I love Israel and yet, I have absolutely no desire to make aliyah, to immigrate there. Maybe that’s because I know that as a convert, my conversion would become suspect immediately if I showed any desire to move to Israel. Because when born Jews decide to move to Israel, they’re reconnecting with the faith by… Continue reading The Continuing Plight of Converts
I love this woman and I love her even more now that she has a cool website. Check out Jew in the City as she responds to “Do Orthodox Jews consider women dirty during their monthly cycle?”
When I first learned about organized prayer in Sunday school, I was mystified. Why did we need organized prayer? Didn’t everyone, like me, pray to G-d several times a day? Wasn’t everyone in a constant dialogue with G-d? Praying three times a day became more difficult for me when I got sick but I always… Continue reading Oh My G-d…
And yet again, another reprint for “From Ghetto Girl to Rabbi’s Wife”, this time on Patheos. Patheos is a fascinating new website that hopes to help people understand the origins, history, and beliefs of the world’s religions. Patheos was recently featured in a Time magazine article, “What Do Other Religions Believe? A Website With Answers”.
The picture book, “I am Latino” is a celebration of Latino children everywhere and their various shades, cultures, and customs that define them. While the book is for ages 4-8, it would surely serve adults as well, especially the kind who like to remind me rather often that I do not look 1) Dominican and… Continue reading I AM LATINO!
The video might be fuzzy but the music comes across loud and clear. If you’re into Cuban Jewish fusion, then you’re going to love Roberto Juan Rodriguez and Sexteto Rodriguez. Their latest album is Timba Talmud. Now excuse me while I go order this and every other album this group has put out!
In this week’s Jewish Week, “The Sotomayor Effect” talks about the relationship between the Hispanic and Jewish communities. For the piece, some Latinos, some Jews and of course, some Latino Jews were interviewed. Some good soundbites: “Relations between the two communities are good, I think maybe better than ever,” said Moises Perez, president and CEO… Continue reading The Sotomayor Effect
If you’re dating a prospective convert in Israel, then you better be able to to prove your Jewishness. A new regulation put into place by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel creates more bureaucratic difficulties for converts according to Rabbi Seth Farber of ITIM. While this is a new regulation, this is nothing new in the… Continue reading Making it harder for converts, one regulation at a time.
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
From left, Kokasi Keki, 17; Sarah Nabagala, 17; and Igaal Sizomu, 15, at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills. Photo by Jason Lipeles Check out this heartwarming tale of “3 Ugandan Teens Learn Leadership Skills on L.A. Trip”.
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 