Wading through a backlog of New York Times. I can’t seem to keep up with the news on a day-to-day basis. Meanwhile, I uncovered a really great article that talked about Jewish convert Isla Fisher’s new film, “Confessions of a Shopaholic” in light of the economy and tightening budgets. Check out: “Calming the Voices The… Continue reading News, Glorious (Old) News
I was surprised to open up yesterday’s New York Times and find an article on Iranian Jewry. “There are still Jews in Iran?!” I exclaimed. Apparently, there are and according to Op-Ed columnist Roger Cohen, they are thriving there. It’s hard to believe such positive news when so many of us are still worrying about… Continue reading Holla to Iranian Jews
Here’s a rough draft of a cultural criticism essay assignment for one of my writing classes. No one talks about what Sammy Davis Jr. contributed to Jewish culture. Nor do they talk about what the newly converted Isla Fisher, star of the “Confessions of a Shopaholic” film and baby mama to Sacha Baron Cohen, is… Continue reading Rough Draft: Beyond Sammy
I was really nervous about spending a week with my in-laws in Italy. They’re great but we operate on alternative universes. My in-laws are fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants whereas I am plan, plan and plan some more. How was I going to relinquish control enough to do things their way without totally losing my marbles from the chaos… Continue reading World Traveler
Delonas, the cartoonist, said to CNN, “It’s absolutely friggin ridiculous. Do you really think I’m saying Obama should be shot? I didn’t see that in the cartoon. The chimpanzee was a major story in the Post. Every paper in New York, except The New York Times, covered the chimpanzee story. It’s just ridiculous. It’s about… Continue reading Racism: Less than Subtle
I’ve hesitated to write about the plight of Jews in Venezuela ever since the Israeli incursion into Gaza. I think part of that comes from shock. It’s hard for me to process such overt hate, such overwhelming anti-Semitism, sitting comfortably in front of my computer in New York. It is easy for me to see… Continue reading Venezuela and Jews
Who would have thought I would ever see the world? The first time I stepped out of the tristate area was to get married in a place I’d never been to before, Connecticut. Okay, actually, I had also been to Orlando, Florida to see Mickey with my aunt and even Pennsylvania to visit the Liberty… Continue reading Italy Trip Recap: The World in My Stomach
Sick all day with pain and fatigue that’s been worming its way through my entire week. So, again I find myself looking for solace in the TV show, “30 Rock.” I am quite pleased with how worldly “30 Rock” is. Unlike “Friends” which was also set in New York but could never be accused of… Continue reading Werewolf Bar Mitzvah
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-2980522193469128149&hl=en&fs=trueHere I am practicing for a promo of an upcoming speaking engagement. A thoughtful friend forwarded an article to me called “Unmasking ‘Racial Micro Aggressions’” featured in the Monitor on Psychology. It was a good read since I’m gearing up to speak again in the coming weeks on subtle racism in the Jewish community. Microaggressions… Continue reading Getting Aggressive about Microaggression
My mother wore tight pants. It was an integral part of the uniform worn by other Dominican women in the Washington Heights neighborhood where we lived. And my Dominican mother, an immigrant to this part of New York City, always dressed to code. My mother’s ritual for getting dressed was…elaborate. My sisters and I marveled… Continue reading My Mother Wore Tight Pants
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 