“We always felt we were Indians first and Jews second.”A quote from a member of the Bene Israel community in the NY Times article, “Jews of Mumbai, a Tiny and Eclectic Group, Suddenly Reconsider Their Serene Existence” had me wondering whether or not I was Dominican first and Jewish second. Or is it American first… Continue reading "Indian first, Jewish second"
Someone posted that they’re having trouble coordinating learning with an Orthodox rabbi. That’s no surprise to me. I think the only reason my rabbi is so available when I need him is that he doesn’t sleep. Ever. It also helps that I was not entirely dependent on him for all my learning. During my conversion… Continue reading Learn, Learn, Learn
How many ways can the Jewish people hate each other? Let me count the ways. “Another Bad Date between Israel and Diaspora Jews?” chronicles yet another example of Jew-on-Jew hate. And if you’re looking for more examples, check out the comments to my article 100% Kosher which included comments that real Jews live in Israel… Continue reading Another bad date between American and Israeli Jews
Ethiopian Jews are black and beautiful.:) I don’t know much about Ethiopian Jews. But I remember seeing them in Israel and feeling not-so-out of place. Look, I would tell my husband, that girl has my hair! (Only bigger and better usually.) I got most of my information about the community though from a wedding present.… Continue reading Learning about Ethopian Jewry
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
My post about Alysa Stanton, an African-American woman who had an Orthodox conversion and then decided to pursue a career in the Reform rabbinate, has sparked a lot of controversy off the blog. Does one Orthodox convert’s decision to leave Orthodoxy affect the way that other Orthodox converts are perceived? Should it? I think we… Continue reading This is between me and G-d….
Alysa Stanton I spotted Rabbinical Student on her way to make history on someone else’s blog. It profiles convert Alysa Stanton who had an Orthodox conversion but found herself more at home in Reform Judaism. “[A Reform congregation] tends to be more welcoming to those who are not born Jewish,” the blogpost quotes. Stanton is… Continue reading She’s a rabbi!
While many were celebrating Obama’s presidency on November 4th, racist opponents started responding with hate crimes on November 5th. Take a look at: “Election spurs ‘hundreds’ of race threats, crimes”. I went to a Taste of Limmud NY session on Thursday where racism was discussed. I was the only non-white person in a group session… Continue reading Spike in hate crimes
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.
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
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 