When Jewschool posted the information below recently on their blog, I thought they were kidding. Apparently, they weren’t. “I just got a huge announcement in a tiny email: We are pleased to announce the opening of Yeshivat Mahara”t, an Orthodox Yeshiva of Higher Learning, founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss of The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.… Continue reading Always the last to know…
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.
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!
I’m a big fan of Chabad’s Question of the Week. Last week’s was: Why not make it easier to convert? Question: I often hear rabbis complain that the Jewish people are shrinking due to intermarriage and assimilation. But it is you rabbis who are the major obstacle to Judaism growing! If you would make conversion… Continue reading Question of the Week
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
“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
What makes someone a Jew of color? When I recently met up with other Jews of color, I realized that I was the pastiest face in the room. I was the only one who could convincingly (and I have before) pass as just some tanned Ashkenazi or more likely, Sephardic girl. Does that mean I’m… Continue reading A Jew of non-color?
The Reform and the Conservative movements are dying. The Pope is not a demon. The Orthodox aren’t ready for female rabbis. Homosexuals aren’t welcome? Um, did I embellish the points I took away from this profile of Yeshiva University chancellor Rabbi Norman Lamm, “Non-Orthodox Judaism disappearing”? I don’t think so. What do you think? And… Continue reading Dead on Arrival
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
As part of the Birthright Israel Next Monologues, Ruby Marez riffs about her upbringing in a Puerto Rican and Ashkenazi Jewish family in St. Louis. Thanks for Interfaithfamily.com for this clip. P.S. I think Jewrican isn’t as cool as “Jewyorican” (Jew plus New York plus Puerto Rican) or “Jewricua” (Jew plus Boricua). I got these… Continue reading A self-titled Jewrican does stand-up….
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 