I am not the only Jewminicana. But when I decided to convert, I certainly felt like one. I was the poster child for Jewish Dominican relations in Washington Heights. In fact, I’ve been interviewed as such. But in Riverdale, after a couple of months of living here, my husband had an interesting encounter on the… Continue reading Jewminicanos Invade Riverdale
“Not appropriate for the Shabbos table” is my favorite line (cue sarcasm). I am going to get a t-shirt with that phrase emblazoned on it (more sarcasm). But honestly, I’m sick of that phrase. I don’t remember having to compartmentalize as much before I decided to become an Orthodox Jew. But after, oh yeah, so… Continue reading Check out my t-shirt
Students leaving Brooklyn Tech last month after taking the morning admissions exam for the eight specialized high schools, considered the city’s best. Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times I grew up in a predominately Dominican neighborhood, Washington Heights, where being smart and doing well on homework and tests was looked down upon as “acting white.” Given… Continue reading Elite NYC Public Schools, Mostly White and Asian
A not so young, suntanned Berlusconi. Excuse me, why are we still hearing about Sarah Palin now that the election’s over? That’s because, of course, the election is not over. I fear it will never be over. Obama is everywhere now, just as he was weeks up to the election. Given that there’s not much… Continue reading Young, Handsome and Suntanned
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, a novel by Obama supporter and Jewish author Ayelet Waldman, wife of Pulitzer-winning author, Michael Chabon, is being made into a movie. Originally, Jennifer Lopez was set to star but since she bowed out, Natalie Portman has come to the rescue. Of course, the Jewish side of me is happy,… Continue reading Jew vs. Latina
The rainy, foggy weather in New York has got my fibromyalgia frazzled. It keeps spiraling between making me utterly exhausted to shooting pains from my fingertips to my toes. So, of course, I’ve totally overscheduled myself. I’ve signed up to do everything knowing full well that I might have to cancel at the last minute.… Continue reading Weathering the Blues
Barack Obama picked Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff. (Emanuel’s wife is a Jewish convert.) An interesting move, no? Certainly derails a number of the crazed emails I received throughout the campaign declaring that Obama was secretly a Muslim fundamentalist terrorist. Because, you know, those kinds of people normally pick Israeli Americans for their… Continue reading Jew on Staff
I attended a women’s Rosh Chodesh group last week in Riverdale (more on that later) where I stumbled upon a table full of incredible handcrafted jewelry from Israel. The designer, Sima Menora, was on hand to help us pick out the right pieces. I walked away with a daisy necklace and some psychedelic-looking dangling earrings.… Continue reading A little prayer, a little shopping spree
Aside from writing my book and writing personal essays and articles here and there, I’ve assigned myself homework. I’ve been trying to books written by other converts. On top, of course, of reading books on writing. I haven’t gotten as far as I would like on either front because other memoirs and more fictional accounts… Continue reading Review: Stranger in the Midst
I suspect no one is looking at my blog tonight. Their eyes are pealed to the television as they watch Barack Obama and John McCain battle over the fifty states. I just got off the phone with a friend who multitasked talking to me while being glued to her televsion screen. I won’t say who… Continue reading And then there were dolls
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 