I just realized I didn’t have a blog post scheduled for today. Ug. In the last 48 hours, I seem to have picked up a bug. I’m coughing, my chest and throat ache, my eyes and nose are runny. I’m a mess. I’ve got a doctor appointment scheduled this afternoon, thank G-d. I never get… Continue reading Yikes, I have a fever!
THAT’S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This Shabbos: I was minding my own business at the synagogue meal introducing myself to a new friendly face I had never seen before when a lady who has seen me at shul quite often before came over and interrupted our conversation to ask…if I’d been born Jewish. I was seething. I spat… Continue reading One more stupid comment, one more stupid question and I’m slapping someone!
A story from my friend Juan Mejia, who works tirelessly on behalf of other anusim: A rabbi friend is taking a cruise off the coast of South Africa with his wife. On board he meets two Colombian Jews. He has the article of the Jerusalem Report (“Out of Fear/Bnai Anousim Report to Judaism”) with him… Continue reading An anecdote for you, he says
“Hava Nageela” and “Celia Cruz,” two phrases I never imagined uttering TOGETHER. What exactly was this afro-Cuban “Queen of Salsa” doing singing in Hebrew? Who cares? If you’re any kind of self-respecting Hispanic, you’re just dying to hear the tune!!! Scroll down to #8: Hava Nageela If Celia Cruz could do it, maybe even I… Continue reading Afro-Cuban Hebrew Musica
With Thanksgiving over, it’s time to think Hanukkah! Event: Fiesta Hanukkah! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009 Time: 11am Place: Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA Celebrate Hanukkah with a Latin flair! This year, as part of the Skirball’s ongoing initiative to commemorate Jewish life in Latin America, the annual Hanukkah family festival invites families of… Continue reading Cool Jewish Events: Fiesta Hanukkah!
Thank you for being my friend. Here are some guidelines so that our friendship can be a pleasurable experience for all of us. Please don’t make fun of gay people. Please don’t make fun of black people’s hair. Please don’t tell ask me why I don’t straighten my hair. Please don’t make fun of Mexican… Continue reading Redux: Please don’t…with explanatory links!!!
Added to my ever growing “to do” list is writing a “multicultural” children’s book. Of course, first I’d actually have to start reading children’s book. I figure they’re a bit like poetry where every word is important and the less words you use to get your point across, the better. I’m already stockpiling books for… Continue reading Writing that first Jewish Dominican children’s book!
I went to an Orthodox Jewish wedding and what did I find in the midst of all that sushi and all that brisket? TOSTONES! TOSTONES! TOSTONES! I overdosed on them and smiled like the Cheshire cat.
Dominicans like Puerto Ricans (of which I am 1/16? not so good at math) have a tripartite identity: Spanish, African and…Taino but most people think the Tainos died off (er, raped, ravaged and killed by the Spaniards), not these people. Check out: “Not Everyone Who Speaks Spanish is from Spain: Taíno Survival in the 21st… Continue reading I am Taino…I think.
I went through an embarrassing phase as a teenager where I didn’t want to be Dominican. We didn’t visit the Dominican Republic that much in my teens (not that that would have helped since once there, I was told I was American and not really Dominican). I was still reeling from a childhood spent being… Continue reading Speaking (Dominican) American!
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 