My sister says she celebrates secular Christmas, Yule and Chanukah. By that she means, she’s putting up a Christmas tree, heralding in winter and lighting a menorah she’s “stolen” from my collection. Today we celebrated Chanukah early by sneaking away from our responsibilities and watching “Twilight” again. Still good. Still enjoyable. My husband is now… Continue reading Early Chanukah Present
Sandra Samuel carries Moshe Holtzberg out of the Chabad House in Mumbai. According to the latest issue of Chabad’s TheJewishWoman.org magazine, Sandra Samuel is a hero. Of course, this is not news to all of us. Still, “Sandra Samuel: A Heroine in Mumbai” is a brutally lovely piece about one woman’s courage in saving Moshe,… Continue reading Sandra Samuel is a Worldwide Hero not just in Mumbai
Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and Rivkah Holtzberg What does one say about these sorts of things? I’ve never been particularly articulate at moments like these. Before Shabbos, most Jews around the world were praying for the rabbi and his wife in Mumbai. And then, we were stunned by news that this very young couple had… Continue reading Final word on Mumbai
I woke up today worried that the most terrible thing I would have to deal with was overeating. Instead, over a bowl of Cheerios, my eyes still fuzzy with sleep, my husband informed me that a Chabad house in Mumbai had been taken hostage. UPDATE: Jewish Child Safe in Hostage Crisis at Mumbai Chabad House… Continue reading Attack in Mumbai
Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan Rumors abound in “Lindsay Lohan Converting to Judaism for Sam Ronson”. Don’t worry if you have no idea who either of these people are!
Rabbi Capers Funnye Michelle Obama’s cousin, Rabbi Capers Funnye was profiled by the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles in a piece called “Obama’s cousin-in-law Rabbi Capers Funnye battles to open the gates of Judaism”. Funnye himself has had several conversions to Judaism and he speaks of schooling prospective converts to Judaism on the faith. “I… Continue reading Obama’s Cousin-in-law talks Judaism
An article in the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, “Angeleno pushes effort on recognizing conversions” demystifies the force behind a recent resolution on conversion proposed by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). At the heart of the decision is a Los Angeles Jewish convert, Lorin Fife, who hopes to bring “the conversion process back to… Continue reading Los Angeles Convert Moves for Acceptance
Check out “Does Chosen=Superior?”, one Orthodox Jewish convert’s attempt to reconcile the idea of “choseness” and G-d’s purpose for non-Jews.
I used to look forward to Thanksgiving. Well, not growing up. Unfortunately, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas meant more abuse at home. My mother reveled in the fact that we were not going to be school any time so she dug in and went all out with the bruises. One Thanksgiving beating left me hobbling… Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving!
In “Fundamentally Freund: More than just Sabbath Jews”, Jerusalem Post writer Michael Freund claims that “The Subbotniks are Russia’s forgotten Jews.” The community, calling themselves “The Gerim,” has had mass conversions to Judaism and has married Russian Jews by birth. But now as some of them and their families try to leave Russia for Israel,… Continue reading Russian Converts Make Aliyah to Israel
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 