When the literary magazine first appeared, everyone understood the meaning behind the name. Nevertheless, time has passed, and many people are now puzzled by the title. They have begun to wonder what Nuts 'n' Raisins is all about. They ask, Nuts 'n' Raisins—Why? “Rozhenkes mit Mandelen,” “Almonds and Raisins,” is an old popular Yiddish folk song. It was written by Abraham Goldfaden in Eastern Europe, in the nineteenth century. This beloved lullaby covers a broad range of topics, from ancient to contemporary, and its theme is timeless. The first stanza refers to the destruction of the Temple, the second to Zion, and the third to the Industrial Revolution. In this song, a mother is singing to her infant son. She looks back towards our people’s past and dreams about her child’s future, wishing him good fortune, a life filled with sweetness, love, and success. “Almonds and Raisins,” the special treat, symbolizes these hopes.

We find other symbols in nuts and raisins as well. Nuts come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are crunchy and sometimes salty. Raisins, on the other hand, are dried grapes. They are soft, sweet, and can be dark brown or golden in color. Nuts and raisins are clearly very different from one another. Individually, each tastes good, but mixed together, they taste much better. 

Golda Och Academy is similar to the delicious combination of nuts and raisins which has long been a festive part of Jewish Tradition. Both the students and the faculty are unique in our school. We all “march to the beat of a different drummer.’’ 

Like nuts and raisins, our literary magazine is an eclectic dessert for Golda Och Academy. Nuts 'n' Raisins offers students a chance to share their creativity, writing, artwork, ideas, and initiative in a variety of ways. The magazine contains poetry and prose as well as illustrations. For all these reasons, Nuts 'n' Raisins is an appropriate title for our literary magazine. 

Art provides an outlet to express our chaotic thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. By putting words and images on the page, we find ways to order these ideas and gain insight about ourselves. Art as a medium contains a multitude of emotions, which are transmitted from the author to the reader, and from the artist to the viewer. As you read Nuts 'n' Raisins, take the time to reflect on the thoughts expressed by its authors and artists, and consider your perspective.