Posts Tagged ‘ Israel ’

Celebrate Israel Festival – Shalom LA!

By
Photo: Shoshana Kozaski

Photo: Shoshana Kozaski

By Karin Ziv and Shoshana Kozaski

Coming together once a year to celebrate the Jewish State of Israel is a tradition that Israelis have upheld since the birth of the nation in 1948.  Evidently, this tradition still exists today throughout different countries and states. Israelis have been able to retain their ideals, values and traditions to ensure that their culture persists within the melting pot of America.

In Los Angeles, Israelis have a strong presence with markets, restaurants, and organizations. The presence is so eminent that for some Israeli immigrants, Los Angeles feels like a home away from home. Read more »

Students on Human Rights: West Bank Checkpoints Hinder Palestinian College Students

By

By Devon Lantry

Security checkpoints give many Palestinian university students difficulties in accessing higher education in the West Bank.  In September 2012, the United Nations reported that, as of June 2012, the West Bank had 542 “obstacles to movement” in the form of security checkpoints and roads intermittently closed to Palestinians.

Because of these roadblocks and checkpoints, “60 Palestinian communities, with a combined population of about 190,000, are still compelled to use detours that are two to five times longer than the direct route to the closest city.  As a result, [West Bank Palestinians’] access to livelihoods and basic services, including health, education and water supply, continue to be impaired.” Read more »

What Role Does Israel Play at AJU? What Role Should It Play?

By

AJU has Israel-themed events, including last year's Israel Fair and the annual Israel Week. Photo: Kimberly Duenas.

By Kimberly Duenas

At AJU, the presence of Israel is silently ubiquitous.

Think about it: first, our only available study abroad option is to Israel; second, we are greeted by the Israeli flag upon our entrance into the school, and, most apparently; third, our core curriculum requires that all students complete seminars about Israel.

But what does all this mean? What exactly is the relationship between the students, AJU itself, and the state of Israel?

I took the question to a variety of students, both new and old. I asked what they thought the role of Israel was at AJU, if any. I also asked if they believe that AJU tries to create Israel advocates, or is the university simply fostering a relationship between American students and the Jewish State? Read more »

Israel Week Increases Awareness, Appetites

By

As part of Israel Week, students watched Yafit Josephson perform live in "New Eyes." Photo from LA Stage website.

By Sara Gold, Copy Editor

AJU’s annual Israel Week took place from Nov. 13-20, a week planned by students and packed with Israel-themed events and activities.

“Israel Week is an AJU tradition where we all come together to promote and share different aspects of Israel – each day is dedicated to a different part of Israeli culture,” explained Shoshana Kozaski.

To kick off the week’s festivities, students were given the opportunity to see “New Eyes,” a one-woman play starring Yafit Josephson, at the Odyssey Theater on Sunday, Nov. 13. “New Eyes” tells the true life story of Josephson, a woman who moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career after serving in the Israeli army. Read more »

Israeli-Arab Conflict in America Part II: The Media

By

By Cameron Dean

There are three sides to the Israeli-Arab conflict: the Israeli side, the Arab side and the truth. Depending on whatever news source you get your information from, you’re on either the Arab or the Israeli side.

However, the truth has no one on its side because it’s nearly impossible to say what the truth is. Read more »