Conversion & Shavuot
My latest piece is up on the OU website. Check out “Conversion is So Not Original”.
Category: Hispanics/Latinos
NOT LATINO!
I don’t know how many times or how many ways I have to say it: Benjamin Cardozo was not Hispanic, not Latino. Let it go, Jewish folks. And if you’re still unconvinced, read “Cultural Ettiquette: Why Jews Should Respect Sotomayor as the First Possible Latino/a Supreme Court Justice.
Um, ‘kay?
How does the Associated Press even know I exist? This is a question I asked myself last Friday when I got an email from one of their writers asking me if I would mind being interviewed for a community profile on Riverdale. Of course, I said “yes” but I still assumed it was a joke… Continue reading Um, ‘kay?
Illegal Immigrant Children
Illegal aliens are coming in to steal our healthcare and our jobs! At least, that’s what I hear. Nobody’s talking about the kids caught in the crossfire. In “Immigrants’ children might get help from DREAM Act”, Victor Manuel Ramos profiles one of those kids. “Walter Lara grew up in Florida. An honor student in high… Continue reading Illegal Immigrant Children
Conversion News Roundup
With Shavuot looming, all eyes seem to be on conversion! The Book of Ruth, which we read on Shavuot, has some competition this year. Internet-trained conversion hopefuls less likely to pass” Apparently, getting a PHD in Chabad.org and Aish.com is not enough learning to convert to Judaism. That’s why I also studied Simpletoremember.org. Analysis: The… Continue reading Conversion News Roundup
Obviously
It never fails. I get into the Seaman Car Service taxi and tell the driver where we’re going in English. Then I switch to Spanish. At which point, the driver turns around and says, “You speak Spanish?!” And I say, “Yes, I’m Dominican.” At which point, the driver turns around again and stares, “YOU’RE DOMINICAN!”… Continue reading Obviously
A Guiding Light
My profile of Ari Hart and his work in Washington Heights was published in The Jerusalem Post. Check out the finished piece, “A Guiding Light” for updates on Hart’s work with Uri L’Tzedek.
Check Me Out!
One of my pieces, “From Ghetto Girl to Rabbi’s Wife” has made its debut on The Jewish Writing Project blog. Be sure to check it out!
Y-Love Rarely Disappoints
Check out the newest video from Y-Love, aka Yitz Jordan, a man who wears many hats including Modern Orthodox rapper, Puerto Rican/Ethiopian hybrid, convert to Orthodox Judaism, notable blogger and influential Twitterer. Check out his official website, then his blog “This is Babylon” and catch him on Twitter as @ylove. Y-Love was named #4 of… Continue reading Y-Love Rarely Disappoints
Stupid Questions on Shabbat at Synagogue
“Are you part black?” “Well, if you’re part black then why is he (pointing to white Jew) darker than you?” “Are you even Jewish?” Oh yeah, I’m a Jew of color. Responses to this blog have been posted by other Jews of color: “How are you Jewish? Defending One’s Jewish Identity” by Y-Love “How are… Continue reading Stupid Questions on Shabbat at Synagogue
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 