Not a day passes by when I don’t hear a friend express interest in a new object-such as a Kindle or a Nintendo Wii- and then tell me to ask my father if he can purchase one for him this holiday season. That’s the first and most prominent Jewish stereotype: all Jews have a lot of money. Now, this may be true for some Jewish families, but it is equally as true for some non- Jewish families. Just because it may seem that every Jewish family you know is wealthy does not mean every Jewish family is rolling in dough. Not to mention, there are plenty of Jewish families who face tough economic times, and these comments may make them feel inferior.

The idea of Jewish people always having more money than non-Jews plays a large part in the next common stereotype: Jews are cheap. I don’t even see why any of this needs to be explained, confirmed or denied, because if the reason why you believe your neighbors, the Weinsteins, just bought a brand new Mercedes for their teenage daughter Rifka is because they have a lot of money, how does that make them frugal? But if the minimum of $30,000 was just dropped on a brand new Benz, don’t you think a frugal Jew would have opted for a Kia, or a used Mercedes at best? It just doesn’t make sense when you claim Jews are stingy, yet think they have a lot of money because of all the “cool” stuff they possess. If anything, Jews are just good investors and know how to spend when the time is right, which only ties back into the first stereotype I presented.

That brings me to my final stereotype. A cliché so common that I don’t even need to state it. All I need to say is this-my mother and father are neither doctors nor lawyers. No, I wasn’t born Jewish and then adopted by non-Jewish parents who let me keep and practice my birth religion. My parents just didn’t choose those career paths. No surprise, though, because, despite popular belief, this happens. And it happens quite often. Most of my family is in construction or catering. Once again, just because your doctor’s lab coat reads “Goldstein” or “Greenberg” doesn’t mean every doctor in the world kisses a mezuzah before entering a building.

So now I ask you, Jews and gentiles alike, to think about what you say before you say it. Your reliable Jewish friend that you always hit up for cash may have been hit hard financially because of the current state of the economy-or just because of the Madoff scandal-and a “rich Jew” comment may hit home with him. Jews are just as entitled and likely to choose a career path they feel comfortable with over one they are expected to take, just like anybody in the good world. For me, I want to be a television or film writer.

So please stop throwing pennies at my feet and waiting to see how long it takes for me to pick them up. I only pick up quarters, and I’m sure non-Moses-lovers do too.

allie ditkowich

By the end of my freshman year of college, however, I didn’t feel like I had this family. If you go to Syracuse, you can most likely be described as an athlete, a Greek, or a G.D.I. (God- Damned Independent). Out of almost 12,000 undergrads, 20 percent, or 2,400 students, are involved in one of the 47 social, ethnic, or multicultural fraternities and sororities. In fact, knowing someone’s name often takes a back seat to the obligatory question of “Are you in a house?”

For better or for worse, Greek life here will take over your world. All of us had friends freshman year who lived on our floors, pledged houses and were never seen again. For most Greeks, pledging was the best decision they’ve made in college, but the biggest fear for most potential new members is losing their current friendships and acquaintances.

As I entered my sophomore year as an independent, I realized I wanted that feeling of having a second family back. I saw a sign for fraternity rush and decided to give it a shot. I walked into rush with absolutely no idea about what fraternities were, but as soon as the process began, I was hit with a feeling that it was exactly where I should be; this was the fit for me.

I made my first visit to AEPi on the second night of rush. One of my friends had pledged there the semester before, and two of my other friends had already been assured bids. They encouraged me to visit, even though I am Irish Catholic and this fraternity is predominantly Jewish. I was not immediately hooked by any means. It took some serious convincing, mostly by a particular non-Jew in the house. In the end, though, I accepted my bid there because this house seemed to have the tightest brotherhood.

Four years ago if someone had told me I’d find myself spending time at Hillel, I would have asked them what Hillel was. Suddenly I found the majority of my college friends were Jewish-something I had never had before. And I love it. I’m not just another kid in the house. I’m that 6-foot-2-inch Irish Catholic with the red beard who happens to be the president. In a system built to allow each person to be represented by letters, I feel my letters are represented by me. That is something that I know I would never feel in any other house on this campus.

Yes, AEPi is a nationally Jewish organization, but I’ve found that our chapter puts less emphasis on religion, and more on brotherhood. Despite our national status, just over 15 percent of my brothers who are not Jewish. For us, brotherhood is not dependent on your Jewish-ness, but on your character. While outsiders may see me differently, my Catholicism doesn’t affect my status in the house.

Except for a few miscommunications. How was I supposed to know that “break fast” is not the same thing as breakfast? Or that “goy” is not a Long Islander’s pronunciation of “guy”? Being in AEPi made my college experience more fun than I could have ever imagined. Unlike all of my other possible fraternity choices, my house gave me much more than many great nights. I now have some intense leadership experience, community service opportunities in New Orleans and some best friends who I know I will be close to for the rest of my life.

james SIMMONS

With about a one-month timeframe, I set out to find a vehicle that could connect me with a single Jewish male. My first obstacle was finding the right program. The online dating sites turned me off pretty quickly; the established ones lost me at their price tags. All the others seemed to disregard my every preference, beyond my desire to be matched with a biological male (any algorithm that would pair me with screennames like “prettyBoi” and “TllDrkNHndsm” must have a misplaced decimal or something). After a series of Google searches juggling the buzzwords “Jewish,” “singles” and “Chicago” got me nowhere, I called Northwestern University’s Hillel and was referred to the Chicago Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago’s website.

I combed through the site for two weeks before an event on the calendar popped up: a dinner meet-up with a group called “Jewish Social Singles.” A week later I was sitting in the entrance of a Chinese buffet trying desperately to capture some affirmative eye contact from the few other young people standing near the door. Finally, someone from the group guessed I was one of theirs and introduced herself. Her name was Carol. She was nervous and soft-spoken, and almost 65 years old. I choked on my gum.

Very quickly I realized that the “21 plus” indication was the only age parameter. I also discovered that, apart from one other woman in her late 40s, I was the only person new to the group, which had evolved from a date-finding mechanism into more of a club for single people. The only partnering they did was in dividing up teams for their bi-monthly bowling trips.

For the next two hours I would drink six glasses of water, bite each of my nails down to a bloody pulp and fight to stay afloat, blundering my way through computer talk with the only two guys born after 1970. I was silently pleading, for the first time in my life, that someone would ask me about school. I took my first exit opportunity, dodged three follow-up invitations and a newsletter, and made sure I was out of sight before sprinting out the door. My immediate regret was that I hadn’t thought to buy a drink that could have cushioned the blow of the advances of a man who bore a striking resemblance to Harry Caray.

Assessing the aftermath of a what is no doubt a record-12 horrible first dates occurring simultaneously-I realized that, in addition to meeting a traumatic and horribly disappointing outcome, I spent more effort planning how and to whom I should relinquish the responsibility for finding a date than it would have taken me to go on twice as many. In matchmaking theory, Jewish Social Singles should have offered me a more qualified pool of candidates for romantic partners than JDate does. In practice, though, I discussed community theater with nine women and five men over soggy crab rangoon on a Saturday night. And if this means that this love-finding process truly is as hit-or-miss as it seems, take my word for it and take the hunt into your own hands. Get involved in activities you enjoy, make time for developing meaningful relationships in all facets of your life, and back out of any blind dates planned around early-bird specials. Trust me on that last one.

lizzie SCHIFFMAN

“[Having a small Jewish community] means we have more challenges,” says Deva Solomon, co-director of the Hillel at West Virginia University. “We have to focus on being very visible to make sure the small Jewish population knows where to find us.”

For Solomon, that means providing programs and activities for a Jewish population of 800 undergraduate students out of the 20,000 total students who attend the university. In 2006, only 0.1 percent of the state of West Virginia was Jewish.

“WVU’s community is small and diverse,” says Victor Sella, the student vice president of the his campus Hillel. “Overall, the active Jewish population is significantly smaller.”

Students call this community a “small and mighty” campus -it receives guidance, financial assistance and online resources from The Soref Initiative to promote Judaism to students.

At West Virginia, celebrating Yom Hashoah, also known as Holocaust Memorial Day, has become one of the biggest events that the Hillel offers. Every year, students, faculty, and community members gather for a 24-hour vigil.

Other activities include camping trips, football games, movie trips, Friday night Shabbat dinners and Sunday bagel brunches. On the High Holidays, WVU’s Hillel serves dinner on Erev Rosh Hashanah and provides a way for students to break their fasts after Yom Kippur services. It also provides rides to the local synagogue or the Chabad house for services.

“Many Jews, including myself, have benefited tremendously from WVU Hillel,” Sella says. “During my time at WVU, my Judaism and the popularity of WVU Hillel have grown.”

Similarly, the Hillel at the University of Montana tries just as hard to unite the university’s 60 Jewish students, out of a student population of 13,000. The Jewish community participates in monthly Shabbat dinners, game nights and movie nights throughout the year. For the more observant Jews, the community hosts an annual Passover Seder and builds a sukkah on campus every Sukkot. These events are open to community members who want to learn more about the Jewish community.

“We have a pretty small Jewish community on campus,” says Ariel Barrett, the president of Hillel at the University of Montana. “When you come to Montana, you’re not really
coming to Montana to be around Jewish people.”

With the recent addition of a synagogue in town last year, students now have a place to go for services during the High Holidays services.

Barrett, who became involved with Hillel as a freshman, says it is a “nice way if you want to get involved and meet other Jewish students.”

Although these colleges, and dozens more, have small Jewish populations, they believe that strength can come without numbers.

“If I had to pick one way [to describe the Jewish community at WVU], it would be friendly and welcoming,” says Solomon. “There’s a number of different things to do - Hillel, Chabad house, local synagogue and a Jewish fraternities. The population is certainly visible.”

grace WEITZ

schmooze: You’ve said that you used basketball to spread your Jewish pride. How has basketball highlighted your Judaism?

Goodman: I always felt like I was very proud to play with my kippah. Even though I was playing against non-Jewish players, I always made sure to wear my kippah and try to show Jewish people that in our professions and in our going to shul, we serve Hashem in everything we do. We should always be proud of who we are.

schmooze: How did you work around your challenges?

Goodman: One time we were playing on a Thursday night in Boston. On Shabbat I walked to the Jewish community from the team bus. The next morning, it took me over two and a half hours to get back to practice in the snow. When I got to practice I was 15 minutes late. I never thought that I was going to be late, and after the game that Saturday night, I was punished. The coach was like, ‘Tamir, if we’re going to do this, if we’re going to change the schedule and everything, you have to be here on time.’ Even though I did so much to get there and everything. But I respected it, and it worked out
well, thank God.

schmooze: You didn’t play on Shabbat for the Maryland Nighthawks game. Was that a big problem?

Goodman: The owner was really positive about it, so he made it good. My teammates were very respectful. I’ve noticed over my career that if you’re proud of your Judaism, many times people who aren’t Jewish will go out of their way to help you be a better Jew.

schmooze: You have had quite a few injuries. How did you work through them all?

Goodman: I always knew that Hashem gave me my basketball talent and what he wanted me to do with it, and I was always able to fight back. Not for myself, but to continue trying to play for Kiddush Hashem. Even though the doctor said I wouldn’t be able to play anymore, I was able to fight back three times. I have had seven major injuries in nine years and three career-ending injuries that I was able to come back from, including a knee replacement. I’m glad to say that from every injury I have grown physically or spiritually, and have found a greater blessing. Basically, when you’re training and playing, it takes your whole emotion, your body and your soul, and such determination. Every year I’ve been knocked down, and I couldn’t understand why I was always getting knocked down. Every time I had a good game, the next day I’d get hurt or have an injury.

But today I understand it. Today I work with Haifa Hoops for Kids, an organization that helps underprivileged and special needs kids through basketball. In the beginning of my life I only knew success. Hashem would carry me against the best players in the world. But after nine years of being knocked down over and over again and being ridiculed, I became a much better person. I became much more sensitive, and there’s no way I would be able to do Haifa Hoops for Kids if I hadn’t been knocked down so many times. It’s a beautiful continuation.

schmooze: Did basketball ever affect your Judaism?

Goodman: Very much. It’s helped me become closer to Hashem. Everybody in this world has their specific talents and their mission that Hashem will trust us with, and our job is to give back to the world through our talents. For me, it was so evident through basketball. There are so many lessons you can learn through basketball that you can apply to Judaism: overcoming adversity, growing every day, teamwork, responsibility. All of that you learn through basketball, so it really helped me with my Judaism.

schmooze: Was there any time when you questioned your Judaism?

Goodman: One time, my lowest. I never questioned my Judaism, but the one time I was most broken in my life, physically, spiritually and emotionally, was after my coach got fired in college, and they brought in a new coach who assaulted me, mentally and physically. After that, I remember looking in my closet the next day and was like, ‘I don’t even want to wear any of this.’ And when I finally had the strength to come back from that, that’s when I really, really learned. Sometimes in life, it’s like revisiting our hardest challenges or biggest setbacks helps us spring forward and find our biggest blessings, and for me that’s what happened. If I had not gone through that, I would have never been able to play a professional career.

schmooze: How did you have the strength to come back?

Goodman: How did I have the strength? I guess I was always very close to Hashem, and I always wanted to be Hashem’s basketball player. After being so broken, I said, ‘This isn’t what I’m about, and I’m not going to let this situation take me off of my mission.’ And somehow I got the strength to start training again, and I grew from it.

sarah FREISHAT

Professor Jeremy Dauber, Associate Professor of German Language, Literature and Culture and Director of Yiddish Studies at Columbia, didn’t have a Yiddish-saturated childhood. Translated Yiddish literature drew him to the subject. “I appreciated [these texts] because they were great works of literature,” recalls Dauber. “[Yiddish] is a way into a vibrant Jewish culture that lasted a thousand years.”

Columbia’s Yiddish Studies graduate program, founded in 1952, is the first of its kind in America. Relatively few schools offer full-blown majors in Yiddish Studies, and even fewer actually have established Yiddish departments. Still, many Jewish Studies programs have sub-programs in Yiddish. Brandeis offers a minor in Yiddish and East European Culture. A considerable number of schools with Jewish Studies programs, like University of Virginia and Ohio State University, offer students contact with the “language of the Ashkenaz.”

At first glance, Yiddish scholarship doesn’t seem to be a bastion of practicality. However, according to Dauber, studying the traditional language of Eastern European Jews (and many New Yorkers) can unlock stores of untapped literature, art and history.

The pursuit of Yiddish literature has gained importance over the past few decades as scholars have rushed to save the fruits of this vibrant culture from rotting. The National Yiddish Book Center in Massachusetts was born of an effort to preserve Yiddish books that otherwise would have been thrown out by their non- Yiddish-speaking owners.

Since Aaron Lansky founded the center in 1980, he has saved approximately 1.5 million books, and counting. Want to put that number into perspective? Estimates from 1980 placed the number of salvageable Yiddish books at 70,000. The unexpected expansiveness of this halfburied literary world presents a daunting and a thrilling opportunity, Lansky says. With so many works to be rediscovered, let alone translated and studied, Yiddish scholars have their work cut out for them.

And fear not, Yiddish scholars who don’t want to live in a kastn. These students can pursue their passions and get paid to boot. Literature rescue efforts such as the National Yiddish Book Center, Yiddish contemporary theatres and Jewish cultural organizations offer careers for those with Yiddish backgrounds.

And don’t forget good old academia. “With the increase of interest in Yiddish from an academic perspective, it’s likely that more programs might be attracted to hiring a faculty member who works in the field,” says Dauber.

And who said that your undergraduate studies have to match up exactly with your career choice? In the grand scheme of things, studying Yiddish is like studying any other aspect of any other culture.

“It helps you to gain skills to study your own language, literature, and history,” says Dauber.

It looks like pursuing a B.A. in Yiddish doesn’t make you meshugener, after all.

leah KREVITT

For years, Orthodox Jews living in high-rise apartment buildings have used socalled “Shabbat elevators,” which automatically stop at every floor, to circumvent the prohibition of using electricity on the day of rest. However, an expert on Jewish law, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, 99, recently ruled that such elevators are against Jewish law because the extra weight each person adds requires more energy. After a public outcry, Rabbi Elyashiv is expected to grant exemptions to the elderly, ill and pregnant women. (Associated Press/Ynet)

For a group of kabbalah rabbis in Israel, getting swine flu vaccines just wouldn’t cut it. In August, they charted a plan around the Holy Land, reciting prayers and blowing the shofar in an effort to stop the spread of the flu. (Ynet/JTA)

In what is truly an only-in-America moment, a group of Amish families from Pennsylvania were taken on a walking tour of a Hasidic neighborhood in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights area. The groups have much in common: their shunning of modern culture, their traditional dress, and their German dialects -Yiddish and Pennsylvania Dutch. (Associated Press)

There’s a new item for sale in religious bookstores in Israel: “kosher” comic books. The books, gaining popularity among the religious youth, depict scenes from
the Bible and Jewish history. (AFP/Ynet)

Who says Jews can’t put up a fight? In November, Brooklyn-based boxer and rabbinical student Yuri Foreman won the World Boxing Association’s Super Welterweight Championship. Foreman observed Shabbat the day before the match that Israeli politicians and diplomats flew in to watch. (JTA/New York Times)

There are many groups of Americans visiting Israel these days, but how many groups have an average age of 86? A group of octogenarians from an Ohio retirement home recently visited Israel, and for many it was their first time in the Holy Land. The group of nine residents was accompanied by 13 assistants, including a nurse to handle all the medications. (JTA)

Alex White: Hitting the Right Notes, A College Grad’s Quest to Find the Next Big Sound

Mike Mandel: Across the Universe–One Man’s Journey to Find Himself Through Music

Zak Yitro: Painting Outside the Lines–Who Says Judaism Can’t be Colorful?

Benjamin Singer: Fighting the War on Drugs, One Reel at a Time

Reed Aronow: Cycling for Carbon–Biking for a Better Tomorrow, One City at a Time

White came up with this idea after interning at Motown Records. The site, in fact, started out with a completely different feel compared to the analytical site it has morphed into today. The website began as a place where “anyone [could] play the role of a record mogul and sign ‘bands’ to their own fantasy label,” says White. “We would track the order in which you signed those bands and you would get points based on the number of people who signed the bands…so we could see where people were finding new talent before anyone else.” In practice, visitors to the website would be able to listen to as many tracks of indie artists as they wanted and would then be able to sign up to 10 bands to their “label.”

For White and the rest of his classmates, what started off as a music gaming site of sorts transformed into a full-time career when they took the website to the next level last June.

“[Now] we do online music analytics and insight,” says White. “We track the growth and popularity of bands across sites where they already exist. We sell insights around that to band managers and other industry professionals.”

According to White, the change was necessary. “Being a streaming music site was insanely hard,” says White. NBS had to compete with hundreds of other sites, like MySpace and Pandora, which also tried to break into the craze.

“We wanted to solve a problem that was very real, that would be valuable to the industry and [that would] generate revenue, so we could keep doing this and run the business in the future,” says White. The idea of tracking bands’ airplay on the web originated from an interest in how bands become famous. Currently, the site is thriving. NBS is tracking close to half a million artists across six major web properties. They even captured their first trajectory of a band that went from 1,000 plays a day on MySpace to number one on iTunes. Furthermore, since starting to record data from the music industry in June, NBS has watched about five bands go from unheard of to instant superstars. Perhaps the best example of the summer, according to White, was British singer/songwriter and rapper Jay Sean, whose hit, “Down,” skyrocketed from 100 plays to his peak of over half a million plays per day.

For White and his fellow business partners, NBS is more than just a site for music. “We want to help change the industry by bringing and displaying data in a way that’s easy to understand and that make it easy to make decisions,” says White.

grace WEITZ
Alexandra Hollander contributed to this story.