Is getting a tattoo against the Jewish faith?
By Gabrielle Hernandez
For Mitzpeh
@gabrielleviolah
If you were to ask a traditional rabbi, some might say that tattoos are against the Jewish faith. Their protest can be found in Leviticus 19:28, which states: “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.”
The ...
Professor discusses intricacies, patterns of oldest complete Torah scroll
By Hallie Kay
For Mitzpeh
@TheHallieKay
An acclaimed professor and expert on the transmission of the Hebrew Bible, Jordan S. Penkower, came to College Park Tuesday to discuss the one-of-a-kind intricacies of the oldest complete Torah scroll.
Penkower, a published author who has done extensive work on the intricacies of the ...
Hundreds dance and sing throughout campus for Simchat Torah
By Eugene “Jesse” Nash IV
For Mitzpeh
@Jessenassh
Over a hundred students danced for almost five hours Monday night for Simchat Torah. Many do not even attend this university.
Students danced from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at gatherings from Hillel to Chabad to celebrate the completion of another year of reading the Torah. Per ...
Backman’s Corner: Why doesn’t Shavuot have an image?
By Eli Backman
For Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh
Rosh Hashanah has the shofar, Hanukkah has the Menorah, even Pesach has Matzah. What does Shavuot have? Hallmark is looking for what to put on their cards. Help?!
In the Torah, (Leviticus 23:15-6) it just says count seven weeks and the next day, the 50th day, is a holiday. Period. Nothing special ...
Hillel honors Gerry Charnoff with Torah dedication ceremony
By Christian Spencer
For Mitzpeh
@C_Spencer_
Gerry Charnoff was honored Sunday morning for his lifetime of service to the Jewish community by Maryland Hillel. A new Sefer Torah was commissioned in his name by Miriam and Dr. Allen Schick, a research professor and renowned Brooking Institute fellow, as the community celebrated ...
New Hillel Torah will honor former D.C. resident
By Jamie Kerner
For the Mitzpeh
@JamieKerner_
The news that Hillel will soon receive a new Torah brings excitement to members of its community.
Just like her peers, freshman materials science and engineering major Miriam Charnoff is also excited for the arrival of the new Torah and for the Jewish learning experiences it will bring.
Ho...
A non-Jew walks into a room, has no idea how to get out
By James Whitlow
Staff writer
@woltihW
Humility can be seen as a through-line in the Torah – a consistent theme throughout – and if I had even a cursory understanding of the book, I might have been better prepared for Kedma’s Jewish-themed escape the room challenge. But on the overcast evening of April 22, I was not.
I am categorically, ...
Meyerhoff Center hosts lecture on dragon slaying in Ancient Hebrew texts
By Nicole Reisinger
For the Mitzpeh
@nareising
Dragons, storm gods, and the sea were the focal points of Robert Miller’s lecture Wednesday when he addressed a group of about 30 students and faculty.
The lecture, “Dragonslaying in the Ancient Near East, Hebrew Bible and Early Jewish Texts,” was the first of four spring semester talks ...
Backman’s Corner: What does it mean to be an educated Jew?
By Eli Backman
For the Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh
I received an email from a student, who was writing a thesis paper, with the following question:
“Who is an educated Jew?”
Before you continue reading, stop and think a moment how you would answer that question. What formula would you use to reach a ...
Climate change & religion: an unorthodox duo
By Elizabeth Lee and Natalie Koltun, for the Mitzpeh, @mitzpeh, @natalie_koltun
Despite shrinking glaciers, rising sea levels and surges in global temperature and carbon dioxide levels, 16 percent of Americans do not believe in global warming, according to an October 2015 report by the National Surveys on Energy and Environment. As scientists ...
