PBS talked to some prominent American Jews (including Rabbi Avi Weiss) about their relationship to Israel. “Rabbi Avi Weiss, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, New York: America is my home. I’m grateful to the US forever and ever. Israel is my homeland and that’s where my family lives, literally and figuratively. When I think about existentially… Continue reading American Jews Talk Israel
Last week, someone made the mistake of filming a bunch of drunk, white Jews in Jerusalem after the Obama’s Cairo speech. I’ve heard a lot of things said: 1. These are just stupid American Jews on a Birthright Trip in Israel. They don’t speak for anyone, they can barely speak for themselves (as the video… Continue reading Lesson 1: Don’t Get White American Jewish Kids Drunk?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/31120874#31120874 Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Okay, I understand Tom Brokaw asking Barack Obama what he thinks the Iranian preisdent could learn from a trip like his to Buchenwald. But hearing Brokaw follow that question up with “What can the Israelis learn from your trip to Buchenwald? And… Continue reading Obama has no patience for Holocaust denial or Tom Brokaw’s leading questions
Now, speaking of Jew-on-Jew hate crimes (for those of you reading the comments on “Taking North Carolina by Storm”)…. Apparently, Rabbi Norman Lamm is no hater! At least, that’s what the latest Jerusalem Post article claims. Reading “Setting the record straight on Rabbi Lamm” is a must. And it’s not just anybody coming to Rabbi Lamm’s defense.… Continue reading More on Jew-on-Jew hate crimes
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?
Ah for Yom Yerushalayim, I am recycling an old post about my first day in Israel, where I stayed in Jerusalem. Read “Fish Out of Water” and chuckle at my pathetic attempt to survive outside of New York!
As a former Catholic and now Orthodox Jewish convert, I should have something to say about the Pope visiting Israel. But as I said on Twitter, all I could summon forth was “Yawn.” I’ll go read the more of the news (yeah, I already know he didn’t do so well on the Holocaust portion of… Continue reading Pope-in’ it in Israel
to Mayim Bialik? Remember her starring on that ’80s show, Blossom? Well, in case you missed my Tweet about it, read this Jewcy.com article on how Mayim feels about acting, motherhood and being an observant Jew: “From Blossom to Brachot”.
I discovered a new blog, “Mixed Race America” and because of it three spoken word poets to rival Vanessa Hidary, the Hebrew Mamita (previously featured on this blog). First, check out Alix Olsen doing “America’s On Sale” below. If you’re curious for more, log onto to this recent post from the Mixed Race America blog,… Continue reading Attention Kmart Shoppers!
Mr. P–? P– Diddy? “Is it safe to go outside?” you must be wondering upon hearing the news that the swine flu has made its way to our coast. And the answer? I’m not sure. I’ve logged onto the CDC website every day since I first heard of the outbreak but the answer hasn’t gotten… Continue reading Mexican Flu
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 