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It was only the second Shabbat dinner of this semester when a friend shared an episode that prompted me to [...]

KRAKOW, Poland —“From the King Who reigns over kings, the Holy One, Blessed is He.” It seems antithetical to recite the Shalom [...]

A memorial to murdered Jews, namely children, at a mass grave site in a forest just outside the Polish town [...]

A Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) poster echoing BDS rhetoric at the George Washington University. (credit: StopAntisemitism, Twitter)) Fireworks [...]

Sabrina Soffer is an opinions writer and will be the commissioner of the Student Association’s Presidential Task Force to Combat [...]

October 23, 2022 Soft Launch of My Mother’s Mirror in San Diego, California CALIFORNIA—The generational story of My Mother’s Mirror reconciles roots [...]

100 human stories from 10/7 reveal Israel’s resilience in the face of terror and the power of hope amid tragedy.

100 human stories from 10/7 reveal Israel’s resilience in the face of terror and the power of hope amid tragedy.

Placed at the top of my History of Jewish Civilization course syllabus, this quote encapsulates the winding paths the Jewish people have traversed from antiquity to modernity.

The American people elected Donald Trump as the 47th president in one of the most remarkable political comebacks in modern U.S. history.

Last spring, the world watched as thousands of college students across the country set up encampments on their campuses. We witnessed […]

Today, maintaining a stable order is crucial to preserving liberty. The pogrom in Amsterdam should serve as a wake-up call and a mandate for action.

George Washington University’s failure to remove MESA from the university’s Middle East studies program shows a continued tolerance for the promotion of terrorism.

As we committed on Simchat Torah to dancing again, we are commanded to remember the victims of October 7 and refuse to let our faith dwindle.

As Israel defends itself from Iran’s proxies, the UN’s calls for ceasefires and diplomacy ignore the reality of terror.

We cannot go back to before October 7, but we can honor the fallen heroes by committing to stand up to hate.

Themes of transparency and accountability arise in my mother’s Rosh Hashanah Seder and High Holidays Haggadah’s series of questions about judgment.

As Jewish students return to campus this Fall, many are clouded by fear and distrust: fear of harassment from anti-Israel mobs, retaliation from anti-Zionist professors

American universities face a tough choice: should they prioritize discipline or compassion when dealing with anti-Israel protests?

Jewish students nationwide mourn one year after October 7, with recent Hamas executions deepening despair. Yet, the enduring Jewish spirit highlights each life’s value, resisting indifference.

Cultural relativism’s empty notions of justice, rights, and welfare have defeated objective truths brought by realism in political argument.

The intifada revolution has engulfed Columbia University. Just a week after a congressional hearing in which President Minouche Shafik

Calls to destroy Israel throbbed outside the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs last Thursday.

Jewish poet Hayim Nachman Bialik once said, “Without the Sabbath, there would be no godliness and no semblance of humanity in the world.

It’s not safe to be a Jewish student at UC Berkeley.” That was the message a Jewish student delivered before the House of Representatives’ Education and the Workforce Committee last Thursday

Sabrina Soffer is former Commissioner of the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism at the George Washington University and author of My Mother’s Mirror

Israelism’s lens and language steer viewers away from reality and toward radicalism.

Jew hatred is never isolated. Jews have long been the canary in the coal mine, first to be attacked and last to be spared.

The alignment of Rosh Hashanah and the three-year anniversary of the Abraham Accords epitomizes tikkun olam.

Jewish college students are dealing with attacks on Israel and harassment on their campuses. When will it stop?

Butchering Israeli civilians does not advance human rights. It’s a crime against humanity.

Israel’s political unrest represents a moment “pregnant” with opportunities because the vast majority of the population is “highly engaged.”

Salvaging the faltering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility initiatives.

Delegitimizing Israel to speak up for Palestinians only harms their cause.

At this very moment, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are witnessing booming protests outside of Parliament. After many months of contentious [...]

Partnerships between Arabs and Jews are both possible and essential.

The Jewish nation has long been the subject of the mainstream media’s criticism and condemnation.

The recent escalation of terror between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad based in Gaza made me feel as if I had entered a time machine.

Daring to be a vocal Zionist today at an American college campus is fraught with potential backlash, criticism or outright hostility on social media or the public square.

Not long ago, while walking through George Washington University’s campus, I came across several posters with headlines that read “Judaism does not equal Zionism

A few years ago, a Hidden Brain podcast entitled “Passion Isn’t Enough” explored how we’ve come to deal with politics as an entertainment sport

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Jewish sages wisely crafted the Hanukkah blessing to ensure that future generations kept its candles burning through eternity.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Recent anti-Zionist and antisemitic activities at the George Washington University has left Jewish students in search for answers to understand all-things Israel.

I consider myself fortunate to have experienced a rich and diverse upbringing surrounded by a loving multi-ethnic Israeli family.

I just received Noa Tishby’s recent book entitled, ISRAEL: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth.

CALIFORNIA—The generational story of My Mother’s Mirror reconciles roots with personal experience to shape identity and aspirations. The writing of it in two perspectives—mine and my mom’s—was an experience of a lifetime. It was as if I could see myself clearly in her reflection, feel her feelings, and connect to the amazing woman who I call my best friend; the woman who brought me into this world, the person who has molded me, the person who has made me both her master and masterpiece. 

GW UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, D.C—On the morning of the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, posters appeared plastered around George Washington University’s campus

I sat next to two older women at the Theater for a New Audience in Brooklyn awaiting the performance of Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski. “You know what’s terrible?” one lady said to the other

“SELF-Ex: An Interactive Guide to Address Adversity Responsibly” received a top award in a global competition. “In response to the COVID-19 challenges facing students the USC Center EDGE, Andrew Nikou Foundation, and IDEO formed The Education (Re)Open challenge, aimed to develop the Education Solutions Exchange, a public repository of high-quality, accessible solutions to help schools navigate the obstacles they face returning this fall. The Education Solutions Exchange is an exciting outgrowth of what we learned early in the pandemic—that creative, relevant and relatively simple solutions can bring a quantifiable voice to those on the front lines of education, and can have impact in timely, effective and efficient ways,” says Alan Arkatov, director and founder of Center EDGE.

My sacred time with my mom enabled me to understand how she came from such restrictive communities to become the strong-willed, determined, and compassionate woman she is today. Life through cultural and personal extremes precisely drove her transformation, and bestowed a duty upon her to help others do the same. She raised me this way, and her advice has inspired my attitude toward relationships and life in general, through many challenges. I wish to pass on the tools and techniques to help women transform each obstacle into an opportunity through our paired narrative. I’ve been raised with support and to support, so there is no greater gift than using our stories to connect with others and empower them to be their best selves.

Young Jews are fairly sensitive to these threats, if only glancing some 77 years back to their ancestors’s histories

Baby boomers and Generation X often deem Generation Z weak. “Failure is a key to success,” “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps

I never imagined myself living in a world where I’d walk through my university’s central plaza to Palestinian student-activist groups chanting

Childhood dreams are often long-forgotten due to their elusive nature. “I want to be an olympian,” “I want to be president,” ” I want to travel to every country in the world,” or, “I want to write a book one day.” All these aspirations– they keep our young minds active: fresh, energized, and eager. Yep, that child who sought all these dreams is me. Maybe the other three are really unattainable, but considering the fourth, perhaps not. Becoming a published author ignites some strange sensation, one so special then when I hold the weight of 500 or so pages that I’ve written, I feel as full as the front cover is to the back. It’s not so much a personal fulfillment from just completing an extensive work as it is one for those who engage with what’s written on those pages. I hope each person can find themselves in one of the roles embodied by me, my mother, or my grandmother in some stage of life (I’m sure you can.) I hope that by identifying with our many challenges, and knowing that more obstacles are imminent on our roads ahead, you can employ the many tools included in each story. Helping others through similar obstacles and equipping them with skills to confront them responsibly, respectfully, and assertively will give me the fulfillment I seek.

USC Center EDGE Awardees of the Education Solutions Exchange. Winning entries, chosen in part for their simplicity and ability to immediately impact students’ needs, include:

Mental Health Check In: A simple, low-cost, easily implementable system for students to communicate their emotional wellbeing and give teachers insight into how the class is feeling overall, and in particular to students who may need extra support.
The 3 M’s: Media, Middle School, Mindfulness: A curriculum that teaches students to become more discerning with information seen on the internet, and to determine if it’s coming from a trustworthy source, which is especially critical in light of the disinformation surrounding the pandemic and vaccines.
Core Values in the Community: A program designed to reward students who demonstrate the values of Gratitude, Responsibility, Integrity, and Tenacity, and are given “GRITcoin” that can later be spent on things like raffles and pop-up shops at their schools. The program recognizes that students are anxious about returning to school, and yet they can be inspired to turn those feelings into something positive.
A Trusted Space: a free, cutting-edge, research-based film and curriculum for educators on how to help mitigate the effects of the grief, trauma, anxiety, and other emotional stressors that so many students are facing.

My journey around Israel’s borders and into the West Bank

ISRAEL — Saturday. 6 August 2022. 

My elementary school career underwent a series of Jewish day schools, and as for my childhood, a stew of programs steaming with diverse flavors of Jews fromaround the world. From modern-Orthodox to reform, conservative to secular, Israeli, Mexican, and American to South African, there was a commonality among them: “Israel is a small, but very strong country,” teachers, Rabbis, or counselors would say, “Be proud to be Jewish, embrace your roots, your culture, and love your heritage.”

A few weeks ago, my dad called me and insisted that I prepare something ‘philosophical’ for Passover. I didn’t know [...]

My first day as a freshman began with the University Honors Program course, The Origins of Modern Thought: Justice. In [...]

My first day as a freshman began with the University Honors Program course, The Origins of Modern Thought: Justice. In our small group of 14 students, each was allowed to introduce themselves.

I eagerly stride through George Washington University’s Foggy Bottom campus on route to the UN Relief & Works Agency for [...]

As I made my way through the Kristallnacht exhibit at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum this afternoon, my eyes peered [...]

“Sabrina, you make me proud to be Jewish” A friend of mine told me this as I came off stage last [...]

On June 10, 2021, my former high school, Canyon Crest Academy, held a traditional graduation ceremony for the class of [...]

Two years ago, my grandfather was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. He and my grandmother had [...]

Along my journey, I sought an OB/GYN specialist’s guidance to understand the link between female hormones and IBS among other complications. I waited six months for a visit with the “best OB/GYN” in our county, having consulted with two others in the past who weren’t of much help. 

* This story is continued chronologically from my previous article, Be Your Own Doctor. After four tortuous months of waiting [...]

At a family dinner with some close friends, I was introduced to a father and son who both, like me, [...]

Since the age of five, my mother has raised me under the belief that authorities aren’t always right. A close [...]

It's been a while since I've posted on my blog, but I've been working on a long project (a book [...]

Written by Sabrina Soffer for ICIARA Technologies The Background: Bullying, Suicides, & School Shootings The desire to harm. Why do [...]

Author: Sabrina Soffer & Co-author: Ashley McMichael   Introduction  Imagine how different Larry Nassar’s life would be if Michigan State [...]

A few weeks ago, my IBS and acid reflux emerged stronger than ever before. Unabated episodes of belching, extreme bloating, [...]

Heavy clouds loom over the rays of sunshine meant to propel us toward our bright futures. A glorious, vivid moment [...]

Dear New York Times, My name is Sabrina Soffer, I’m 17 years old, and am looking forward to attending George [...]

Leadership is put to the test daily, but never like this. The coronavirus outbreak has forced world leaders to battle [...]

During this time in quarantine, I’m sure many of us have spent time plopped on the couch with a bag [...]

*inspired by New York Times Article, She was Excited for a New School. Then the Anti-Semiticm'Jokes' Started.(https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/nyregion/new-jersey-antisemitism-high-school.html?searchResultPosition=1) We often ask [...]

Originating in Wuhan, China, and spreading through parts of Asia, Europe, & the United States, the Coronavirus has triggered panic [...]

Having taken a particular interest in history, I don’t mind scrupulously studying the AP World, US, or Government textbooks. Most [...]

Our American sphere of influence has gone too far. Throughout history, the United States has sought to protect its citizens [...]

Americans today live in a monumental period in history. Impeachment is the word on the street, breaking headlines on national [...]

We often wonder what life is all about. I think, at the end of the day, it’s all about the [...]

A wave of violence continues to flood the American landscape with repeated attacks of hatred. These mass shootings, most motivated [...]

A year filled with academic pressure, loads of anxiety, and obstacles to overcome: that was my junior year. Unfortunately, this [...]

I am writing this article to raise awareness about student’s legal right to opt-out of CASSP testing this upcoming week.  For students like me with high levels of anxiety, I seek to help students alleviate some of the stress they are experiencing.

As technological advancements have revolutionized every aspect of society- from community interactions to the ways students learn- consequences do arise, without a doubt. However, the plethora of social media and online platforms at this generations’ disposal has no direct relationship to the adolescents sinking

My summer couldn’t have been filled with more eye opening educational experiences. I decided to apply to journalism and creative writing programs in England and New York, where my favorite colleges are located; I sought to immerse myself into the culture of the schools, different teaching styles, and of course meet other students and locals who shared my similar interests.

As a lover, fan, and devout reader of English Literature, I thought Oxford would be the ideal destination to examine the local attitude towards the literary masterpieces of Britain. With eclectic libraries on every street corner and the title “Oxford Bookshop” drawing my eyes on my 7AM morning runs, my excitement to be in this mecca of literature grew exponentially.

Speaking up is an action that empowers, liberates, and instills confidence in us. Yet, strings interwoven with fear and anxiety chain us into our safe zone– silence. These strings bind us, leaving us breathless, speechless, and afraid. Although neutrality may seem comfortable, silence enslaves us with disapproval, destroying our ability to discern right from wrong. Our true feelings are the ropes entangling us whispering, “don’t speak, it’s too risky.”

Wow. I am in utter disbelief. It was Pittsburgh and now Poway– another synagogue shooting, another anti semitic crime. This happened not only in my country, but in my city, in my very own community. I could never imagine a hate crime occurring at home, in my San Diego community.

This past weekend, a tragedy occurred not only within the Jewish American Community, but in humanity. It was the deadliest Anti Semitic crime targeting Jews in United States History.

During a Saturday morning Shabbat service, Jews at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were praying peacefully;

In the United States, the first amendment protects the right to freedom of religion, freedom to assemble, freedom of the press, and the freedom of speech. However, surrounding these liberties are regulations and limitations. The question we must ask is to what extent are our rights to free speech and press protected?

In this era, excellence is often measured by reputation and appearances. Decisions are often made by the rumors that permeate the air and the gust of prestige some affluent families may look for. As this new generation continues to take center stage and revolutionize society, this act of “value by status,” is becoming more and more prominent. However, this new age needs to begin looking beyond the surface of superficiality,

The romantic, erotic Fifty Shades trilogy has captivated the minds and churns the emotions of many. From teens to adults to the elderly, some element of the sensual story seems to fascinate and enthrall us– sex. However, many don’t see what really lies behind the intense sexual interactions and the meaning the tale actually holds.

KRAKOW & AUSCHWITZ, POLAND: 16 April, 2016: Upon arriving to Krakow, my anxiety continued to grow as I knew this would [...]

My research had informed me that Terezìn was a town on the German-Czech border that the Nazis constructed a ghetto and prison camp around. Not only was it a place to abuse innocent victims and later send them to camps, but it was advertised by the media as a resort hotel where Jews and workers would find opportunity and live comfortably, luxuriously, and happily. Obviously, this was not true; it was used as a trick to lure Jews into internment and would soon end most of their lives. At Terezìn, we were met by our tour guide Michaela.

April 9th, 2016 Fear and Misconceptions We landed in Berlin. The thick, aggressive German accent was intimidating and overwhelming. The [...]