Happy Jerusalem Day!
Ah for Yom Yerushalayim, I am recycling an old post about my first day in Israel, where I stayed in Jerusalem. Read “Fish Out of Water” and chuckle at my pathetic attempt to survive outside of New York!
Author: Aliza Hausman
Hot Blogger to Watch!
After becoming buds with “Mixed Jew Girl” on Facebook and seeing all the wonderful things she posts there, I coerced her into starting a blog. She’s posting some great things there! In her latest post, she’s discussing “Ashkenazi Privilege and Ethnicity” and that answering that age old question I get during my racism talks, “why… Continue reading Hot Blogger to Watch!
Riverdale in the News? What?
Yes, I live in Riverdale. The Riverdale where the synagogues were almost blown up. Because converting to Judaism means now worrying about being blown up during prayer. An email from my local synagogue: “Last night, the New York City Police Department and the FBI apprehended four terrorists whom they were tracking for many months as… Continue reading Riverdale in the News? What?
Another Conversion Documentary
“Leap of Faith” is another documentary focusing on conversion to Judaism. The trailer places a particular emphasis on the responses of Christian family members. This is not especially extraordinary considering that one of the top questions people ask converts is: “How did your family feel about it?” I think this film will go far towards… Continue reading Another Conversion Documentary
JOFA Celebrates New Orthodox Female Clergy
In my email inbox today… “JOFA celebrates an historic moment for the Jewish people – the ordination of Sara Hurwitz as a full member of the Orthodox clergy followed by the establishment of a new school to ordain female rabbinic leaders. We are grateful to Rabbi Avi Weiss who has recognized the need to formally… Continue reading JOFA Celebrates New Orthodox Female Clergy
Obviously
It never fails. I get into the Seaman Car Service taxi and tell the driver where we’re going in English. Then I switch to Spanish. At which point, the driver turns around and says, “You speak Spanish?!” And I say, “Yes, I’m Dominican.” At which point, the driver turns around again and stares, “YOU’RE DOMINICAN!”… Continue reading Obviously
Always the last to know…
When Jewschool posted the information below recently on their blog, I thought they were kidding. Apparently, they weren’t. “I just got a huge announcement in a tiny email: We are pleased to announce the opening of Yeshivat Mahara”t, an Orthodox Yeshiva of Higher Learning, founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss of The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.… Continue reading Always the last to know…
Learning to Say No
I am learning my limitations. And accepting them. It sounds simple enough but for an overachiever who doesn’t quit until her body does, I’ve discovered a knack for never turning down a chance to overwork myself silly. And yet, in the past few weeks, I have been turning down assignments. It’s like I’m in an… Continue reading Learning to Say No
A Guiding Light
My profile of Ari Hart and his work in Washington Heights was published in The Jerusalem Post. Check out the finished piece, “A Guiding Light” for updates on Hart’s work with Uri L’Tzedek.
Alyssa Stanton, previously featured on this blog to much fanfare, will be the First black female rabbi to take N.C. pulpit”. Stanton’s ordination will provide young black Jewish Americans “with an important role model,” says Diane Tobin, associate director of the institute. “Hopefully over time they will see themselves reflected in the community.”
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 