The beginning of the school year is, by definition, an exciting and tumultuous time. Add to that the excitement and tumult of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, and there is barely time left to breathe. Somewhere, though, between problem sets and papers, between dipping apples in honey and waving lulavim, we find time to eat and to sleep, to make friends and even to have a good time.

This fall found us celebrating even more than usual. A generous gift from Yale alumnus Joseph Schwartz enabled us to purchase a new computer and scanner and update all of our software. His partial endowment will allow us to improve the magazine's appearance even further in the future. You will notice that we no longer carry advertisements.

The pieces in this issue of Urim v'Tumim reflect the excitement inherent in new beginnings. Recent graduate Saul Zipkin, reporting from Eastern Europe, tells of a vibrant Jewish camp in the most unlikely of places. Lindsey Ricker captures a moment of beauty that can be seen every night in her poem about a sunset.

Two freshpeople and the newest member of the Slifka Center staff bring us the perspective of those who are new to Yale. Aaron Zamost describes the hectic commotion of the Frosh Bazaar when each club is eager to solicit new members, while Saul Nadata returns to his family for the holidays, only to realize that Yale is now home. Cantor Naomi Hirsch uses the High Holiday liturgy to analyze her new role in the Hillel community.

The past two months have seen two different authors at Yale Hillel. Evan Farber was able to meet with Joshua Henkin, the author of Swimming Across the Hudson, adding a special flavor to his review. In an interview with Abe Mezrich and our own Julie Weise, Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai shares some of his views on life, love and writing.

Matthew Jacobs describes some of the apprehensions he had about attending a Passover seder in Hong Kong and his joy upon finding a diverse and exciting community of Jews there. In this issue's cover story, Jacob Stein uses artwork and words to convey the range of emotions he saw in Neve Carmel, a temporary housing project for Ethiopian immigrants in Israel.

In an intensely personal piece, Rebecca Davis examines her relationship with her mother and their identities as Jewish women.

This season, we are taking you on a whirlwind tour of emotions, subjects, and geographic locations. Take your time to savor each stop, now and throughout the new year.

Shanah Tovah,

Claire Sufrin

P.S. Be sure to check out Uv'T Online at http://www.yale.edu/uvt Good idea- D