Here is the updated cover!! LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
In Leviathan’s 43rd year of publication, we decided to take a publishing hiatus. In light of our leadership transition this academic year, the organization reevaluated Leviathan’s purpose, mission, and legacy at UCSC. Tis transformative undertaking started simply, during our weekly meetings. We decided to frame each meeting around a discussion topic that pertained to relevant issues of identity and experience, but were also grounded in journalistic ethics. Opening up the space to all voices provided much insight into the diversity of opinions and backgrounds of our collaborators. Taking the time to restructure our meetings initially led to more steps backward into Leviathan’s past than forward into its future. Our website was slowly decaying, our outreach had ended in missed connections, and members felt uprooted by the structural changes of the organization. So, we put the Fall 2015 issue on hold and sat down together. First as a leadership board to rewrite our mission, then as a group to ask how we could better serve Jewish and non-Jewish students in our space. And by doing so, we transformed the chain of command into active collaboration which led to a more inspired work environment. Trough a more democratic decision-making process, we were able to bring problems to the table and leave each meeting with hopeful solutions. When the website lef us at dead ends, Eva took on the great task of renovating it beyond our expectations. Jason and Lior both brought thoughtful and insightful conversation points to the table. Natalie and Annie consistently came back with new pieces of outstanding art to contribute. Lizzy, Daniel and Wesley wrote captivating pieces that brought new stories into the space. And through it all, Rose, Arianna, and the two of us remained unifed. In creating a more egalitarian space, we at Leviathan Jewish Journal have recommitted to responsibly representing all voices and ensuring that the publication’s legacy lives on.
PEACE, Kelsey Eiland Zachary Brenner
STATEMENT OF INTENT SEND LETTERS TO: Leviathan Jewish Journal is a medium through which Leviathan Jewish Journal Jewish students and their allies may freely express their UCSC Press Center voices. 1156 High St. We are committed to responsibly representing the Santa Cruz, CA 95064 views of each individual author. Every quarter, we try our best to publish a full and balanced spectrum of media, exploring Jewish identity and social issues. FIND US ON THE WEB: The opinions presented in the journal do not always leviathanjewishjournal.com represent the collective opinion of the Leviathan staff, the [email protected] organized Jewish-American community, or the University of California, Santa Cruz. Levia-Folk Lizzy Asarnow is a junior at UCSC. She is a music and vocal performance major and an Education minor. She enjoys songwriting, working with kids, and trying out new recipes. She hopes to one day be a music teacher for all ages.
Annelise Asch is a second year physics major, and illustrator on the Leviathan staf. In her spare time, she enjoys petting dogs, pressing fowers, painting photo- realistically and spontaneously driving to odd places (in that order). She is from the Los Angeles area.
Lior Ayalon is currently a flm and digital media senior working through the Integrated Critical Practice Concentration with a thesis about gender, horror flms and spectatorship. Tis is Lior’s frst year working with Leviathan, and they wish it didn’t have to be their last! In addition to school and Leviathan, Lior is also a Residential Assistant at Porter College, the managing editor for EyeCandy Film Journal, a proud cat mom, and, when they have a time, a functioning human being who gets enough sleep.
Zachary Brenner is an incredibly arrogant and naive jock in his second year with Leviathan. He enjoys playing golf, wiping out while surfng, making bad movies, and watching other people solve problems. He is incredibly excited for everyone to read these upcoming issues of the journal!
Jason Brisson is a senior legal studies major as well as a contributing writer for Leviathan. When he’s not busying himself with his most recent existential crisis, you can fnd him swimming in the ocean or curled up in bed with a copy of Slavoj Zizek’s latest book. He loves Alfonso Cuarón flms, and the feeling of fresh underwear still warm out of the dryer. He wonders if that last bit goes too far, but decided to keep it in his bio anyway.
Kelsey Eiland is a fourth year psychology major and co-Editor-in-Chief of Leviathan alongside the always awesome Zachary Brenner. Besides hanging out at the Press Center at odd hours of the night, Kelsey loves reading, drawing with Sharpies, and whale watching on West Clif Drive. She believes her involvement in student media has been the most transformative experience of her college career. Levia-Folk
Daniel Fleissig is a fourth year psychology major whose passions lie in business and marketing. While writing for Leviathan, he also consults for Gesher Group and is a brother of the international Jewish fraternity, AEPi. Daniel also loves soccer and is an avid movie watcher. Currently, his favorite movie is Birdman.
Natalie Friedman is a cognitive science major at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is an illustrator and a writer for Leviathan Jewish Journal. Her interests include scrapbooking, going to museums, and going to Leviathan meetings. What more could a girl want?
Eva Jason is a second year and it’s her second year writing for Leviathan. Her major is science, just science (nothing specifc yet). Eva enjoys foraging for mushrooms on the natural reserve on campus. She also enjoys cooking. Check out her recipes in Leviathan.
Rose Teplitz is currently a second year English literature major and is the art director for Leviathan. Working as a page editor and artist for her high school newspaper, Rose found a love for journalism expressed through illustration. When she’s not working on Leviathan, Rose enjoys reading, hiking through the woods, and painting. She resides near San Francisco.
Wesley Whittlesey is a psychology major from San Diego, California. He’s been a competitive swimmer since he was six and he is on the record board at UCSC. He has two younger brothers and has a plethora of pets, including two dogs, two frogs, two turtles, a snake, and a tarantula. He also plans to own a motorcycle at some point in time.
Arianna Weingarten is a fourth year anthropology/earth science & biology double major who is in her second year of production for Leviathan. She has a knack for making homemade yogurt and enjoys painting and adventuring. Ar recently adopted a sulcata tortoise named Lola who is expected to live for 150 years. She encourages you all to go watch the movie Run Lola Run. Table of Contents
6 Home Away From Home by Daniel Fleissig illustration by Annelise Asch 8 Farming, Judaism, and Capitalism by Zachary Brenner illustration by Natalie Friedman 11 Tales from Tel Aviv by Natalie Friedman
13 Paella Recipe by Arianna Weingarten 14 MESH at UCSC by Kelsey Eiland 16 A Snowy Day With Foxes and Rabbits by Zachary Brenner illustration by Arianna Weingarten 17 So Where is Waldo, Really? by Lizzy Asarnow illustration by Kelsey Eiland 18 Stories from History by Wesley Whittlesey
20 Ari Shavit comes to Santa Cruz by Zachary Brenner
22 Reactions to Paris by Kelsey Eiland
FALL 15/ WINTER 16 5 ִלוָיָת Home Away From Home BY DANIEL FLEISSIG ILLUSTRATED BY ANNELISE ASCH Every Friday night, the in touch with their walk down Bay Street and King heritage and Street is always accompanied community, and by a sense of calmness and allow them to grow relaxation as I prepare myself at their own pace. to enter my home away from Te two rocks of home. When I open the door, the Chabad House I am immediately hit by the are Rabbi Shlomie wafing smell of roast chicken and Devorah Leah and am bombarded with “Hello” Chein. Many who and “How are you, Daniel?”. attend Chabad do Such greetings mark my arrival not understand that at the UC Santa Cruz Chabad the organization Student Center for a Friday is independently night Shabbat dinner. operated and funded Since before I started by Rabbi Shlomie attending Chabad, there have and Devorah Leah been many misconceptions who own the house about its organization. Some and center. students think that Chabad is Anywhere one only for Orthodox Jews and looks, one can many freshmen and sophomores always be sure to fnd one of feel that they cannot attend the six Chein children as well. I did not get the opportunity to because of this mistaken belief. Whether you want to play with dunk my challah into Devorah A number of newer students one of the children, help set up Leah’s delicious eggplant dip. do not realize that Chabad is the table, or mingle with the An optional Shabbat service a base for Jews, regardless of rest of the guests, there is always begins at 7:00pm and dinner how religious they are. Further, a place for everyone at the begins at 7:30pm. Afer saying Chabad is always open to non- Chabad house. the prayers over the bread Jews who would like to learn Chabad’s most popular and wine, everyone digs in to about Judaism and engage in event is its Shabbat dinners, but the frst course, which usually the community. Tere is no people might be surprised to consists of challah, hummus, the intention to make any Jewish fnd out the Cheins also serve best geflte fsh I have ever had, student feel uncomfortable or Shabbat lunches on Saturday and numerous salads consisting out of place at Chabad. afernoons. Both gatherings of pastas, broccoli, corn, and Te Chabad House entail four course meals and many other tasty vegetables. provides Jewish students a home I cannot count the amount of Te second course is a healthy for Jewish celebration and a times I have lef the Chabad portion of matzah ball soup, center for Jewish education. house with a full and content which is a Jewish soup dumpling Chabad’s goals are to make stomach. For me, life in Santa served in chicken broth with students feel comfortable, get Cruz would not be the same if carrots, onions, and celery. 6 CAMPUS LIFE Shabbat in Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Hillel & the Chabad Student Cente offe a weekly Shabbat dinne and sevice evey Friday night. Fo Hillel, visit 222 Cadiff Place @ 7:00pm Fo Chabad, visit 1142 King Steet @ 7:30pm
Finally, the main course arrives also teaches two classes for until a Chabad rabbi brought and everyone feasts on chicken, credit at UCSC, Women in the back the program as he ofen potato kugels, vegetables, and Bible and 18th Century Kabala. wondered why Jews should rice. Of course, there is ofen Chabad also ofers one-on-one lose out on such an important a vegetarian option for anyone study. holiday. Tis Chabad-inspired who has diet restrictions. Te Chabad House program’s mission is to bring Te fnal course is ofen welcomes guest speakers out as many Jews to strengthen dessert, which is always to Shabbat dinners and the Judaism, regardless if the event accompanied by one of Rabbi education classes. Te topics is watching a movie together or Shlomie’s Jewish anecdotes and speakers range from serving the community. and of course a shout-out to Israeli-related topics to Jewish Coinciding with Hakhel, Devorah Leah for the amazing history or even an interesting the Chabad House is starting a meal she cooked for all the Jew in the world. One of my new tradition called the Jewish guests. Tere are many other favorite speakers at Chabad Supper Club where they ofer meals and celebrations at was Steve Solomon, a 21-year- kosher dinner during the week. the Chabad House, such as old Australian Jew, who spoke Another new Hakhel program Passover, Simcha Torah, and about his experiences running is encouraging students to get Sukkot. I always know I have in the Olympics. He described together and study Jewish topics a place to go when I want to his inner struggle during his as Chabad is ofering to sponsor celebrate a Jewish holiday. championship race that took them with deli sandwiches. Tere are many other place during Passover as he Te Jewish community reasons to go to Chabad outside refused to eat chametz despite does not realize just how much of sharing a beautiful meal needing carbohydrates to excel. Chabad contributes and we with others. Rabbi Shlomie Tis year is the year of should all be very grateful for and Devorah Leah are always Hakhel, which emphasizes unity everything they have done. I available to talk to whenever and gives an ‘excuse’ to focus know that my college experience one would like. Also available on community. In the Torah, would not be the same without are numerous opportunities to there was a commandment that all the Shabbat dinners I have expand one’s Jewish education. said once every seven years all attended, the wild Simcha Torah Rabbi Shlomie teaches a Jews must gather in the Holy celebrations, and the Pesach number of classes, such as Sinai Temple in Jerusalem where the dinners that were my frst away Scholars, that allow students king would read from the Torah from home. to explore their heritage and to inspire his people. Ever guides students in discovering since the temple was destroyed, who they are. Rabbi Shlomie Jews stopped practicing Hakhel 7 Farming, Judaism, and Capitalism By Zachary Brenner illustrated by natalie friedman
It is midday when I walk Garden. For the frst three a Mediterranean climate. It across the street from Stevenson months of the program, the reminds him of his experience Circle to meet Yonah Shapiro for students rotate from one site to on the Kibbutz in Israel and I our interview. As I walk through another, attempting to discover sit back and watch him slowly the gates, it takes me only a which area they will concentrate recognize how much he has second to forget that I am at UC on for the fnal three months of grown since then. He admits to Santa Cruz. Te garden, if you the six month program. Yonah me that when he frst decided to have not been, is hidden in plain chose the Chadwick Garden, become an apprentice, he was sight. I fnd Yonah fnishing up which was founded in 1967 very overwhelmed. “I was on the some last minute farming before by Alan Chadwick who Yonah waitlist… I didn’t even get in. I his shif is over. It is his second to explains as kind of crazy for didn’t have enough experience”. last day on the job and it seems building a farm on a sloped clif. I found that incredibly difcult the perfect moment for us to As a Jew, Yonah feels to comprehend since before we converse about his experience as lucky that he has been able started our “ofcial” interview, an apprentice. to farm at UC Santa Cruz for he took me around the entire Tere are three sites many reasons. One of which, garden and was able to explain where people in the apprentice he explains, is because Santa what each crop was, its stage of program focus: the feld site, the Cruz is one of the few places development, and how long it farm garden, and the Chadwick in the world that is considered had until it would become rotten.
8 LEVIATHAN JEWISH JOURNAL COVERAGE
Yonah explains his from the inside. Everyone in consumer culture. I ask him why apprehension when he began Yonah’s sukkah, which was over he thinks people in the farming working at the farm. “I knew 20 people from the program, program are so interested in I would be with all these All- seemed genuinely curious about people feeling united and why so Star farmers… I got really the prayers Yonah was sharing many other groups of people are intimidated. I’m just this guy with them. And it was not fake more egocentric. He explains: who thinks avocados are cool. interest or inquiry, but authentic “Te more time you spend with But then, I realized, I’m here. I curiosity. nature, the more you’re going to can learn from everyone here. I He explains to me the realize how little you need.” I ask don’t have to be the shy guy in process of how the sukkah was him if he felt connected before the back who sometimes raises built. Humbled, he tells me that coming to the program. He his hand. I can ask the guy I met Courtney was the mastermind remembers quitting his job and yesterday, ‘How do you grow a and all he did was mention the fying to Santa Cruz last minute cucumber?’”. Tis seemed a good possibility of building it. He on Passover. “When I got into link to the rest of our discussion recalls the night it happened, the program, I realized that my about his experience as a Jew in afer returning from a date. friends had everyday jobs doing the program. Somehow, the rumor had spread everyday things. One friend was He explains how he and that they were interested in in car insurance. I was about to his friend Courtney (who he building a sukkah. “I came back go across the country and live on graciously introduced me to at that night and it was a miracle. a farm. I was about to separate the start of our interview) were My friends came up to me and myself from everyday life”. among the only Jews. He recalls, wanted to participate in building We discuss how on the “Our second week [Courtney and a fort…they didn’t even know farm, they are all very connected I] were like, ‘Let’s do Shabbat!’ what it was!” He continues by to the natural world and what We got some wine, we got some saying, “Two non-Jewish people really matters. Te farming bread, and then all these other built it. Courtney and I didn’t world yields strong relationships people were like, ‘Hey, I heard even build it.” Listening to this, and connectivity between you’re doing this Shabbat thing! I am reminded of childhood and humans. People learn how the Can we join?’ And we were like, the excitement involved with food system actually works and, ‘Wow, we didn’t even think of building a fort with your closest in turn, learn how relationships that!’ It wasn’t about their need to friends. and life work without the learn about religions, but about Yonah continues, “It distractions of technology. Being them wanting to know how we was a beautiful closing holiday surrounded by people who are were brought up and how we’re for us to be there”. He is proud interested primarily in learning connected.” that they built the sukkah. When and forming meaningful I ask him if that helped the Jews were in Israel, they relationships, Yonah is inspired him think up the idea for building were farming on their land and to keep up his lifestyle as best a sukkah on the farm. A couple built their sukkot (plural for he can when he moves to Los weeks before our interview, I sukkah in Hebrew) in the felds. Angeles in the near future. met Yonah for dinner at his Sukkot is the Jewish holiday that “Going back to city life like LA, sukkah on the farm. A sukkah celebrates the harvest, which is I’m wondering how much I can is a three-walled temporary why building a sukkah seemed keep”. shelter that Jews build on the so appropriate. He reminds me, however, holiday of Sukkot. Te ceiling is We tangent to a that farming is not all positive. meant to be made from leaves conversation on modern Te corruptness of farming in so there is space to see the stars capitalism and mainstream modern consumerist culture is
FALL 15/ WINTER 16 9 ִלוָיָת undeniable. People buy peppers separated from nature and the cellphone not because it’s the at the store, yet neglect to people who work with the land. Jewish law, but because he understand the painful process I’m constantly buying food at the likes to separate himself from of picking that pepper. Te store and not realizing the process technology and connect to the farmers responsible for feeding that goes into making that food, Earth. our society get paid close to but I’m also too concerned with We part ways, but I nothing. In one way, people are forming opinions and having can’t help but believe I am incredibly connected to nature answers than appreciating what going to act diferently from and separate themselves from I have. Yonah says, “It’s a shame here on. I will try to stay more the technology that is regarded that this kind of lifestyle gets connected to the world and my as imperative in the capitalistic dubbed as ‘hippie’ or ‘fower experiences rather than living world, but that farmers are also child, irresponsible love’ thing. through my smartphone and treated poorly by the system. Yeah, my jeans are ripped, I laptop. What started as an idea Tomorrow, Yonah will haven’t shaved in a few days, and for an interview about a sukkah be personally responsible for my hair is long-ish, but [I don’t on the farm turned into an cooking the meals that everyone want to be labeled as] a ‘hippie’”. enlightening conversation about in the program will eat. “My job We agree that the farming life and connectivity. One quote tomorrow is to cook three meals lifestyle has many advantages that Yonah shared with me rings for 50 people. Every day, people that are overlooked. His Jewish through my head as I walk to my are exempt from work and cook identity has been partially 4:30pm lecture: “It’s okay to not all three meals with whatever we formed by his experience as know and be vulnerable.” have.” a farmer. He explains how on I think of how I feel Shabbat, he doesn’t use his
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10 LEVIATHAN JEWISH JOURNAL PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Tales from Tel Aviv
WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY NATALIE FRIEDMAN
Te Journey Begins Art Market in Tel Aviv Birthright is a ten day program for 18 to Tere were handmade journals at the lively 26-year-olds in which Israel’s greatest qualities artist walk that happened twice a week in Tel Aviv. are explored. Tese quick-paced ten days of the I would buy more journals than I could fll with Golan Heights, Eilat, Jerusalem, Sfat and Tel Aviv the desire and expectation of more adventures. Te gave me the opportunity to understand the history Art Fair on Nahalat Benyamin Street took place on and culture beyond what I already knew. Te Tuesdays and Fridays. While many people in the abundance of knowledge from the Birthright tour city rushed to the outdoor market known as Shuk guide is something I would not have received while Hacarmel, before Shabbat started (most everything traveling on my own. closes from late Friday afernoon until Saturday Afer ten days of Birthright, without evening), I would rush through the artist market. hesitation, I extended my trip in Israel for two Artists from all over Israel would sell intricate one- months. My time alone was very diferent from of-a-kind jewelry, ceramic mezuzahs (a symbol my group experience with Birthright. I learned of Judiasm placed on the door in a home), tiled in unique and important ways during both time challah boards, miniature ceramic statues, and periods. In Israel, I kept a journal with one page stained glass for the garden (a perfect for gif for for each day of travel. A few days before the trip, I my grandmother). excitedly headed each page with the weekday and Best of all, I bought a handmade journal date, promising myself that I would at least write a coated with turquoise tissue paper that was “the few words about each day’s events. wrong way” because Hebrew books read the During my travels, I kept a scrapbook of opposite direction. On the front, there was a writing, bus tickets, fyers for events I had gone dream catcher with beads, and on the other side, to, logos from restaurant napkins, stickers from a poem about dreams. Each page held a string the hostel, drawings of friends, quickly-scribbled attached to a glass bead. In this journal, I would directions to get home, museum tickets, artists’ capture only beautiful places; the frst thing I drew business cards, and my plane tickets from Los was Jafa. Much of the art in Jafa focuses on the Angeles to Tel Aviv. As the days went on, the exquisiteness of the landscape rather than social tattered journal became an organized mess as issues in Israel. Here, my goal was to merge the quickly as it became more important to me. beauty of my surroundings with the beauty of the journal.
FALL 15/ WINTER 16 11 ִלוָיָת Jafa Jafa is a quiet, older, port city established Afer, I would be of to Netanya, an hour bus ride in the 19th century next to Tel Aviv. I explored away. She prepared me with a yogurt, an apple, and Jafa several times throughout my stay in Israel. I cake. She treated me as if I was family. I think this could never fnd the same art gallery because of stemmed from her similar feeling as a foreigner. the town’s maze-like features. Walking between When I asked her about her move from Russia, she meaning “I cried” implying that ”בכיתי“ the cobblestone walls was an experience in itself. I explained ofen saw brides and grooms taking photos there. she was too emotional to speak about it. I think I would sit at the port, draw the boats, and drink it was comforting for her to help someone like my mint Wissotzky tea. Over the hill, as I sat in herself, a newcomer to a new place. Because of our an amphitheater drawing in my new journal, a Jewish connection, we felt linked. newlywed couple and photographer stood at the Now, in the mornings at my house in Santa stage. As they paused for a photo, I drew the couple Cruz, I drink the Wissotzky tea, remembering the swifly, over and over again. beautiful journey that I got to experience. Later, I walked along the roads in Old Jafa through the narrow and high walls exploring the unique art galleries. Meeting with the interesting We like you;-) So, you artists were some of my favorite moments. One team of artists in particular stood out to me. Tis should Like Us ... team created felt art with spiked needles. Afer on Facebook: they wove the yarn into the burlap, 1400 needles compressed the burlap creating a fat texture. Te designs include women in vibrant beautiful “Leviathan J Journal” dresses, colorful birds, and impressionistic martini glasses. Te lady at the gallery spoke to me in great length about their process and I was so delighted to hear each detail. Sfeta, short for Sfetlana At a bus stop in Tel Aviv near my temporary home, an older Russian woman, who spoke Hebrew, asked me about the bus times. Te bus was late, so we began to talk about her family and her work. Next, she invited me to her house to help her make dinner. I walked to her house the next day and she taught me how to make a Russian type of ravioli called Pelmeni. Te whole process was unclear because of both of our broken Hebrew but it became slowly understandable from observation. She repeated meaning “watch me.” I observed and ”תסתכל עליי“ drank delicious Wissotzky green tea. From scratch, she made a dough, sliced it up, fattened each piece with a machine, put meat in each piece, pinched the dough together and placed each piece into a pot of boiling water. Amazed with the process, I This is our Profle Picture (it’s a selfe) tried my best to help her.
12 LEVIATHAN JEWISH JOURNAL RECIPE Levia-Cookin’: Vegetarian Paella INGREDIENTS: • 3 tbsp olive oil • 1/2 yellow onion, fnely chopped • 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips • 1 fennel bulb, cut into strips • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 2 bay leaves • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 tsp safron threads • 1 cup Paella rice • Salt (as desired) • 2 cups bioling vegetable broth • 3/4 cup shelled edamame beans • 6 Roma tomatoes, halved • 1/4 can of artichoke hearts • Kalamata olives (as desired) Serves 3-4 people • 4 tbsp chopped parsely DIRECTIONS: • 4 lemon wedges Heat a large skillet or pan with olive oil. Gently fry the onion, bell peppers, and fennel on medium heat until golden brown. Ten, add in the chopped garlic. Stir in the bay leaves, paprika, turmeric, and cayenne to the vegatables. Ten go ahead and add in the rice, edamame, and safron, stirring throughly. Let the spices boil down for a minute or two before adding in the vegetable broth and desired salt. Ten reduce heat and simmer for about 30-40 minutes or until rice has absorbed the broth. Do not cover the pan or stir during this period. Remove the pan from the heat, testing the medley to add more salt if needed. Chop the Roma tomatoes & artichoke hearts to your liking. Scatter these over the paella and cover the pan with its lid letting it rest for 10 minutes. Inspired By: Yotam Ottolenghi, chef Sprinkle the Kalamata olives and parsley & author of Plenty on top, and serve with lemon wedges. Adapted & Tested By: Arianna Weingarten FALL 15/ WINTER 16 13 ִלוָיָת MESH at UCSC Te Mixed Ethnicities Student Headquarters (MESH) at UCSC is a registered SOAR organization that brings together students who identify as mixed to create thoughtful dialogue while celebrating diversity and creating visibility in the community. I spoke with MESH co-facilitator and active member Rebekkah Scharf about MESH’s mission and work on campus.
BY KELSEY EILAND KE: What is MESH’s updates for MESH. Before we Kelsey Eiland: Is MESH mission? start our discussion, we establish university-wide or only at UCSC? RS: Te mission of MESH, to discussion rules and designate a Rebekkah Scharf: While me, is to establish a safe space for “vibe-checker” to ensure the safe many UC campuses have students who identify as mixed, space of MESH. Te discussions mixed groups, we are the only whether it be mixed culture, race, are led my MESH members and group called MESH. Other ethnicity, nationality, or religion. are predetermined at the start of groups are called MSU (Mixed Before college, I had never been the quarter. Student Union), but I like the a part of a space established KE: What initially sparked name MESH for the (unofcial) for mixed people to exist as we your interest in MESH? MESHed potato mascot and are: mixed. It has always been RS: I was literally jumping “Let’s get MESHy” motto. having to choose one “side” or up and down with excitement KE: What is the history of another. MESH is a space where when I found out that there mixed ethnicity-based spaces at it is acceptable for students to was a mixed ethnicities group. I UCSC? exist as both and ALL parts of had just read Gloria Anzaldua’s RS: I think MESH was the their identity, not just either/ Borderlands/La Frontera: Te frst mixed space at UCSC as or. More importantly, we talk New Mestiza, a Stevenson core well as at the UC. about challenges as well as issues course book that discussed mixed KE: How many current worth celebrating about being race/nationality and language members does MESH have? mixed, and discuss critically issues. It stands as my favorite RS: Last year member about what it means to be mixed. book today. I had also written a attendance at meetings Since we come from all diferent very passionate paper about how fuctuated, but we had about backgrounds, what is unique I related to Anzaldua’s feeling thirty active members. Tis year about MESH is that being of occupying the borderlands many of them graduated and mixed means diferent things for between two cultures, neither there is a new group of Frosh diferent people. Having a safe here nor there, everything but MESHies. place to discuss our diferences nothing, cancelled out into KE: How long have you been as well as similarities is central ambiguity. In the fall afer I involved with MESH and what is to the mission of MESH. read this work, I also enrolled your current role? KE: Walk us through a in a mixed race literature course RS: I joined as a member MESH meeting. for my literature major, taught of the unofcial club in 2013, RS: [We] say “welcome” to by professor Melissa Poulsen, my sophomore year. I joined as everyone, introduce names and who dedicates her studies to a general member last year in gender pronouns, and [ask] an ice mixed literature. Tat class 2014, and decided to get more breaker question. Once everyone stands as my favorite literature involved with an ofcer position has been introduced, leadership course at UCSC because we in 2015. reports on upcoming events and read Anzaldua’s worka again,
14 LEVIATHAN JEWISH JOURNAL INTERVIEW and I found many more authors fair because MESH did not dad and his side of the family to relate to. Tat quarter I also represent just one culture. told me that I was. I did not discovered MESH, and was able KE: Do you feel like students go to Hebrew school or have a to bring all that I have learned give each other the space to Bat Mitzvah, and that has been and gained insight about to talk about identity safely and reason for my Jewish peers to our discussions. It was also an critically? say to my face, “You’re not really invaluable experience to learn RS: It depends on which Jewish”. For some reason, this from other MESH members students. For me, when I talk hurts more than when people about their experiences of being to other mixed people about have said that I’m not really mixed. I had never been in such identity issues, they listen and Chinese. a welcoming, safe, open space provide a safe discussion. When KE: Why is MESH an before, a space where everyone I talked to people who do not important campus resource? could relate to Anzaldua’s identify as mixed, even my RS: MESH is an ethnic experience of occupying organization, but it is an ethnic borderlands. organization for everyone, KE: Why are identity- MESH meetings are no matter what someone’s based spaces important at open to all students background might be. People the university? Out in the and are held weekly at have come to meetings who did community? not identify as mixed, but leave RS: College is a time of the Bay Tree Center on with the feeling identifying as identity crises: choosing a major the outdoor balcony. such. It is a place where people and career path, discovering can explore their own identities interests, and fnding what you For more information, as well as learn about others’ love. It is easy to fall into identity email mesh.represent@ experiences. In addition, MESH crises, concerning academics, gmail.com. is an important space because family values, passions, and we can talk about race as a social particularly for mixed people, construct, and the associated race. MESH is a space to talk parents, it is ofen hard for them inequalities that arose from the about that, especially in a society to understand the things I tell construction of race. MESH is a (and university) that reduces them—the frustration of having place to discuss race outside of mixed people to checkboxes to choose only one race and ethnic studies courses, which not where we can only choose ONE ethnicity on application forms, everyone has a chance to take. race/ethnicity we are allowed to not feeling accepted by a group We also discuss concepts ranging be. I identify with—because to them from intersectionality, racial KE: Do you feel like the I might not be 100% “insert passing, cultural appropriation, university provides safe spaces identity here”. microaggressions, and more. to discuss, express, and explore Especially as a Jew, what is KE: Who can get involved identity? interesting for me is that unlike with MESH? RS: Tere needs to be many other Jews, I did not go RS: MESH is a place and improvement, starting with to Hebrew school. My Chinese space for open-minded and changing the UC and related mother sent me to six years of tolerant individuals to share deep applications to allow students to a Chinese afer-school program discussions on race, ethnicity, have more checkboxes available instead. While I appreciate and culture. We welcome anyone and to choose multiple. Tere was having learned a diferent and everyone who would like to a student who was turned down language, as a child, I never felt join our community. for presenting at a multicultural 100% Jewish, even though my
FALL 15/ WINTER 16 15 ִלוָיָת SHORT STORY
A Snowy Day with Foxes and Rabbits BY ZACHARY BRENNER ILLUSTRATED BY ARIANNA WEINGARTEN
The snow covered the small village on this especially territory, but given that they were already at the rabbit town, dingy Saturday morning. As usual, James woke up with they were not intrigued to turn back. excitement for the day. The skulk would gather each weekend As they watched George, they recognized familiar morning at the tall tree to discuss their plans for the day, and faces following his lead—the hunting group. Suddenly, James being only cubs, there was not a worry in the world. On this and his friends knew why rabbits were so important—and why particular morning, James was startled to hear his mother call they had never seen the rabbits in their humble village. The after him before he left the igloo. It was still dawn, and James rabbits were food. Disgusted, James remained still, watching liked to leave before his mother woke up—it gave him a sense the leader of his group stock the seemingly innocent prey. of independency. And to him, reynards always spoiled the fun. Chris’ anger crescendoed in front of James’ very “Don’t stay out too long today—you have to catch up eyes and in one fuid motion, the slightly older, admirable fox on your schoolwork!” cried his mother. James snarled and left, ran out from behind the sheltering trees and screamed after annoyed. He was the last to arrive at the tree—even Roland had George. arrived before he did. Roland couldn’t even roll a snowball— “What are you doing?!!” cried Chris. how could he have made it to the tree frst? Resisting his urge Surprised, George looked back at Chris and to be fed up, James joined the group and listened to the plans approached him slowly and fatherly. for the day. The leader of the pack, Chris, had indicated some “What are you doing here, Chris? You’re not meant to sort of exciting journey for this particular day. When James heard of the plans, he could not help but smile in admiration be this far away from our village.” for Chris—a noble, confdent fox. Sure, Chris was a year older “We wanted to meet the rabbit village. Why are you and had more experience in the wild, but James sensed that hunting them?” Chris might become the leader of the entire village someday. “We need to eat, and we need our village to be safe”, They left within the next minute. They had heard replied George. myths of the village they were traveling to; rabbits as far Confused, Chris responded, “They haven’t done as the eye could see. Their parents had always stressed the anything wrong!” importance of rabbits and other hare species. Today, they would fnd out what all the fuss was about—certainly they “This issue is greater than the present moment, would be nice and playful. James and his friends were always Chris.” George said this in a very convincing tone, as if to looking for a rival hockey team to play on Saturday afternoons. remind Chris that he had much to learn. Would the rabbits be good at hockey? James was unsure, but Chris looked into the eyes of the leader and nodded hoped they would provide good, friendly competition. gently, and began walking back to his friends. They heard a noise from above—a harsh, powerful George, unaltered, signaled his hunters to follow noise. Immediately, they all knew who it was. Victor: the king him closer to the village. of the eagles. Bald and majestic, anyone who earned the Chris told his friends that George seemed confdent respect of the bald eagle clan would be eternally grateful. in what he was doing. Still, James was confused. He looked Possessing tremendous resources and a group of citizens far at the situation and saw only innocent rabbits and ravenous greater than that of the foxes, the bald eagle clan was the foxes. He felt ashamed to be a fox in that moment. Still, he most powerful of any group in the area. Victor soared high and wondered if what George had told Chris was true—was the mighty, never looking down to spot the onlookers—he didn’t issue greater than this exact moment? Was there a long care. As Victor passed, the leash regrouped and continued and painful history behind the rabbits and foxes? Maybe so. on their mission. The journey took slightly less than thirty Feeling helpless to make up his mind, James followed Chris minutes. When they arrived at the neighboring village, they and the gang back to their village, thinking about how he were surprised to see the leader of the foxes, George, at the would educate himself enough to form his own opinion. But village. The cubs were not meant to be this far from their would it be too late?
16 LEVIATHAN JEWISH JOURNAL SHORT STORY
So Where is Waldo, Really? BY LIZZY ASARNOW ILLUSTRATED BY KELSEY EILAND
Let’s face it. Waldo isn’t really into America. Although he transcends time and space–the villages of Egypt, the raucous festivals of the Middle Ages—we rarely see him here. Maybe he was turned off by the consumer culture. After all, he only carries a small knapsack with him. Or maybe he was bored by our pseudo-stability. Why sit around and talk about problems when you can go back to the time of Napoleon and experience the throes of war? Regardless, Waldo was disappointed to get a letter from his great aunt Winnie. The postcard, short and sweet, said it was her ninetieth birthday (although Waldo had probably lost track) and that her celebration was on Sunday, at two, in her backyard. The front of the postcard read “Greetings from Seattle!” in a party-style font, sprawled across a picture of the Space Needle. “Geez,” complained Waldo, “this is almost as bad as breaking my glasses and losing my hat. I was planning to disguise myself in a small Swiss village on Sunday. And it was going to be extremely frustrating to fnd me this time! But I must.” So he did. The plane ride from Fiji to Seattle was long and confusing. Waldo searched for countless places to disguise himself, but the fight attendants insisted he remain in his seat. Beads of sweat formed across Waldo’s face as the plane steadily landed, and he bolted out the frst chance he got. Waldo found himself in a Starbucks. Surprisingly, he had already disguised himself without even trying. Everywhere he looked, he saw people in bobble hats and large glasses wearing stripes and knapsacks. “Is this a dream?” thought Waldo, “I don’t even have to try to disguise myself. And I’ve just been trying so hard all my life. What are these people?” So Waldo looked right into the large-glasses-wearing eyes of the barista, and said, “These people…all the ones wearing stripes and knapsacks…what do you call them?” A faint smile passed across the barista’s glazed face. “Um, hipsters. I guess. I don’t know, it’s sort of an obscure concept. You probably wouldn’t understand it.” But Waldo didn’t need to understand. He had found his ultimate disguise. If he blended in with everyone everyday, the challenge would never cease. He would never have to skip town after someone had uncovered his disguise. The next time someone asked, “So, where’s Waldo?” the response would be, “I don’t know, but I’m still looking.” Waldo picked up his coffee from the counter and walked over to the door. He took a deep breath and pushed it open. A single tear dropped from Waldo’s eye. Immersed in a sea of bobble hats and glasses, Waldo found a certain long sought-after peace. “Seattle,” thought Waldo, “Let me call thee home.”
FALL 15/ WINTER 16 17 ִלוָיָת Stories from History BY WESLEY WHITTLESEY
Dr. Hedwig C. Rose Photo courtesy of Calyse Tobias originally published in City on a Hill Press
On Tursday January were signs of the early onsets laws that were being enforced 21, 2016, Dr. Hedy Rose came of segregation for the Jews in in the country. Nothing was onto UC Santa Cruz’s campus Europe. Dr. Rose continues to thought of it until one day when to give her annual lecture of say that through the year of 1940, the Nazi soldiers returned to her how life was for her growing things were changing rapidly home, and she could tell that up through the Holocaust as a around her: there was now a something was diferent this 6-year-old girl in Amsterdam. I curfew installed and enforced time. She looked at her parents, was fortunate enough to be able throughout Amsterdam, and who both had stern looks on to attend, and to say that it was it was no longer safe for her their faces. Her father walked an emotional and ultimately to go outside. Her once good towards the door, turned to say enriching experience is a friends, who were not Jewish, that he loved his family, and complete understatement. now sneered and looked down then departed with the soldiers. Dr. Rose began by telling the at her. She never saw her father again audience how as a girl she was For the better part of 1941, afer that. very excited to be able to go to Dr. Rose felt completely alone Immediately afer, Dr. Rose’s school and learn and to just be and confused and yearned for mother told her and her older outside. It came as a big shock some sense of normalcy. But sister to gather any belongings to her when she was told that none of her loneliness and they could carry and to follow she was no longer able to go to confusion would come to pass. her out. Tey lef the house, public schools or to be outside Towards the end of 1940 and walked down a couple of blocks, without a jacket that had the Star the early onset of 1941, Nazi and arrived at a local bakery, of David on it. At the time, she soldiers had been coming to where a former employee of Dr. was unable to comprehend why and from Dr. Rose’s home to Rose’s father would house them this was happening, but these give stif warnings about the in their basement. It was in this 18 COVERAGE basement that Dr. Rose, her Auschwitz, Dr. Rose woke up into this lecture, I knew I was sister, and her mother would to see that her mother had died going to feel something, but live for the next four years. during the night. Although even now, I still don’t really Although it was safe, it was dark, Dr. Rose and her sister were know how to comprehend how cramped, and food throughout orphaned, the day Auschwitz to feel. Dr. Rose told me that was scarce due to the events of was liberated was a day that I wouldn’t know how to feel WWII. Despite being safe, Dr. she would never forget. She ran right away, that it would come Rose yearned to be able to go outside elated to be free once with time. Dr. Rose commented outside, commenting on how again and she couldn’t help but how there is a growing number every night she would crawl cry because she fnally believed of people around the world
“She has spent her whole life researching and understanding all of the events of the Holocaust so that its memory would never fade” upstairs, lay underneath the that things would return to who believe that the Holocaust front window, and watch the normal. didn’t really happen, and afer outside through an air vent, just As time passed, Dr. Rose listening to this lecture, I frmly to be able to feel the fresh air on went back to school, made new believe that what happened her face again. Dr. Rose recalled friends, and eventually came truly did happen. that the highlight of this time over to the United States with Sitting in the third row, I was being able to receive her sister to live with their aunt could see clearly the emotion, postcards from her father from and uncle, both of whom had the strain, and exhaustion on the various places he was taken, made it out of Europe before the Dr. Rose’s face. If she hadn’t until the day when they received Holocaust began. Te horrors of told this story hundreds of a postcard from the Auschwitz the Holocaust would continue times, I believe that she would concentration camp. Although to haunt her for years to come, have been in tears, as many Dr. Rose didn’t know it at the though. To this day, Dr. Rose audience members were. Te time, her mother and sister comments that her mission raw emotion and the personal knew that that would be a death is to educate people about events that were presented sentence for her father. what really happened in the in the lecture are things that Despite all that was going on 1940s and how truly horrible cannot simply be acted or around her, Dr. Rose still tried to it was for those who sufered. fabricated; they are things that maintain any kind of normalcy Although she didn’t completely have to be felt and experienced. that she could fnd: her mother understand everything that Te Holocaust and all of the taught her basic arithmetic and transpired at that time, she has horrors that are associated with she learned to read from the spent her whole life researching its name truly did happen and books that their friends had and understanding all of the it’s up to the current and future around the bakery. In all of the events of the Holocaust so that generations to make sure that chaos, she still wanted to make its memory would never fade. the knowledge and memories the best of things. Sitting in the third row of the of these few survivors are never In late December of 1944, a Music Recital Hall, I was lef doubted and never forgotten. month before the liberation of absolutely speechless. Going 19 Ari Shavit Comes to Santa Cruz BY ZACHARY BRENNER Photo courtesy of Hillel On Tuesday October 27, Israeli writer Ari Shavit came to Santa Cruz to speak to students and the community about the Israeli- Palestinian confict and his life as an Israeli. Shavit is author of the New York Times Bestselling book, My Promised Land: Te Triumph and Tragedy of Israel. He is on the Ari Shavit meets with students on campus prior to delivering a editorial board for the leading speech to the greater Santa Cruz community. progressive newspaper in Israel, Perhaps the speech was fewer people than Muslims and Haaretz. Having written countless well received because the audience Christians. opinion pieces and toured the that came to hear him already He continues to say: “If United States in previous years, knew they would agree with him. you look at the history of the Shavit was an exceptional guest Te issues he brought up were basic condition of the Jews, this is to share his knowledge with the crucial yet controversial. Israel is outrageously distorted. Basically Santa Cruz community. a hot topic of discussion and there speaking, the Jewish people has Tat night, Shavit spoke are many humanitarian issues contributed so much to humanity to a full crowd of spectators that must be addressed—Shavit and was [sic] treated so badly by at the United Peace Church of did not beat around the bush. such large groups of humanity Jesus Christ on High Street. However, Shavit’s comments are for such a long time. We are an Arriving fashionably late, Shavit not to be taken lightly. endangered species. Again, that immediately grasped the crowd’s He reminds his audience, does not justify occupation or attention by making a bold “Let’s look at the context. I think settlements, or massive use of statement: “I oppose… I strongly that one of the major problems we frepower in Gaza.” oppose occupation and I think have is that both the Israeli and Jews have been struggling that settlements are Israel’s worst Jewish right and the American, for thousands of years and the fact historic mistake.” European and sometimes Israeli that people have taken the current In relation to the criticism extreme far lef have lost the plot. situation out of context irritates of Israel, Shavit argued that “Te Tey really think that Israel is Shavit and many other Jews as only obsession people have is an empire, that the Jews are the well. Jews might be perceived as with settlement building, which I masters of the world. successful, rich, White, privileged oppose? Tis is the only evil power “Let’s remind us of the individuals, but it has not always in the world?” Shavit claimed that facts. Tere are three major been that way. Te Jews have had people perhaps pay too much monotheistic religions in the to fght for their existence from the attention to Israel. Maybe people world. One is over 2 billion people outset and the current situation is should stop focussing on Israel [Christianity], one is over one yet another test for Jews to prove and focus on other countries who and a half billion people [Islam], that they have what it takes to be also have complicated issues, like and the third is fourteen million resilient—by doing the right thing Syria or Saudi Arabia or China. people on a good day [Judaism]. by ending the Occupation, ending But, Shavit also claimed that a We are a midget.” settlement building, and creating close eye on Israel is important, Te point of these words Two States: one for Palestinians but only if you look at the situation are not to state that the Jews are and one for Israelis. in a complicated manner. to be pitied because they have Shavit mentioned his 20 LEVIATHAN JEWISH JOURNAL COVERAGE book several times throughout the the work). Te Jews had a home. the Palestinians…because I have night—not as a publicity tactic, Tey were seeking to “promote so much empathy…because but as a way to remind people that universal values” as Shavit said. there isn’t a racist bone in me… he is not being hypocritical. “In And now, Israel is on the verge of I say, ‘Grow up, my dear friends. many ways, this is why I wrote throwing that all away with bad Don’t just sit there and wait my book. I thought that the politics and oppressive behavior. for everybody to save you.’ Te narrative regarding Israel was lost Jews had just sufered beautiful thing about Israel is the by Israelis and others. Te human through the Holocaust and Shavit constructive ethos...we decided dimension was lost. And I wanted claims that Jews had every right not to surrender [to our confict]. to ask myself three basic ‘Israel’ to take advantage of other people Not to be addicted to our tragedy. I questions: ‘Why Israel?’, ‘What’s and take revenge through murder. say to Palestinians, ‘Don’t compete Israel?’, ‘Will Israel?’” Instead, he says, “Tese people with the Jews in the victim game. Israel exists because decided their revenge would Tere is no chance you will beat us’... Let there be a Palestine that is a constructive Palestine—taking “I oppose… I strongly oppose responsibility for itself.’” occupation and I think that settlements Some say that Jews are, in fact, clinging to hateful are Israel’s worst historic mistake” and miserable attitudes by occupying Palestinian land. I see the Palestinians as hugely the Jews needed a homeland not be suicide bombing. Teir disadvantaged and disempowered where they could be free of revenge was to live.” Tis claim, to by the Israeli occupation of their Nazism, anti-Semitism, and me, is questionable because many territory, and because of that, dispersion. Unity holds Jews would argue that the Jews did, I critique Shavit’s argument by together, but in their desperate in fact, commit indirect murder arguing that Israel, as the powerful search of a place to call home, by displacing thousands of entity, must be the one to continue they overlooked an indigenous Palestinian people to claim their to take bold steps toward peace. Palestinian people. Indigenous land. However, I agree with Shavit Many Palestinians are to blame at that time afer the Holocaust, that the Jews were in desperate as well for constantly rejecting not indigenous according to need of somewhere to live without land and not making considerable diferent interpretations of the fascism and violence and the eforts to end senseless violence Bible. “Tis is a deep, tragic, undeniable place to turn was the toward innocent Israeli civilians. I multilayered, multidimensional holy, ancient land of Israel. must also acknowledge that when confict.” People who write of the Afer taking questions the Jews were building a home for situation as existing solely in the from the audience, Shavit’s themselves, they did not face daily present moment are prone to an opinions became clear. He warned military harassment. illegitimate argument. that the confict could only be Shavit concluded his During the early years of solved by a Two State solution, speech, before the Q&A period, the state of Israel, the Jews took otherwise there would be no with a sentiment about the it upon themselves to enhance hope for peace. He says there is confict that pretty much summed the land that they lived on. no hope for equality among the up his speech. He said, “Don’t Tey built homes, they created two people: there is too much of give up on Israelis. And don’t farming opportunities, they a history behind the confict and forget the context”. I have to agree created a socialist environment too much pride involved. with him—do not give up on that actually, arguably, worked He then turns a critical Israelis, but also do not give up on (kibbutzim—shared land where eye on the Palestinians. He says, Palestinians. people living on the property split “Because I care so much about
FALL 15/ WINTER 16 21 ִלוָיָת Reactions to Paris BY KELSEY EILAND BACKGROUND ART BY CINDY SHI
On November 13, 2015, But in a response to Wood’s critical thought and of meaningful breaking news of a string of piece, Caner Dagli points out that engagement. Both are dangerous. terrorist attacks fooded media Wood’s argument is fawed. Dagli Te complacency and outlets. News correspondents makes a striking critique: Many despair mentality is largely across the nation narrated video Muslims have been arguing that perpetuated by news outlets and footage of Parisians in panic and ISIS absolutely does not take Islamic our culture’s lust for sensationalized shock as the city shut down. 130 texts seriously, which counters information delivered straight civilians were lef dead. Wood’s claim. According to Dagli, and fast and most importantly, Te attacks were attributed how is it that “non-Muslims retain with answers—but also laden to the operations of the Islamic the right to judge how ‘serious’ in rhetoric of fear and panic. State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an ISIS is in its understanding of core Fox News correspondent Steve organization that declared itself an Islamic texts?” And further, who Emerson, who has described Islamic caliphate afer it launched are critics like Wood to determine himself as a “terrorism analyst”, an ofensive in Mosul, Iraq in what Islam looks like for other reported that there were “no-go 2014. In an analysis by Graeme practicing Muslims in the context zones”, or Muslim communities, Wood in Te Atlantic, the writer of trying to invalidate ISIS’s Islam? in France and elsewhere where claims two ways in which the US Essentially, it’s complicated. police ofcers and non-Muslim and others have fundamentally And not a “complicated” that should folks don’t even venture into. Tis misunderstood ISIS: For one, be ignored or oversimplifed, but is not true, and was disproven by while bin Laden’s terrorist one that takes many perspectives NPR and Salon.com not long afer. networks were working across and conversations to begin to Besides falsifying the narrative geographical spaces and worked understand. Even Wood may by aligning ISIS-led attacks with fexibly, ISIS has required defned have gotten a lot wrong. But he Muslim communities in Europe, territory and a highly-organized engaged in the conversation, and Emerson used the opportunity to hierarchy of leaders to remain in Dagli responded thoughtfully and coerce already fearful viewers into power. Secondly, he claims that critically. bigoted and racist rhetoric. ISIS is misunderstood as being a Still, in the wake of Ten, there was the “fx- “modern” militant organization, Paris, the response was either it” moment: change your profle when in fact most of the Western the right responding with blatant picture to the French fag, Tweet world denies what he calls the xenophobia or the lef tiptoeing #istandwithfrance, or provide a “medieval” religious rhetoric used around critical conversations about rant about why it’s time to “take on by ISIS to fuel its campaigns. geopolitics, religion, and privilege ISIS”. Moreover, selective coverage Based on Wood’s analysis, in the context of Paris. And was not just happening by chance. the misunderstandings of how another tragedy became a process Te lack of coverage for the 147 militant groups operate lead to of “us” versus “them” grouping, of dead in an attack in Garissa, Kenya dangerous and oversimplifed romanticising violence, of ignoring last April spoke loudly to which judgements not only about ISIS, the complexities of the situation. voices in our mediasphere get to but about Muslims around the No one listened, but everyone had speak up—and thus, whose stories globe. Yes, ISIS does claim to something to say. are told. operate in the name is Islam Westerners, and Americans Very few voices in the and follow the prophecy of specifcally, as writer Teju Cole conversation, so it seemed, Muhammad, but an important has pointed out, are really good took a step back and looked at distinction to make, according to at either choosing complacency where the Paris conversations Wood, is that most Muslims reject and despair or adopting the “fx it” were situated in global systems the Islamic State’s exploitation of savior-like (typically White savior) of power and privilege. Te religious doctrine. complex. Both are ofen void of answer—or answers—were and 22 OPINIONOPINION still are a lot more complicated so unquestionably, is to create democracy or freedom is somehow than Emerson and his colleagues an enemy of what and who is acceptable. wished to interrogate. And while considered “non-French”. Further, Tis is not to say that the #standingwithfrance in such this confation does a dangerous conversation be void of compassion moments can express shared grief disservice to Middle Eastern and concern for the grieving, and solidarity, it needs to be more refugees who are also escaping the nor should it be void of possible complicated than that, too. wrath of ISIS’s mission. reform. But I also recognize that Nationalism, in the my access to information via social context of “standing with France”, Tis comes back to the importance media is determined by whom I perpetuates pan identity, silences of not ignoring what France (and interact with; that is, mostly White, intersectional voices like French all post-colonial nations) has liberal, college-age Americans who Muslims, and really only validates been complicit in as a colonizing will be the frst to call out systemic those who are already accepted by power. One of the many reasons injustice in moments of tragedy French “standard”: White, French terrorist organizations exist, argue but then fall short of continued speaking, born-into-citizenship columnists in Te Week magazine, activism and allyhood (which I am Frenchfolk. Tis alignment of is to exercise their beliefs (no complicit in ofen). standing with France—or any matter how disagreeable) in a way And solidarity can socially constructed label like that will be heard. Nations like happen via social media, which “To align one’s self with France so unconditionally, so unquestionably, is to create an enemy of what and who is considered ‘non-French’. ” a nationality or an identity France, England, and the US have has proven to be an instrumental constructed by borders—is historically imposed their beliefs force in creating social change in overgeneralizing and otherizing. and systems on other countries, recent years—indeed, in Egypt What does it mean to “stand taken them over, displaced and Baltimore and for LGBTQ with France”? Maybe because the their native peoples, and waged rights across the nation. Yet it is French stood beside the US in the war on innocent civilians—but necessary to continue the activism, wake of 9/11, there was a sense of because it was done in the name the resistance, and the solidarity, solidarity already established. But of “democracy” or “revolution” or beyond a hashtag or a re-post. And does one also support and condone to simply maintain the military- it is necessary to use social media a history of colonialism? Is one also industrial complex—it isn’t seen as a platform to call out unjust complicit in the militarization of as being as dangerous, threatening, and libelous mainstream media the global south? Does one stand or destructive as what happened in reporting that is so common on with those who use anti-Muslim Paris. Fox News, CNN, and others. rhetoric to fuel the confation of Terrorism, in its most Te conversation also ISIS’s self-described caliphate with straightforward defnition, is the needs to be, well, a conversation— all of the Middle East? use of violence as a way to achieve one that includes understanding of Tis is not to say that it political goals. Was the invasion of situated power, one that includes doesn’t make sense to stand with Iraq by the US military not an act underrepresented voices, and one those who are grieving, who faced of terrorism? Was the colonization that includes listening to those we great personal and public danger, of the Americas by the French not purport to be in solidarity with. who have now lost a sense of safety an act of terrorism? To only call out Without such, we will not be able in their community. But what violence when it is perpetuated by to reach beyond borders and about the French who remain rebel organizations is to ignore the transform our conversations about entrenched in the daily threats of blasphemous double standards of terrorism, colonialism, and other systemic racism? To align one’s self colonialist powers who believe that forms of cyclical violence. with France so unconditionally, the death of civilians in the name of 23 Cover art by rose teplitz rose art by Cover
Study Judeo-Spanish was Judeo-Spanish and continues to be the language of Sephardic with an informal Jews around the group of UCSC Mediterranean. Explore the developments of students! linguistic and cultural shifts resulting from the 15th centuries’ diaspora following the inquisition, and the myriad locations that became new Jewish cultural centers. Depending on the number of interested students and schedules we will fnd a time that will work for all. We will explore Judeo-Spanish through a combination of textbook lessons, literary sources, If interested please email and music. No graded Alma Rachel Heckman: assignments and no [email protected] course credit offered.
Here is the updated cover!!