Stanford University Archives - ��ϴ��

Jewish Agency Israel Fellow Spotlight: Yonatan Eyov

��ϴ�� — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Israel

Leadership and Career Skills

LGBTQIA+

Jewish Agency Israel Fellow Spotlight: Yonatan Eyov

Author

��ϴ��

Date

October 31, 2022

I was at a birthday party a few years ago and a friend said to me, “You should really apply to become a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow on a college campus in the States.” After studying at a mechina (military preparatory program), serving in the Israeli army, and graduating from college with a degree in communications, the last thing I wanted to do was commit the next few years of my life to another program. But I love Israel, and sharing that love has always been so important to me, so when my friend came back to me a few months later and told me that Stanford University was looking for an Israel Fellow at the last minute, I decided to apply. A month and a half later, I was settling into California life.

My love for my country and for the Jewish people was ingrained in me from when I was very young. I was born in Ethiopia, and the central heartbeat of the Jewish community there was a yearning for Jerusalem and a return to our homeland. When I was six, my family moved to Israel and experienced the joy of coming home. I grew up in Lod and served as a criminal investigator in the Israeli army. I have seen the problems Israel faces both internally and externally and with all its flaws, I love its story.��

Bringing that love with me to Stanford has inspired me to share my unique Israel story with the students here, and as their Israel fellow, connect with them on a personal and communal level. I’m gay, and I created a space for Jewish queer students on campus so they can understand how their Jewishness and queerness contribute to their stories. I’m Black, and that often triggers important conversations with students about differences within Judaism, racism in America and in Israel, and the variety of experiences that Black people face all over the world. I’m Ethiopian and have introduced students to holidays like Sigd which they may not have experienced otherwise.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to work with an incredible team at Stanford Hillel who have been a family and a community for me when my own family and community are far away. Packing up my life in a month and a half and coming to Stanford to share my love of Israel with the campus community here was the best decision of my life.

Jewish Agency Israel Fellow

Stanford University

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Shabbat Meant Something New After the Fall of Roe v. Wade

��ϴ�� — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

News

Shabbat Meant Something New After the Fall of Roe v. Wade

Author

Alexa Kupor

Date

June 30, 2022

I like to think about the entry of Shabbat as a blanket of peace and quiet descending on the Jewish community as dusk falls on Friday evenings. The words of “Lecha Dodi” liken the beginning of Shabbat to a bride, evoking delicate images of grace, elegance, and reverence.

Last week was different.

As I live on the West Coast, I first read the news of the overruling of Roe v. Wade upon waking up on Friday morning. By the time the sunset signaled the start of Shabbat, I had digested countless social media posts; engaged in fearful conversations with friends; and witnessed vehement protests from San Francisco City Hall to the steps of the Supreme Court. It was the opposite of peace and quiet, and it was only through this restlessness that we could find a reasonable channel for an inkling of our overflowing anger and apprehension.

Protest against policies that promote injustice or deprive people of civil liberties is a core Jewish value, as is the broader fight for reproductive justice. Despite common assumption, Judaism provides a significant theological justification for the protection of the right to terminate a pregnancy.

For example, the Mishnah, a compilation of oral laws compiled during the first and second centuries CE, proclaims that an expecting mother’s life “takes precedence” over that of an embryo until its head has exited the womb. Likewise, a passage in Exodus, the second book of the Torah, describes a scenario in which violence resulting in a woman’s miscarriage — and no other “damage” — shall be punished by a fine, whereas only if the woman is hurt or killed should the punishment be “life for life.” This framework deliberately denies a fetus the same legal standing as a human being and clearly differentiates between a pregnant individual — and the legitimacy of their life — and the fetus, which lacks the same classification.

Prominent Jewish commentator Rashi provides further detail for when one may classify an individual as living, claiming that not until “his head has emerged” and entered “the air of the world” may Judaic law declare the existence of a human with a “soul.” That means that the state abortion bans already in place across the South and Midwest, many of which define life from the moment of fertilization and provide no exceptions for pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, directly prevent pregnant individuals from making medical decisions with their Judaism in mind. By taking away one fundamental right — that of the privacy to make essential decisions regarding one’s body — the Supreme Court has indirectly gutted another: the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion and free exercise thereof.

However, this is not to say that Jewish tradition is unquestionably committed to the principles of reproductive justice in all possible circumstances. Judaism is an intellectually diverse religion, and those who disagree with the aforementioned characterizations of abortion can often find textual and cultural support for their position. Even the ostensibly progressive belief that mental or physical health threats should be grounds for an abortion reflects an underlying that abortion is inherently immoral; simply not wishing to give birth and take care of a child does not suffice, in this perspective, to justify an abortion. reflects this attitude and requires approval of an abortion committee before the procedure may be accessed, which I believe falls short of ensuring full bodily autonomy.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America’s position also reflects the ambivalence about abortion that is clear in some of our sources. It absolute abortion bans and recognizes Jewish law’s prioritization of a pregnant person’s life over that of the fetus in the case of threats to the former’s physical or mental health. It also, however, emphasizes the rights that should be granted to an “unborn fetus” as a possessor of “potential life.”

While acknowledging these layers of complexity, I embrace the traditions within Judaism that support the full rights to bodily autonomy, and I remain hopeful for a Jewish community in the present and future that promotes this value, in addition to reproductive justice and basic humanity for all individuals. I have long felt guided by the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam: the call to repair the world. On days such as this, it is difficult to know where to begin in salvaging the remains of a world appearing so different from the one in which myself and my foremothers expected I would grow up.

Yes, the Shabbat that started the day Roe v. Wade fell was different from most; rather than being blanketed in a sentiment of peace and rejuvenation, it was peppered with moments of exasperation, permeated by episodes of dread and confusion, and, perhaps most importantly, filled with attempts to strategize for a better future and build coalitions committed to protecting reproductive rights in all corners of the country. And it was this loudness, this volume, this undeniable buzz of anger, sadness, and action that made it feel more Jewish than any quiet evening could have. Tzedek, tzedek, tirdof. Our work is cut out for us. Onwards.

Alexa Kupor (she/her) is an incoming sophomore at Stanford University. Originally from San Jose, CA, she plans to study history and feminist, gender, and sexuality studies.

Reproductive Freedom

Shabbat

Stanford University

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��ϴ�� Announces 2022-2023 Student Cabinet

��ϴ�� — Fri, 20 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

News

��ϴ�� Announces 2022-2023 Student Cabinet

Author

��ϴ��

Date

May 20, 2022

Washington D.C. — ��ϴ��, the largest and most inclusive Jewish campus organization in the world, announced today the 17 members of the 2022-2023 ��ϴ�� Student Cabinet. The cabinet serves as a vehicle to connect the global Jewish student community, and also serves as an advisory council to ��ϴ��’s leadership in its efforts to engage Jewish college students worldwide.

The members were selected through a highly competitive process. They represent a cross-section of campus experiences, Jewish backgrounds, geography and academic interests. Hillel serves students at more than 850 colleges and universities, and in 17 countries worldwide.��

“Hillel is proud to welcome the new Student Cabinet, an inspiring group of ambassadors for our movement, which prides itself above all on ensuring th��ϴ�� is a home for every Jewish student,” said ��ϴ�� President and CEO Adam Lehman. “The leadership of these exceptional students will support and elevate our movement during times of challenge and joy throughout the year.”

Student cabinet co-chairs Jordan Robinson and Jessica Yeroshalmi’s appointment was announced in March.��

“I’m excited to work with an incredible group of students who are motivated to better the Hillel movement and add value to our community,” said Yeroshalmi, a member of the class of 2023 at Baruch College in New York City. “I’m looking forward to seeing all that we will accomplish together. I’m grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started.”

“The cabinet this year is dynamic,” said Robinson, a member of the class of 2022 at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. ��“It’s a spectrum of schools, backgrounds, stories, and visions which will only advance the movement in anticipation of our centennial celebration. I can’t wait to see the energy of our cabinet next year and the potential it holds!”

Below is a full list of the 2022-23 Cabinet members:

Co-Chairs:

Jordan Robinson, MBA candidate,��Wayne State University, ’24

Jessica Yeroshalmi, Baruch College, ’23

Cabinet Members:

Avery Adelman, Emory University, ’24

Linoy Barokas, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, ’24

Abram Berry, The University of Utah, ’24

Samantha Brody, Brandeis University, ’24

Elijah Cohen-Gordon, Clark University, ’23

Samuel Cross, Rhodes College, ’24

Dani Duek, Tel Aviv University, ’22

Halle Gordon, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, ’23

Hayley Huber, Washington and Lee University, ’23

Savannah Lipinski, University of Wisconsin, Madison, ’23

Gali Polichuk, University of Florida, ’24

Shannon Saed, , ‘23

Isaac Schneider, , ’23

Danielle Sobkin, , ‘24��

Rebecca Weiss, , ‘24

Federico Zalcberg, , ’22

Olivia Zelling, , ’24

Ben Gurion University of the Negev

International Student Cabinet

Ithaca College

Michigan State University

Rhodes College

Stanford University

Tel Aviv University

The City College of New York

University of California

University of California Berkeley

University of Florida

University of Maryland Baltimore County

University of Texas at Austin

University of Utah

University of Wisconsin Madison

Washington and Lee University

Wayne State University

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If you have the opportunity to impact others, use that opportunity to help people.

��ϴ�� — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Proud to be Jewish

If you have the opportunity to impact others, use that opportunity to help people.

Author

��ϴ��

Date

April 12, 2022

“I’ve wanted to be on ‘Jeopardy!’ since I was a little kid. My parents were like, ‘You seem to know a lot of these answers, so you should try out. I did well enough on the test to get an audition for the ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship.’ And then from there, it was like a dream coming true.��

“The experience was filled with emotion. I made it to the finals and met ‘Jeopardy!’ host and Jewish actress , which was awesome. As someone from an interfaith family who connects with spiritual teachings, hearing her perspective on faith was very meaningful.��

“We spoke about how my faith is inspiring me to pursue a career in oncology and conduct cancer research. My mom is a cancer survivor. Being by her side as she battled cancer was one of the most difficult experiences of my life. It made me the person I am today. Faith has helped me realize that things happen for a reason, and knowing that God is guiding you with a plan can help you deal with stress.

“Personally, my faith has also helped me understand what to do when you’re in the national spotlight. I’m donating a portion of my prize money to food banks and putting the rest toward medical school. If you have the opportunity to impact others, you should use that opportunity to help people.” — Isaac Applebaum, Stanford University ’23

As told to Gabriel Lesser, writer for the ��ϴ�� Writers Program.

Humans of Hillel

Stanford University

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Jewish Students Shine in ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship’

��ϴ�� — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

News

Jewish Students Shine in ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship’

Author

Alexandra Goldberg

Date

March 3, 2022

Isaac Applebaum has been a “Jeopardy!”’ fan for as long as he can remember. As a child, he and his family would shout answers at the television and hum along to the show’s iconic theme song.

This month, Applebaum finally put his knowledge to the test on the “Jeopardy!” stage.

“I’ve wanted to be on ‘Jeopardy!’ since I was a little kid. My parents were like, ‘You seem to know a lot of these answers, so you should try out,’” said Applebaum, a computational biology major at Stanford University. “I did well enough on the test to get an audition. And then from there, it was like a dream come true.”

Applebaum, 23, was one of six Jewish students who brought heat to the “Jeopardy! National College Championship” this month. The competition, hosted by Jewish actress and “The Big Bang Theory” star , tested the quick wit of 36 college students for a grand prize of $250,000.

The Jewish competitors, most of whom are active in Hillel, said their faith played a key role in their “Jeopardy!” experience. For weeks, they buzzed in answers to questions as their families, friends, and Hillels cheered them on from afar.

“When I was on stage, I wasn’t thinking about the broadcast, and I just wanted to get the most out of the experience,” said Joey Kornman, a 20-year-old junior at Brandeis University. “The whole thing still feels surreal.”

Kornman, who qualified for the semifinals after winning the quarterfinal competition, said the people made “Jeopardy!” a memorable experience.

“It was so nice to meet students from across the country,” he said. “Not everyone shared the same academic interests, but we had enough in common to be selected for this ‘Jeopardy!’ tournament.”

For Sam Blum, an engineering science major at Vanderbilt University, competing on the show was a full-circle moment.

During his senior year of high school, Blum and his father snagged tickets to a live taping of “Jeopardy!” in Los Angeles. While sitting in the studio audience, he spoke to the late Alex Trebek, who hosted “Jeopardy!” for a record-setting 37 seasons.

“I told him I hoped to be back one day,” he said. “I had wanted to be a part of this for so long.”

Flash forward to his senior year of college, Blum was finally on stage. His study strategies, including practice games with his parents, who played the part of “Jeopardy!” host over Zoom, would help him clinch third place in the quarterfinals.

“That gave me a better feel of what it would be like to answer 50 questions in a row, standing up, with a buzzer,” Blum, 22, said. “It’s all about timing.”

Lucy Greenman, a senior studying health analytics at College of William & Mary, opened her television appearance with a short story about teaching Hebrew to kindergarten and first-grade students.

“Having little kids is the best because they have no filter,” she said to “Jeopardy!” host Mayim Bialik.

The road to “Jeopardy!” fame was intense. After taking a baseline quiz, Greenman and her peers had a series of callbacks until they were selected to participate in the 36-student tournament.

Greenman, who regularly leads Shabbat services at her Hillel, was excited to interact with a Jewish star like Bialik.

“The whole show has a Jewish tint to it, because you’re going to meet a Jewish celebrity,” Greenman said. “So it was definitely a theme of the weekend, and it’s very comforting to meet somebody and know that you already have such a core part of yourself in common with them.”

Besides connecting with Bialik, Greenman, 24, said the best part of her experience was building relationships with the other competitors. Post-filming dinners and hours spent on stage helped her bond with them.

“After we played our first games, and that whole wave of stress was over, the best part was that we had all been through it together,” Greenman said. “It was just like hanging out with friends.”

For Fiona Hellerman, an international relations and philosophy major who is active in Hillel at Tulane University, the most memorable part of the tournament was speaking with Bialik about her late uncle.

As a child, Hellerman discovered she had a knack for trivia while watching “Jeopardy!” with her Great Uncle John.

“He loved trivia and random questions. We’d always watch ‘Jeopardy!’ and joke around,” Hellerman said. “He also really loved Bialik’s character in the ‘Big Bang Theory,’ which was one of his favorite TV shows.”

During her senior year in high school, Great Uncle John died of medical complications. Throughout the “Jeopardy!” filming experience, Hellerman said she felt her uncle’s presence and support.

“Everything really felt like it came full circle when I was filming,” Hellerman said. “There was a confluence of factors, like how the woman who portrayed his favorite character on the ‘Big Bang Theory’ was hosting a show that we all loved, and how I was representing my dream school on the show.”

After filming, the 21-year-old senior spoke with Bialik about how special this experience was for her and her uncle.

“She sent my family her love and said it was a beautiful story. It was just so sweet and special,” she said. “I know that I got a little misty while we were talking.”

Beyond the stress of hitting the buzzer first and the race for the cash prize, “Jeopardy!” was an experience about connection, Hellerman said.

“My time on ‘Jeopardy!’ was more than a competition. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Hellerman said. “Having that sentimental moment with Mayim is honestly worth much more than any prize I could’ve won playing the game.”

Isaac Applebaum also shared a moment with Bialik.

When the studio cameras were rolling, Applebaum told Bialik that his mother’s battle with cancer deepened his “personal faith and relationship with God” and encouraged him to work toward a career in oncology.

He also said his faith helped him cope with stress during the competition, especially during the semifinals.

“Faith can give you perspective and also this idea that things in life happen for a reason as part of God’s plan for our life,” Applebaum said. “I think it takes some of the pressure off.”

Alexandra Goldberg is a sophomore at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Brandeis University

College of William and Mary

Stanford University

Tulane University

Vanderbilt University

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Yoga became a creative, accessible gateway to Jewish connectivity.

��ϴ�� — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Hillel Leadership

Jewish Identity

Yoga became a creative, accessible gateway to Jewish connectivity.

Author

��ϴ��

Date

August 3, 2020

“While Shabbat services have been an incredibly important part of my life, not everyone connects with our rich tradition by praying out of a book. That encouraged me to begin infusing yoga into our Shabbat experiences ��ϴ�� at Stanford. Every session incorporated songs and moves that mimicked themes of the weekly Torah portion, giving us a chance to pause from our busy schedules and welcome spirituality. Integrating the mind and body is so important in spiritual practice. For students of all backgrounds, yoga became a creative, accessible gateway to Jewish connectivity. Planning, customizing and executing meaningful Jewish experiences are skills I will continue using to translate spirituality into Shabbat and everyday activities.” — Lizzie Frankel, Stanford University��

Humans of Hillel

Stanford University

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Stanford University Archives - ��ϴ��

Jewish Agency Israel Fellow Spotlight: Yonatan Eyov

Jewish Agency Israel Fellow Spotlight: Yonatan Eyov

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

Shabbat Meant Something New After the Fall of Roe v. Wade

Shabbat Meant Something New After the Fall of Roe v. Wade

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

��ϴ�� Announces 2022-2023 Student Cabinet

��ϴ�� Announces 2022-2023 Student Cabinet

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

If you have the opportunity to impact others, use that opportunity to help people.

If you have the opportunity to impact others, use that opportunity to help people.

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

Jewish Students Shine in ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship’

Jewish Students Shine in ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship’

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

Yoga became a creative, accessible gateway to Jewish connectivity.

Yoga became a creative, accessible gateway to Jewish connectivity.

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

Stanford University Archives - ���ϴ�����

Jewish Agency Israel Fellow Spotlight: Yonatan Eyov

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

Shabbat Meant Something New After the Fall of Roe v. Wade

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

���ϴ����� Announces 2022-2023 Student Cabinet

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

If you have the opportunity to impact others, use that opportunity to help people.

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

Jewish Students Shine in ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship’

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

Yoga became a creative, accessible gateway to Jewish connectivity.

Discover the Crew that’s Right for You

Stanford University Archives - ��ϴ��

��ϴ�� Announces 2022-2023 Student Cabinet