On October 7th, many different Jewish Organizations at UCSB worked together to put on a beautiful vigil to honor those we lost to the October 7th massacre two years ago. Here are the speeches a few students gave for anyone who may have missed it or would like to read the beautiful work again. LIEL ITACH Dear friends, Today we gather not just to mourn, but also celebrate the life of Liel Itach, a young man whose light and presence left a lasting impression on all those who met him. Liel was born in Jerusalem in 2001. He was the eldest child of Yonit and Yaakov, and a beloved brother to Yuval, Ariel, and Maor. From the very beginning, he exemplified what it meant to live life to the fullest. He was charismatic, beautiful, and always surrounded by friends. People were drawn to his radiant smile, his contagious laughter, and his natural ability to bring joy to others. Liel loved the things he had deeply, and never shied away from showing it to the world. He loved his family, who meant absolutely everything to him and who he never failed to show up for. He loved soccer, especially the team Beitar Jerusalem. In fact, he wouldn’t dare miss a single game no matter the weather or location and even went as far as to cut his North America trip short to see them play. To this day, they still honor Liel at every game. He loved cars, adventures, sports, and traveling. He loved to work hard, to challenge himself, and to dream big. Whether during his service in the Air Force, working with his father, or saving for his next adventure, Liel approached everything with determination and passion. By his friends, he was described as the “unifier”. He showed up for them in every way he could- as the host, the joker, the advisor, or the loyal friend. Liel was generous with his heart and his time- always giving, and never asking for anything in return. Although he was constantly playful and full of joy, he also displayed a maturity that was far beyond his years. He knew the preciousness that one’s time on earth held, which is why he never failed to remind others to stop for a moment, to breathe, and appreciate everything around them. But on October 7th, 2023, Liel’s beautiful life was cut short. He was at the Nova music festival, dancing and celebrating with his friends, when the unthinkable happened. Although he initially managed to escape, Liel decided to go back and help his friends who were left behind. Staying true to who he was, he came to the site to help in any way that he could, refusing to abandon others in their moment of need. His final moments truly characterized the type of person that Liel was: selfless, loyal, and guided by a love and understanding of life that few could comprehend. It was that love that drew him to go back to his friends, even when it meant putting his own life in danger. The brutality of his death cannot erase the radiance of his life. Liel will always be remembered- not for the way he died, but for the way that he lived his life so bright that the light of his neshama will never fade. May his memory forever inspire us to live like him. Thank you. AMIR EYAL I would like to tell you about my teammate, classmate, and friend, Amir Eyal. I met Amir in the fifth grade when my family moved to Haifa, and we played basketball together on the same team for several years. I remember him as one of those teammates everyone liked: hardworking, humble, and respectful. And every practice, when we’d finish with our free-throw contest, Amir almost always won. On the morning of October 7th, when thousands of Hamas terrorists marched into Israel through the kibbutzim and army bases, Amir was serving in the Field Intelligence Corps and was stationed at the Nahal Oz base. At 6:40 AM, Amir texted his family: “A world war just started here, hundreds of rockets, they are going through the fence, terrorists are attacking the base”. 6:59: “They have made it to the settlements.” 7:03: “There’s an actual war here, we’ll talk later.” And that was his last text. In the confusion and horror of that day, Amir did what he was trained for, and, I think, naturally driven to do: protect his base and his friends. He was hit by a terrorist’s fire towards his station, but he did not give up. He killed the terrorist and pulled back into a shelter along with his friends from his unit. Together, they fought against dozens of Hamas terrorists and saved the lives of many. He was declared missing later that morning. After three days, his phone was found in Gaza, and the next day, his body was discovered near his base in Nir Oz. He was only 19 years old. A year later, His father, Shay, said: “I’ve daydreamed countless times about coming that night and saving you from that cursed morning. I keep wondering what I could have done to change that cruel fate, imagining myself showing up at six in the morning, surprising you at the start of your shift, convincing you to come with me for a coffee in Ashkelon, just a few kilometers from the base, at a safe distance from the Nukhba terrorists. But then the daydream ends, and reality hits hard. Everything has changed. Nothing will ever be the same again, and your absence fills all our hearts, overflowing them with a painful, paralyzing emptiness”. Even though Amir and I have not kept in touch since I moved to America, when I think of him now, I think of those long practices, those free-throw contests, PE classes, and the good memories we captured together. ברוך. זכרו יהי Sivan Elkabets and Naor Hasidim Sivan and Naor found each other at 16. From the moment they got together, they were inseparable and dreamed of starting a family. Sivan was the youngest sibling to her brothers Nadav and Guy and sister Noa. She grew up in Ashdod, excelled in science, and was always cheerful. She danced in the “Avivim” dance troupe and was a counselor at an art camp. Sivan enlisted in the army and served as a combat fitness instructor, there she left a mark of friendship, laughter, beauty and light– always with a smile on her face. Her good friend Ron, disappointed by his military assignment, first called Sivan. He says “She calmed me down in seconds. Sivan had an amazing ability to accept new people and make them feel good where they are. She was a girl with character, not a sucker. The king who knows how to demand what she deserves with her own kindness. She knew how to take everything lightly and knew exactly what to say and when. She was the kind of person you learn from without even noticing. ” After her service, she began studying computer science and worked as a security guard. She lived in the lively youth neighborhood of Kibbutz Kfar Aza– a couple of small homes filled with young adults, endless laughter and late nights, similar to IV. Naor, second child to Galit and Avi Hasidim, was raised in Ashdod. From a young age he stood out as intelligent, witty, sensitive and goal oriented. His teacher Ora said “You were a boy full of joy and endless mischief - you loved to be the center of attention and pull a lot of pranks, but even in these moments you captivated me with your smile and your laughing eyes. I loved your youthful joy. You were sharp-witted and quick-witted, and you succeeded because you knew you had to. You stood on your own merits, and you did indeed succeed. " Naor loved his family, was a momma’s boy, and found light even in the worst situations. His sister said he would bring a trail of laughter and love everywhere he went. A medical condition made the army prefer not to draft him, but heinsisted anyway, and served as a security guard in Jaffa. He was playful, but serious and responsible, and very close to reaching his goal of buying his own home. His younger sister Noa said: "You gave me the best example in the world. You taught me to be good to everyone, to accept everyone, to be caring and to make every person around me have a huge smile just like you would." On October 7th, at age 23, Sivan and Naor were brutally murdered at home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. In the morning hundreds of terrorists entered the kibbutz and massacred the residents in their homes. The youth community, usually loud from laughter, joy and young adults, fell silent. Sivan and Naor’s murder is the least interesting thing about them. Shimon, Sivan’s father said: “The terrorists murdered you, but not who you were for all of us. You cannot murder beauty and values. You cannot cut off kindness and true love. You cannot burn knowledge and wisdom. You cannot shoot and erase a smile and a hugging hand. The terrorists turned me into a bereaved father and us into a bereaved family, but we will always be Sivan’s father and mother. Sivan, Naor, take a walk along the Milky Way, among the stars, and breathe the air of the peaks. You deserve it. You deserve it.” I want you guys to carry Naor’s playfulness and Sivan’s light. When Sivan had her bat mitzah, she declared she wanted to add another commandment to the ten. The eleventh, she decided, would be to dance, to laugh, to sing, to love, to say thank you and not give up on dreams. And thats what I hope for all of you. Kutz family Let me tell you all about the Kutz family - Aviv and Livnat, and their three kids: Rotem, Yonatan, and Yiftach. They lived in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border - a home they built with love, laughter, and a strong sense of purpose. Life there wasn’t always simple, but they believed in community, in staying rooted, and in doing good. Aviv was both a builder and a dreamer. He helped design homes and public spaces in the kibbutz and created the annual Kite Festival - an idea that brought people together and reminded everyone of hope and unity. Livnat was an artist who believed deeply in the power of creativity to heal. Livnat founded Beit Melacha, a place where kids and adults could work through pain by creating art. Through her work, many found comfort and strength. Their kids grew up surrounded by that same warmth. Rotem was caring and dedicated, a soldier who always thought about others. Yonatan was a talented basketball player, easygoing and kind. And Yiftach, the youngest, was curious and full of life. They reflected the love and values that defined their home. On the morning of October 7, the day began quietly in Kfar Aza. But within moments, that calm was gone. Amid the chaos and terror, the Kutz family gathered in their safe room - the same space where they had spent so many ordinary moments together. When the fighting ended, they were found there, holding one another. That final embrace says everything about who they were - united, protective, and filled with love until the very end. Their family and friends remember them not with anger, but with deep respect. One relative said, “They were pure light - five souls who believed in goodness, even in a place of fear. ”That belief continues through those who knew them. Friends and relatives have rebuilt the sports hall at Kfar Hayarok in the kids’ memory, and they created Wings of Hope, a project that helps others heal through creativity, continuing Livnat’s vision of art as a source of strength. And then there is Tamar - Aviv’s mother - who lost her entire family that day. Tamar lived with a grief that words cannot describe, and earlier this year, Tamar passed away. Those close to her said Tamar “suffered from a heartbreak that had no comfort. ” Her husband, Benny, now speaks quietly about the love they had for sixty years - and about the silence that remains. Today , we remember them: Aviv, Livnat, Rotem, Yonatan, Yiftach, and Tamar. May their memory be a blessing. Maya Biton and Eliran Mizrahi To start, I ask that you imagine your life, your story. What do you see? Marriage? Children? A Career? The dreams we wish to achieve, and the milestones we want to reach. Very rarely do we imagine the fragility of it all, and what we’d do in our final moments, if our story were to be cut short. Tonight, I share the life of a young couple, whose story reminds us to cherish life, and to spread light whenever possible. Eliran Mizrahi was a man who focused on one thing: his fiancée Maya Biton. Originally high school sweethearts, Eliran was struck with a love one can only imagine. It was a bond so strong, a month after Maya went away in South America, he personally handed his resignation letter to his boss, quitting a six-figure job, to join her on her adventure. The couple lived in the moment. They loved to dance, to hike, and Eliran loved to serenade his wife to be. The couple were known for two things: putting others before themselves and always bringing smiles to those around them. Friends and family would say they were an endless beam of light. And everyone agreed, they were soulmates. So when Eliran asked her father for her hand in marriage, he gave him advice he already knew: “No returns, from that moment on, she is yours for life.” Eliran didn’t hesitate. They got engaged in Santorini, with a wedding planned for the following year. A white dress, kids, and their entire lives lay out in front of them. And on October 7th, everything changed. Eliran and Maya were at the Nova Music Festival, a celebration of life and song, a mere 3 miles from the Gaza border. When the terror began, they took each otherby the hand and ran. There were people running, people falling, and people lying still. They searched for cover and found a garbage container nearby. They jumped in, and took to their phones to talk to their loved ones. “Eliran, did you get home?” “Did you get to a safe place??” “We are in a trash container, in the midst of all the shooting.” “Pray for us, please.” “May God protect you.” Eliran continued to communicate with his loved ones. “Please pray for us.” “We are praying my darling, keep us updated what is happening with you” “There are bullets flying around us, we are still in the trash container.” “Shema Yisrael” “Just pray, please pray.” His mother then texted him. “Eliran don’t stand up, don’t move, are the police or soldiers there?” “Eliran what do you hear?” “Shooting, and people screaming in Arabic.” “God is with you, read Tehillim. We won’t stop praying until you’re home” “I love you the most in the whole world, I am waiting for you.” Eliran replied, “Love you lots.” Those were the final words he gave his mother. Maya, who was next to Eliran, was also messaging her loved ones. “Maya?” “How are you?” “They are shooting at us. We can’t see.” “Don’t move, don’t get up. We haven’t stopped praying." “They are outside the trash container.” “Who?” “The terrorists.” “Maya!” No response. “Maya!!” Maya didn’t respond to any of the following messages. They were found days later, wrapped in each other’s arms. They thought of nothing else in their final moments but each other. They faced tragedy with their love, and never wavered. Eliran kept his promise, and he did so with everything he had. “No returns, from that moment on she is yours for life.” The light they spread while they were alive still burns bright through their family and friends. And I believe these incredible souls should not be remembered by how they left, but rather should be remembered by how they left the world. The young couple left the world a brighter place than they found it, serving as an example for us all. They lived beautiful lives, giving their hearts to those around them, and even now their deeds live on, thousands of miles away from Israel. And as we are all gathered here, if there was one thing I ask you to take away from this speech, it's the following. Be kind. Give everything you have in every moment of every day. And share your light with the world. For Eliran and Maya CLOSING STATEMENT I would like to thank you guys for gathering here today to honor the memories of those we lost. A special thanks to the support from Hillel, SSI and Chabad for helping put this together, and thank you to UCSB for allowing us to host this on campus. I would like to invite you to Chabad for dinner and processing of this day. Before we conclude, I hope with the weight of this day we were also able to provide some light and I hope you carry with you the lessons and the memories of the individuals we honored today. Thank you and may their memories be for a blessing.

There comes a bittersweet moment at the end of every year where our community must part ways with a generation of leaders. But instead of saying goodbye, we here at Fig and Vine want to say “see you soon!” And where WILL we see our seniors in the distant future? While we can’t say for sure, here is a solid guess as to where all of our graduating seniors will be in 10 years… Allen will barely make a dime screenwriting, other than a few ham-fisted Hallmark Hanukkah Specials. Performing questionable sexual favors to make a small amount of money, he’ll treat his girlfriend to overnight stays in shitty 2-star motels, which will give them both unending scabies. And his hair, what’s left of it, will still never be enough to cover up that massive forehead. Eman will be an established adult film actor, but miraculously will yet to have had an accidental child. He’ll spend his weekends in Tijuana, rizzing up Latin-X women; whether he ends up in their bed or half-naked on the beach is on a case by case basis. He’ll still enjoy kicking in car mirrors and asking everyone around him for weed.  Sigal will still be pursuing her degree in Zoology, but will have enough side hustles under her belt to fill out a seven-page resume. After years of searching for a Jewish partner, she’ll settle for an atheist, who strangely happens to be more Jewish than half of AEPi. Against all odds, she’ll still manage to get behind the wheel, always checking both ways 15 times at every stoplight. Eyal will be a tech-head finance bro, screwing every Sunnyvale Israeli out of a million dollars. He’ll be in a long lasting marriage with a dozen children, but the two of them will still be figuring out where their relationship stands. Above all else, he will still enjoy elevated surfaces and that little arm flap dance move.  Gloria  will establish her own sub-genre of social media influencer – Rave-head Pinterest girlie – and it will be virtually impossible not to stumble upon one of her reels. Using her hotel management status for tax write offs, she'll scout international music festivals in search for “the one”, constantly surprised that the DJs she meets aren’t romantically dependable. But she’ll still enjoy weekly-scheduled gossip sessions with Miri. Jordan , in lieu of Grad school, will save the global community by creating the greatest AI-detection software known to man… until he mistakenly sells it to foreign influences and becomes a social pariah. His wife will consistently beg him to take the Chabad Snuggie off in bed, and he will always refuse. And of course, his mind will still always be on Football. Sarah’s thought-provoking inquiries into data science will take her to Israel, where she’ll plan  to contribute her research to navigation technology, but it’ll ultimately be taken by the military. With a newfound hatred for Arsim, she’ll settle back down in Beverly Hills and never speak a lick of Hebrew again. She too will never remove the Chabad Snuggie, which acts as her greatest protector from the sun.  Aaron will cut all contact with the outside world (Persian community), and mistakenly embark on a Forrest-Gump-adjacent walk across America. When all’s said and done, he'll move back to Brentwood and settle down with an American Jewish Princess, as if none of it ever happened. And Crazy Chris will always somehow manage to crash every single kickback of his. After uncovering her complete and total hatred for men, Gal  will settle down with UCSB alum Leenoy, and the two will maximize their dual income on everything besides raising children. A young prodigy in the field of biotech, Gal will find a way to clone herself, just so she can work more! Every bad decision she makes will be reserved for the one night a year she ingests alcohol. Ariel will find a loophole out of the LSAT and take on the most controversial, morally gray court cases of the Millenium; yet, he still won’t be afraid to talk his shit. But eventually, he’ll soon make his grand departure from LA and return to Cabo, to wed his favorite table service girl. Together, they’ll light up every mediocre club there is, one shot at a time. Avigail will help save the planet in the most environmentally sustainable place on Earth: New York City. When she isn’t diving into corporate sustainability, she’ll be crafting groundbreaking environmental hypotheses, all of which will already be accepted by the scientific community years prior. With a loving partner and friends around the globe, she’ll come to realize it isn’t about world conservation, but the relationships she conserves along the way. Ben will be a household name, and no one will actually know why. Did he revolutionize the field of dermatology?  Or did he host the Fire Fest equivalent to EDC? Either way, he’ll finally cave and go on an arranged date – orchestrated by Miri – meeting the future Mrs. Ben Basson. But don’t worry, his one true love will ALWAYS remain Blenders. Sivan, Celine, and Leah will each embody “main character energy” in a Sex in the City  inspired way of life, only with far worse consequences. While selling absurdly priced designer items, and making zero commission on them, Sivan will undergo random spurts of radical anti-materialism, often sparked by minor fender benders on Rodeo Drive. Celine, meanwhile, will spend more time asking clarifying questions than crunching numbers at her accounting firm, but will save every last penny she makes to give her dogs an absurdly lavish lifestyle. And Leah, despite her intense 9 to 5 as a Physicians Assistant., will always make questionable medical decisions while out clubbing in Hollywood at 3:00 AM. But similar to Sex in the City , none of them will find a man who quite understands them like each other. Brian , after a brief stint in law, will establish the first ever Rush US Senate Committee: a fraternization of Super PAC lobbyists. He will treat his family to the most luxurious resorts imaginable, and always manage to find something wrong with them. But through it all, he will never denigrate himself into typing in lowercase ever again. Jasmine will be the next Prime Minister of Israel, hand-picked by Bibi Netanyahu, Noa Tishby, and Tessa Veksler. She will rule with an iron fist, eventually uniting every Middle Eastern nation in an all-out war against the Ashkenazis. Her romantic life will remain complicated but her inexplicable ability to rally at all hours of the night will never die.  Danny and Lior will transform The Plunge into a polygamous kibbutz… commune… definitely NOT a cult… which is serenaded daily by Danny’s harem of acapellaists. Incorporating somewhat of a mix between Kabbalah and Buddhism, their society will come the closest to achieving world peace, until it all burns down during an ayahuasca trip gone south. Through it all, their love for humanity, but mainly each other, will carry through. Kayla will work overtime as a therapist, since she’ll finally get paid to yap. Anytime she wears her “Make America Slime Again” trucker hat, every man in the immediate vicinity will find her irresistible. And one day, she’ll crash out hard enough to end up on Dr. Phil, only to verbally denigrate him on his own show.  Move out of the way, Pitbull! Eldod will take on the moniker of Mr. Worldwide, blessing drunk community college students with his electric beats, from Beverly Hills to slightly above Beverly Hills. Side-by-side with his UCSB Roadies, he’ll develop a passionate, almost sexual relationship to event planning, which will ultimately spiral into orgies. And like it or not, you’ll hear every last detail about it during your 6-month dental checkup as he’s working on your mouth. Ethan #2  will save the lives of many: future presidents, children from war-torn countries, Josh Golbary. But despite it all, he will never escape his mountainous heap of med-school loans, which is bound to scare off any future love interest. Therefore, he will continue to channel that love into capturing heinous memories on digital film and carrying his teammates in beer dye. Maya and Tony will be in and out of jobs, but never at the same time. Deciding on a new career path every week, Maya will simply employ herself as “People Person” at her brother’s startup. Meanwhile, Tony will finally complete his PhD and embrace an exhilarating life behind a desk. At night, the two will reconvene and give exhaustingly in-depth debriefs of their days, despite not understanding a single thing about what the other person does. But rest assured, they’ll still make sure to stop by Chabad once a year so people know they’re alive and well.   Ethan #1 will simultaneously eradicate homelessness and cause the next housing crisis, one residential community at a time. But unbeknownst to him, he has dozens of vengeful Loop residents who want his head, all because of those unbearable late-night afters he hosted; one of these stalkers, however, will become the love of his life. And no, he’s never shaving that stache. Shayna will forever be crippled by her incessant need to travel, and burdened by the financial expertise to understand how much of a problem it is. But in for a nickel, in for a dime, she’ll further plunge herself into debt by purchasing an equestrian ranch far away from civil society. Yet, she’ll still be in an obsessive pursuit of finding the cheapest flight to Israel known to man.   Joey will be fired from his medical sales position at a prestiged tech company, after mistakenly divvying out Mossad-brand pacemakers to 50% of his clientele. Therefore, he’ll take to the seas, putting those years of sailing at UCSB to good use, only to get scurvy within the first month. And you won’t hear about any of it, given his continuous refusal to post anything on Instagram.  Liad will maintain two identities, two lifestyles, two n’shamas: long and short hair. Long-haired Liad will find Hashem under the floorboards of 770. Short-haired Liad will oversee a shitty cantina bar on the Pussycat strip, where Eman will be his frequent and only customer. Long-haired Liad will settle down and squeeze more children into his home than Cheaper by the Dozen. Short-haired Liad will be the father of numerous unclaimed babies by international one-night stands. And neither Liad will carry any regrets about any of it. Tamar , as any good Jew, will abandon any thought of working at a nonprofit the second she gets into law school. While continuing to explore the world at rapid speed, she’ll embrace the full international Tinder and Hinge experience. But along the way, she’ll make the greatest memories that, for some reason, she won’t remember the following morning. Misha will be completing his 15th consecutive year at UCSB, making him – by default – the mayor of Isla Vista! However, he’ll still be as elusive as ever, spending time with his college sweetheart; the only person keeping him from turning into Crazy Chris. Rest assured, he’ll still enjoy DJing once in a blue moon and smoking so much weed it’s hard for him to string sentences together. Zoe will continuously relive the glory days by staffing Tzofim events and getting a bit too invested in her scouts’ dating life. An active participant on Meet Jew Facebook groups, she will accidentally end up on dates with numerous anti-Zionist Ashkenazis. But she will never lose her overwhelmingly positive attitude.   After years of obsessively listening to Youtube comedy clips, Sam will finally be able to joke about his technology management degree. While it will bring him financial success, with mansions and yachts in various parts of the world, it will also bring women in all of those countries, who he’ll begrudgingly refer to as “wife.” But he’ll still keep everyone questioning his political alignment based on all his Instagram stories. Natalie will keep the neoliberal dream alive, by becoming yet another Democrat to blanketly state “violence in the Middle East is no good.” At no point in her political career, however, will she stop club and bar hopping, as it’ll always be her one true anchor to the American people. She’ll still enjoy traveling, and basically any opportunity not to be stuck in Santa Clarita. Mikey , a stereotypical Jewish doctor, will be unsuccessful in completing his research, due to restraints put on him by the Federal government; but he’ll quickly pivot to a new career path: lifelong UCSB tutor. He’ll chase this dream alongside his partner, and literally won’t take his eyes off of her during the entire decade they spend together. Still, his heart will really always belong to soccer and his favorite lone soldier across the globe, Mr. Eric Marzouk.  Anna  correctly assumed that she would hate medical school, and eventually, she’ll dive head first into the healing world of crystals and incense. Jumpstarting her own astrology-backed enterprise, she’ll receive most of the funding from her loving, but more importantly, rich husband, who’s also a doctor. Even years later, Anna will still let you know if she’s planning on attending the function a whopping one minute before it starts.  Max’s unrelenting grind will FINALLY conclude… when Ilai Tamari graduates, and he quickly switches his career path to bodybuilding. However, after getting rich by accidentally creating an AI program which imitates Jordan Peterson – at frankly unfathomable tonality – he will develop questionable feelings for the software. And every dollar he makes is going towards maintaining that one last strand of hair on his head. Can’t call him bald yet! Shoshana’s constantly fluctuating vocation in marketing will ultimately settle into a career in event planning, specifically for abstinent individuals. Soon after college, she’ll meet the love of her life, and make a promise to NEVER to drink in front of him. In her spare time, she’ll continue adding random internships into her already packed schedule, just for the hell of it.  Joe will never evade the serial killer allegations, to the extent that he’ll actually pursue a career as a mad scientist. With an intimate knowledge of electrochemistry, he’ll craft a Frankenstein lover for himself, who he’ll share Settlers of Catan and D&D dates with. However, against all odds, that cat of his will still be kicking; perhaps due to the experimentation he’ll put it through. Simone will establish the first-ever Havdalah Healing Circle, praised by Kabbalists and condemned by medical professionals for false advertising. She’ll fund this endeavor through stunning art exhibits, but mainly through the sale of illicit hallucinogens in Lior’s cult. Late in her life, she’ll hit the road, singing quirky anthems in dive bars and making spare cash as a Sarah Silverman impersonator. But every year, she’ll return to SB for Kip’s annual spoken word show. Josh will not only find success swindling users on AirBnB, but also swindling recruiters by picking a new ethnicity for every job application he fills out. A romantic at heart, Josh will come to realize there’s no one as “suave” and “emotionally mature” as him, so he’ll spend all of his free time at the gym. Yet, after all those years, he’ll still be able to pack a punch, especially when he mistakenly ends up in an Uber with the cartel.  Maya and Annie will live practically identical lives, so much so it’ll be even harder to tell them apart than it is today. They’ll each own the same breed of yappy little dog, they’ll date another pair of best friends they meet at Erewhon, and they’ll both end up with their own reality television shows. Maya’s will be somewhat of a cross between Selling Sunset  and Jersey Shore , where a random assortment of celebrities will be encouraged to fight to the death in luxury Beverly Hills mansions. Annie’s show, however, will be more similar to Suits , only instead of corporate law, she’ll be defending holistic doctors that divvy out prescription meds based on vibe and aesthetic. They’ll still be fierce as ever, and maxing out their credit cards on a daily basis. Guy  will perform an EDM set on every difficult-to-access mountain top in California. But unlike the ketted-up zombies he performs for, he’ll actually have a mission in life: obsessively upkeeping that Tesla of his, until Elon Musk himself tells him to let it go. But along the way, he’ll still be pursuing a career in financial advising, ‘cause the man who spends every penny on DJ equipment and car accessories is absolutely the man for the job! And for the lovely writers at Fig and Vine, best of luck in all of your future endeavors! Lily , I hope this newspaper will not only continue to flourish, but further ostracize Jews from the wider SB community. Maya , I hope you eventually come to your senses and realize your boyfriend will never be able to financially sustain your addiction to national parks. And Charlotte , I can’t wait to read your first satire article… about the Birthright trip you’ll never get to go on.  See you in 10 years!

Throughout the last couple of years, the Jewish community has faced many positive and negative experiences, and we as a community have grown stronger and changed in many ways. Although there were many challenges in the past couple of years, one benefit is the creation of a Jewish student-led magazine — Fig and Vine. This year, many members of the Jewish community were able to contribute and write some phenomenal articles. One such member is Shani Levy-Richards, who has just graduated this year. I had the pleasure of being able to interview her and to share her thoughts to the rest of the community. The first question I asked Shani was how she felt being a Jewish student at UCSB. She said that overall, she liked it (due to the large Jewish community). By percentage, UCSB has the largest Jewish community of any UC, leading to our community to be large and strong. She also mentioned that she liked the various events that happen within the UCSB Jewish community. Having such a great Hillel and Chabad here at UCSB is very helpful because these events are fun, engaging, and a great way to meet friends. Some of her favorite memories that made her feel like a part of the community have been Pesach at Hillel, and various events at Chabad. She says that she feels like the community here is more welcoming than other UCs. When I asked her about what brought her to Fig and Vine, Shani told me that she is a history major, and that Jewish history has always interested her. She told me that there is so much to talk about and learn within Jewish history, hence her fascination. I agree — we have existed as a people for the last 3000 years, and within that time so many events have occurred. She specifically told me that one interesting part was how holidays evolved over time. I followed up with Shani and asked her if she had taken any Judaic study classes at UCSB. I have taken many, and have learned how Jewish practice and laws have evolved over time. She told me that unfortunately, she had not had the time to take any classes despite the fact that she wanted to, but she had many friends who had taken Judaic studies classes, and who had enjoyed them. Personally, I have taken several of these classes with Professor Medina, and have learned a lot about our history, so I am very sad for her that she did not have the opportunity to take those classes. After that point, I inquired about her experiences as an author with Fig and Vine. Shani told me that she enjoys documenting the history — to her, it felt similar to a diary. She also mentioned that she feels more confident as an author than as a speaker, making it easier for her to express her thoughts. She told me that homework does not feel empowering to create, but since she started writing on her own volition, she feels very empowered in her writing. Following, I asked Shani about her plans post-college. She told me that she plans on taking a gap year between college and grad school. She wants to do a masters in English (potentially with history). Furthermore, she told me that although her time is done at UCSB, she still has a twin sister here, so she will be visiting. The penultimate question that I asked her involved how the Jewish community has evolved at UCSB. She told me that over time, the community, through events such as October 7th, the rise in anti-semitism, and incidents of hate directed at specific individuals, has gotten more tight-knit. The Jewish community at UCSB, and within the greater world, has been through a lot, so in order to ensure that we are able to prosper, our communities have gotten stronger. I then asked her if she had anything else to share, and she told me to let every know that she wishes them good luck. Overall, Shani has contributed greatly to the community by teaching us all about the history, and she will be dearly missed. Let's all wish her a successful time at graduate school, and hope that she visits Santa Barbara very soon!

On June 19th, 2025, recent UCSB graduate Allen Schultz sat down with an anonymous interviewer at Lazy Dog Kitchen in Fresno, California. This is the exact transcript of their conversation.  Anonymous Interviewer: Alright, great to meet you. Please state your name.  Allen:  Allen Schultz Anonymous Interviewer: Could you please spell it?  Allen: A-L-L-E-N  S-C-H-U-L-T-Z Anonymous Interviewer: Could you possibly spell it again, but with more letters? Allen: A-L-X-Y-L-E-W-J-N  S-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-U-L-T-Z  Anonymous Interviewer: And where are we today?  Allen: Lazy Dog Kitchen. I am eating Fettuccine Alfredo and very much enjoying it.  Anonymous Interviewer: So Allen, what is your involvement with Fig & Vine Magazine?  Allen: I run the satire column and make a bunch of risky jokes about my friends and pray to G-d that they land well.  Anonymous Interviewer: What else were you involved with in your college years? Allen: I was incredibly involved with Hillel, acting as board president for a year and a half. To the point where people would just call me Mr. Hillel and assume that I knew what was going on there all the time, which I definitely did not. I was rush chair and active participant in AEPi, active participant in many other Jewish communities on campus as well. Frequent Chabad goer and Pegisha enjoyer. I led tours, did screenwriting, and worked on student films. Anonymous Interviewer: Cool. Who would win in a fight: a hundred men or one gorilla?  Allen: I would go as far to say that one man, in fact, one boy could beat one gorilla. Let’s call back to the 2016 tragedy of Harambe, where a young boy fell into a gorilla enclosure which ended up with the gorilla getting shot. Yeah, I would say that one boy single handedly took out a gorilla. Granted, would a hundred men together have the balls and the chutzpah of a young child accidentally falling into a gorilla enclosure? I think this is where our debate truly starts.  Anonymous Interviewer: Allen, I think I love you. Would you still love me even if I were a worm?  Allen: What kind?  Anonymous Interviewer: The wiggly kind.  Allen: I like my worms stiff.  Anonymous Interviewer: Oh- is that a no?  Allen: I’ll answer later.  Anonymous Interviewer: Who’s your greatest role model?  Allen: I mean this with all sincerity, Pitbull is one of my greatest role models. I’m blanking on some of the specifics but for my AP Spanish class I needed to do a lot of research on Pitbull and the guy, besides his occasional conservative anti-vax views, has left a really tremendous impact on society. Through his organization and charity work he’s affected a lot of underprivileged youth communities. One such underprivileged youth community he’s dramatically affected is Isla Vista, in the way of giving us music to listen to.  Anonymous Interviewer: What is an unpopular opinion that you hold?  Allen: I don’t believe that George W. Bush was as dumb as he was letting on. I think he lost a bet and I think he’s a very serious man and he took the bet very seriously. I think the things that he said were geniusly hilarious. Some might argue only true stupidity could match, but I put him up there with the great comedy writers of our generation. Definitely unappreciated in his time. Yeah, I don’t think any of it was real. I don’t think he was ever actually president.  Anonymous Interviewer: What’s a popular opinion that you hold?  Allen: It is stupid to believe that our government is spying on us 24/7. Do they have access to all that information? Yes, absolutely, but barely anyone on the planet is cool or important enough to require an FBI agent watching them through their computer. So, whatever you’re worried or concerned that your FBI agent saw you do, trust me when I say they were playing Temple Run during the majority of your life.  Anonymous Interviewer: What are three objects that I’d find in your bedroom? Allen: Handcuffs, a towel covered in black mold (or mold adjacent), and an ostrich shirt.  Anonymous Interviewer: Maybe you want to clarify that the handcuffs are from AEPi’s formal event Champagne and Shackles?  Allen: Yes. And they’ve been used frequently thereafter.  Anonymous Interviewer: This is not true as far as I know.  Allen: There are sources. Anonymous Interviewer: Allen, should I really put this in the article?  Allen: You can decide later.  Anonymous Interviewer:  Okay. Tell us about a time you fucked around and found out.  Allen: I once almost got arrested at a UofO football game for sneaking alcohol into the stadium. When I was threatened with arrest I just went to the other side of the stadium. I did not bother to wipe off the mark that they made on my hand, and used numerous sorority girls to help block my way until I found my friends. I fucked around and found out that I am capable of anything.  Anonymous Interviewer: What’s a memory from UCSB that you’ll carry for the rest of your life?  Allen: When I was walking home from a night downtown, ex-AEPi president Eman Bareket was extremely upset that he had the hiccups. He proceeded to vent this frustration by kicking the car mirrors into every single door that he passed. When someone in the street saw him do that to their own car and they yelled at him, he proceeded to grunt at them and completely ignore confrontation.  Anonymous Interviewer: I was actually looking for something more heartfelt with that question.  Allen: Mmm, okay. AEPi initiations. I’d gone to and from LA a lot my first quarter and was not necessarily the best or most reliable pledge. When I got back from LA the night of initiation, someone else in my pledge class, a good friend of mine, Evan, asked, “Oh where have you been?” At first I thought it was accusatory so I said I’ve been in LA and started apologizing and he said, “No, no, no, you’re good man, it’s just that your presence was really missed. We could feel the lack of you in this space.” This was the first time at SB that I felt like I truly had a real place and purpose there.  Anonymous Interviewer: What is the legacy you want to leave behind at UCSB?  Allen: Drink smart, not safe. Buckets of 20 Fireball shooters are only $20 at IV Liquor Mart. Stop getting Kirkland vodka. It is disgusting, it is not worth it. Stop getting fancy vodka. You don’t deserve it. You haven’t done anything in your life deserving of fancy, really incredible alcohol. What you do deserve is great tasting, bottom of the barrel Fireball. You can get this from IV Liquor mart in shot form, bucket form, bottle form, and preferably, keg form.  Anonymous Interviewer: What is something that you struggled with in college, and how did you overcome it?  Allen: I’m someone who overthinks a lot and can very easily have anxiety attacks. I learned that taking a breath and revisiting things is important. That sharing things with your loved ones is important. It’s very common for people to say “don’t worry, you’re not alone.” Maybe another piece of advice that I would say is that sometimes you can be alone until you reach out to that person. Loneliness can be very palpable and very dire. Rather than saying “you’re not alone,” I would say “don’t make yourself alone.” Find that source of support, because there is someone out there that really truly deeply loves you. Even if you can’t see it yet.  Anonymous Interviewer: What are you looking forward to in your next stage of life?  Allen: I want to tell more Jewish stories. While I appreciate the attention that our community has put forward about recent antisemitism, I feel like the only instances of Jews you hear in modern media is about antisemitism. I really want to focus on all of the positive and joyous elements of being Jewish. I want to get a diverse array of Jewish stories out there, showing the myriad of different people that can and do practice Judaism. I want to express our culture beyond the religion, the politics, and the bigotry that our people have faced.  Anonymous Interviewer: Well, that wraps up my questions. Any closing remarks Allen?  Allen: I want more questions.  Anonymous Interviewer: Uhhh, okay. What is something you want to have in every day of your life?  Allen: The understanding, patience, enthusiasm, joy, and appreciation of everything beautiful in life that I receive from Cokebeer on a daily basis. Cokebeer is this really great thing that I invented. It’s a mixture of Coca-Cola and Root Beer. I think I’d be lost without it. My girlfriend would be pretty great to have around too.  Anonymous Interviewer: What are two things that are great on their own but horrible together?  Allen: Men and intense emotional reactions to sports. Why are you, as a man, wasting tears on a football team that you will never be a part of and likely never meet, when you couldn’t cry at the birth of your child? You helped bring life into this world, and you are such a shallow shell of a man that you cried because… the Celtics lost? Because the Superbowl didn’t go your way? Now, unless it’s about sports gambling. That’s about as masculine of an activity that you can participate in. Anonymous Interviewer: When do you think the waitress will bring us our check? Allen: I don’t know. I think she’s afraid to come over here.  Anonymous Interviewer: Yeah, that’s fair. Umm, what’s a question I should ask you?  Allen:  I think you should ask me if you’re awake right now, or still sleeping.  Anonymous Interviewer: Allen, am I awake or still sleeping?  Allen: Maya, look around you. Is that door opening and closing in the way that it should? Do the people around you look how people should? Do you remember what your food tasted like? Do you have any real sense of any of your five senses? Do you remember how we got to this booth? I am the interviewer now. Maya Kaye, how many times a day do you floss?  Anonymous Interviewee: Times a day? Uhhh, I floss about once a week. Allen:  Do you think the gums between your teeth appreciate that?  Anonymous Interviewee: No :( Allen: Maya Kaye, how often do you donate to the homeless?  Anonymous Interviewee: Like, sometimes.  Allen: Well, that’s great, because I heard that homeless people only need charity some of the time. Maya Kaye, do you know your California state representative?  Anonymous Interviewee: This is so embarrassing, no.  Allen: So you don’t care about yourself, you don’t care about the ill-privileged, and you don’t care about your local community. Maya Kaye, what do you stand for?  Anonymous Interviewee: I hate you. Allen: So you stand on hate?  Anonymous Interviewee: Allen, I’m gonna miss you.  Allen: I’m going to miss you too. But you’ll appear in every single word that I read or see or hear from you. You are an incredible writer and you are going to shape Fig & Vine in unimaginable ways.  Anonymous Interviewee: Allen, this is about you, not me. None of this is going in.  Allen: We’ll see about that.

Fig & Vine would like to highlight and congratulate one of our recent graduates, Shoshana Medved! Earning a degree in Communications complemented by an English minor, and  a Business Communications minor, and  a certification in Technology Management, Shoshana is leaving UCSB with likely the best communication skills possible for a twenty-something who went to high school during COVID! I had the pleasure of getting to know Shoshana this past year through the Jewish social grapevine, and was part of Shoshana’s Hillel book club last quarter, discussing all things supernatural and Jewish. After talking to Shoshana post-graduation, she shares that “the cliché is true – four years really does fly by!”  Coming from a Modern Orthodox background, Shoshana says that Judaism “has always been something that's been important in my life and always something that's been meaningful to me.” Senior year was Shoshana’s most involved year in UCSB’s Jewish community, reflecting that it was “a phenomenal way to deepen the connections I really love.” Some of her favorite Jewish memories in college are celebrating the holidays at Hillel and Chabad. Of her favorite holidays, she says, “the P’s really have me, Purim and Passover, but I also love Shabbat.” Her Purim costume this year was the Disney princess Belle, who was her favorite as a child. I’d expect nothing less from an avid reader! Outside of classes and Jewish events, Shoshana has made meaningful contributions to UCSB campus life. She served as a Residential Assistant for two years in San Rafael dorms,  becoming very involved in the Residential Housing Association. She was also involved in the National Residence Hall Honorary all four years, focused on community service. And don’t try to mess with Shoshana – she has been a kickboxing coach at the Recreation Center for two years. Shoshana’s path in communications started early on: “I once created this 8-page book about horses. That was a spark for my love for reading and writing.” Her love of reading and writing lays a solid foundation for pursuing a career in another passion: entertainment marketing. As she prepares for a move to Los Angeles, she feels that “the world is just opening up.” She looks forward to seizing every opportunity and seeing where it takes her. Shoshana is well on her way to flourishing in the entertainment marketing industry, with experiences interning for Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios during her time in college. You may have even seen some of her promotions of the new “How to Train Your Dragon” movie, or attended one of her movie screenings as part of her Campus Marketing internship with Universal.  “Marketing is a great way to bridge writing and a love for community building,” Shoshana says. “Your job is to tell stories for a company, which I love.” I asked her about some of her own favorite movies and television shows, and recommendations, and she took the opportunity to plug “How to Train Your Dragon.” She also loves a good sitcom!  During her time at Fig & Vine, Shoshana’s favorite book review was her first, “When the Angels Left the Old Country.” “I wish I had this book growing up, seeing teenagers saving the world, and they are Jewish and celebrating Shabbat.” This is the book that Shoshana turned into a book club during spring quarter at Hillel. We chatted about Jewish mystical beings over rainbow Challah baking, Hillel lounging, and enjoying sunshine in the park. I highly recommend checking out the book for some mystical fun and lots of Yiddish, and looking back at all of Shoshana’s thoughtful reviews.  While Shoshana is eager to take advantage of all that post-graduation life has to offer, she will really miss UCSB, particularly living so close to the beach and, even more so, the people. “I feel like UCSB is just a special place where everyone just wants to support each other, and I’m so grateful for everyone.” As she reflects on college life, she says, “for those who are part of the Jewish community at UCSB, soak up every opportunity, this is a very special place.” And for those who are taking the time to slow down this summer and rot in bed, Shoshana advises to “go rot in bed with a Jewish book! There are lots of great recommendations in Fig & Vine.” Shoshana, we look forward to hearing all of the stories you have to share, and wish you the best in career and in life. The Fig & Vine community will miss you dearly, but we are so grateful to be a part of your story!

Forbidden Fruit Disclaimer : All real events and people portrayed in this column have been fictionalized or exaggerated for humorous purposes, with consent granted by the people depicted.  Santa Barbara takes on Birthright! What are the Young Jews up to in Lieu of Birthright? On the evening of Thursday, June 12 (PST), Jews all over are checking their news updates as the world watches Israel go to war with Iran. We pray for our friends and family and the land of Israel.  A particular group of Santa Barbara Jews is checking their WhatsApp for an update on whether they’ll still take flight on Monday morning for the trip (and hangover) of their lives. Some are praying that we’ll get to go, and some for the relief of cancellation.  By Monday, the Santa Barbara Hillel Birthright trip had officially been cancelled. For many, this scrambled their entire summer, and for Ashkenazim, this meant countless calls from Jewish mothers and grandparents going on and on about how glad they are that the trip was cancelled. Since our Santa Barbara Jews aren’t in Israel, what exactly are they up to? On this fine summer morning, Kevin Manavi is checking the UV index. In lieu of Kevin’s trip to the Middle East, he is dedicating some time to tanning, in hopes of convincing everyone that he truly is fully Persian, despite his Ashkenazi complexion. Let’s hope that tan sticks until his next opportunity to visit his (allegedly) ancestral region. Over in Los Angeles is Corelle, missing out on a summer of family, meaningful connection to her homeland, and clubbing. Should you find yourself craving the kosher tastes of Israel, you can head to PSY Kitchen and be pleasantly greeted by Corelle Gabay behind the register in an attempt to make up for not being in Israel. Are we surprised? Well, not to find her in an Israeli restaurant, but we sure are used to her on the other side of the counter. What a surprise to see her in an apron! Who could have pictured her spinning that tip screen, muttering Hebrew profanity when customers don’t click at least 20% on that tip option. At least here, Corelle hopes to salvage the time lost in her plan of finding a 6-foot-5 IDF man to marry. We hope some soldier who’s finished his service and craves some schnitzel visits PSY during Corelle’s shift! Hailey Ronen’s hopes of polishing her Hebrew immersively this summer have diminished now that she won’t be doing any immersing. This comes as yet another blow for Hailey, following her recent breakup. After an unwaveringly committed 972-day streak on Duolingo, their relationship has come to an end. The times they had were fun, but she just wasn’t growing in that relationship anymore. It really is for the best. No more scrambling to satisfy her streak at 11:58 PM at parties, no more getting in bed only to hear the chimes of Duo reminding her to give it some attention. We wish Hailey well in this new stage of life; perhaps she’ll be looking for a new Hebrew practice partner! Resident New York Jew Idan Fierstein has taken the extra time at home to step into his civic duties amid the New York primaries. Unfortunately, Idan hasn’t had so much luck cold calling and knocking on doors to talk to voters, reporting that one call recipient couldn’t talk because “her vagina is literally about to explode after giving birth.” These excuses for not talking to standup citizens just keep getting more creative. Exploding vaginas are what mail-in ballots are for!  David Bogdanovic has substituted the holy land vibe with some Southern charm. He has travelled to North Carolina to visit his Bubbe — well, more like his MeeMaw. It seemed a better time than any for David to get in touch with his non-Jewish side since he was not able to connect with his Jewish homeland this summer. He is consuming unholy amounts of sweet tea and non-kosher barbecue to cope with missing out on unholy amounts of liquor in the holy land. We’ll see if anyone is able to understand his southern drawl when we do make it to Israel. Sasha Kaplow, our favorite Springboard Engagement Fellow over at Hillel, has been taking advantage of her extra time to do all sorts of summery activities. She won third place in beer trivia last week, although she would not disclose how many teams that was out of. She also ventured out onto the water by way of Jet Ski! Sasha reports that a certain Israel and Engagement Associate, who will remain anonymous out of respect, became a hit tourist attraction for a passing Landshark boat as she was being rescued from a flipped Jet Ski by the emergency rescue ski. No Birthright, no problem — Sasha has found plenty of excitement over the past two weeks! Our favorite Hillel IACT Israel Engagement Associate, Ally Walker, is done dealing with the students of Santa Barbara Hillel 10 days earlier than anticipated! A big congratulations are due to Ally for her continuing education at USC. She has upgraded from the University of Casual Sex and Beer to the University of Spoiled Children. Ally, you sure spoiled us with your time at Santa Barbara Hillel! And as for me? I have taken this time to reflect upon my first magical visit to Israel. Which was cancelled less than a week from takeoff thanks to the Omicron strain of COVID. First Omicron, now Iran, oh my! I eventually made it to Israel for that religious school trip, and we, too, the Santa Barbara Jews, shall make it eventually. Just like COVID deniers, we could just pretend that Iran doesn’t exist! It is heartwarming to see our community making such meaningful use of their time in place of their Israel travels. Big changes in plans are tough, but what a tough group of students. In no time, we’ll be back in Santa Barbara with more than 10 days’ worth of stories, and excitement building for our next attempt at Birthright.

Jewish Gaucho Grads of 2025… To be loved is to be changed and to be changed is to be moved.  I’ve been told to take you to coffee and knock on paint chipped doors. So I can know you in every element–  with colorful clothes and elbows,  with salt-and-sun bleached kippot, I wouldn’t guess you studied physics, (I wouldn’t guess you studied at all).  During the great move-out, I carried a couch down the stairs of a friend’s apartment, and up another; I inherited a mattress which mazed through Isla Vista  atop a Honda Civic headed north to Los Angeles. Movement makes sense, just like the cloud layer holding us still until that day in June. Like the straggling lock of seagrass that hitchhiked with you from Devereux to Sueno, as your mezuzah will doorframe hop a blessing farther this year.  We dare to move- through compact space crowded with cache. I’ll remember every one of your epiphanies  while I map your travels on the back of my hand. I’ll remember every reason you pulled me  from my room, routine, and body.  Your signature surge crashes  at street corners that end in lingering hugs, you have been the swell of my life. I know this town upwells  opposite of the season.  So when water cycles through that leak in the ceiling, I’ll feel your tug beyond the Channel ~ To move intentionally, with every texture of my anatomy.  To write and sign my name like it’s a gift to you.  To celebrate life loudly.  To lean into everything.  To give time gratitude.  And of course, to take the plunge. What a miracle to have passed you by on this quintessential shoreline; You have no idea how your chesed  has moved me. And how big you’ll make waves wherever you go.

I am currently sitting at an outdoor cafe surrounded by swarms of Israelis chatting, working, and smoking while buses pass and horns honk, but less than two days ago, I watched Iranian ballistic missiles blaze through the night sky towards Israel’s most populated city. I rushed to Israel the moment I finished finals to spend a month working in Jerusalem and making weekend trips to Tel Aviv, but three days in, my plans changed. When Israel attacked on Thursday night, my family and I knew that this was not going to be a normal week ahead of us, but I could not have imagined the extent. The next night, Iran sent more than 100 ballistic missiles at every civilian population of the country, and some of those missiles slammed into apartment buildings and homes. I think that might have been the first time that I have been truly scared while in a bomb shelter here. It always sounds strange to say that many people are not scared of the rockets coming from the Houthis, Hezbollah, or Hamas because it's “only shrapnel”, but this was not just shrapnel. Once it was clear that people were being murdered from within their mamads (bomb shelters), each of the many booms that I heard from within my family’s mamad became a question of: was that an interception in the sky or an impact on the ground? One of the most amazing aspects of the way this country handled this was how unanimously and seriously people listened and responded to the home front command, and always went into a shelter. Israel’s value of life shines brightest when death tries its hardest to reach us.  Meanwhile, back in the states, anti-zionists jumped at the opportunity to write a new slogan on their protest signs: “Free Iran”, and no, they did not mean free Iran from the Iranian regime. Somehow, while the Israeli air force took out top IRGC leaders and military targets and Iran sent hundreds of missiles – including cluster bombs – at civilians, the media decided not to make that distinction.   No matter how strong we portray ourselves, it’s truly jarring how quickly things return to normal here, or at least something that looks like it. But despite the returning noise and filled restaurants, there is still rubble in Tel Aviv, Beersheba, Bat Yam, Petah Tikva, Tamra, Ramat Gan, Rishon LeZion, Bnei Brak, and Haifa. The world keeps spinning, Jews will still be blamed, but the people of Israel live.

Growing up, the story of Rumpelstiltskin was one that I associated with eye rolls more than anything else.  Sure, it brought a unique twist to the classic rags-to-riches plotline – a miller’s daughter becomes queen, but she only does so after the evil creature Rumpelstiltskin helps her in exchange for her unborn child. Meanwhile, the king of the land insists that the miller’s daughter will be dead by morning if she doesn’t turn endless mountains of straw into glistening gold.    Yet I always found annoyance because of how easily Rumpelstiltskin let his real name slip, causing his ultimate demise and the daughter’s happily ever after (and come on, what kind of alphabet jumble of a name is Rumpelstiltskin anyway?). So when I found out that the next Jewish book I stumbled upon took inspiration from Rumpelstiltskin’s classic tale, I prepared for a predictable doom. But trust me, in Spinning Silver  by Naomi Novak, the story of Rumpelstiltskin has never been this good. This reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin transforms the chilling landscape of Russia into a gripping Jewish fantasy. Our heroine Miryem is not the daughter of a miller but a moneylender, becoming ruthless after her family sinks into poverty due to her parents’ trusting nature and the town’s bitter antisemitism. After boasting that she can turn silver into gold, she’s kidnapped by cruel winter fey creatures who rule her world, trapped in an ice kingdom where she is forced to spin silver into gold for a fey overlord. Unlike Rumpelstiltskin and, unfortunately for Miryem, this vicious ruling fey is not the kind of person to ever casually utter his name.     This young adult tale blends Judaism and high fantasy perfectly, allowing readers to get a glimpse into what life may have been like for Jewish teenagers during Russia’s royal regime. Though the magical elements seem distant from reality, the gems of Jewish culture shine truthfully throughout this book, as seen in the moments like when Miryem convinces the fey overlord that she needs to celebrate Shabbat despite being trapped in the ice kingdom. Surrounded by villagers who treat Jews as creatures just as villainous as the winter fey, Miryem’s journey is a haunting parallel to the life that Jews have endured over centuries in bigoted non-Jewish communities. Yet this novel is not all doom and gloom. Miryem finds community and allyship with two vastly different people – a peasant girl and the future queen of Russia. Though both characters are non-Jewish, they support Miryem wholeheartedly as the three of them come together to save their country.    This year, I’ve made it my mission to explore Jewish books I’ve never heard of before, immersing myself in new Jewish tales. Spinning Silver  was the perfect wrap-up to my time at Fig & Vine, allowing me to reconnect with my inner child who loved curling up with a good magical fantasy. If only she knew how many spellbinding and incredible Jewish books there were to come, I think she would definitely give a second chance to the story of Rumpelstiltskin.

Easy Chocolate Chip Mandel Bread Recipe Makes: about 24 pieces. Prep Time: 15 minutes. Bake Time: 45 minutes total Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt ¾ cup sugar ½ cup vegetable oil 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup mini or regular chocolate chips Optional: ½ tsp cinnamon for dough or cinnamon-sugar for sprinkling Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth. Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir until a dough forms. Fold in the chocolate chips. Shape dough: Divide the dough in half. With lightly floured hands, shape each half into a log about 10–12 inches long and 2–3 inches wide. Place both logs on the prepared baking sheet with space between them. First bake: Bake for 25–28 minutes, or until lightly golden and set. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Slice and bake again: Lower oven to 325°F (160°C). Slice logs diagonally into ½–¾ inch thick pieces. Lay slices cut-side down on the baking sheet. Second bake: Return to oven and bake for another 10–12 minutes. Flip slices and bake 5–10 minutes more until crisp to your liking. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 6th: Rise and shine, Jewish Gauchos! It’s Senate Season here in Sunny Santa Barbara, and our candidates couldn’t be more excited. After an… eventful… 75th Senate, contenders have been working tirelessly to ensure their success this coming Friday.  “It’s an especially invigorating time,” says 1st year candidate, Evan Sussman. “This electorate deserves a high-functioning, vigilant legislative body, which accentuates institutional change over geopolitical and interpersonal conflicts.” While we at Fig and Vine have difficulty processing Mr. Sussman’s vernacular, it appears his sentiments are positive! “I’m so happy! This is so exciting!” says fellow candidate, Erica Sherkin. “At first I was like, a little scared, since they initially postponed the candidacy statements, but I’m sure that was just a fluke!” Reeling in positivity, Erica is certain “this election is going to be amazing.” “Honestly, I’m just happy campaigning is only one week,” reveals Xander Hepburn, a transfer student candidate in the 2025 race. “I got midterms next week. Lucky to be focusing on those.” When questioned about campaigning techniques, Letters and Science candidate Kevin Manavi had this to say: “What election?” Seems like spirits are high, and everyone’s ready for a smooth and noncontroversial ride! Friday, May 9th: Breaking news in the 2025 Associated Student Body race: it appears the voting deadline has been extended, due to unforeseen circumstances. Here’s the response from our candidates… “Yeah, y’know, shouldn’t have jinxed it,” Xander admits. “Candidate forum got shut down halfway through, but that’s fine. Not like I just dry cleaned my suit or anything.” Having just been briefed on the sudden development, Evan Sussman was conflicted. “Really? They’re just extending it? Huh, okay, more time to reach students, so that’s a win.” However, the longer he sat with this information, reality began to hit. “No, yeah, I’m good on sleep. The two hours a night I was getting was probably excessive anyway.” Erica, however, believes it’s all for the best. “This is just ensuring everyone has a voice, and that’s A-okay with me! That is what this is about, right? Wait, why did they extend this again?” When asked how the extension would alter his method of campaigning, Kevin Manavi was quick with his response: “Oh, that’s still going on? Well, good luck to everyone running! Wait…” Tuesday, May 13th: Another voting extension has left candidates, old and new, scrambling to reach that 20%... “I’m generally a really positive person,” Erica exclaims. “But this kind of… sucks? Can I say that? Is that bad? It really feels like this sucks.” “So my opposition doubled in size. That’s super fun,” laments Xander. “And I think I might’ve answered half of my midterm questions with campaign promises. I dunno. It’s all a blur. But looking forward to getting results after Finals! Unless that’s too presumptuous!” Evan Sussman neglected to give a response. Or rather, when prompted with any of our questions, he reacted with a blank stare in the distance. Sources believe he was transfixed by the recurring Carrot Man in the Arbor, however, there’s no way to confirm.  Even current senators are beginning to struggle with their extended terms, such as Jasmine Amin. “I cannot wait to get to Israel!” she remarks. “When senators act selfish, we’re stuck dealing with this dumb ****ing inconceivable ****-infested stupid ******it. (Breath) In fact, -” For younger readers, we’ll spare the remaining five minutes of her response. While extensions have been in part due to insufficient voter turnout, rumors of internal conflict within the 75th Senate have arisen. Could they be staging a coup? Could Yang be assuming the role of Pro Tempore, given his recent announcement of retirement? Or, could the Senate, similar to the student body, have simply forgotten there was an election, just like Kevin Manavi. “Turns out I am running! For sure, 100% a candidate for Letters and Science, whatever that means.” Friday, May 16th: It’s official: the 76th Senate has been elected, and yet, the energy has substantially declined… When first approached for his reaction, Evan gave an emotional response. “What?! What do you want?! I’ve given you everything! I can’t even hear myself think anymore! Bike path through the ILP? Football team for UCSB? Does this school even exist?!” However, when given clarification that the election had ended, he responded with a quiet “I won?” before breaking into tears. “Nap time,” Xander mumbles to himself, over and over, asleep while standing up. “I’m just happy to have been involved, really,” Erica cheers. “Congrats everyone! We did it!” Addressing his loss, Kevin reports: “When I eventually did try getting attention in the Arbor, it just didn’t work. Apparently asking strangers ‘excuse me, do you like democracy’ is too abrasive? Oh well! Is what it is.” We here at Fig and Vine want to deliver an enthusiastic congratulations to all of our candidates, and a job well done to Jasmine, Leah, Dalia, and all our Jewish allies in the 75th Senate. We look forward to a cathartic and tension-free transfer of power at next Wednesday’s meeting!

Get to know creator and editor Lily Karofsky! Throughout the course of the ‘24-’25 school year, Jewish students have had the privilege of being informed, entertained and connected to each other by a magazine catered to our vibrant UCSB Jewish community. As we close out this school year, it seems a perfect time to get to know the mind behind the magazine. Lily Karofsky, resident journalist and Hillel VP of Jewish Life is the heart and soul behind Fig and Vine, making our community more fruitful. She is from a town just outside of Boston called Framingham, which doesn’t sound so Kosher, but here she grew up doing “all the good Jew stuff” – beginning with the influential crafts and songs of Jewish preschool, to joyful family holiday celebrations. A Karofsky sibling viewing of the Rugrats  Passover special each year is a “non-negotiable” holiday tradition. Lily came to be here in Santa Barbara with us after visiting family here during her gap year and falling in love with our sprawling green hills and shimmering ocean waves. She traded her plans of deferral to University in Washington D.C. for a move over to the better coast.  Journalism In grade school, creative writing brought Lily peace through storytelling. She wasn’t exactly passionate about Math and Science, but English and the humanities were where she thrived. Journalistic writing came to her through an internship senior year of high school at the local paper, during which she “loved getting to hear other people’s stories.” At Santa Barbara City College, her professor really sold her on being a journalist when he described it as “one of the only professions where you get paid to be nosy.” A perfect occupation for someone whose definition of TMI is “tell me immediately.” Lily has a beautiful natural curiosity that drives her storytelling.  Finding Home in Santa Barbara’s Jewish Community Being an out of state student, Lily is far from home and family. This was especially difficult through turmoil in personal and social life, and the pain of October 7th. Lily’s brother, a Santa Barbara resident, encouraged her to attend a Hillel event to hear survivors of the Nova Festival speak. Often when we are in pain, we fear bringing others down or wonder how it will help us to be around others who are in pain. As Lily held back her own tears at Hillel, she took a moment to look around, finding that those around her all had tears quietly rolling down their faces, including her brother seated next to her. “It's not about getting rid of the pain, it's about finding people to sit in it with.”  From this point on, the Jewish community in Santa Barbara became a home away from home, and a place for Lily to find comfort in sharing pain, joy and everything in between.  Fig and Vine Sprouts As an aspiring journalist, Lily was following lots of media throughout unrest and antisemitism on college campuses. Media outlets spent a lot of time talking about Jews and Jewish students, but we weren’t often speaking for ourselves. “We deserve our own space- even if it's just for us.” Fig and Vine has been established as a magazine, rather than a newspaper to allow for a “place to talk about the emotions we’re  experiencing”. How we feel often gets washed over by the news, and this magazine opens up space for Jewish students to share their experiences, from the silliest of Jewish humor to meaningful stories of our people. “I just want people to love what they are doing,” Lily says of her delightful group of writers, all of whom are fellow students. One thing she loves about how the magazine has grown is when friends or peers come to her excited with their own ideas for articles and columns. After a very successful year of sharing Jewish perspectives, a bigger goal of Lily’s is to expand Fig and Vine to other UC Jewish communities. “So much happened just on our campus,” and Jewish students across campuses deserve a space to connect through their stories.  Sitting in Community When Lily is not writing or editing for Fig and Vine (or having to reformat Allen’s script articles), she is likely lounging with her cats, Poppy and one-eyed Otis. While they are cozy cuddle buddies, Poppy and Otis are not exactly the best study buddies. They’ve got their own important issues to write about after stalking from the window sill all day, and they’ll need your laptop keyboard to do it!  You may also find Lily snacking on some challah with cream cheese and grape jelly, a classic combo from her childhood (try it out)! Ahead of Lily for the summer is an exciting journalistic fellowship with CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis), to help combat antisemitism in the media, which she will continue throughout next school year. She is off to a wonderful start with her initiative in creating Fig and Vine, and her involvement in Santa Barbara Jewish life. Lily has created a beautiful space for us to sit in the pains, the joys, and everything in between together as a community.