosexuals in our movement.

A Common Bond By Jen Kracoff
Syracuse University   If people are happy, they're happy, right? If they are in love, who are we to tell them it's not legitimate?

Judaism and Homosexuality: A Changing Conversation By Tani Berkowitz
George Washington University   Both in a narrowly Jewish sense and a broader American sense, homosexuality has become increasingly "normalized" to heterosexual audiences.

Counting - and Changing - Our Blessings By Richard S. Moline
KOACH Director   For those of us who accept Torah as authoritative, but also understand that it continues to be a living, evolving document that may speak differently to every generation (as God spoke differently to different generations in the Torah), simple answers don't come easily.

Biblical Transportation (Read More...)

Social Justice

Jewish Values Reexamined By Matt Creighton
Boston University   The ethical code of the Jewish people transcends time and geography.

Ha Lachma Anya By Sarah Block
Bucknell University   Because we were once slaves, we must help others to free themselves from bondage.

Justice and the Jewish People By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   When Israelis were the victims, no one seemed to be watching. Suddenly, all eyes were on Israel once it started to defend itself.

Ethical Dilemmas By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Associate Director   Was it wrong for me to avoid him? Was it unethical? Could it have been wrong, but not unethical?

Bright Spark (Read More...)

Jewish Music

Jewish Songs and Non-Jewish Jewish Songs By Jacob Kieval
Washington University in St. Louis   In our grandparents' generation, American Jewish kids had limited access to Jewish culture through music; most of it was about going back to Israel, or Shlomo Carlebach-like tunes for popular prayers in the siddur.

Unifying Power By Shoshi Rosenbaum
JTS / Barnard   Harmonies experienced in Jewish music are only possible due to Jewish diversity.

Immersion in Jewish Music By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   It was great to be able to get interested in and excited about something that both captures part of my religious heritage and enables me to appreciate such terrific music.

Singing Your Way Through Passover By Rabbi Shalom Kantor
KOACH-Hillel Rabbi, Binghamton University   Today, music is arguably the most influential and important part of most Jewish ritual, because it allows for people to connect, whether or not they understand the texts, or even agree with them. It is the music that speaks to their souls and hearts.

The History of Horseradish (Read More...)

Minority Groups

Minority Within A Minority By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   It's true that it's difficult to find a practicing Conservative Jew who upholds each and every one of the laws outlined by Conservative Judaism, and it's a certainly a wonder when a whole number of those who uphold most of them gather together in one place.

Shifting Paradigms By Jennifer Gorden
Northeastern University   I always knew that Jewish people were a minority, but because Jewish people had been such a huge part of my life, it never really hit me until college.

Jewish Food

And Who Doesn't Love Food...? By Jillian Zarem
Syracuse University   It is apparent that food plays an integral part in religions and cultures around the world, and that is no different with my family.

Sweet Cookies, Sweet Memories By Shaina Akrish
University of Florida   ...in Jewish circles, mandel bread reigns supreme.

Food Brings Us Together By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   It's hard to pinpoint or pick out any one specific dish or holiday time that truly captures the spirit of Jewish food.

The Smell of Friday Afternoon By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Associate Director   It's not a competition. It's about liminality, about hanging in the balance, about your heart being big enough to love more than one.

Green Eggs and Matzoh Ball Soup (Read More...)

Sustainable Development

Recycling for a Greater Good By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   On TV, NBC takes an entire week to change their logo to a shade of green and inserts unsubtle references to carpooling or living better at every opportunity. The number of documentaries pushing for green living has also increased, with Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, Leonardo DiCaprio's The 11th Hour, Who Killed the Electric Car and others. There's a uniform message being put forward in all these films, stressing the real difference one single person can truly make.

International Development By Nehama Rogozen
University of Maryland   The work we did was difficult and could be extremely mind-numbing. I had never imagined that I would spend entire days of my summer simply kneeling, pushing sand into a bucket, sifting it through a strainer and doing it over and over and over again, until my back ached and my muscles were sore. Sometimes, I wondered why I hadn't stayed in America for the summer, where I could have watched TV and slept away half of my days.

Going Green—A Phenomenon for Our People By Juliana Ross
Simmons College   I believe on an individual level we can make changes in our everyday lives to heal mother Earth. We must remember that Earth is the place where we continue to survive and thrive; it is not a renewable resource. While it is likely the Earth will persist despite the daily damage, the human race cannot survive as global warming continues, the oceans rise with the melting ice caps, and desertification spreads as the imbalance in temperature persists.

Israel Going Green By Rabbi Elyse Winick / Nomi Freedman
KOACH Associate Director / Shlihah to the Conservative Movement   Learn about a kibbutz that's going off the grid...a Hanukkah gift from your KOACH staff. Let there be light!

Putting your talents to the best possible use. (Read More...)

Politics

Encounters with Politics By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   Jews in politics are an interesting phenomenon, because it suddenly becomes a big issue when they opt to run for high office.

Why Do Jews Vote? By Rebecca Gillette
Harvard University   The idea that we should follow the laws of the land in which we live is crucial to our ability to live a Jewish life in a secular world.

Jews, Rhetoric, and Elections By Avi Smolen
Rutgers University   We need to get past the absolutist rhetoric of ?pro? or ?anti,? black or white, and talk about real issues facing Israel.

Jewish Culinary Predilections (Read More...)

Jewish Education

Jewish Community By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   It?s not that learning Torah or studying laws didn?t interest me; it?s rather that my enthusiastic engagement often existed elsewhere.

Being Jewish By Eve Rickles-Young
Binghamton University   The more you know, the more you understand and hopefully the less willing you are to hate.

Confidence By Yael Werber
Boston University   How did I go from being someone who was completely ignored to being someone who loves and craves being in front of everyone?

Soulfood By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Associate Director   Naomi and I do not obsess about the things we can?t figure out. We don?t clock how much time we spend on asking about each other?s kids vs. how many pages of text we cover. When we finish a book, we celebrate.

Putting It In Your Heart (Read More...)

Jewish Art

Am I a Jewish Artist? By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University   Wherever you look, it's startlingly easy to find Jewish characters and Jewish themes in movies and on TV.

The Art of Sound By Lara Torgovnik
New York University   The magnificence of Jewish music does not remain solely within the confines of a sanctuary, and I have personally had the honor of experiencing it in many ways throughout my time at NYU

I'll Never be an Artist By Jeffrey Jablansky
New York University   Before the moment that almost launched me headfirst into the world of art appreciation, I had never imagined myself connecting with my "inner artist" on any intellectual level.

A Letter From Nomi By Naomi Freedman
Shlihah to the Conservative Movement   KOACH welcomes Naomi Freedman, the new shlihah to the Conservative Movement. Nomi is available for consultation on aliyah, study in Israel and Israel travel. She's also an excellent resource for campus programs (either to offer suggestions or come for a visit). Click here for a full bio.

If computers were Jewish... (Read More...)

Back to School

A New and Different Year By Alisha Deluty
KOC Editor
JTS/ Columbia University   I cannot believe that I see the desert from campus and can actually be standing in the middle of the desert after a twenty to thirty minute drive.

(Not Exactly) Back to School By Adam Schwartz
University of Tennessee   My back to school experience is very different than what it would be like if I was going to school in the states, but it is an experience that is sure to make me grow.

My heart always will be in the east, though I live in the west... By Jill Wolfson
Boston University   Being back in America, things still seem different, that before seemed so normal.

Back to School By Richard S. Moline
KOACH Director   As summer wanes and our minds reluctantly drift back to school and work, we are again confronted with that cyclical reality that manages to invade our personal space this time of year. Before we know it, the days will get shorter, we'll be spending more time with our books than our Frisbees and summer will become yet another memory.

"Oh, The Places You'll Go!"

You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! By Alisha Deluty
KOC Editor
JTS/ Columbia University   As I prepare to spend next semester at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, I am anxious and excited as I embark on this journey that will no doubt be very different from my life in New York City at Columbia and the Jewish Theological Seminary. I am looking forward to not only exploring the Be'er Sheva area and its surroundings, but also to speaking Hebrew with my Israeli suitemates as well as Arabic with the local Bedouin people.

Thoughts From My Balcony By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Associate Director   The temperature is high, the water level in the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is low, there is saber-rattling all around. And yet, there's no where I'd rather be at this moment than watching the sun rise over Jerusalem.

Jezreel Valley—Avocados and the Shmitah By Sam Kessler Gilbride
New York University
Originally Posted Tishrei 5768   This is it, I say to myself, quietly and under my breath. This is what the Torah is talking about. Here, in practice, is the true essence of environmentalism—the practice that gets past all the hype, past all the unsigned treaties and international scandals, past all the lobbying and lies, past all the television specials and Hollywood movies and doomsday novels. These two men, I thought, are doing what Jewish men have done in the land of Israel for three thousand years.

Israeli Army—Our Counterparts in the IDF By Alisha Deluty / Ari Fellman
JTS / Columbia University
Originally Posted Heshvan 5768   KOC KOC Editor Alisha Deluty explores a day in the life of IDF officer Ari Fellman.

Akko—Just the Beginning By Eric Goldberg
New York University
Originally Posted Nisan 5768   The paint is dry. The furniture is in place. Four bomb shelters in Akko, Israel, have been transformed from small, dark spaces into warm, inviting community areas. And a group of 20 NYU students and a community thousands of miles away have been connected and inspired by each other.

3 guys and an Israeli... (Read More...)

Travel Time

Wherever You Go By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia   In honor of summer vacation, we?re featuring top travel articles from this year?s CULTURE CORNER series.

A Wandering Jew By Sherri Vishner
KOACH Associate
University of Florida, Gainsville   By the time this article is posted, I will be in the midst of not having a ?home? for a month. After two years in Gainesville, Florida working as the KOACH Associate at The University of Florida, I will be moving to Baltimore in August. In between I?ll be spending a month traveling to see friends and family I?ve not seen in a while.

Bee Season (Read More...)

Marriage

Free to Be ... You & Me By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia   At shul a few weeks ago, our congregation celebrated a baby naming and a Bat Mitzvah. In both cases, my rabbi blessed the girls with long lives that lead them to the huppah. But why not pray for long lives that lead to happiness? Why is marriage still considered to be the ultimate marker of a successful and meaningful Jewish life?

A KOACH Love Story By Shiri Bernstein
San Diego State University   Now, I could tell you how my fiancee and I met at a KOACH program, went on Taglit Birthright Israel with KOACH, are getting married by KOACH's very own Rabbi Elyse Winick and lived happily ever after, but what fun would that be? So, instead I'd like to tell you a different kind of love story. A story that took a lot of KOACH, or rather, strength.

The Jewish Wedding By Rabbi Shalom Kantor
KOACH/Hillel Rabbi
Binghamton University   Jewish weddings are probably the most exciting and special events in all of our traditions. The dawning wedding day can be the happiest and holiest day of one's life.

The perils of marrying a non-Jew (Read More...)

Zionism in America

Yom Huledet Sameah! By Alisha Deluty
KOC Assistant Editor
JTS / Columbia University   Every year for as long as I can remember, I have attended the Israel Day Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Whether it was a rainy or sunny day, I excitedly stood across from Central Park and waved to friends, family and strangers from schools, synagogues, camps and other organizations as they marched down the street.

Tangible Links By Yael Langer
Smith College   When my best friend from college came to visit for spring break, our first stop was Carmel, the local Middle Eastern food store. We ignored the lure of a sunny day in Central Park or a walk along Broadway in favor of a quick cultural trip I had been excited about for a few weeks.

Beyond the Pita, Beyond the Hummus By Bara Levitt
JTS / Columbia University   I am a Zionist! I am also, among other things, a woman, an American, a member of the Jewish people and a student. My identity and obligations are complicated, layered and often interconnected.

Seeing Israel through Someone Else's Eyes By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Associate Director   It's remarkable how many things imprint themselves upon your soul forever. To this day, my heart aches a little when I think about whether or not I'm a Zionist. If I'm living here, can I really earn that appellation?

Meat Shortage...a morality tale for anyone who's ever waited in line for falafel in Tel Aviv. (Read More...)

Kashrut

How do we explain it? By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri   When we try to explain those rules to non-Jews, we come off sounding more than slightly archaic (?God only wants us to eat animals that chew their cud and have cloven hooves.? ?God doesn't want us to boil a kid in its mother's milk.? ?It's not humane to eat an animal with properly draining its blood.?) So how do modern-day Jews justify the laws that separate Treif from Kosher?

Why do we do it? By Nichole Hellman
University of Arizona   Double-decker bacon cheeseburgers, pepperoni pizzas with extra cheese, sausage patty egg McMuffins ? Aside from the incredible fat content of these greasy delights, why do we deprive ourselves of such manmade luxuries?

Keeping Kosher By Mark Greenberg
KOACH Field Worker   I told my non-Jewish friends we were going on a scavenger hunt and I was going to show them that keeping Kosher wasn't that hard. We started out at the traditionally very small section in the ?ethnic? food aisle. We made up rules and I showed them what to look for.

Making it Kosher (Read More...)

Jewish Food

From Kn?el to the Hillel Sandwich By Alisha Deluty
KOC Assistant Editor
JTS / Columbia University   So much of Jewish culture and practices revolve around different types of food. Each holiday has a set of special dietary customs, whether it is to eat hallah on Shabbat, apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah, or hamantashen on Purim, or not to eat anything at all on Yom Kippur and eat only unleavened foods on Passover.

Mommy's Boy Learns to Cook By Joel Chorny
George Washington University   This article is not about how my mother and grandmother make the best food in the world, but rather this article is about a sad realization we all have to make at some point and that I have come to accept after just one semester of living away from my parents: Our mothers and grandmothers are not always going to be around to make our favorite dishes for us.

Back to My Roots By Rachel Rubin
University of Missouri-Columbia   Where I come from, the hot dog is Big. Bigger than the Italian beef sandwich and the deep-dish pizza combined. Made just right with mustard, onion and relish and just a dash of celery salt. No one would dare defy tradition by using ketchup.

Jewish Food By Rabbi Ed Romm
Director of Education and Campus Programs, Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism in Israel   There is an expression which says "you are what you eat". When it comes to the Jewish people, the expression is right on target.

Culinary Cunning (Read More...)

Shabbat Shalom!

What do you like about Shabbat? By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia   I think that variety of responses is actually what I like most about Shabbat. I like that it can provide different people with different types of comfort, whether it's the community or the traditions. I like that Shabbat can be meaningful to different people in different ways.

New Community By Adam Schwartz
University of Tennessee   Every Friday, as the afternoon turned into evening, my father would take my siblings and me to the window, and we would watch the sunset. This was our special Shabbat time and I treasured it. It took several years for me to realize that sunsets happened on nights other than Shabbat Eve.

New Traditions By Stephenie Carlson
University of Missouri-Columbia   I wasn't raised in a Jewish household. I don't have childhood memories of candles being lit on Friday night, of kiddush being chanted over wine and I had my first bite of challah a little over a year ago. Only in March of 2007 did Shabbat begin to mean something to me and play a role in my life.

Shabbat in Israel - For Everyone? By Itamar Kremer
Shaliah to the Conservative Movement   Chulent, shul, kiddush?
Try trips, humus and vodka red bull...

Shlepping on Shabbos.... (Read More...)

Going Green

Why Us? By Alisha Deluty
KOC Assistant Editor
JTS / Columbia University   Having lived in New York City for my entire life, I have always been somewhat immune to the masses of garbage and pollution that exist. Just looking outside my window here on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, I see the large black garbage bags that line the streets. This, as well as the polluted air, which I have become used to breathing, harms the environment. But why should we as Jewish college students, be so concerned with the protection of the earth?

What Can We Do? By Adam Shery
Middlesex County College   The Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world, is at the forefront of topics discussed among Jews today. While there are many prominent ethical problems in need of "repairing," I feel that the most literal meaning of Tikkun Olam is the healing, or more accurately, the saving of humanity itself, by way of the environment.

Who Can Help Me?   COEJL, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life offers support and resources.

Our End of the Deal By Richard S. Moline
KOACH Director   The heavens belong to Adonai; the earth God has entrusted to human beings, says Psalm 115. What role, then, do we play in caring for the earth? If environmental protection is a universal issue, what makes it particularly Jewish? KOACH Director Rich Moline examines the intersection between God and humanity and the role it plays in protecting our planet.

Jewish Dictionary (Read More...)

Gender in Judaism

Here and Now By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia   During the course of my childhood, my synagogue had a female rabbi, in addition to female presidents, female teachers and female torah readers. It all seemed so common. It didn't even occur to me that women were previously restricted from such roles.

We've Come So Far By Emily Wasserman
Washington University   When I was a little girl, I was exposed to a movie that would eventually become one of my favorite films of all-time. As I watched "Fiddler on the Roof," it was as if I was seeing my ancestors live, congregate and eventually persevere through the noxious pogroms. Also, Tevye's rendition of "Tradition" proved simultaneously hilarious and unforgettable.

We've Got So Far to Go By Abby Seeskin
Macalester College   It's hard from here to determine what exactly we, as college students, can do to make Conservative Judaism a more gender equal religion. We can't rewrite the Torah or the rabbinic teachings, nor can we magically produce female scholars from the past who never existed. In fact, it's pretty hard for me to conceive ways of undoing centuries of gender inequality. But we can take steps, albeit baby steps, in the progressive direction.

When a Kippah is not just a Kippah By Sherri Vishner
KOACH Associate   When someone is trying to point me out in a crowd, or giving someone else a description of me, one of the first things they say is, "she's the one in the kippah".

How to figure out who is sitting next to you on that transatlantic flight.... (Read More...)

Jewish Jams

Behind the Music By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia   I can?t hear Salaam without thinking of USY. Shir Al Ahava immediately conjures up memories of camp. Havdalah brings me to tears, as it clearly reminds me of my trip to Israel and Hallel always makes me reminisce of my days at Schechter. Even more modern/non-prayer music brings me back to a different time and place.

Virtual Jewish Music By Eva Heinstein
Hebrew University   For those who can't take a long walk through the streets of Jerusalem, a short walk to the nearest computer will suffice. Two exciting projects are being developed online, here in Jerusalem, that aim to provide resources for those interested in exploring the diverse genres and styles of Jewish music.

Confessions of a Song Leader By Shira Berkowitz
University of Missouri-Columbia   I remember some of my first Shabbatot in preschool singing about things we like about Shabbat, then in later years standing with my arms around friends at summer camp or lying on the floor singing at the top of our lungs, which progressed into jumping around the room in circles of friends singing nigunim (wordless melodies) at USY conventions, followed by hours of sitting at the Shabbat table in my college years singing every song we can think of.

Music in Jewish Tradition By Rabbi Shalom Kantor
KOACH/Hillel Rabbi
Binghamton University   I love Jewish music! I don?t care if it is Hassidic niggunim or Klezmer, Debbie Friedman, traditional Sephardic music, or some of the newer genres that you might find being produced by J-Dub records?Jewish music is something that just speaks to my soul.

Would-Be Jewish Country Songs! (Read More...)

Jewish Greeks

Going Greek on Campus By Alisha Deluty
KOC Assistant Editor
JTS / Columbia University   Cultural fraternities and sororities developed due to discrimination that existed in Greek life. Existing fraternities and sororities prohibited certain cultures and races from joining. A few multicultural fraternities and sororities were established to foster diversity.

Jewish Fraternity By Joshua Borenstein
New York University   Is a membership of all Jews enough to qualify us as a "Jewish" fraternity? None of us believed it was. We agreed that if we did not work hard to incorporate Jewish values into the identity of our chapter, then we would be no different from any other fraternity on campus.

Secular Fraternity By Steve Silver
Northwestern University   Some might call it blasphemy, but yes, I?m a Jew in a non-Jewish frat at Northwestern University ? Beta Theta Pi to be exact. And the question I always hear the most is, "Why?"

Greek Life and Jewish Life...Having Both By Michelle Samuels
KOACH Midwest Field Worker   Jewish Greek Seder was held at one of the Jewish fraternities and we had over 150 Jewish Greeks in attendance from both Jewish and Non-Jewish Greek Houses. By my senior year, the seder had grown to over 250 students.?

The Playoffs (Read More...)

Jewish Ethics

Aligning Your Moral Compass By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia   I find religion fascinating. I always have. It offers people everything from community and a sense of belonging to tradition and a sense of history. But the fact that religion also provides the basic foundation for ethical discussion is icing on the cake.

Avocados and the Shmitah By Sam Kessler Gilbride
New York University   This is it, I say to myself, quietly and under my breath. This is what the Torah is talking about. Here, in practice, is the true essence of environmentalism—the practice that gets past all the hype, past all the unsigned treaties and international scandals, past all the lobbying and lies, past all the television specials and Hollywood movies and doomsday novels. These two men, I thought, are doing what Jewish men have done in the land of Israel for three thousand years.

Righteous Gentiles By Rachel Weisel
University of Pennsylvania   Of all the facts, figures and photographs in the museum, their stories left the biggest impression on me. Maybe this was because hearing about the Righteous Gentiles made look me look inside myself and ask some painfully difficult questions: What would I do in their situation? Would I willingly put my own life and the lives of my family members in jeopardy to save somebody else?

On the Eve of a New Year... By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Associate Director   The holidays come early this year. I know that?s not true, since Rosh HaShanah is always at the beginning of Tishrei, but I look outside and the trees are still green and it feels early. I stop for breath and look into my soul and I think, no, not yet, too soon.

Joke Alphabet Soup

Back to School

New Year, Fresh Start By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia   Once you get past the end of high school, where all anyone cares about is the name of the college you've chosen, you start to think about what the next few years are actually going to look like. You start to wonder about your academic and personal life and how they will differ from what you've experienced thus far.

Finding Your Place on Campus By David Schwartz
Washington University   When you walk onto campus to begin the school year, you are walking into a very fluid social scene (more solid if you are returning, but still not "set in stone"). You may have to force yourself to not be shy, but the reward is worth it.

Jewish Ties, Easy Transition By Matt Kleiman
University of Wisconsin- Madison   No need to state the obvious, but here it goes: the transition to college is a huge change. How will I like my roommate? Will classes be hard? How am I going to make all new friends? And, of course, the question that might not be lurking in your head, but should be: "How will I find my way Jewishly on campus?"

Welcome Alisha Deluty! KOC's New Assistant Editor By Alisha Deluty
KOC Assistant Editor
JTS / Columbia University  

My "To Do" List By Richard S. Moline
KOACH Director   This is the time of year many of us face with some trepidation. Those long summer days are getting shorter. The summer routine (or lack thereof) gives way to a different kind of structure. A certain fear of the unknown seems to slowly creep upon us.

Joke Meeting the Parents

Jewish in America

Is "American-Zionist" a contradictory identity? By Josh Tobias
KOC Assistant Editor
Brown University

When I was in elementary school, the question that was all the rage on the playgrounds of the Solomon Schechter Day School was which side we would fight for in a hypothetical Israeli-American war.

Seinfeld, JDate and Chinese food: New definitions of American Judaism By Lia Lehrer
Northwestern University

As an American Jew, I participate in many ancient rituals relating to the holidays. We have sedarim on Passover, we eat latkes on Hanukkah and, most importantly, we eat Chinese food on Christmas.

Jewish Americans or American Jews? By Alana Chill
Cornell University

Cornell University has two Hillel logos, used for different types of events. One logo is said to give off the impression that "we are students at Cornell University who are Jewish," while the other is said to promote the image that "we are Jews who are a part of the Cornell University community."

Jewish in America By Rabbi Ed Romm
Director, Center On Campus
Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism, Jerusalem

When I was asked to write on being "Jewish In America," I was at first surprised. I have been living in Israel for close to 30 years. I direct a program for "overseas" students who study in Israel. Also, I have not spent more than two weeks at a time in America since making aliyah.

Joke Red, White and Blue Star of David: American-Jewish Humor

Jewish Pluralism

"They're Jewish Too" By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri, Columbia

At least for me, Judaism has always had a sort of a narrow connotation. It's not that I don't know a lot of Jewish people; I just don't really feel that I've been exposed to that much diversity within the community.

Accepting Multiple Identities By Avi Smolen
KOACH Intern
Rutgers University

While it's great to know who you are and to hold strong beliefs, the question arises as to how you deal with people whose opinions and beliefs differ from yours. This is where pluralism comes in.

Finding Judaism Abroad By Tanya Weitkamp
Missouri State University

Yeah, it's been said a thousand times before. I'm a Jew, you are a Jew; we are all Jews. But I didn't really get it until I started traveling abroad.

Judaism is Made for Pluralism By Mark Greenberg
KOACH Field Worker
Washington D.C.

There is a midrash that I love. The story goes that in the World to Come, Rabbi Akiva is teaching in his House of Study. God places Moses in the back row and he doesn't recognize anything Rabbi Akiva is teaching.

Sivan D'var Torah By Rabbi Aaron Alexander
Assistant Dean
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
American Jewish University

Sefer Vayikra mapped out for us a complicated and detailed blueprint for encountering God, praising God, and apologizing to God -- the sacrificial system. The first verse of Bamidbar counters by claiming that experiencing God can actually be quite simple. One need not wear extravagant priestly garments; one need only a wilderness and a Tent of Meeting.

Joke Receiving the Ten Commandments

"Jews in Showbiz"

Acting, Czechoslovakia, and the Power of Living with Kavvanah
By Josh Tobias
Brown University
KOC Assistant Editor

Despite the strength of their acting skills, or the quality of the makeup job, the actor can never be the character that they are playing. An actor is always expressing a lie, conveying information that is not true.

Put on Your Yarmulke...
By Sarah Goldfarb
Penn State

Although it may not be the most politically correct song, no one can resist singing along to Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song." Ever wondered whether Sandler?s song is factually correct? I dug up the truth on the Jewish roots of the stars mentioned in his festive song.

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Jews in the Spotlight
By Becky Adelberg
KOACH Midwest Field Worker

There is an excitement in our culture with being connected to a celebrity, either through relatives, having interacted with someone famous (even if he/she was just an extra on a PBS special) or the rare chance of a celebrity spotting.

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Iyyar D'var Torah
By Rabbi Charles Savenor
Associate Dean, JTS Rabbinical School

Parashat Emor and the need to open our hearts and doors to those left outside.

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Campus Update
By Justine Slovin
KOACH Intern
University of Arizona

Check out this update from our intern at the University of Arizona!

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Joke

A Jewish dog in shul?

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"Social Responsibility"

"Le Silence est l'Ignorance"
By Alyssa Appelman
University of Missouri ? Columbia
KOC Editor

My first experience with student activism in Paris was a conference on the situation in Darfur, which was co-sponsored by the UEJF, the Union des Etudiants Juifs de France. Apparently, my years of French classes in the States have still left me with much to learn, as comprehension of the language spoken in an academic setting at a fairly rapid speed is still beyond me.

Development, Thailand and Tikkun Olam
By Max Chaiken
Brown University

He works primarily as an AIDS educator. He goes to local communities and teaches children in schools what AIDS is and how they can prevent it. When I asked him why his wife doesn't value that work, he either didn't know or didn't understand what I was asking him. Our conversations were always brief and punctuated by laughter, smiles and the occasional cigarette. Yet somehow, even without a common language or a common experience we shared a connection.

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Eco-kashrut? A New Way of Eating Jewishly
By Melissa Crawley
University of Missouri

Keeping eco-kosher has been a way for me to increase the sacred connection between my food purchases and my eating habits. Every time I go to the grocery store, I think not just of whether my food choices fall within the parameters of traditional kashrut, but also in term of how my food choices connect me to my community.

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Abraham Joshua Heschel: Changing the World One Word at a Time
By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Assistant Director

My fascination with Heschel's life and work began on the very first Shabbat of my college experience. After lunch, I took a full stack of reading outside, to try to make some headway in the unbelievable amount of work I had. Assaying the books, I did what any student in their right mind would have done ? picked the shortest one. This way, I rationalized, I'd feel a sense of accomplishment and motivation to plow through the rest of the stack.

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Nisan D'var Torah
By Rabbi Amy Eilberg
Yedidya Center for Spiritual Direction

The story of Yetzi'at Mitzrayim (the exodus from Egypt) must provide the answer for how we as a people are to respond to what ails our world, for it is our central story as a people, defining our collective identity, our values and our commitments. The message of this narrative could not be more clear: we are a people which knows the soul of the stranger, the marginalized and the persecuted. We must instinctively work for justice for the afflicted ? be they individuals, communities, nations, or the earth herself.

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Campus Update
By Ashley Isenberg
KOACH Intern
York University

So three rabbis walk into a bar....ouch! ...Ha ha, no, this isn't the beginning of a joke, "3 Rabbis Walk into a Bar" is the name of a city-wide Jewish interdenominational dialogue series supported by Hillel, KOACH, Kesher, and Yavneh-Olami. Just as its title suggests, students gathered at a bar with Hillel's Reform and Orthodox rabbis and our special guest Conservative Rabbi David Eligberg from Beit Rayim Synagogue.

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Passover Jokes

These jokes should help the matzah go down more easily!

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"Jews and Booze"

It's interesting that I'm writing an article about "Jews and Booze" from the Czech Republic, a country so enamored with alcohol that it once had a political party exclusively devoted to beer. You cannot walk more than twenty feet here without encountering some place selling alcohol.

Thoughts from the Director
By Richard S. Moline
KOACH Director

I'd simply like to share some random thoughts with you this month. Since I don't have a blog, this is my outlet ? at least for this issue of KOACH-ON-CAMPUS. I stress that these are my personal observations and do not necessarily represent the views of KOACH or USCJ.

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Adar D'var Torah
By Rabbi Paul Drazen
Director of Congregational Services
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Why does the Torah use both "remember" and "not forget?" Is not remembering the same as not forgetting? To complicate matters a bit, in addition to remembering and not forgetting, we are also told to "blot out the memory."

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The Golden Compass
By Hannah Ehrlich
KOC Book Review

Part of what makes young adult novels so special is that children have more active imaginations and, as a result, writers are free to take many more liberties and chances than they can with adult novels.

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Campus Update
By Emilie Botbol
KOACH Intern

University of Illinois KOACH update!

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Joke

So what did I miss?

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"Jewish Pride"

The Roles We Play
By Alyssa Appelman
University of Missouri ? Columbia
KOC Editor

It would seem that during those times when I was surrounded by Jews, it would have been pretty easy to feel comfortable with my own identity. And it would seem that during those times when I was in the minority, I would have been less secure.

Sources of Jewish Pride
By Mindy Lipson
Brandeis University

Though it is not the role of the public school to impart any sort of religious pride into students, I believe that by displaying holiday objects partial to one religion, a school can affect the religious feelings of a student who is of a minority faith.

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At Home in Israel
By Rabbi Ed Romm
Director, Center on Campus Program in Israel

For me Jewish pride is Israeli through and through. I do not take Israel for granted. After 2000 years of not having our own country, I am proud to carry an Israeli passport.

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Shevat D'var Torah
By Rabbi Paul Resnick
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires

Yet another new year!

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Campus Update
By Samantha Dresser
KOACH Intern

Michigan State University KOACH update!

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Joke

Isn't it ironic?

"Sacrifice"

Hanukkah and Optimistic Sacrifice
By Josh Tobias
Brown University
KOC Assistant Editor

Hanukkah seems like the cynic’s answer to the gooey sentimentality of the Christmas season. Sure we will embrace the universal humanity of mankind, it says, once you stop trying to destroy us and let us practice our religion.

Happy Medium
By Gregory Adelberg
University of Kansas

Finding that middle ground, or as I like to refer to it as that "happy medium," is the key to life. It not only allows one to lead a successful life, but also a truthful one filled with health, love, openness and the ability to experience and grow.

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Drawing Near
By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Assistant Director

"Sacrifice...the word almost makes us shudder. Ancient, faceless functionaries offering up something helpless to a God who does not need it and cannot want it..."

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Campus Updates
By Ariella Zbar and Max Horovitz
KOACH Interns

Check in with KOACH at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Florida in Gainesville

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Joke

What did you get for Hanukkah?

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"Assimilation"

How Do You Decide?
By Alyssa Appelman
University of Missouri – Columbia
KOC Editor

We?ve heard the term thrown around for years, but for some reason it?s still sort of a taboo topic among Jews and especially, in my opinion, among younger Jews. And I think that?s because of fear.

The Upside of Assimilation
By Mark Greenberg
KOACH Field Worker
Washington, DC

Judaism and assimilation have a very long, intertwined history. While the Torah and Talmud have stories of Israelites who became assimilated and then came back to their roots, I want to look at what I would loosely call the upside of assimilation.

Should the Conservative Movement Assimilate Secular Values?
By Yoni Yares
Rutgers University

The values of the places where Jews have lived have found their way into the Conservative Movement and into other parts of Judaism. I can think of two major examples: women?s rights and the rights of homosexuals.

Campus Updates from Rutgers and UCLA
By Avi Smolen and Julie Pinchak
KOACH Interns

KOACH Poker Night at Rutgers and KOACH Big Sibs mentorship program at UCLA...

Joke

Be careful what you wish for - marrying a nice Jewish girl...

"The Future of the
Conservative Movement"

Where do we go from here?
By Alyssa Appelman, University of Missouri – Columbia
KOC Editor

We are part of a movement that constantly struggles to maintain a unified identify, while at the same time trying to appeal to as large a constituency as possible. To do so, it seems that we often forgo organized structure in order to embrace organized debate.

Tradition and Change
By Avi Eisen
Montclair State University

We are not like Orthodoxy trying to conserve the past while society is changing, and we are not like Reform discarding tradition in favor of assimilation and acceptance in society. We are a Halakhic movement, and Halakhah is the basis of all our decisions.

Identity Crisis
By Elise Loterman
York University

Is Conservative Judaism egalitarian? Is it non-egalitarian? Are musical instruments allowed to be used on Shabbat or are they forbidden? What are the tzniut (modesty) rules in our movement? What is considered kosher according to Conservative rabbis?

From the Director
By Richard Moline

Rosh HaShanah is upon us and so are the Aseret Y’mei T’shuvah – that intermediate time after Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur known as the Ten Days of Repentance. It’s not just time to buy that one book. It’s time to call that friend and that elderly relative. It’s time to look in the mirror and record your own deeds. And once that’s done, it’s time to dream.

Book Review:
A History of God, by Karen Armstrong
Reviewed by Josh Tobias
Brown University
KOC Assistant Editor

In a world where science has disproved a "Creator God", and visions and raptures are seen as mere neurological quirks, does God really have a place? "God seemed an aberration," Armstrong writes, "something that the human race has outgrown."

Joke

Between God and man…it’s all relative.

"Zionism and Judaism"

Ranking Israel
By Alyssa Appelman, University of Missouri – Columbia
KOC Editor

I always found it fascinating that there was so much diversity within a small group of seemingly similar Conservative Jewish teenagers. We could never agree on what being Jewish ultimately meant for us.

Ki Mitzion Teytzeh Torah
By Shira Zeliger, York University

Physically being in Jerusalem is reason enough to inspire one to study Torah. The spiritual power of the city affects me each day as I walk to and from the Yeshiva and inspires me to study Torah.

Naming Home
By Alana Sobelman

Upon meeting other Americans in Be’er Sheva, a city that has been my home for almost a month now, I am guaranteed to be asked one of two questions and often both: Did I make aliyah? And, where do I go to shul?

How to be a Zionist in Three Easy Steps...
By Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Assistant Director

Each time I staff a Taglit-birthright israel group, it's as if I'm experiencing Israel for the first time. Each group helps me see Israel in a new and different way; each group teaches me something new about Jewish living and Jewish meaning.

KOACH Intern: University of Delaware

Intern Rachel Marcus updates us on Jewish life between Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Bashanah Haba’ah (In the Year Ahead)

If you are interested in writing an article or a book review for any of our issues, please feel free to contact Alyssa Appelman (KOCEditor@koach.org) or Josh Tobias (KOCAsstEditor@koach.org).

Joke
It's all in how you say it...

"The Holocaust: 21st Century Views"

"For the dead and the living"
By Alyssa Appelman
KOACH-on-Campus Editor
University of Missouri

We may find ourselves happy and proud to be Jewish in America, but the one thing we must take from the past is a desire to bear witness for the living who are facing their own injustice around the world...

Finding America in the Czech Republic
By Gail C. Schnitzer
University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign

Though this camp would have been more bearable than most to endure, there is hardly a foot of ground that does not have some final remnants of the fallen buried beneath it. I can hardly think of a more fitting way to spend my Independence Day...

Israel and the Holocaust
By Rabbi Ed Romm Director
Center on Campus Program in Israel

Not too long ago Iran held an international conference whose purpose was denial of the Holocaust and Israel's right to exist. It is more than coincidental that denying the Holocaust and Israel's right to exist come as a matched set...

Reader Feedback
Thank you to everyone who sent in comments regarding the Tammuz "Homosexuality and Judaism" issue. Here are just some of the responses we have received.

Bashanah Haba?ah (Next Year)
If you are interested in writing an article or a book review for any of our issues, please feel free to contact Alyssa Appelman (KOCEditor@koach.org) or Josh Tobias (KOCAsstEditor@koach.org).

Joke
Sometimes you just can't win...

"Judaism and Homosexuality"

It's Time to Talk
By Alyssa Appelman
KOACH-on-Campus Assistant Editor

But through the day school, camps, youth groups, conferences, and discussions, I find that homosexuality is often ignored.

Unconditionally Sacred Love
By J. D'ror Chankin-Gould, Pitzer College

I am an openly gay Conservative Jewish man. As a boy I wondered whether God could still love me even though my heart loved men.

The Homosexual Intersection: God and Modern Science
By Avi Eisen, Montclair State University

In Rabbi Michael Gold's book Does God Belong in the Bedroom? Rabbi Gold lists three views of how life is viewed, and then relates them to sexual desire...

Judaism and Homosexuality
By Mark Greeenberg, KOACH Fieldworker

Judaism and homosexuality are two terms that for many people create more controversy and headache than the BALCO steroid scandal and Major League Baseball.

Gazpacho
Helping out at home this summer? In an apartment with friends? If you're a counselor at camp, this is even a good choice for mitbakhon or a cooking project!  Enjoy and stay cool...

Joke: The Queen's English
Mr. Fink gets lost in translation.

"Relationships with God"

Who, What, When, Where, How is God?
By Maya Berezovsky, KOACH-on-Campus Editor

What does God look like? Does God have a brain? What material is God made of? Should I feel sacrilegious asking these questions?

The Head, the Heart and the Hand Jew
By Avi Eisen, Montclair State University

The hand Jew lends help to anyone who may need it, may it be something big like Israel, Darfur, etc., or just helping various people who pass by every day.

A Relationship with You is Not God's Top Priority
By Josh Klemons, Engagement Director, San Diego State University

I am sure that if you scoured the halls of the Hebrew Union College (HUC) or the University of Judaism (UJ) you could find at least a few of our future Jewish leaders who, if asked in the strictest of confidence, would admit that they are not 100 percent comfortable in their faith.

Relating to God: A More Metaphysical Relationship
By Becky Adelberg, KOACH Midwest Field Worker

So many religions exist around the world, in part, because each of us has a different way of connecting to God, the Creator, a higher power.

Nanie's Noodle Kugel
This sweet treat will sustain you well if you stay up all night to learn Torah on Shavuot...but you can enjoy it any time!

Truly Spiritual
By Greg Adelberg, University of Kansas

People take their religions too strongly and begin to believe more in their religion and its practices themselves than in the basic idea of God.

Joke: Bush and Moses
President George Bush was in the Middle East attending a summit when he spotted a man with a long beard, a long white robe, and holding a wooden staff in one hand, and two stone tablets in the other hand.