My energy level is dropping quickly but I hate to finish the day without remarking on my talks at Brooklyn College today. A really cool professor there had me come in to speak to his students, another professor’s students and the broader Brooklyn College audience. Incredibly, I was representing the Judaic Studies, Latino Studies and… Continue reading Brooklyn College Take Two: Ruminations on my latest talk
She’s right. Being a Latina American Jew just makes me culturally greedy. Grin. Grin.
From Selina Alko’s new book. All of my sisters are a different color and the color of our skin changes in the sun, with the seasons and darkens as with age. I started out a milky white with Asiatic eyes so it wasn’t just for my brains that I was called “white girl.” But the… Continue reading What Flavor are you?
Yes, I’m a hybrid and I’m proud of it! But do you agree with Andre Cordescu’s point that “setting apart one’s tribe or nation ends inevitably in war.” Obviously, Jews set themselves apart. We’re the “chosen” people and by that we mean that G-d gave us a whole bunch of rules we werent meant to… Continue reading Hybrids aren’t just cars
In this scenario, my husband is Richard Gere. Yum. Pretty Woman moment. My akwardness is not just about being a convert, it’s about growing up on welfare and now being surrounded by “rich” Jews. I am in a Julia Roberts movie! Remember when she can’t figure out how to eat lobster and mistakenly launches it… Continue reading Class-ic Problem
The WEDDING I can’t sleep. I went to a wedding last night. No worries, I think I did very well. I didn’t notice myself doing anything embarrassing, though I’ll admit that isn’t the best way to make sure since I’m not the best barometer on these things. Oh, one confession, I used a bad word.… Continue reading Where are you from ORIGINALLY?
I suppose that technically all those Limmud conventions were Shabbatons. Also, we sort of held a Shabbaton before our wedding by sequestering our guests from Friday through Sunday. But really, technically speaking this past weekend at Brooklyn College Hillel was my first taste of a real, live Shabbaton. Because my husband was away on internship… Continue reading My First Shabbaton
Jewish Latinos, stop shopping wherever you’ve been shopping, a new clothing line, Jewtina, has been created just for you in mind. The Magen David (star of David) makes an appearance with both the Mexican and Cuban flags on certain T-shirts. Now, should I get an Amazon Kindle 2 or a Jewtina t-shirt? That is the… Continue reading Clothes for Latino Jews
“Mami, pero tu si ta buena!” a tiguerito yells in the first chapter of my book that opens on a scene in Washington Heights. My Mom is pushing a stroller down the street while my sister B. and I walk on either sides and despite her brood, the hoodlum on the street can’t help telling… Continue reading Hispanic Woman Walking
When I was a kid, I brought my cousin O home to play. I introduced him to my friend Alex. “This is my cousin,” I said. This made Alex angry. “He is not your cousin!” Alex screamed. “Yes, he is!” I screamed back. “No, he’s not,” Alex replied. “He’s black.” I was stumped. When had… Continue reading Double Minority
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 