As you may know, Fig and Vine has recently undergone a major transfer in power, effective immediately. Newly named dictator-in-chief, Maya Kaye, is looking ahead to big changes in how things run at Fig and Vine magazine. Kaye’s position as editor was previously held by Lily Karofsky, of the article Who is Behind Fig and Vine. It is well known that Kaye is quite the outdoor adventurer. First on the list of executive orders Kaye plans to enact is more field trips. Look out for

On May 12th, 2026, I sat down with Fig & Vine’s creator and co-editor-in chief, Lily Karofsky, in Hillel’s student lounge. Together, we reflected on the past two years of growth of the magazine, and the positive impact of having a platform for Jewish journalism and creativity...

Erosion Drip Drip Drip Drip Drip One two three four five I was formed like clay Every relationship a drop of water Drip Drip Drip Drip Carving deep grooves Drip Drip Drip Every conversation a trail of sediment Drip Drip I look back on the valleys and curves And I see who formed them I look back on the past five years Drip And I see the canyon I’ve become The End? Why is it Why is it that must now know be fully formed What is it to grapple with the ties Between childhood and a

Despite all these numbers, it's looking as though I’ll be grabbing my diploma alongside my buddies in 2 weeks time. So to put a gloss on 4 years of fun, learning, and hooliganism, here are some 5-7-5s, some bye-kus, if you will...

Reza was only 18 years old when he left Iran. He didn’t know any English, he had no extended family outside of Iran, and his future was teeming with uncertainty. ..

As this school year comes to a close, it’s clear that antisemitic incidents across University of California campuses are not following suit, but escalating...

In this extremely bitter sweet season of life, one of my post dreaded tasks was finding the words to say goodbye to this beautiful magazine that I created only two years ago. Fig & Vine wasn't simply an extra circular to me, but an extension of myself and an escape from a world that didn't want my voice to be heard. Fig & Vine came to fruition during a time when we as a community were being pushed out, harassed, abused, and silenced. Although our fight is far from over, that

At most colleges in the US (UCSB included), most students graduate in about 4 years; however, the range oftentimes varies in the amount of time taken to complete college...

I finally dragged Abaynesh out of her home studio and onto a hike with me. After spending a lot of time applying sunscreen, packing snacks, and tugging on our boots, we finally made it out to our hiking spot. I picked a spot I had explored before, keeping Abaynesh’s lack of athleticism into account. It was a gorgeous hike, with thick foliage marking the path to a small valley with a creek to swim in and a gorgeous waterfall. Abaynesh didn’t complain too much about the hike;

The Heart I grew up savoring vegetables because of Ema. As a vegetarian, she insisted that her veggie dishes never sit politely as a side, but eloquently speak for themselves. Beet salad with an arugula base, eggplant topped with honey and goat cheese, and zucchini layered lasagna were all household delicacies. However, there was nothing I loved more than my mother’s artichoke. Perhaps what made it special was its simple preparation: a single glide of the knife to remove the

The Portland Trail Blazers lost; they’re out of the NBA Playoffs. This hasn’t come as a surprise. The seventh-seeded Blazers were eliminated after scraping one win off of the San Antonio Spurs, the team currently boasting the second-highest odds at winning the championship. Any other year and casual NBA fans from around the country would collectively shrug as another wanna-be-underdog-story ends anticlimatically. But this year, many flooded to social media sites like X in a c

This risograph zine is a reflection on my grandparents, their home in Israel, and the memories held within it. I was born in Israel and moved to the United States with my family when I was six years old. Immigrating here, we left behind our family, friends, language, and sense of place...