Ruling on campus hate

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on May 22, 2013

Over the past decade, as anti-Israel demonstrations have become a regular occurrence on many U.S. college campuses, Jewish nonprofits and individuals have turned to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for relief, and with some success. They convinced the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), for one, to investigate anti-Israel speech and actions at three University of California campuses, arguing that such speech is tantamount to anti-Semitism and violates the civil rights of Jewish students.

Univ. of California president defends Farrakhan appearance on campus

Published on March 12, 2012

University of California President Mark Yudof defended Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan's right to speak at the university's Berkeley campus.

Anti-Semitic flags found near Milken Campus

By Ryan Torok
Published on March 8, 2012

A Milken Community High School official reported the discovery of anti-Semitic renderings of the Israel flag in front of and near its middle school campus on March 1.

ADL prepares students to face campus anti-Semitism

By Ryan Torok
Published on March 8, 2012

A group of students received their task during a recent workshop at New Community Jewish High School: Craft a response to college students who liken the Israeli occupation to Nazi Germany.

The truth about UC Campuses

Published on March 8, 2012

Feb. 3 was a historic day for the University of California and its Hillels. On that day, UC President Mark Yudof met with all of the UC Hillel directors in his office in Oakland to discuss our observations regarding how Israel is faring on campus...

Are haters hiding behind free speech?

Published on March 8, 2012

Imagine a college student being subjected to verbal abuse, being spat at, and being the focus of harassment because of their gender, religion, national origin, race or simply because of their political beliefs?

Cornell, Technion joining for top tech campus

Published on October 24, 2011

Cornell University and The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology will partner to create a world-class applied science and engineering campus in New York City.

Adelsons give $1 million for Israel advocacy on campus

Published on April 21, 2011

Philanthropists Miri and Sheldon Adelson have pledged $1 million to further expand the Israel Fellows program on North American college campuses, The Jewish Agency said. The pledge, which was announced Thursday, will increase the number of campuses with the program to 50 from 34. The Israel Fellows program, a collaborative effort of the Jewish Agency and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, places recent Israeli college graduates in Hillels on U.S. and Canadian campuses to assist with Israel education and advocacy.

Hillel students and professionals gear up to face anti-Israel campus activism

Published on August 17, 2010

Amanda Boris is nervous about what she’ll face when classes resume at the University of Wisconsin later this month.

Jewish Life on Campus: A Program for Students, Parents

Published on May 25, 2010

Connecting to Jewish life on U.S. college campuses will be the focus of a panel discussion for graduating high school seniors and their parents. Rabbi Nicole Guzik of Sinai Temple in Westwood will moderate a panel of current Jewish college students and recent graduates on June 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the University of UCLA Hillel office.

Groups seeking policy change on campus anti-Semitism

Published on April 15, 2010

A coalition of Jewish groups has asked the U.S. secretary of education to review a policy that appears to preclude addressing discrimination complaints on the basis of religion.

The letter to Arne Duncan urges the department's Office for Civil Rights to treat incidents of campus anti-Semitism as discrimination on the basis of race and national origin, not just religion, the Forward reported Wednesday.

L.A.’s Jewish Community Library Likely to Move

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on March 15, 2009

Who you calling rebbetzin, why you dissing Palin, what college anti-Semitism?

Published on September 17, 2008

" . . . I am just an average person that fits the person you describe in "Post-Palin Depression." I do not have a therapist, but I have been in depression for almost two weeks now . . . "

Free speech on campus

By Steve Greenberg
Published on September 11, 2008

Campus hate—while down —is still a problem, wailin’ on Palin

Published on September 11, 2008

" . . .If insulting community organizers, making snide remarks about Sen. Barack Obama's popularity and mocking the location of Obama's acceptance speech make her [Palin] presidential material, then America is in serious trouble . . ."

That campus anti-Semitism thing, you say it’s your birthday

Published on September 3, 2008

" . . . Jews are an ethnic group, sharing an ancestry, a heritage, traditions, language, homeland and culture. Not protecting them from anti-Semitism on college campuses means that a national problem may go unaddressed, because colleges and universities need not answer for their conduct . . ."

Quiet war on campus: Israel remains under attack despite fewer public protests

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on August 21, 2008

While she worked bringing pro-Israel speakers and programs to campuses, Davoodi also built up quite a collection of fliers claiming Zionists are the new Nazis, that the 'Israel lobby' has hijacked American foreign policy and the Jewish state is built on a mounds of lies and Palestinian bones.

Hillel opens doors to non-Jews, campus at large

By Ben Harris
Published on April 3, 2008

Hillel centers on university campuses were viewed not long ago as little more than the local Jewish hangout, a place where students could come for kosher meals or socialize with other Jews. But in a move that Hillel leaders say has been forced upon them by this generation's altered social landscape, the organization is throwing open its doors to everyone, designing programs that appeal to Jews and non-Jews and hyping its contribution to university -- not only Jewish -- life.

Broad Art Center lifts concrete divide from UCLA

By Morris Newman
Published on November 9, 2006

In remodeling UCLA's old art school building, architects Richard Meier and Michael Palladino have taken a building that was essentially a wall and made it into a window. And the view through the window is good.

Fight Against Campus Bias Gets Boost

By Morton A. Klein
Published on May 4, 2006

If you're a Jewish college student, you no longer have to tolerate anti-Semitism or Israel-bashing on your campus. You are protected under our federal civil rights laws. These were the landmark conclusions of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, an independent federal agency that analyzes information about discrimination and reports its findings and recommendations to the president and Congress.

Hooray for Holy-wood

By Joel Kotkin
Published on December 8, 2005

But perhaps a better reflection of Los Angeles' overall civic health might be to look at Temple Israel in Hollywood. There, a $20 million new building program -- this being Los Angeles, an expanding parking lot is one centerpiece -- will soon be tearing down aging adjacent apartments to make way for an expanded campus, including a new education complex and chapel.

Jewish Life Blooms at Christian College

By Julie G Fax
Published on July 29, 2004

The breathtaking beauty of Pepperdine University inspires spirituality, surely not unintentional for the founders of this 67-year-old Churches of Christ institution, where instilling moral values based on a love of God is as much a part of the mission as academic excellence.

At the very top of the tiered campus is Pepperdine's School of Law. On its top floor is the office of Sam Levine, an associate professor of law who happens to be an Orthodox rabbi at the nexus of quietly flourishing Jewish community in the middle of a Christian university.

Parents Don’t Kid About Day Schools

By Sharon Schatz Rosenthal
Published on May 27, 2004

After extensive research, campus tours, a detailed application and an interview, Aidan Buckner was recently accepted into the school of his choice. While his parents may have done the legwork, it is Aidan who will enter kindergarten at the Ronald and Trana Labowe Family Day School at Adat Ari El in Valley Village this fall. The 5 1/2-year-old seems unfazed by the upcoming transition, but for his parents, the news marks the end of a long journey.

L.A.‘s ‘New Jew’ Hits First Birthday

By Diane Arieff
Published on May 22, 2003

In the Valley suburb of West Hills, a small bit of history is being made: It's home to the first and only all-Jewish lacrosse team at any school in the country.

Jews Embrace Life in the Conejo Valley

By Peter Fehler
Published on May 15, 2003

It took me 15 years of living on the Westside and in the San Fernando Valley to find what I was looking for -- a Jewish lifestyle in Los Angeles fit for my family.

Center Construction Moves Ahead Despite Shortfall

By Journal Staff
Published on May 1, 2003

"We're moving ahead as originally scheduled," said Ralph Stern, of Tustin, who is leading fundraising. In a communitywide appeal in May 2002, he promised a fiscally conservative stance: construction would start when financial goals were met.

Your Letters

Published on February 20, 2003

It is remarkable that in a community that raised over $42 million for the United Jewish Fund (UJF) last year, Marc Ballon could not find any of The Federation's 30,000 supporters who applaud The Federation for its outstanding efforts ("Pumping Up the Bottom Line" Feb. 14).

Reality For Campus Ills

By Chaim Seidler-Feller
Published on December 19, 2002

During the past year, if you were to mention the campus to anyone involved in Jewish life, you would surely elicit a response that was a mixture of anxiety, contempt and anger.

World Briefs

By JTA Staff
Published on October 10, 2002

World Briefs

Much Moola for New Look at YULA

By Gaby Wenig
Published on September 26, 2002

For Rabbi Marvin Hier, the new $12.6 million YULA (Yeshiva University of Los Angeles) boys' school building gives him both a feeling of pride and a twinge of envy.

Community Celebration

By Rob Eshman
Published on September 5, 2002

A massive gathering on a construction site overlooking Orange County didn't celebrate the Jewish community's newest school, community center, office building, art gallery, fitness center, swimming pool or theater.

Campus Envy

By Rob Eshman
Published on August 29, 2002

I am not a big fan of Jewish unity when it's ideological. A room full of informed

and opinionated Jews, arguing their ideas back and forth, is a sign of a healthy people.

But I do support Jewish physical unity. Life is with people, and Jewish life flourishes when we learn, play, pray and -- of course -- argue together.

‘United We Flourish’

By Andrea Adelson
Published on August 1, 2002

Putting his own twist on a frequently invoked slogan, Lou Weiss, the newly elected president of Orange County's Jewish Federation, intends to make inclusiveness a priority during his tenure

Terror on Campus

By Michael Aushenker
Published on August 1, 2002

July 31 was the last day of Ulpan, the six-week Hebrew class at Jerusalem's Hebrew University's Rothberg School for Overseas Students.

Creating a Sacred Space

By Elliot Fein
Published on August 1, 2002

In 1978, when I first applied to college, I didn't know what I wanted to study as an undergraduate. I left the space blank on the college application form where I was supposed to indicate an intended major. Someone in the admissions office, based on my grade point average and my achievement test scores, took the liberty and placed me in a major called leisure studies.

Community Briefs

By Journal Staff
Published on July 25, 2002

Police believe they have broken a major Ecstasy ring, allegedly led by Israeli nationals, with the arrest of 15 suspects and the seizure of more than $8 million worth of the hallucinogenic drug.

Terrorism Won’t Stop HUC-JIR

By Joe Berkofsky
Published on July 18, 2002

When Mark Miller walks in downtown Jerusalem these days, he leans away from the street whenever he sees an oncoming bus.

Young Man on Campus

By Marlene Adler Marks
Published on April 18, 2002

Last week I worried in this space that our college students were ill-equipped to defend American Jewry's pro-Israel position. I asked for a volunteer to explain what's going on. Luckily, Donald Cohen-Cutler, a UC Davis freshman and an international relations major, stepped up to the plate.

I say "luckily" because events on campus are even worse than I had suspected. Of course, I remember the beginnings of the Jewish-Muslim rift on campus during the first intifada. But I don't remember blatant insults to Jewish ritual and history. That's what's happening now (see story, page 10).

CSU Might End Israel Trips

By Tom Tugend
Published on March 14, 2002

Two Cal State University (CSU) students spending their junior year on a foreign campus are enthusiastic about their experience. Ayelet Arbel loves the beautiful campus setting, the nearby beaches, the unique cultural exposure and the vibrant city life. Adam Ascherin is most impressed by the philosophy and outlook of the local people and their ready acceptance of strangers into their extended national family.

The good news, says their resident advisor Norma Tarrow, education professor at Cal State Long Beach, is that her two charges have quickly integrated into life at Haifa University and enjoy mingling with students from Europe, Canada and the East Coast states, as well as with local Arab and Druse classmates. Tarrow was among CSU faculty, who, together with the Jewish Public Affairs Committee, persuaded the administration to reinstate its overseas program in Israel after it was canceled following the outbreak of the intifada in September of 2000.

The bad news, she says, is that there are only two students from Cal State, and unless at least eight to 10 students enroll in the Israel program for the fall semester, the Cal State administration -- which pays for her salary and heavily subsidizes the program -- will probably have to cancel it for budgetary reasons.

Westside Renewal

By Rob Eshman
Published on May 17, 2001

Believe in the Exodus story or not, believe in the Oslo peace process or not, but you have to believe in Jewish Community Centers.

A Hi-Tech Jewish High

By Tom Tugend
Published on October 14, 1999

The Milken Community High School celebrated the completion of its campus construction Sunday, putting the final touches on the nation's largest non-Orthodox Jewish high school -- and its most high-tech -- bar none.

Collecting an Unpaid Debt

By Wendy J. Madnick
Published on January 21, 1999

Campus organizations often go overlooked or get taken for granted by students and alumni alike. Hillel at Pierce and Valley Colleges has those problems -- and then some.

How Do We Egage Teens?

By John R. Fishel
Published on November 12, 1998

There are more than 30,000 Jewish teen-agers in Los Angeles -- how do we engage them?