THE SHPiEL
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 5


27 AdarI 5768 10 Adar II 5768


March 4, 2008 March 17, 2008


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Stay away from Sderot

The small city of Sderot has been the target of Hamas's Qassam
rockets since 2000, with no end to the terror in sight.


Preaching to the Choir

Gospel Shabbat sparks debates about inter-faith tolerance


BY DOUG SHARF
SHPiEL staff writer

In the Gaza Strip, Hamas makes
metal.tubes. In the back end, the tubes
are filled with sugar and potassium
nitrate (found in fertilizer).
Their fronts are filled with TNT
and modified urea. Since 2000, these
Qassam rockets have been raining on
the small city of Sderot, which lies just
outside Gaza near the west coast of
Israel. Over 6,000 have landed in the
town as of late 2007.
Now, I am not going to use pitiful
stories of children dodging rockets on
their walks to elementary school in order
to evoke empathy for Israel. Palestinian
kids are murdered in the conflict too. I
am imploring you, however, to wonder


why our super pro-Israel administration
is not acting privy to the fact Israeli
civilians are being rocketed weekly.
You could argue the United States
does not pay any attention to Darfur, so
why would Sderot be any different?
Mainly, because the current
administration does not pride itself on
being pro-Sudan, and perhaps because
there are relatively few powerful black
politicians, businessmen and lobbyists
for them to appease.
If the U.S. government is really
as proud of its alliance with Israel as
it proclaims, shouldn't it be doing
something about "one of its closest
allies" constantly suffering from
primitive explosives? It seems a little

SEE SDEROT, PAGE 9


BY AMRITHA ALLADI
SHPiEL staff writer

"Here I am to worship," sang the
University of Florida's Gospel Choir in
front of a crowd assembled at Norman
H. Lipoff Hall on Feb. 29.
But not all Jewish students were
leaping for joy at the organization's
attempt to both revive enthusiasm for
Jewish culture and provide an interface
between Judaism and Christianity.
Some students found it altogether
inappropriate- not lovely- to have
the choir sing at the Hillel center on
Shabbat, the holy seventh day of rest.
Emma Milman, a Jewish student who
has attended Hillel services for the past
three years, said she has no problem
with encouraging religious tolerance,


but she doesn't think it appropriate to
invite the choir to sing on Shabbat.
"There's nothing wrong with them
singing there, but the traditional thing
about Shabbat is to connect with
Judaism and its culture," Milman said.
"It is a time when we should be focusing
inward at our own religion."
Admittedly, some may have been
confused by the presence of the choir,
suited up in their Sunday best, blatantly
conspicuous amid a crowd of Jewish
youth sporting yarmulkes (skull caps).
But their message still resounded
clearly: two religions, one God.
Hillel invited the choir to sing to
increase religious tolerance and revive
interest and inspiration in its

SEE GOSPEL, PAGE 2







21 NEWS


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 5


i' U


Shorts, Briefsj
BY BEN CAVATARO


(Holocaust memoir hoax, author admits}
The author of a bestselling Holocaust memoir admitted the work is a
hoax in a statement given by her lawyers, the Associated Press reports.
Misha Defonseca, 71, a Belgian writer living in Massachusetts, wrote
"Misha: A Memoir of the Holocaust Years." published in 1997. It was
exposed as a fake when a Waltham, Mass. genealogical researcher
reported irregularities.
In a statement to the AP, Defonseca apologized and wrote that:
"This story is mine. It is not actually reality, but my reality, my way of
surviving." Defonseca said she is not actually Jewish and her real name
is Monique De Wael.

(Four charged in Temple University hate crime)
Students charged in connection with an attack on two students at
Temple University turned themselves into police Feb 27. Michael
Walsh, David Scott and Stephen Scott turned themselves into police.
Another defendant, Bryan Pediero, was also charged.
Each was charged with assault, reckless endangerment, ethnic
intimidation and related counts.
TLU suspended the four students after an incident that occurred on
the afternoon of Feb. 15 in front of the former house of Alpha Epsilon
Pi, a Jewish fraternity. Police say a Penn State student and his friend
were approached by a group of men as they left a pizzeria. The group
made anti-Semitic remarks and punched the Penn State student in the
face. The victim suffered a broken nose and a fractured orbital bone.
The university's president issued a statement condemning hate
crimes and pledged to look into the situation. Police have obtained
surveillance camera footage of the attack.

(High school basketball team fights athletic
association over Shabbat game)
A Colorado high school is battling the state athletic association over
a Shabbat game. If it wins a game this week, the Herzl/Rocky Mountain
Hebrew Academy's boys may play in a regional championship March
8. But the championship game is on Friday night-the je\\ish Sabbath.
The governing body of high school athletics, the Colorado High School
Activities Association, rejected an appeal for a schedule change, and
the CHSAA commissioner said that if Herzl/RMHA refused to play in
the regional championship, another school would take its place.
In a debate in the Colorado Senate, state legislators asked the CHSAA
to field The association does not play playoff games on Sundays.
noted Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon ID-Denveri, who said the
CHSAA could be legally liable for the exclusion of Herzl,'RMHA.
CHSAA representatives told the press that "We speak for 110,000
athletes and 340 member schools that all have different needs and
desires. It's impossible for us to be all things for all people."


performance sparks debate

PAGOSPE', FROM ... 'I
PAGE 1IS-I-


members. -Indeed
the. religiously
neutral songs were
compelling..
Jessica Kendler,
program associate
at Hillel, said on the
event's Facebook
wall that:
"This event is
for anyone who
enjoys music
performances and
is happy to learn
about another
culture, respect
other people's
beliefs, and welcome neighbours in
friendship and peace."
The event profile is riddled with
comments from both sides of the
fence, but the open discussion is


exactly the response for which Rabbi
Yoni Kaiserblueth was hoping.
He comments on the wall: "I have
to say that I'm quite invigorated by
the passions of many of you who have
been writing on this
wall space and by the
conversations I have
been having face-to-
face with other students
inside and outside of
Hillel."
While most songs
were neither specific
to Judaism nor
Christianity, a few
students still remarked
that people' attend
services on Friday to
relax in a traditional
Jewish atmosphere and
to celebrate Shabbat.
"Just like people
go to pizza places to
get pizza, they go to
Hillel to meet people
and expect some sort
of Jewish exposure in
the process," said UF
alumnus David Weiss.
"If they wanted to hear
a gospel choir, they
would go to a church."


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


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


a
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The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 5


NEWS 13


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"Copyrighted Materia.l
Syndicated Content
Available from Commercial News Providers"

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41 SPORTS


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 5


When a Gator goes pro, he's note only predator around


BY NERI STEIN
SHPiEL staff
writer


SP o o r
Joakim Noah
Just can not
catch a break.
; In recent
weeks, Noah
was almost
traded to teams .(arguably) better.
.# than the Chicago Bulls, but in the end
was left out of each deal. And then
the Bulls just keep losing, which isn't
likely to change soon.
Getting traded during your first
NBA season doesn't really look great,
especially when you already have a
bad reputation for causing trouble
with your coaches.
But in Noah's case, being on a
losing team isn't going to do anything
to help him out. He needs to get on
a team that's going to play him, not
one where his teammates (who have
nothing to brag about except being


on the team Michael Jordan once
played for) put him down and don't
play together.
First, Memphis looked to be
Noah's next home. Send Pau Gasol to
the Bulls and give the Grizzlies Noah
and any two of the mediocre Bulls
players. That would have been great
for Noah. The Grizzlies are in no better
position than
the Bulls, but


Noah would
be playing
for a better


the Bulls recently, and an 11-player
deal at that. But Noah wasn't included.
Ben Wallace went to Cleveland to give
James some help on the inside, but
why was Noah left out?
The November 2004 fight during
thePacers atPistonsgame-thebiggest
one in NBA history that involved half
of each team and plenty of fans-may
be a reason.
Ron Artest


[Noah] is undoubtedly one
of the NBA's top 10 rookies.


team. But
then Gasol
went to the Lakers, sending no one
interesting back to Memphis.
So next on the list was Cleveland.
Now I'll be the first to say that LeBron
.James was overhyped; he has not
delivered on the promise made when
he was drafted five years ago to take
his team all the way. Though, with a
little backup, James could easily take
his team to the title.
The Cavaliers did make a deal with


did make a
hard foul on
Wallace, but
Wallace shot


back after the
play ended and Artest was ejected for
starting the entire brawl.
That's a bigger problem than a
slight altercation with an assistant
coach. And Wallace hasn't played
better than average since.
Noah has shaped up recently and
has been playing well.
He is undoubtedly one of the
NBA's top 10 rookies. Still, he wasn't
voted to New Orleans for the Rookie


All-Star game this season.
He didn't mind though.
While those guys were playing a
completely pointless game, Noah was
lounging on the beach.
At the moment, Al Horford is
feeling more love than Noah and
exponentially more than another
Gator alum, Corey Brewer. Horford
played well in the Rookie Challenge
game during All-Star Weekend,
but more importantly, he's finally
getting the attention he deserves in
the Rookie of the Year race.
Kevin Durant, out of Texas, has
been the favorite for the award all
season long. But recently Horford's
dedication and drive were noticed.
Durant was just coasting along on
natural talent, but he hasn't made a
real difference to his team.
Horford helped get the Atlanta
Hawks into the playoff race (not too
hard in the East), and-with capable
point guard Mike Bibby recently
joining the team) Horford may
represent the Gators in the playoffs.


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The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 5


PG-13 Purim


BY FARYN HART
SHPiEL staff writer

Purim seems to be sneaking up on us,
and minus the trick or treating, Jewish
Girls once again have the opportunity
to pose as Playboy Bunnies or French
maids while their dates futz with their
inflatable kissing booths.
Contemporizing ancient traditions to
enrich them in pop culture has become
vital for the survival of our continuously
persecuted and dispersed heritage.
J.T. Waldman, a self-titled "Hebrew
school drop-out," took on this task after
an epiphany in an Upstate New York
cornfield in the summer of 1998.
Waldman is the author of "Megillat
Esther: The Graphic Novel," which
depicts the Biblical story of Purim
interpreted in comics.
It is layered with the original text in
both Hebrew and English and is quite
the "thorny version" of how Queen
Esther-- a closet Jew-- saved her people
from the hands of Haman, the king's
most trusted advisor.
The book graphically recounts the
Midrashic and Biblical commentary.
In exploring the Book of Esther,
Waldman presents the realization of
this masquerade festival as being one
of debauchery, scandal and a tale in
which Jews learn how to deal with one
another and other nations.
His images bring to life a story whose
meaning and excitement are lost and
diluted in black and white letters.
Not only is his medium innovative


but he highlights aspects 9
of the Purim tale that are
usually overlooked when
the story is taught to kids ji
attending Sunday school.
The heroine, Esther, is "
not as tznius--or modest-- ,
as our grandparents would
like us to imagine. y i
Her Uncle Mordi isn't
as genteel as we would m
hope and King Achash's
instinctual tendencies are
in no way censored.-- -N.-,
Drifting from the
culture as an adolescent,
Waldman returned to J'
Judaism as an adult-
with questions about '
life. Questions asked :
without the "rosy filtered
lens"Reform Hebrew V.!tC
School placed over his copyrightJT
religious education.
This seven-year-long project started
as a personal exploration into his Jewish
tradition through a Biblical story he
knew little about.
Growing up, Waldman felt that the
fascinating character of this text had
been dumbed down and sanitized. He
wished to unearth the racy ambiguity of
a tale-- which makes no mention of God
between its covers.
Waldman presents a -subplot in each
of his ten chapters.
These additional narratives are his
own interpretive developments of the
Rabbinic commentary on the Purim


Waldman and The Jewish Publication Society

story. They provide even further depth
to the story, going far beyond the
Queen's pimply nose and beauty pageant
that we acted out for our parents in our
Hebrew school plays.
The graphic novel is on display at
the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student
Life at New York University.
Shulie Seidler-Feller, Avodah Arts
Coordinator at the Center, brought the
novel as part of an artist-in-residence
fellowship. It has received a positive
response despite a few "sacrilegious!"
remarks which are always expected
when a provocative interpretation of


lore such as this surfaces.
This project is stimulating in an
age when entertainment is Vital to
hold Jewish attention-- an age when
so many Jews feel their connection to
their religion is genetic and ethnic, not
spiritual.
So no matter what your affiliation,
break out your grogger and enjoy this
rendition of the legend of how the
Jewish people survived yet another
condemnation.
Find pictures, previews and press of
"Megillat Esther: The Graphic Novel" at
http://megillatesther.com/.


British theatre asks, is it anti-Semitic to be anti-Israel?


BY ZAHARA ZAHAV
SHPiEL staff writer

Many well-known British Jews openly
question the actions of the state of
Israel, according to an article written by
Jonathan Spyer on Haaretz.com.
But how does such outright criticism
sit with Americans?
British-Jewish playwright Mike Leigh,
creator of the films "Naked" and "Vera
Drake," wrote "Two Thousand Years," a
play set in suburban London that tells
the story of a secular Jewish family
rejecting the political policies of Israel.
It also mocks the choice of one family
member to practice his religion.
The play first opened in London two
years ago to sold-out audiences and,
earlier this month, "Two Thousand
Years" made its trip across the Atlantic,
landing in New York.
Before opening night, many people
wondered whether the play's sharp
jabs at a country that receives billions
of dollars in aid from the United States
would sink or swim in front of a fresh


New York audience.
Leigh's first "Jewish" play covers a
family that has become disillusioned
with the present situation in Israel.
Leigh defines them as "Left-wing-
Zionists," a party which generally
supports a two-state system and desires
better rights for Palestinians, though he
denies the play is "anti-Israel."
"The Zionist lobby has America by
the balls!" yells Dave, the grandfather
of the family, at one point.
He further expresses his disdain for
Israel's political tactics in Gaza and the
West Bank by saying its governmental
policies have been "hijacked by right-
wing religious fanatics!"
In an interview with The Jewish
Week News, Tom Freudenheim, a board
member of the Foundation for Jewish
Culture, said when he and his wife saw
the play in London, they thought, "This
could never play in New York."
But New York audiences must be
finding it entertaining because the show
has been extended for two more weeks.
PerhapsAmericans are not so shocked


by the idea of
an Off-Broadway
play parading
a controversial
message.
A Jewish family
standing up and
cursing Israel's
policies toward
Palestinians may
alarm ardent
supporters of
Israel, but theatre
has always
offered artists an
opportunity to
express dissenting
opinions.


Does the average American Jew feel
free to declare Zionism a dirty word,
as the granddaughter in Leigh's play
mentions?
People don't have to hate Judaism or
Israel to feel empathy for Palestinians
living in the West Bank or Gaza.Strip.
Even religious Jews who love Israel
question its sometimes violent and


RWT,


too-tiTll MAIL


THE AMERICAN PREMIERE
JAN 15-MAR 22, 2008


oppressive policies. Isn't that what
Judaism is about?
As Jews, we are natural doubters.
We want answers.
Yet, when we apply this approach to
Israel, we're booed as if we are somehow
betraying the Holy Land.
If Zionism means blindly supporting
anything Israel does, it's a bad word.


SCENE 15





~IILI~ ~-~~~~~~I-""~~~~~'YL


~







61 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 5


An interview with

Joshua Ellison, editor of

Habitus magazine


BY ELAINE WILSON
SHPiEL staff writer

Joshua Ellison, the editor of Habitus
Magazine, defines "Diaspora" as "feeling a
proximity across a distance."
Ellison seeks to transform longing into a
sense of nearness through aJewish perspective
of the world. The Jewish Diaspora works as the
guiding force behind the literary magazine,
with the goal of establishing a sense of
belongingto those of any faith
Each issue focuses on a particular city to
explore the politics and emotional dynamic of
the urban area. The magazine's contents speak
to a contemporary community, and as Joshua
Ellison wrote, "[Habitus is] a way of using the
whole world as raw material for creating a
more complete picture of ourselves."
The brains behind this spiritual, journalistic
operation, Ellison spoke with the SHPiEL about
his travels, working with the undiscovered and
finding a way to belong in different parts of
the world.


'':-!*l I'W are the dfe1 s l tR th te
,, .. u .. -- "'
Joshua Ellison: It's a very unscientific process:
I choose the cities. It comes from my own
reading and my own discovery of places that
strike me. as having a story to tell, and it's a
matter of exploring and talking to people-
seeing if the material is there to do a photo
shoot, if there aren't enough interesting
stories that have been told, and if [there is] a
mixture of history and contemporary topics
and ideas. It has to have a rich and interesting
history and contemporary voices. Most of the
writers in their own country don't have much
exposure to the English language and I take
some writers that most publications wouldn't
necessarily seek out.

Does thu e'ntiWe siaff visn the cities?
JE: I spend as much time in the cities as I can
and I rely on the work of informative insiders.
I'll find one or two people who can tell me about
their journey and I work through an -informal
network. It's a culmination of my own research
and my experience in places and drawing on
talented advisors, translators and writers to
bring their own experience to the place.

As V on


JE: There's two main ways pieces come to me'-
authors write them in their own language and
we translate them into English, or pieces will
come about through conversation and we'll
have a piece that can come into reality with a
[staff] writer that has a compatible vision. What
would distinguish [Habitus. Magazine] from
other publications is it's not an introduction
to the city but a snapshot of what is happening
emotionally, politically and philosophically

Ia% W.a piicIAl'ly par nVved hth



ba is'ioant and clAte d o
JE: Usually we have a conversation with a writer
about what the spirit of the magazine is and
then they tell us about their pieces that would
fit. Aleksander Hemon [the author of the poem]
is a Bosnian that is popular in the States and
learned to write in English. It's bringing both
writers that people might not have a chance
to read and sometimes writers that people
would know to reach the audience to which
the magazine caters. It's bringing writers that
can spark the imagination and that can make
a place feel true as well. Having an insider
makes a place feel authentic to an insider and
also makes it engaging to an outsider. That
powerful effect is perfect.


TS '' 'I the r*.!l. -Lt' is .df r .i!p '.. a d
for '. *. ,: do : .feel that this magazine
woold resonate the most to a Jewish

JE: What I say to people about this a lot is that
it's not a magazine about Jews, it's a magazine
about the world. What makes it Jewish is not
that there are Jewish writers. It has a mentally
Jewish outlook to make someone understand
about someone [else] in exile. It's about people
moving from place to place-moving across
languages and cultures-and for me what's
exciting is to take this idea from Jewish life
and apply it to understand the world we live
in.

ii are unii-ar or' not
the a and for the vo issue
o-ne weire bIack ani d white, is this?
JE: What happens on the website is very
different form the print magazine-in the
print it's about the same proportion [of color
to black and white]. The color section is
usually devoted to a particular photographer
as applies to their portfolio.
In taking the photographs I want to take the
concept of experiencing a place for the first
time-of looking around, and instead of seeing
things very composed-as idealized images-
they don't have clear centers and it's what you
see as you're walking around and taking it in.


I;t's c. ut people moving
from place to place-
m'oving : .S languages
an : cu .:res-and for me
.-. .s ex .. 'ng is to...
apply it to understand
-I d we live in.


hdas theo
and where do see it
it talike *on alotwer


in the
as it


JE: It's been about 3 years-we started 2005.
As for where it's going, I like to format the
magazine the way it is. I see this as the right
format for this magazine although there are
ways to extend beyond it. Next year we'll
design the website into a place for more
comprehensive content of its own. The website
would cover a lot more ground geographically
than the journal. Next year we'll do more public
events. We're in New York but we're looking
to let more people know about it-taking
the ideas from the magazine and making it a
living forum-to take it to different people and
engage in a dialogue.


photo courtesy of habitusmag.com Visit habitusmag.com for more articles, poetry, conversations, and images.
*. ."-. ; .. .-= Y aa:.,.^ : i .. .- .'-' .'.. .
-' -- ---------------- -- :-----


Sts that








The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 5


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 7


By the rivers of Babylon, we sat and played music


Introducing Micah Shalom & the Babylonians


BY JOSH FLEET
SHPiEL staff writer

In a hyper-cultural world of
pan-global networks contained within
nanometer-sized blips in a computer's
motherboard, all is Babylon.
One local, dreaded Yid has
staked out his piece of the kaleidoscopic
pie of figurative exile \~ ih his new band
Micah Shalom & the Babylonians.
The Babylonians is "my
metaphor for white American dudes
playing reggae," Segal said.
And that's exactly what the band is,
Segal, a 25-year-old graduate of the
University of Florida who still resides
in Gain-s- ile, formed the --piece band


Micah Shalom's Pic

Favorite recordings:
"Hi-Bop Ska" by The Skalalites (
Most recently discovered bE
Orchestra Baobab
Favorite Gainesville food:
Gyro Plus: Mi Apa Latin Cafe; Fli
Favorite Gainesville venue:
Common Grounds
Obama, Hillary or other:
Obama
Skim, Whole or Soy milk:
Regular milk 20o


on his own after he played in "like a
hundred Gainesville bands" started by
other local musicians.
While he can still be found playing
both the trumpet and trombone in local
bands such as The Captives, Segal is
happy now to be able to storm a stage
on his own accord.
"This was my chance to kind of do
my own thing," he said.
The new project is so much his thing
that he wrote 90 to 95 percent of the
material that the Babylonians play.
As if the Rastafarian-hijacking of
Jewish symbols and ideas like the Magen
David (Star of David) and a-yearning for
Zion wasn't confusing enough, now
a Jet \ih kid with locks thicker than a
bank's is invoking his overly-
Hebraic middle-name and
ks notions of Jewish exile to title
his version of a definitively
un-Jewish music.
Yet, he's not rapping or
1994) rh\ ruing about "Moshiach"
and: like another Jewish reggae
star out there.
And so, the ambiguity
runs amok. Until, of course,
acoS Segal define- himself.
I consider myself Jewish
Je ish Dread," he said.
He cites similarities:
Rastafarians don't cut their
hair for the same reason
religious Jews grori peyot.
It comes from the same
verse in the Torah.
But unlike the more
outwardly fervent Jewish
musicians such as Matisyahu,
who plays his own brand of
Hasidic Reggae, Segal just
wants to play music and
nake people dance.
"I try not to be too overly
& H religious or preachy [when I
sing]," he said.
And the dreadlocks are
less a statement of faith and
more "just a hairstyle."
Segal went to Israel in
high school through the
Alexander Muss Institute for
Israel Education.
His father has been a
Jewish community organizer
for decades, and Segal said
he still feels connected to
his Judaism and the modern
Jewish state.
"One of my dreams is to
play in Israel," Segal said.
The everlasting conflict
there is ever-present in his
mind. Segal dedicates his
song, "Ali Ali-Ba Ba," to the
Middle East each time he


ULI pnotos cuurtuey ul macuI .3n)uiu


sings it: "There's a fight going on / and
it's been eternal long / and I don't see
no signs of an ending. / Let's all unite
and live as one / I think I see it getting
closer, closer / Or is it getting farther,
farther / I think I see it, sitting cross
the border / We sing for peace in my
father's land!"


Perhaps in today's global society--
as torn and splintered as it is-- it takes
a single soul rocking steadily along a
unique path to connect everything back
unto itself once more.
For Segal, Babylon is everything that
could go better in society. For Babylon,
Segal makes all the difference.


Micah Shalom & the Babylonians Live

March 5 @ Side Bar

March 22 @ Common Ground (opening for 9 Miles)

March 29 @ 1982 (opening for Duppies)
April 18 @ Camp Jam in Lacoochee, Florida (with
Umoja Orchestra)
April 19 @ Common Grounds (opening for UmQja)


T ,:~ ~- A'.*
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a-
-1 ~'.ll.u..l -6P~-T:R~ ii' rs


7,-' 7 Z
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81KVETCH


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 5


- 1 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIl I IIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIII IIIIIIII IIIIIII IIIIIIII I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII ILL

m DPP A manifestation of
| -cr^~ cK bl modesty


KHADER ABU EL-HAUA




-. .
. -
U'


M a n y
Jewish and
Is lamic
laws have
similarities
in principles
and details;
from the laws
of Kashrut
and Halal


they want and equally opposeforcing
any person to dress according to, a
code they don't approve of-though
I might have a problem if they're are
running naked in the streets.
The vast majority of Muslim
scholars and the Islamic mainstream,
including most conservatives, agree
that revealing the face is OK.
The hijab, Arabic for "veil," is


wearing the Burka as a response to the
abuse of women in a growing world
or materialism. Many can argue about
the pressures placed on women by
fashion, and the abusive use of women
in commercial advertisements.
I think the secret of orthodoxy is
in moderation: justice in keeping the
balances of all elements in any matter.
I agree with the philosophy of a veil


failure. No matter how women dress,
the harassment will occur.
The most important is the spiritual
dress code of social conduct: lowering
from the gaze, not staring, politeness
of speech and the modesty of the
heart. There are some hijab laws for
Muslim men, too.
But the spiritual dress code is
identical for both men and women.
h1 l1 d4 i h1 b1 k


I oods to rules or aress ana modesty. r e q uire a IUf wUiomll i ei usivmuiiaiii a Jwi uuii ai C
S Of the latter, it seems the for women in Islam a mixture of culture and religion. It's =
Manifestations of applying such laws when they I think the secret of orthodoxy becuase at important that women's rights not be =
Sin daily life can take similar trends are in is in moderation: justice in least these compromised in such debates. -
Sin Muslim and Jewish communities, front of keeping the balances of all w o m e n Culture can abuse religion when =
Case in point: the Jewish Burka. men whom elements in any matter, will be trying to justify things the religion =
S Yep, that's right. You can see it they can, recognized may actually oppose completely. And =
these days around Jerusalem, among in theory, by their this mistake has occurred in human -
Ssome of the religious. marry. In other words, it's not a modest dress and the harm that history with painful consequences. -
S I think the Jewish burka goes requirement to wear it in front of her comes from sexual harassment- Some guys think a woman's -
Sbeyond the regulations of Judaism as grandfather, father, brother, uncle, whether it's visual, vocal or in other beauty is more powerful than a =
Seen by most Jews, from the Reform to nephew or children. forms-may be reduced. nuclear weapon. But this gift of girl- "
Sthe Orthodox. But I try to understand There are other, more conservative If, as a society, we rely only on power, if regulated by the Creator,
the intentions of modesty and piety practices: Niqab is covering the whole dress codes to prevent objectifying will be manifested in moderation.. -
Sby those who wear it. face but not the eyes. And Burka is human bodies, sexual harassment,
S I acknowledge that religious covering the whole body completely, rape and other such crimes, then we're Questions? Comments? Contact Khader
Women have the right to wear what Perhaps some Jewish women are moving toward a miserable future of at khader.abuelhaija@gmail.com
" ll11 1 11I 11 II IIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIII llIl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I IIIIIIIllllllIII II IIIIIII Ill lI III l l IIIIIIIIIIII I III IIIIIIIII


Days until spring break: 4.

Years since Ft Lauderdale was forced
to pass Spring Break laws restricting 23
partying:

Number of bands set to play at
Langerado music festival this spring 87
break:

Percent of spring break the average
partying college student will forget: 19

Price of a 24 pack of Natural Light: $14.49

Minimum hospital bill for spending the
night in the ER for alcohol poisoning: $1,500

Price of a 12 pack of Trojan "Reds": $5.99

Approximate price for the 14 tablets
, of Doxycycline used to treat the $100
chlamydia contracted over spring
break:

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.


'


~iic







KVETCH 19


The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 5


The Millennial Mania-Part Two of Two


I am here to discuss the remaining
four characteristics that have been
assigned to this generation: The
Millenials. Remember, the Millenial
generation has been loosely defined
as those born between the years 1980
and 1994.
4. Team Oriented: F r o m
"Barney" and team sports to
collaborative learning and
community service, Millennials
have developed strong team
instincts and tight peer bonds.
Rabbi:
Good News- There won't be any
Jewish people unless we get out of our
own world and link up with a greater
plan- a community of people.
Something to Ponder- With an
emphasis on "peer culture" comes
the potential to inhibit independent
thought. Communal standards can be
set by society and are often difficult to
break. Ultimately, Judaism is an anti-
establishment religion, whereby its
basic tenants are upheld, irrespective
of the system within which it finds
itself functioning.
It is important to have a strong
support network and perhaps more
important to know when to make a
personal decision.
5. Conventional: T a k ing
pride in improving behavior and
comfortable with parents' values,
Millennials believe social rules


and standards make life easier.
Rabbi:
Good News- Following the rules
can help create a sense of stability
that is essential to the wellbeing of
any individual, especially in such an
unstable world.
The idea of "improving" is at the


center of
the Jewish
mission and
has been
the defining
feature
of Jewish
participation
in the
governments,
academies we


6. Pressure: Pushed to study hard,
avoid personal risks and take full
advantage of opportunities adults
are offering them, Millennials feel
"trophy kid" pressure to excel.
Rabbi:
Good News- Not much good here.
Something to Ponder- This is a
tough one, and I feel for you. You
guys are pressured to succeed like no
other generation.
You have to fight


I believe in you Millenials.
You face the challenge of
your generation...


institutions and
have found ourselves


in since the beginning of our exile.
Something to Ponder- There are
times when following the rules is not
the best idea. I am not promoting a
life of crime, rather a life of critical
thinking. If we were to accept all
standards, the result could be a
compromise of our ability and need
to express our individuality.
There was nothing "standard"
about the behavior of any of the
founding fathers and mothers of the
Jewish faith. Most of them spent the
better part of their lives swimming
upstream. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
was fond of saying: "If no one is
against you, you are"probably doing
something wrong."


this, whether it
is coming from
parents, peers or
the surrounding
University


culture. The
most successful
people become who they are by taking
risks and pursuing a passion, not by
following a sound plan.
7. Achieving: As accountability
and school standards rise
in America, Millennials have
become a generation focused on
achievement and are on track
to becoming the smartest, best-
educated young adults in U.S.
history.
Rabbi:
Good News- The Jewish faith places
a value on education above all else.
Not only is education a means toward
equipping an individual for personal
success, but it is the very application
that allows us to know ourselves.
Jewish tradition places a heavy


plight of Sderot proves war is political fundraising tool


SDEROT, FROM PAGE 1

off that there is a non-military city
perpetually under attack and no one
from this country is saying, "Could you
please stop doing that for now?"
Not only does the city have little
military significance, but all the upper
class citizens already left.
So, it is literally a poor, helpless and
quite harmless town.
Hamas isn't really gaining anything
from the shellings, except perhaps the
twisted satisfaction of obliterating even


more Israeli townspeople.
I am leading into a bigger question:
why, exactly, does the U.S. support
Israel? It costs millions of dollars a day
to send financial aid there.
It could become a matter of the U.S.
gaining enough benefit to exceed the
cost of supporting Israel, or a matter of
the U.S. needing Israel half as much as
Israel needs the U.S.
At this stage in American politics,
has it just become a formality to
enthusiastically wave your hands in the
air and root for the Holy Land?


Seemingly, American politicians and
administrations claim to love and want
to defend Israel in order to get their
campaign contribution from AIPAC.
So, of course they have to follow
up and send millions and millions of
dollars over to Israel every.year.
Another benefit is gaining the
favor of Jewish businessmen and
lobbyists. Politicians love Israel for
the campaign money their support of
the country brings in. They get elected
and stay elected with help from Jewish
businessmen and lobbyists, and all they


had to do was pay Israel a few million
dollars a day.
It is certainly unlikely that the
administration cares if more than half
of Israel is Jewish. Is Israel simply a
leverage point for campaigning in this
country? Or, is Israel a solid base for
U.S. troops in a possible foray into Iran?
It seems like Israel is benefitting much
more than the U.S. at this point.

If you would like to send in your opinion on
why the US continues its alliance with Israel,
send an email to shpielme@gmailcom


SUSAN NEUGROSCHEL, GRI, CRS
REAIrOR-ASSOCIAIE
(352) 372-5375 US., (800 755.0086 TOIL FREE
(352) 371-1526 FAX
(352) 376-0839 RESIDENCE
(352) 870-1722 CEll
suts nncugenol. com


M. M. PARRISH,
REALTORS"
3870 \W 83rIS lrec
Gincvilk. Fl. e 26(0%
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TERRWORY MANAGER


SPhone: (800) 258-2861
Fax: (877) 942-4135'
www.myserviceofficeoffice.com
e-mail: t.Mlakman@serviceofeice.com


TI"HE 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. 7


emphasis on
maximizing our ability to realize our
intellectual capacities for the sake of
us becoming more evolved human
beings. Put in these terms, this is a
great trait.
Something to Ponder- The idea
of focusing on achievement is very
problematic.
Achievement is a result of hard
work and careful decision-making,
not a goal on its own. The word for
Jewish law is Halacha, translating
literally as going.
This is to remind us a clear fact
that is illustrated in many ways in
Jewish thought: we are supposed to
be on a path, in a process.
To achieve real results with
integrity can only come about by
focusing on the process.
I believe in you Millenials. You face
the challenge of your generation, so
put it all in the perspective of history
and future and know you are part of
a process that you did not begin, nor
will you end.

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







101 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 5


-A Guide to- Cinema Etiquette:


Or how I learned to


and


the movie


BY JAMES WILKEY
SHPiEL staff writer

Well, the Academy
Awards are over and
we're entering that annual
dry spell before the big
summer rainstorm of
films begins to pour down on us like the many
brutal rays of sunlight we'll duck into the
theatre to avoid.
Therefore, I'd like to take this time to
present a primer on cinema etiquette:
Silence your cell phone before the movie
starts, if only to make the theatre
proprietors feel better about the money
they've spent on "Silence Your Cell
Phone" videos.
Do not text in a theatre. Though texting
is silent, in a dark theatre a cell phone
screen is roughly as luminous as the
moon.


Do not talk during the movie. Films have had
sound for nearly a century now. Your dubbing
services are no longer required. This rule
generates several sub-categories.
Do not ask your neighbor what
someone on screen has just said, it
increases the chance that you AND
everyone in your immediate vicinity
will miss the next line of dialogue.
Do not ask your neighbor what is going
to happen after some action takes
place on screen. Your neighbor, most
likely, is not a psychic and is waiting
to find out what happens as well.
Do not "shush" or leer menacingly
at someone who is talking. Instead,
quietly request of the auditory
offender that they stop speaking.
This method is more efficient and
makes a smaller contribution to the
potentially deafening noise pollution
of a theater.


Do not get up and leave the theatre
unless it is absolutely necessary.
Should it become necessary, leave as
discreetly as possible and return in a
similar fashion. Upon return, do not
ask what you have missed. Face the
consequences of your tiny bladder.
Arrive to the theatre on time. Should
you arrive late, do not stand in front
of, the screen with your cell phone
raised, calling out the name of the
party with which you wish to sit.
They were on time and hopefully
aware of rule II, so they will not
answer you.
Do not leave before the movie ends.
You've already made the investment;
don't throw away your money. This
rule is deemed inapplicable in the
case of Uwe Bowle and Paul W.S.
Anderson films.


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The SHPiEL:Volume 5, Issue 5


CALENDAR & GAMES I11


SMonday Tuesday Wed y T a F y S


UFPA presents:
Movin' Out
Phillips Center
7:30 pm
JAM S&S
Tatu
10 pm 12 am


Micah Shalom & the
Babylonians
Sidebar 0
9 pm
Built to Spill
The Venue
9 pm
Men's Basketball
-s Tennessee
9 pm


Go Kart Mozart, Sweet
City Action, Rubber
Tramps
Backstage Lounge
9 pm
Chinatown
Reitz Union Cinema
8 pm & 10:30 pml
JAM Speaker
Yaakov Katz
7:30 pm 10 pm


"Canvas" opens
Hippodrome
7_& 9:15 pm
Passport: Paris by
night
Florida Museum of
Natural History
7 pm 11 pm C,


Men's Basketball
at Kentucky
12 pm


Jazz
Leonardo's 706
7:30 pm


Blue Man Group
O'Connell Center
7:30 pm


Jazz
Leonardo's 706
7:30 pm


'ryE.-DA

Mobocrat, Wombat &
Friends, Mike Wilson
The Kickstand
8 pm


Grabass Charlestons,
Ninja Gun, The Cold
Ones
The Atlantic
10 pm


The Wiz
Phillips Center
2 pm 4:30 pm


Juno Juno ,
Reitz Union Cinema Reitz Union Cinema A flick we've picked
8 pm & 10:30 pm 8 pm & 10:30 pm .

Elton John Peace Party art exhibit .
O'Connell Center Sweetwater Print Music we groove to
8 pmCo-op Gallery
7-10 p.m.
:" Free Sci-Fi movie screening, 7 pm


clawwwl "

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''Copyrighted Material



: :Svndicated Content


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commercial News Providers"


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121 FEATURE


The SHPiEL: Volume 5, Issue 5


: THIS AD TO GET'


s ~


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PARIY BEGINS AT 10:00 P.M. AT XS.


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VOL.


2