THE SHP
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4
1 L Adar I 5768 26 Adar T 5768


James' Cinema Highlights Presents:

"The Band's Visit" vs. "Beufort":


EL


February 19, 2008 March 3, 2008


Laughing for peace


What exactly makes a foreign film anyway? Leaders use comedy to overcome hate


BY JAMES WILKEY
SHPiEL staff writer

"The Band's Visit," written and
directed by Eran Kolirin, is a refreshingly
original, character-driven film. It was
the original Israeli entry for the Academy
Award for "Best Foreign Language
Film" before it was disqualified for its
predominant use of English.
"The Band's Visit" is a wonderful film
about an Egyptian brass band physically
and culturally lost in Israel. At its heart,
the film is the story of two cultures
meeting, interacting and learning about
how much they share.
The characters speak Arabic and.
Hebrew, though English dominates as
the common-ground language.


The official rules of the Academy
Awards define a foreign language film
as "a feature-length motion picture
produced outside of the United States
of America with a predominantly non-
English dialogue track."
One could argue that this rule creates
an incentive for foreign filmmakers
to create films that reflect the unique
elements of their cultures, rather then
regurgitate American cinematic style.
This would be a fair statement in
1956, when the award for Best Foreign
Language Film was changed from an
honorary award to a full category.
Then, English had no place in a film
depicting a culture outside of North

SEE MOVIES, PAGE 8


BY BEN CAVATARO
SHPiEL staff writer


"He's 30, I'm 60. He has young kids,
I have grown kids. He's a Muslim, I'm a
Jew. He's from Chicago, I'm from rural
Vermont. The only thing we have in
common is that we're both incredibly
good-looking."
Rabbi Bob Alper and Azhar Usman
tour around the U.S., Canada and Britain
as "Comedy's Odd Couple."
Alper and Usman came to the Reitz
Union's Grand Ballroom Feb. 11 for "One
Muslim, One Jew, One Stage," a comedy
show and the first, event sponsored by
both Islam on Campus and the Jewish
Student Union in recent years.
The show was pushed from 7:30
p.m. to 8 p.m., and Usman didn't arrive


until 9 p.m. due to a late flight, but
the audience was kept happy with/free
cheese and punch.
"West Bank Story," a 21-minute
film.(and winner of the 2007 Oscar for
best live-action short film), was played
until showtime. The film is a spoof
on Broadway's "West Side Story," tells
the tale of the Palestinian Fatima, who
falls in love with an IDF soldier named
David-complete with dance numbers.
It included copious "Fiddler on the
Roof" references, falafel, shawarma and
camel jokes, and two rival fast-food
restaurants-the Jewish "Kosher King"
and the Arab "Hummus Hut."
Making introductions with IOC
President Yaser Ali, JSU President

SEE COMEDY, PAGE 2


t .......y student-run.......newspaperinthe country







21 NEWS


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 4


Ha sAego 6ste nblts



Index


Years old the Shpiel is
turning:

Distance (in miles) light
can travel in two years:

Year the first census was
taken in China:

Birthdays a person has in.
one year:

Atomic number of helium:

Minutes you must beat
the facility in Goldeneye
64 on 00 Agent to get
invincibility:

Seconds in two years:

Daily percent value of
protein in a Chocolate
Chip Peanut Crunch Clif
Bar:

Percent of American
viewers that were spoiled
before they saw Sayid was
working for Ben in his
flash forward:


2


1.18x10^13


2


1


2



2:05



63,113,852



22


talk about a walking punchline


COMEDY, FROM PAGE 1

Danielle Obrart said she hoped the joint
event would "strengthen the bonds
between our organizations."
The comics performed separate sets
and then came together during the final
part of the performance.
Alpers' jokes centered on his own
experiences. When he encountered the
campaigning George H.W. and Barbara
Bush at a New Hampshire deli deciding
between corned beef and pastrami, he
told them to go with the pastrami-thus
becoming a "presidential advisor." At
the University of Vermont, he saw the.
Hebrew, German and Russian language
studies were housed in the same
building-the "Department of Semitic
and Antisemitic Languages." Another
part of the routine was about Alpers'
dog, rescued from Puerto Rico. The dog,
named Jesfis ("not the best name for a
Jewish dog"), was renamed "Zeus."
Usman focused on airport scrutiny
("You take the hairy one, I'll take the
smelly one"), President Bush ("I don't
make fun of Bush; because I think
he's hilarious"), and Indian culture
("Weddings in India are expensive,
and all to please two people-the two
moms"). Usman screwed charges against
Democratic presidential candidate
Barack Obama:


"You hear on the cable news and
talk radio a few months back? They
said when Barack Obama was a kid;
.he went to an Indonesian madrassa.
A madrassa," Usman said, hissing.
"Madrassa is Arabic for school. They
don't like Obama because he went to
school as a kid."
Usman also spoke about traveling
abroad ("Back at home, I get dirty looks
all the time for being a Muslim. It's nice
to be hated for being an American; it
makes me feel very patriotic"), about
the preference of people from Iran to
-be called Persian ("Persian is associated
with good things, like cats and rugs, not
nuclear bombs"), and about being lost
in Greenville, South Carolina.
Coming together at the end of the
evening, the pair spoke about the
purpose of the show.
An audience member asked if
they thought they helped break down
stereotypes ("Absolutely not," Alper
shot back, to crowd laughter).
Alper told the audience that when the
duo performed at Dartmouth College,
Usman would stay at his house.
"When you come to Vermont, the
Muslim population of the state will
double," he quipped at his partner. He
also said that some people felt "hatred,
fear, and loathing" towards Usman-
"because he is, after all, a lawyer."


The SHPiEL does not guarantee that the information or statistics in this table
are either factual or accurate, and in fact we probably just made half of this
crap up. So please don't hold us accountable if you try to show off your new
knowledge in front of all your friends and someone calls you out on your idiocy.


-horo 1'.1 BF Iqlm Silver


The Only Student-Run Jewish Campus Newspaper in the Country, Right Here at the University of Florida


Editor-in-Chief
Giselle Mazur
theshpiel@gmail.com
Managing Editor
Josh Fleet
shpielme@gmail.com
News Editor
Ben Cavataro
cavataro@ufl.edu


Scene Editor
Douglas Sharf
dsharf88@ufl.edu
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Zahara Zahav
zzahav@ufl.edu
Executive Advisor/Mentor
Rabbi Yonah Schiller
ravyonah@ufhillel.org


Web Editor
Lori Finkel
lmfinkel@ufl.edu
Layout Editor
Jackie Jakob
jjakob@ufl.edu
Public .Relations
Brittany Smaridge
bviesti@ufl.edu


Photo Editor
Jeremy Fields
froma@ufl.edu
Distribution
Jesse Karr
lax09@ufl.edu
Political Cartoonist
Jamie Caceres
jnc5122@ufl.edu


V1 u

V1


E
0







The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 4 NEWS 3


The Universty of Florida Hillel has a
special offer for Seniors &
Grad Students! Mo


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9


shorts

Briefs
BY BEN CAVATARO


(Holocaust survivor, U.S. Representative dies)
U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), the only Holocaust survivor
to ever serve in Congress, died Feb. 11 at the National Naval
Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., of esophageal cancer. Lantos,
80, was born in Hungary and escaped from the Holocaust,
becoming an economics professor and advisor to politicians in
the United States. Elected in 1981 to represent the San Mateo
district, Lantos served for 27 years. As House Foreign Relations
Committee chair he was noted for his work on human rights in
Darfur, China, and elsewhere.
On Feb. 14 Lantos was honored at a ceremony at the Capitol.
Bono, who worked with Lantos on AIDS and global poverty
issues, performed in Lantos' memory.
(Revisions of Catholic prayer criticized by rabbis)
A Roman Catholic prayer recently revised by Pope Benedict
XVI was formally criticized by the Conservative Rabbinical
Assembly on Feb. 14. The Good Friday prayer, changed from
its 1962 Latin Mass version, removed references to Jewish
"blindness" of Christ but retained language calling for the
Jews to "acknowledge Jesus Christ as the savior."
The new language was criticized by Jewish groups that want
the references to Jews removed, and Traditionalist Catholics
who want the original wording preserved.
(Anonymous anti-Semitic mailer targets member
of Congress)
A Jewish U.S. Rep. was the target of anti-Semitic smears,
reports the Washington Post.
Incumbent Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), who is campaigning in
the primary against Nikki Tinker, was attacked in a mailer
sent to people in Tennessee's Memphis-area 9th district. The
flier says that "Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen and the
Jews hate Jesus."
The flier, which Cohen received, told voters to support
black Christian candidates and included the name of the
sender, George Brooks, an African-American minister from
Murfreesboro outside Cohen's district.
(Israeli Arab may be world's oldest person)
An Arab Israeli woman may be, at 120 years old, the oldest
person in the world.
Mariam Amash, who lives in the Arab town of Jisr az-Zarqa
in northern Israel, was first noted for her age when she applied
for a new Israeli identity card based on a birth certificate
issued by the Ottoman authorities who ruled Palestine.
Amash, who according to relatives has 10 children, 120
grandchildren, 250 great-grandchildren, and 30 great-great-
grandchildren, may in fact be older than current Guinness
record-holder Edna Parker, 114, of Shelbyville, Indiana.
The BBC reported that Amash says she is the oldest person
in the world and hopes to "keep going for another 10 years." A
religious Muslim, Amash has made five pilgrimages to Mecca,
the last in 1990, and credits her longevity to healthy diet with
plenty of vegetables.


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for...


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41 SPORTS


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 4


Not nearly to the top, Gators still building


IY NERI STEIN
SHPiEL staff
writer





S- so back to
S.footballwe go!
Under Urban Meyer, the University
of Florida has been one of the top
three recruiters in college football.
Usually we're battling it out with Pete
Carroll and USC, but this year things
are a little different.
UF landed at #4, signing 11 of
ESPN's top 150 prospects.
The Gators held the #1 spot right
up until signing day when they lost
some key players.
University of Southern California
was a dismal #6, signing only eight
while for some reason, Alabama had
the #3 class. This isn't surprising
because of how they play- it's


surprising because I don't know
how a man who compared a loss to
Louisiana Monroe with Pearl Harbor
and the September 11 attacks could
be such a smooth talker.
But thank Hashem, we might've
gotten what we needed. Clearly Meyer
wasn't on the hunt
for offense.
He might've I don't kn(
pushed a little compared
harder for a Monroe wi
powerful running the Septen
back, but I think be such a si
we've given in
to the fact that
our quarterback will run the ball no
matter what he's told.
UF did sign one wide receiver,
T.J. Lawrence, who will fill a void
left by Bubba Caldwell. Caldwell was
basically the second choice to throw
to if Percy Harvin had more than
three guys on him at a time.
Our offense was fantastic last
season, never scoring fewer than 17
points. The Gators only lost when


their defense couldn't stop the other
team from putting up points. But
that happens, especially when your
defense is young: mostly sophomores
and a few juniors. Next season, things


are looking up.
On Signing Day,


ow how a man who
a loss to Louisiana
th Pearl Harbor and
ber 11 attacks could
mooth talker.

Nelson at the 2006


UF signed the
two top
safeties
in the
nation,
Will Hill
and Dee.
Finley.
Losing
Reggie
Championship


definitely hurt the Gators the most
last season. They were exploited
at safety more than anywhere else,
giving up big plays on long passes
when it hurt most.
We also scored big with a top
cornerback (Janoris Jenkins) and a
top defensive tackle (Omar Hunter)
coming into the mix. Meyer has said
that this is probably his favorite class


since he's been a head coach, and he's
very happy with his staff's work.
Meyer was accused of making
illegal phone calls to a recruit, but
the NCAA later said that he had not
violated any rules.
The University of Miami brought
in the top recruiting class this season,
and I just can't figure out why. In
the past two seasons, they've gotten
into the biggest fight-with FIU no
less-in college football history and
had terrible records for a team that
was once the most powerful team in
a quarter century. Miami also fired
their head coach who led them to the
2001 National Champioriship in his
first season. Ohio State was harder
to beat back then. And their players
are constantly getting involved with
shady activities.
Sunny Miami doesn't sound too
attractive to me, but maybe new
coach Randy Shannon will turn things
around just in time for the UF/UM
rivalry which will be renewed 'this
year in Gainesville.


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The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 4


SCENE 15


~).L 4. il 4Ik: How two SHPiELers lived for a week following

JOi 1 the strict Orthodox Rules of shomer negiah.


The challenge was simple enough. In honor of Valentine's day we put two SHPiELers up to the challenge of living for a week
under the rules of "shomer negiah," the Jewish laws of touching. According to the rules, a person who is shomer negiah may
not touch or be alone with anyone of the opposite sex who is not a family member. Find out all about our lovely friends Carly
and Taylor and their week living by these rules.


o- cgc 11 [ke cih4
Of kfs Lto tL it,,
BY CARLY FLEISHER
SHPiEL staff writer

One of the touchiest ter, rather, prudesti subjects in Jewish religious
practice is the issue of "negiah."
It is a topic that always ignites discussion, serves as a code of conduct for
some and incorporates spiritual meaning into relationships for others.
Within more religious Jewish circles, the practice of shomer negiah,
literally translated to mean one who "guards touch," is highly encouraged.
Men and women who are not married to one another do not touch. And
they are not allowed to spend time together in places shielded from public
eyes. High fives and hand shakes are avoided, and kissing someone of the
opposite sex certainly isn't an option.
But why? What is so wrong or evil about the schmoozing of the sexes? By
shielding our children from the opposite sex until they are ready to seek a
partner for marriage, are we portraying sex as mal-intentioned or perverse?
I was intrigued and I wanted to know what the spiritual significance of
being shomer negiah was. So. I tried it out for one week. No flirting. no
hugging, no kissing, no touching, and no sex.
To my surprise, I really enjoyed and learned a lot during my term as the
'lovable untouchable.' This experience took a lot of effort on my part, and I
was forced to alter my ever\yday lifestyle quite a bit. I found myself wanting
to dress more modestly to avoid getting unwanted attention from guys.
Being shomer negiah was a true test of my emotional and psychological
strength. The pressure to cave into temptations of all kinds was very high.
But I made it through with honesty and I feel as though I have become a true
master in the art of restraint.
Awareness o my surroundings, mybehaviorand my actionswas heightened
significantly. I was much more conscious of the wa\ s I interacted with men.
I was constantly feeling uneasy in fear that a man would unknowingly cross
the comfort boundary that I had-created for myself.
I literally ran into a sticky situation one Wednesday in Turlington. I was
late to one of my classes and was walking quickly through the square when
someone bumped into me. Since I was in a rush, l didn't notice the individual's
face and didn't take the time to check if it was a guy or a girl- but I knew.
I had become so aware of my physical interactions with people all week
long that I was able to distinguish the difference between a male and a female
touch. Even though I didn't see the person's face, I still new he was a he.
I began to feel uncomfortable and exposed.
Many people don't understand the meaning of being shomer negiah-
especially if one has never tried it out.
Some people think that by following this halachic (Jewish
law) practice they are good Jews. Others think it backs the idea
that Judaism is a sexist religion.
Having witnessed and participated in this ritual first hand,
I feel as though I have tapped into one of the many deeper
meanings associated with being shomer negiah.
In Judaism many practices are forced upon us in an attempt
to create personal awareness and oneness.
Being shomer negiah is similar to keeping kosher and
observing Shabbat because al of these rituals help Jews
become more aware of their connection to the self and to the
jew ish people as a whole.
Whether through consciously monitoring the types of food
that we eat. remembering not to turnona light or trying to avoid
touching someone of the opposite sex, all of these interactions
help us gain some internal happiness and self value.


The Untouchables
BY TAYLOR SINCICH
SHPiEL staff writer

"I can't touch girls fora week? That'll be easy"' It's funny what can happen
when we act before we think.
So, I can't come into physical contact with a female? That's easy enough.
And I can't be alone in a room with someone of the opposite sex without a
witness unless it's a public area? Unm. OK.
According to some Orthodox beliefs I'm not even allowed to look at a
woman in a suggestive manner. Wow. I guess I could go without watching
Natalie Portman in Star Wars for a week. Bummer.
On day one. I opted to ride the bus and hopped on at the Sorority Row
stop just outside my apartment complex. The first thing I noticed when I
get on the bus was that out of the 50 people riding, only five were dudes.
Luckily, I got a seat next to one of my few male counterparts and proceeded
to squish into him as the rest of the sorority population made their way
beside me in the aisles.
And, of course, they end up standing right over to me.
"What are you doing?" he asks as I'm leaning into him the whole ride. 1
explained my observance, but when he found out I'm not Jewish he said with
a blank face, "1 don't f%*&ing understand that."
As I went through my day-extra careful not to accidently come into
contact with any girls- a friend of mine runs up to give me a hug. It was
only after that I realized what happened.
"I'm shomer negiah for a week. Sorry. I can't hug you."
"Oh...Ok?" She said, with a puzzled face.
The best part was working at the library front desk where I literally come
into contact with hundreds of girls a day. Handing them books, takmg their
ID's-nothing less than an obstacle course.
The worst part of the week came when I found myself stuck at a friend's
house one night. It was 2 a.m. and although I had gotten a ride there with
two girls, (this is allowed, because one can act as a witness), one of them left
early. I was stuck. I couldn't ride in a car alone with a girl. After a long pause,
a male friend decided he would drive me all the way home and then go back.
What a pain. Not to mention that he got pulled over on the way home.
I started to rethink what I'd said earlier in the week about the shomer
negiah thing being an easy feat.
After a week of treating girls like they had cootes, I start to think
more about why anyone would want to do this. Shomer negiah isn't lust
about avoiding physical contact with someone. It's about respecting them.
3- It promotes building 3 strong
NM'i II ii I emotional relationship before
enjoying a phy sical one.
SIn a modern culture where we
;- i 'J are bombarded by sex from all
I 0 ;angles at all times, the chance to
slow down and actually appreciate
women as beautiful human beings
without having to come into
contact with ihe'm %was a wonderful
experience. It allowed me to take
a step back and appreciate the
physical aspect of relationships in
a different light.
But however beautiful it is, in
the end, I just can't go without my
Natalie Portman.
p'hoto a I.eremn Fields







61 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 4


Cameras, ...



combat and ^%.-

Iaie i
r4






photos courtesyof Eis Da Dawk -:

an interview with Spc. Eisha Dawkins


BY ELAINE WILSON
SHPIEI staff[ l rater

Practicing Judaism in the face of radical Islam. combat cameraman
Elisha Dawkins found strength and direction.
Having never found his niche in Christianity, Elisha Dawkins
discovered hope through kabbalah. The search for truth led this
young African-American man half a world away from his home in


Why did you join the army?
I joined the military because I had this G.I. Joe "warrior spirit"
and always wanted to go camping and such. I went to college and
joined the ROTC and got enlisted in the army. 1 was always eager
to do every thing that was military.

What was the experience of an overseas military tour like?
Both scary and happy. The reason I was happy was I proved that
there was a God and that he was protecting me. The scary part
is I learned there is someone out there to kill me. What kept me
grounded was my taith in Adonai. I was in firetights; 1 was on
roads that had.bomb tracks, in areas that were terrorist territory
or a target of terrorists. Being overseas, learning of different
cultures, I learned that people hate whoever for whatever reason,
and my job was to show my love for the country and helping other
people. There are soldiers who are there to be a family. to bring
civilization and democracy and help.
As combat cameramen, we're kind of indi\ iduals. We're our
own entity. AWe're with 20 soldiers and we have a job. It's one
of the hardest and most rewarding jobs. %When i first got there it
was hard because people were teasing me: "oh you got a camera."
The latter part of my tour people started to see what combat
camera really was and I felt so great. I felt so honored that the
Army appreciates the camera as a voice for bringing freedom to
such a place of turmoil. The pictures that we took really brought
happiness to the Iraqi people: an\ time there was a camera people
wanted their pictures taken. Children would run up to me and
want their picture taken.

Did you find yourself wishing to convey any particular
message with your photos?
I think my job there was to show love both ways. Love for people
who didn't understand my job-love from a nation. We're there to
fight terrorism, not a nation. The media over there, The New York
Times and CNN, was over there to demoralize the military; they
didn't see it from the same perspective as we did. Every time I
took a picture I was like: "this is gonna save the war."


-- .. .. .:, ,-_ .. -..% ,7-,. .. -, ,- : ,
._ ._ : _. _


Miami to war-torn Iraq.
As he took photographs, videotaped and interviewed his way
through military assignments, Dawkins believes his faith gave him
protection and the power to persevere.
He shared his story with The SHPiEL, describihg:his early exposure
to Judaism, observing Shabbat between missions overseas, and
finding truth through a camera lens.




Did you have a previous religious affiliation that was
unfulfilling, or did you find yourself drawn Judaism for
other reasons?
My aunt is an African Jew. 1 lived with her for a couple.of years
and we would go to services and she would show me the rituals
and that caught my eye. But f really wasn't in tune with that. After
leaving her I didn't feel that was my avenue-what she believed
in. It did bring me to Kabbalah and when I started reading that, I
got into wanting to know the basics-she didn't tell me why, she
just said do and I didn't feel comfortable with just doing it and
not knowing the purpose of doing it. I drifted away for 4 months,
6 months, a year, really questioning myself...who I was supposed
to be. I debated and said the Christian thing isn't working, and I
went more with Judaism. Something told me: "You need to find
what you're missing." There's a Kabbalah Center in Miami [and]
they really taught me what people do on a basis of bringing peace
and serving God. They ga e me the tools and helped me [find] the
meaning of life.

What experiences with Judaism caused you to convert?
SMy-experience was the total awareness of God's omnipresence. I
felt closer to Him as I began to build my cognitive ability\ within my
knowledge of Judaism. The whole experience was overwhelming.
It was where I needed to go and who I needed to be. It was the
right avenue for me in my life.

Did your time spent in the Middle East have any affect on
your perspective on or desire to be a part of the Jewish,
community? .
Yes. I think being there was a spiritual training for me and I proved
that this was the faith for me. I was representing the Jewish faith
over there. Every day I would read a prayer with the soldiers.and '
go to Shabbat every Friday. By doing the prayers and holding on
to the Torah-I have a pocket Torah-that was the protection. It
was part of a training phase-recognizing that this is the faith for
ne.


.. Ik
::- .- .- ..i'a"r








The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 4


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 17


Scratching the metallic and often deafening surface


BY JOSH FLEET
SHPiEL staff writer

Z'EV is a man of contradictions.
He calls himself a mystic rather than
a musician; a Qabalhist rather than a
Kaballist. He accepts that he is a Jew
and simultaneously rejects the notion.
He uses his given Hebrew name, Z'EV
(or z'ev, but not Z'ev), though he was
born Stefan Weisser, yet says he hasn't
practiced Judaism for 40 years.
"If someone decides to collect
[all the Jews] again-well yes, then
I would definitely get shoveled up
too," Z'EV said, in a characteristically
punctuationless and grammar-defying
email from Los Angeles.
"However, I'm not at all sold on the
genetic theory of Judaism."
The contradictions continue: his
forthcoming collaboration with Oren
Ambarchi, "Spirit Transform Me," is
described by Tzadik Records (the label
that is releasing it) as an album that
explores "the inner meanings of the
Hebrew Alef-bet."
According to Z'EV, this is a small
load of biblical bullshit.
The Jewish tradition thrives on
legends and explanations of the
enigmatic figures its stories center
around. The lives of these characters
are often built around paradoxes of
appearance and reality.


The founder of Hassidic Judaism,
the Ba'al Shem Tov, is one of these
paradoxical figures.
By day, before he revealed himself as
the virtually unmatched scholar he was,
the "Besht" was known throughout his
village as a bit of a simpleton who merely
maintained the local synagogue.
But at night, when everyone in his
town was asleep, the Ba'al Shem Tov
studied ancient Hebrew texts with such
conviction and mastery that divine light
erupted all around him.
The Ba'al Shem Tov was not revered
by all of his contemporaries in his day.
In fact, bloody civil wars were started
between the Jews who followed him and
those who considered him a heretic.
Similarly, when one comes to know
the music and philosophies of Z'EV,
both seem to reject tradition.
And though his music and
philosophies are a rejection, they are
firmly founded in what they reject.
Z'EV plays metal: stainless steel
and titanium. "Wildstyle," as he calls
his brand of industrial percussion, is
"a performance mode that [is] a cross
between marionette and shadow-
boxing" because of the amount of
movement it requires.
He began this style in the '70s
while playing with a group of analog
synthesizer musicians in San Francisco.
"The challenge of acoustically


producing
sounds which
complemented
electronic sounds
led me to stop
using traditional
percussion
instruments,"
ZE'EV said.
The ensuing
industrial
intonations' and
his ideas about
Jews--which
include, but
are certainly
not limited to
various theories
about Ashkenazi
collaboration with Nazis-seem
noisy and filled with indiscernible
feedback that is generally
inaccessible.
But the self-avowed "rabid
anti-Zionist" and his metallic
thrashings are what they are:
contradictory and paradoxical.
Loud and brutally honest.
Z'EV and his music, like the
mystical texts from which he
often draws inspiration, are
frustratingly unexplained.
Even infuriating.
Yet they still beg to be heard
again and again.


pnoro courtesy orT nman Iax


Zl'EV' Picks
(in all his typo'ed glory)

Favorite recordings
Senegambian music
Balinese gamelan
Korean folk
Classical opera

Listening to now
Heads & Tales v.1
the symphony 'Elementalities'

Favorite mystical text
The SfrYtzrh, or Book of Formation


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8'l KVETCH The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 4


-jI IIIIIIII IIIIIIl IIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIll ll IIIIII IIIII II IIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIlII IIIIIIIIIII I IIIIIIIII III III IIIIII IIIIIII I ll IIIIIIII IlIIII


W lom @H h d [Fa They don't make leaders
like they used to

S- Diplomats before becoming a king-the time Surah 27 is called the Ants; it David and Solomon are not
a n d when he killed Goliath in battle. mentions a story of Solomon when unusual examples of Prophets in
politicians When I read in the 2nd Surah he saw ants while he was marching authoritative positions.
= wear nice (chapter) of the Quran, about the story with his army, and his gentle attitude How about Joseph in Egypt?
suits and ties, of King Saul with his army before this while he observed them. How about Moses and Muhammad
s and army decisive battle, I realized that these This showed as well the political who led their communities during
.- generals don weren't easy times, skills of Solomon. critical times?
=- medals on David kept in mind the lessons he With the issue of the Kingdom of Here I see how history repeats
= jS j their chests. itself, producing leaders of mercy
Yet, many of instead of corruption.
= these leaders disappoint me. If they were champions at war,
S I recall two Kings who are deeply If they were champions at war, they-were champions at peace, too.
Respected in both Judaism and Islam: they were champions at peace, too. History has different narrations.
= King David and King Solomon. For example, as a Muslim I
Peace be upon them. consider Prophet Solomonto be a
Each passed through history as a humble believer who was loyal to
Successful ruler. Both were powerful learned: that their victory was neither Sheba, he made it clear that. when he God throughout his life.
with military might. by numbers nor weapons; that there goes to war it isn't for economical But I am sure there are people who
Yes, they fought enemies. But I did is no reason to be arrogant, only to be reasons. In the end, the Queen disagree with me.
not see them try to conquer the world thankful to God. became a believer after she realized However, I hope history will still
Sor massacre the Holy Land. I really like a mutual prayer of that Solomon is a Prophet and a King be a useful thing that people will learn
= And if someone asks why they did David and Solomon in Surah 27. of guidance, not of plunder. from it. For the diplomats, politicians
= not, I say: it's enough to know that The 15th verse says, "And we It's interesting to note that these and generals: I say that they too must
Prophets are bonded with morals and verily gave knowledge to David and two stories are mentioned right after learn.
humbleness. And these kings were Solomon, and they said: Praise be the story of Pharaoh and his arrogance
Prophets before anything else. to God, Who had preferred us above to accept the advice of Moses. Questions? Comments? Contact Khader
David remembered the old days many of His believing servants!" Not all Kings are the same. at khader.abuelhaija@gmail.com




..and the


S aLLA Il'& IKE IT M .. I Oscar goes to...
MOVIES, FROM PAGE 1
S America or the United Kingdom.
SIn 2007 however, English is the
predominant international language.
It is the tongue that cultures and
O countries around the world use to
communicate with each other.
V Given these modern circumstances,
"The Band's Visit" is still a foreign
film representing its country of origin,
regardless of its use of English.
C/ The very idea of having a "Best
P I Foreign Language Film" category
Instead of a "Best Foreign Film"

modern world.
/ lL J"" \ 'i] '. Category has become antiquated in- the
"Beaufort," a military drama about
the final Israeli unit to leave Lebanon,
fle1ck l /V $ ~replaced "The Band's Visit" as the film
put forth by the Israeli Film Academy
and received the Oscar nomination.
"Beaufort" is an excellent film that
deserves its nomination, but it lacks
the originality and character depth
"that makes "The Band's Visit" such an
achievement.
It's unfortunate that a film as good
as "The Band's Visit" should be barred
.. .. from the honor of an Oscar nomination
S- ---' :-'- :'-'-----":-Z--.. solely because of the language its
-- characters speak.
^ *








The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 4


KVETCH [9


The Millennial Mania-Part One of Two


My childhood was peppered with
vinyl records, the Pong video game,
the dawning of break dancing and the
Beastie Boys. You all, the Millennials,
are categorized as having been born
roughly between 1980 and 1994.
People of your generation probably
never owned backpacks that did not
have an inside sleeve for a laptop.
The concept of a "helicopter" parent
being intimately involved in your
college life does not strike you
as bizarre or inappropriate. You.
have been described as the techie
generation- masters of multi-tasking
and sufferers of extreme distraction.
There are major studies floating
around academic and professional
circles that are beginning to name
the major attributes assigned to your
generation. One of the more popular
studies was compiled and written
by Howe and Strauss. They distilled
their findings to a list of seven major
character traits they observe in
Millennials. I will list them here with
their descriptions and follow each one
up with some Rabbi Thoughts. I will
not address the question of whether I
agree or disagree with their findings,
rather I will comment on the study on
its own terms.
1. Special Older generations


have indoctrinated in Millennials
the sense that they are,
collectively, vital to the nation
and to their parents' .sense of
purpose.
Rabbi:
Good news- The concept of an
individual playing an important role
in giving form to the future is difficult
to communicate with effectiveness ...
big plus if this is an already-ingrained


understanding.
Something to Pon
our "parents'
sense of
purpose"
can be
significantly
challenging
to our
own self-
discovery
a n d
exploration (crucial
our own personhood
healthy self-esteem).


der- Living out



You have be
as...masters
tasking and
extreme dist


to realizing
and in gaining
This imposed


generational self-importance can lead
to the other character trait associated
with Millennials: "feeling a sense of
entitlement."
2. Sheltered Millennials have
been the focus of the most
sweeping youth protection


movement in American history
(due to surge in child safety
rules, post-Columbine lockdown
of public schools, hotel-style
security in college dorms).
Rabbi:
Good news- If there is one
thing that has been compromised
throughout Jewish survival it is
a sense of security. Specifically,
security for our. physical well-being.
Jews have too often been the target.
Something to Ponder- Being
sheltered can lead to being soft.
There are some harsh realities that
have value.
There is also
en described the false
sense of
of multi- security that
sufferers of quietly tells
reaction. us that if
we take the
necessary
Precautions,
everything will work out fine. Not
always the case. It is better to be
awake to harsh realities rather than
to be woken up by one.
3. Confident A newly felt
connection to parents and to
future-Millennials can equate
good news for themselves with
good news for the country.


Rabbi:
Good News- From a Jewish
perspective, our stock is, and
always will be, invested in the next
generation. They are our future
and will continue the progress and
perfection of the world. Millennials
seem to get that.
Something to Ponder- Confidence,
from a Jewish perspective, can flirt
dangerously close to "ga'avah"
or "arrogance." Being cocky
can be a serious impediment to
performing well in life, personally
or professionally. "Bitur' or "self
nullification" is a Jewish value that
serves as a healthy counterpart to
the mandate to "fix the world," a
responsibility which can often be
accompanied by a misplaced sense
of self-aggrandizement.
In the next edition I'll address the
remainingfourtraits thatareattributed
to the Millennial Generation. As a
preview, I will list them now: Team
Oriented, Conventional, Pressured
and Achieving.

Questions? Comments? A topic you ~,
want addressed? Hit up Rabbi Yonah at
ravyonah@UFHillel.org.


Celebrities on birthright: free guilt-trip to Israel


GISELLE MAZUR








Sigler, star of the


Thereisanew
trend among
young Jewish
celebrities to
go on Taglit
Birthright
Israel.
Recently,
Jamie-Lynn
hit show "The


Sopranos," and Jewish NASCAR driver
Jon Denning took part in the program.
Both said their respective trips were
spiritually awakening and encouraged
all 18- to 26-year-old-Jews to sign up.


My initial reaction to this was anger.
What the heck, man? They can't
afford to go to Israel on their own? Then
I realized that Birthright is more than
just a trip-it's an experience.
Getting to see Israel with a group of
other young Jews and having a one-on-
one relationship with soldiers is what
makes the experience so effective.
And to be fair, the rules of Birthright
do say that the trip is open to all Jews
of the proper age. Plus, I'm sure many
Birthright participants with plenty of
money go on the trip. They just don't
have celebrity status.


My real concern is that the program
is funded by donors and the Israeli
government. When millionaires receive
that money it feels like a rip-off.
I'm not saying they should be
required to donate money-the rules
shouldn't change. But wouldn't it be
nice if affluent participants saw fit to
give money to the cause they support
so openly?
Birthright funding probably won't
run dry any time soon, yet this is still
a possibility. If the donations stop
coming, the trips will stop running.
It just boggles my mind how people


with the means to help a cause will reap
the benefits without feeling the need to
support the program.
I guess the point I am trying to make
is thatyes, Birthright should be open to
all who wish to participate, and equal
rules shouldapply to everyone.
But if you have exorbitant amounts
of expandable income, let me appeal to
your charitable character and ask that
you give back to the program. Then
others less fortunate than you will never
have to worry about the possibility that
they might not get a chance to enjoy
such a wonderful gift.


SUSAN NEUGROSCIEL, GRI, CRS
REAL OR-ASSOCIATE*
(352) 3725375 BUS., (800) 755.0086 TOIL FRIE
(352) 371-1326 FAX
(352) 376-0839 RISIDENCE
(352) 870.1722 CEIl
susNmeng@aolntcom


M. M. PARRISH,
REALTORS"
3870 \W 83rd Street
dincnlkl. Fl 32606
E0d OIlthen In d. 3pel nm
Or.ned And Opetalrd. www.li.npartish. or


Tonya Blackman
TERRITOM hANAMER

Phone: (800) 258-2861
Fax: (877) 942-4135
www.myserviceoffice.com
emaii: t.blacvkmanm@ rvieoiee.ff com


'THE SHPIEL

Opinions expressed in this section do not necessarily
reflect those of The SHPiEL. We encourage comments
from readers who possess all points of view. No,
really, we're interested in what you have to say. Feel
free to write a letter to the editor or you can contact
us with a column idea. Please send comments to
theshpiel@gmail.com.


i
I ,.v'
4





~F-





101 ADVERTISEMENTS


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 4


This is a paid advertisement from Student Government. The SHPiEL calendar can be found on page 11.


* Always-On Internet connection
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~3%s~i~sI-~B"""""P~







The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 4


CALENDAR & GAMES I T1


Sunday Monday Tuesda Wedna T y 0i. 6. Satur


Men's Basketball
vs South Carolina
8pm

Gone Baby Gone
Reitz Union Cinema
8 pm & 10:30 pm


19


Across the Universe
Reitz Union Cinema
8 pm & 10:30 pm,:i -!



24


Across the Universe
Reitz Union Cinema
8 pm & 10:30 pm



25


Across the Universe
Reitz Union Cinema
8 pm& 10:30 pm
Gavin DeGraw
Common Grounds
8 pm


Sheila Watt-Cloutier
on climate change and human
rights
Reitz Union Grand Ballroom
7:30 pm
.Visit www.ufpiec.org for
more info
Harlem Globetrotters
O'Connel Center
7 pm
Men's Basketball I
at Georgia
8 pm / .


Matt Hobbs
1982
10pm

Gone Baby Gone
Reitz Union Cinema
8 pm & 10:30 pm
,, ?':


Dance 2008
Constans Theatre
7:30 pm



S-28


Jerry Seinfeld LIVE
Phillips Center
7 pm & 9:30 pm
Michael Clayton' )'
Reitz Union Auditorium
6:30, 9 & 11:30 pm


22


Morningbell
Atlantic :
10 pm
Dance 2008
Constans Theatre
7:30 pm
No Country for Old Men
Reitz Union Auditorium
6:30, 9 ~.O0


Bayside,
Straylight Run
Common Grounds
8 pm
Michael Clayton
Reitz Union Auditorium
8 & 10:30 pm Ir


23


Men's Basketball
vs Mississippi State
8 pm
Dance 2008
Constans Theatre
7:30 pm
No Country for Old Men
Reitz Union Auditorium
8 pm & 10 pm 1/
!/


Validus
Backstage Lounge
10 pm
Dance 2008
Constans Theatre
7:30 pm


2


UFPA presents:
Movin' Out
Phillips Center
7:30 pm



t10


A flick we've picked

Music we groove to


dI ea
C7-lr.WA .A


Free Sci-Fi movie screening, 7 pm


Crawwd e4


- a,


. .


W 9 *

:: *


Availal
S* *
wo *
wo *


a ,


-. *- .- -- ----_
-7- -



: Cop lighted Material=-


*nSvndicated Content


blel

K*


from Commercial News Providers"
* U-


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1-10


*0 *


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121 FEATURE


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 4


Making ideas of ideals


BY FARYN HART
SHPiEL staff writer

HTow difficult is it to sit in the library
and catch up on yesterday's assigned
reading when there's Facebook, JDate,
Stajtucks Lattes or even an itch vying
for our attention?
We are living in an age that bombards
us with information and slogans, doing
battle just to grasp our focus until the
next stimulus creeps by.
With procrastination in remission
and a burst of passion and productivity,
it is possible to expand the "think
globally, act locally" advice and use it
as a stepping stone to create change.
The Agahozo Shalom Youth Village,
in the Rwamagana District in Rwanda,
is a project with benefits that are just
about ready to reap.
The name of the village unites
both Kinyarwanda, a Bantu language
of Rwanda, and Hebrew to express the
mission of the project: that it be a place
where children can "wipe their tears"
and "live in peace."
This Youth Village is the vision of
Anne Heyman, a Jewish mother and
lawyer from New York, who attended a
lecture about the genocide in Rwanda
and was especially affected by the
astounding number of orphans left
helpless and abandoned as a result of
the country's conflict.
Heyman's newly-ignited passion led
to the conceptualization of the ASYV.
SiTe took the idea to The American
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
For almost one hundred years the
committee has served both Jewish and
non-Jewish populations in over sixty
countries by working with communities
to create sustainable, self-sufficient
solutions for development following
struggle and disaster.
Heyman's vision became an
international project with dedicated
teams working in multiple countries


(Isreal, USA, Rwanda and Italy) to
create youth villages based on the
concept's successes in Israel.
Yemin Orde, an educational
community on Mount Carmel, was
founded to address the needs of
orphans after World War II.
Today, it's population mainly
consists of Ethiopian Olim and
methodologically helps immigrant
children heal from trauma and
integrate successfully into Israeli
society.
A group of Ethiopian-born
Israeli Jews who graduated from
Yemin Ordehave added value to
this venture by helping train ASYV
staff in the model and philosophy
of Yemin Orde.
They can understand the
hardships of their African
neighbors because they too have
traipsed through refugee camps in a
war-riddled country, losing family and
hope during the escape.
"The project is inspiring for us on
so many levels," said Alexis Frankel,
Senior Program Manager at the JDC's
International Developmert Program.
For one, it will help change the future
of Rwanda because at full capacity
ASYV will house five hundred children,
providing comprehensive education-
both formal and informal, academic
and vocational, Frankel said.
The village also continues to welcome
and provide shelter to graduates after
they have completed their studies.
"In a country so recently devastated
by genocide and where this ideology
has unfortunately not been eradicated,"
Frankel said, "the opportunity to train
and educate the next generation of
leaders (children will come from every
region in Rwanda) in the concepts
of social justice, tolerance, human
rights and social responsibility (all
cornerstones of the YO curriculum) will
have a potentially huge impact in the


country."
The Youth Village will open its doors
this fall to the first set of residents.
Itisvitalto the organization's success
that supporters spread awareness and
allow the project to tap all the resources


that might be available.
It is a project of healing and hope
that bloomed from a dream, but it
requires the hard work and dedication
of supporters and advocates of Jewish
values and pro-action.


. e s 0 utur Tod


---
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