By Rachel Ledeboer Poetry has long remained an enduring part of Jewish culture. It can be found across different time periods, in different regions, and even in different languages; it can be secular or religious, metrical or non-metrical, personal or…
Poetry of Jewish Identity and Insecurity in Medieval Spain
By Rachel Ledeboer SELF-EXHORTATION TO MAKE THE JOURNEY TO ISRAEL by Yehuda Halevi, translated by David Goldstein Are you, at fifty, pursuing your youth,As your days are preparing to fly away?Do you run from the worship of God,And yearn to…
Beet Borscht
Recipe by Mary Roche Illustrated by Nina Scherer (Instagram/Twitter: @nuheyenuh) The other day it was a little chilly and rainy and I came across a photo of a sumptuous looking bowl of borscht in my Twitter feed. With all the cooking…
Nasturtiums
Painting by Nina Scherer Instagram/Twitter: @nuheyenuh
“Won’t You Be Kind? And Please Love Melvin Brooks”
Written by Raina Scherer Illustrated by Nina Scherer (@nuheyenuh on Instagram & Twitter) Mel Brooks is best known for his campy style of comedy that often features outrageous productions and provocative themes. He is a master of using satire, parody,…
Santa Cruz Hillel Offers Support During the COVID-19 Crisis
By Mary Roche and Amanda Leiserowitz Illustrated by Sarah Lynn (IG @sarahkath.art) At the end of April, we attended a forum organized by Santa Cruz Hillel, in which four UCSC students and one alumni gave feedback about how the pandemic…
Shabbat Candles
Painting by Sarah Lynn, IG @ sarahkath.art
Twelve Stars
Written by Mieka Stang Illustrated by Sarah Lynn, IG @ sarahkath.art Twelve stars suspended in the quiet black of the night. Dark skies pulled the farthest points of light, beyond the mountains, ever closer, and rocked the plane out across…
The Year of B’nai Mitzvah
A short story by Amanda Leiserowitz Photo courtesy of Nikko Tan It was the year of b’nai mitzvah. Objectively, Noa knew every year was the year of b’nai mitzvot for somebody. But knowing that – and attending a different classmate’s…
Spring 2020 Cover
Illustrated by Jackson Patrick-Sternin