Backman’s Corner: Positive Perspectives
By Rabbi Eli Backman
For Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh
“Yankel, are you a glass half full or half empty kind of guy?”
Yankel thought a moment and said, “To be honest, I’m usually a where is my glass kind of guy.”
Whatever hand life deals you, there are usually two ways to take it. Positively and uplifting or negatively and in a ...
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” ...
Food generates thought, thriving community at Hillel
By Yakira Cohen
Features editor
@cohenyakira
Maryland Hillel, in partnership with Kedma, kicked off a new learning initiative Monday with speaker Rabbi Daniel Reifman. Food for Thought, which provides learning participants with Hillel-sponsored kosher dinner, was created in order to bring “non-freshmen” who don't have full ...
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, ...
