culture/multiculturalism · Hispanics/Latinos · news

Post-racial America?

There have been arguments that we are in a new era: a new POST-RACIAL America. Race doesn’t matter anymore. And then there are seven teens accused of stabbing a Hispanic man to death in Patchogue, NY. And they stabbed him because he was Hispanic.

news

Economic Woes

NY Times Quote of the Day: “People are grieving. There was a death. Their money died.”Barbara Goldsmith, a semiretired psychotherapist in Delray Beach, Fla. No kidding! When my friend called up her credit card company to say she wouldn’t be able to make the next payment because of losing her job, she said that the… Continue reading Economic Woes

Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · news

Bnei Menashe to Israel

SAMSON VAIPHEI and his family are among a new group of 150 Bnei Menashe approved to make aliya from northeastern India. IsraeliNationalNews.com featured an article about the 150 Bnei Menashe to Immigrate from India. The group, which the Chief Rabbinate has described as “descendants from Israel,” will be undergoing conversion when they reach Israel. All… Continue reading Bnei Menashe to Israel

books and reading · Jesus · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · religion · writing

My Jesus Year

I rarely buy hardcover books by unknown authors. It’s only for the steady stream of authors I’ve come to love that I’m willing to fork over hardcover prices. But then my friend in Atlanta told me about “My Jesus Year.” She couldn’t put it down and she couldn’t stop laughing, she said. The author, Benyamin… Continue reading My Jesus Year

clothing · friends · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · writing

Girl Meets Boy for Unhappily Ever After

Things don’t have to be as complicated as “Friends.” Here’s a new piece I’m working on. I hope I’ll find a place to publish it. I think it definitely has an audience in fellow converts, baalei teshuva, and basically those of us who have had more experience in the non-Orthodox, not Jewish world. I had… Continue reading Girl Meets Boy for Unhappily Ever After

Barack Obama · culture/multiculturalism · Israel · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · news · rabbi

Secular vs. Ultra-Orthodox

While (some) Americans have been celebrating the win of Democract Barack Obama over Republican John McCain here at home, parts of Jerusalem are celebrating their new mayor according to the NY Times article, Secular Defeats Ultra-Orthodox in Jerusalem. While Palestinians boycotted the elections, Jews of all stripes fought along the secular-Orthodox divide. Though my experience… Continue reading Secular vs. Ultra-Orthodox

Hispanics/Latinos · writing

Daddy’s Little Girl Published in Verdad Magazine

Daddy’s Little Girl is a “short story,” really a short memoir, I wrote about visiting my father in the Dominican Republic after nearly ten years of being estranged. It has been published by the literary magazine, Verdad Magazine. Verdad, by the way, means “truth” in Spanish. It’s interesting to have my little story about the… Continue reading Daddy’s Little Girl Published in Verdad Magazine

chronic pain/fibromyalgia · clothing · news

G-d Bless the Caregiver

In the NY Times article, When Families Take Care of Their Own, Jane E. Brody takes a look at a segment of the population that has been overlooked when health care is being discussed. “Relatively little official attention has been paid to those who provide the overwhelming bulk of services for people, both young and… Continue reading G-d Bless the Caregiver

Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · news

Color War

In Be honest: does their colour bother you?,” Joe Mintz talks about the racism he sees behind closed doors in the Jewish community. Where does it come from and why does anyone think it’s okay?

books and reading · poetry · Riverdale · writing

First Poetry Reading

Attended my first poetry reading today. My husband was reading two of his poems at the first ever Riverdale Writers Reading Series at the Riverdale Y. Too tired to write anything more than a short summary: Poetry reading, good. Ugga ugga.