culture/multiculturalism · Hispanics/Latinos · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · news · rabbi · race/racism

Jewish Myths

All Jews are white or Eastern European. (And eat kugel and gefilte fish and cholent every Shabbat because otherwise, they wouldn’t REALLY be Jewish.) Jews don’t welcome converts. (Is this a myth? Alright, in some communities it is. But in others, as we’ve seen in Israel and South America, it’s a fact. A sad, sad,… Continue reading Jewish Myths

food · Hispanics/Latinos · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism

My first stand-up comedy class

I farted during my first stand-up comedy class.  And no one laughed. I knew I shouldn’t have had that butter over my baked potato for dinner. But I did. I had it. And I had it without protection. Lactaid pills are so expensive and so every now and then, I take risks. As you well… Continue reading My first stand-up comedy class

chronic pain/fibromyalgia · culture/multiculturalism · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · Maharat · news · prayer · rabbi · Rabbi Avi Weiss · religion

The softer side of Judaism

Whether or not, you love it or hate it, The Jerusalem Post claims Judaism is getting in touch with its feminine side. You’ve heard my spiel before in previous posts about whether or not I would call myself a feminist, much less a Jewish feminist. And here is a redux. In short, I grew up… Continue reading The softer side of Judaism

Christmas · Israel · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · rabbi · religion

Don’t marry non-Jews or converts!

Rabbi who? what? where? and why? A soundbite from “Mixed-married couples and interfaith couples are a fact of Diaspora Jewish life”: “That a Jew chooses to marry someone who is not Jewish, even if a conversion takes place, is a clear indication that the Jew already has one foot out the Jewish door.” Yeah, that’s… Continue reading Don’t marry non-Jews or converts!

culture/multiculturalism · Hispanics/Latinos · Israel · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · rabbi · race/racism · religion

Conversion News Roundup: Keeping you informed or scared out of your mind?

Rabbi Avraham Sherman, one of Jewcy‘s “Haredi’s Most Wanted: The 5 Worst Offenders”, has the magical power to turn non-Jews into Jews and back to non-Jews to Jews to non-Jews. Oy, I’m confused, are you?  “No one will be willing to go through the trouble of converting if there is a real fear that, sometime… Continue reading Conversion News Roundup: Keeping you informed or scared out of your mind?

culture/multiculturalism · Hispanics/Latinos · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · news

Jewish Diversity, where it’s at…

When I think of Jewish culture in unusual places, I think of Chabad and how they’ve managed to canvas the whole world to make Jews connect to Judaism. Apparently, when Rachel Mauro thinks of Jewish culture in unusual places, she also thinks of me! Check out my honorable mention in “Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Jewish Culture in Unusual… Continue reading Jewish Diversity, where it’s at…

clothing · culture/multiculturalism · Hispanics/Latinos · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · news

A little "Justice for All"…

When I wasn’t fighting about my Jewish friends over whether Benjamin Cardozo was the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice(he wasn’t), I was fighting with them about whether or not Sonia Sotomayor was qualified to be a Supreme Court judge (she is). They assured me that because she’d only been picked because she was a Latina… Continue reading A little "Justice for All"…

Barack Obama · culture/multiculturalism · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism

Blacks and Jews: Tension or Comedy?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c Blacks and Jews http://www.thedailyshow.com http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:230699 Daily ShowFull Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran Blacks and Jews, everyone knows that this relationship has been fraught with tension in America. Things were really “tight” between the two groups during the Civil Rights movement but… Continue reading Blacks and Jews: Tension or Comedy?

Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · rabbi · Rabbi Avi Weiss · writing

Commenting on my blog

You might have noticed that when you comment on my blog posts, it does not go into moderation. This is because, for the most part unless something is truly vile, I have let people share their thoughts, disagreeable or otherwise, on my blog. I read each and every comment though I do not, cannot, respond… Continue reading Commenting on my blog

Hispanics/Latinos · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · religion

Teaching RACE and Unlearning Racism

Sadly, America is far from post-racial.  The latest string of violence against Jewish sites, including the attack on the Holocaust museum and the Riverdale terrorist plot, is just plain scary. And the many attacks, less publicized, on Latinos after Obama’s inaugration, attacks that targeted “immigrants” only further this sad reality.  America still has a way to… Continue reading Teaching RACE and Unlearning Racism