SAFRA makes strides on campus with Sephardic students
By Dylan Spilko
For Mitzpeh
@DylanSpilko
The Jewish community at this university continues to expand with an on-campus group that is revamping their organization for the semester.
SAFRA, otherwise known as the Sephardic Association for Festive and Religious Activities, is a relatively new organization that aims to help Sephardic ...
Students share stories of 10-day journey to last a lifetime
By Matt Levine
For Mitzpeh
@_MattSLevine
Spencer Dobkin, a junior journalism major, has dreamed of going on Birthright Israel ever since he heard about the program at a young age.
“Who doesn’t want to go on a free trip to see meaningful places, meet new people, and learn things about Israel,” he said.
Birthright, a free 10-day ...
Jewish studies program sees redesign as student engagement declines
By Vanessa Reis
For Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh
The Jewish studies major at this university is being redesigned after numbers in the program dropped significantly, said Hayim Lapin, director of The Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Studies.
Lapin said the Jewish studies program has between five and 10 students currently enrolled. Just five or six years ...
Kedma election fills five board positions, including president, vice president
By Jacqueline Chase
Staff writer
@Mitzpeh
Kedma, the Orthodox Jewish community on campus, elected executive board members and officers for five of its eleven positions this week.
Liana Chesir was elected vice president of Kedma, taking over for Aryeh Roberts, the new president. Miriam Charnoff was elected to join the executive board as ...
From Jew-ish to Jew: How Jewish students connect to faith at UMD
By Ndeye Aminata Ndiaye
For Mitzpeh
@aminableu10
There is a big difference between being born Jewish and choosing to be Jewish. Although born into Jewish families, some students were largely uninvolved with their religious identities until they found the Jewish community on this campus.
One of them is sophomore computer science and finance ...
Purim falls over break, but spirit doesn’t break
By Yakira Cohen
Features editor
@CohenYakira
Last year, junior philosophy major Mikey Pollack paraded around campus in a red cowboy hat and an army t-shirt to celebrate Purim. This year, he isn’t even sure if he will dress up.
Although the holiday usually unites students in celebration, Purim will fall on the Thursday of spring break ...
London Kollel creates community for Torah study
By Jacqueline Chase
Staff writer
@Mitzpeh
Many students take a gap year before college to study Judaism in Israel. When they begin their first semester, they realize that finding time to continue Torah study can be difficult. London Kollel is working to change that.
London Kollel was founded in memory of Rabbi Yitchak London, ...
Club baseball outfielder swings for regionals
By Spencer Dobkin
For Mitzpeh
@Spencer_Dobkin
In the spring of Devin Rosen’s sophomore year, he realized something was missing in his college life. It was time to get back into his favorite activity: baseball.
The math major had been playing since he was five years old, but hadn’t played since graduating high school, so ...
Jewish students go global during winter break
By Nicole Wohlberg
For Mitzpeh
@mitzpeh
As winter break approaches, students are scrounging for activities over the long six-week vacation.
Hillel provides alternative break trips every year over winter and spring break for Jewish students. These trips are geared for students who observe Sabbath and keep kosher.
Over the ...
Food insecurity gets real at Oxfam UMD Hunger Banquet
By Colleen Crowley
For Mitzpeh
@ColleenCrowle20
For many students at this university, Thanksgiving involved abundant feasts and showing thanks for their good fortune this year.
Just days after the holiday, Oxfam America at the University of Maryland showed their fellow students just how fortunate they truly are.
Oxfam ...
