Kedma Mishloach Manot sales increase amid pandemic
By Daryl Perry
For Mitzpeh
@starylize
To celebrate Purim this year, Kedma, this university’s Orthodox Jewish group, sold mishloach manot (traditional gifts of food) to students. Parents also bought Purim-themed gift bags from Kedma for their children to add to this year's festivities.
“A lot of our holidays, unfortunately, are ...
Hamsa club unveils spring semester events
By Nene Narh-Mensah
For Mitzpeh
@Nene_NarhMensah
Hamsa, the Jewish LGBTQ+ and allies student group at this university, announced new events for the spring semester, including a new round of Nice Jewish Queer discussions, a game night, a movie night and an arts & crafts event, all held virtually. Meira Goldfischer, a junior criminol...
Community comes together to combat COVID-19
By Nira Dayanim
For Mitzpeh
@umdmitzpeh
Over the past few weeks, a combination of cold weather and the return to campus after time away has led to a spike in COVID-19 cases among students at this university. The Jewish response? Fight it together.
Last semester, Kedma, the Orthodox group on campus, created a WhatsApp group to keep ...
Hillel connects students despite the pandemic
By Erin Harper
@umdmitzpeh
For Mitzpeh
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic reshaping how each semester looks for college students, this university’s Hillel has continued to host a series of virtual freshmen events and Shabbat to-go dinners to keep the Jewish student body connected.
Shabbat dinners, which are available to all students, ...
Kedma welcomes new board for spring semester
By Max Boyarsky
For Mitzpeh
@BoyarskyMax
Although some clubs and organizations at this university are having a difficult time planning events this semester, others are trudging through the obstacles.
Kedma, this university’s Orthodox community, announced the winners of their board elections on Dec. 13. New members ele...
Maryland Hillel helps students de-stress during finals
By Adonijah Bourne
For Mitzpeh
@umdmitzpeh
This university’s Hillel continued its Hanukkah celebration on Wednesday with a de-stress event for students to take a break from finals and reflect on the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
The event began with a guided meditation led by Hillel social justice fellow Olivia ...
Jewish student-led event explores “What’s In Your Genes”
By Elizabeth Tabbouche
@Mitzpeh
For Mitzpeh
What we cannot see often dictates our future.
On Sunday, Nov. 15, a virtual panel of genetic counselors presented to over fifty students about the importance of genetic testing and counseling in an event that spread awareness and educated the Jewish community and people of all ...
“She’s feeding hatred”: Colleges must stop welcoming anti-Israel speakers
By Aaron Arnstein
For Mitzpeh
@AaronArnstein
We’ve seen plenty of well-known individuals speak to college students over Zoom during the past six months: actors, sports stars, political figures and musical artists, to name a few.
Add Palestinian terrorist Leila Khaled to the list.
Wait, what?
That’s right, San Francisco State ...
The widow, the orphan, the socially distant
By Noah Fine
For Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh
In the Torah reading of Parshat Ki Tavo (the Torah reading of the week when I wrote this article), we find a reference to the orphan, widow and stranger. The Torah states:
“Cursed be he who subverts the rights of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.—And all the people shall say, Amen” ...
Navigating the new normal: Jewish freshman life during COVID-19
By Nira Dayanim
For Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh
An already challenging transition to life on campus has been further complicated by the coronavirus pandemic for freshmen this fall. From reduced dorm capacity to take out meals and online/blended classes, campus life looks very different.
The spirited and active Hillel community has always been a ...