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
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…
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"…
Sitting around listening to Michael Jackson music and pondering what the two of us had in common as survivors of child abuse. Did Michael overcome his past? Is that even possible? Though there is no doubt Michael was a world famous star, he died, undoubtably, as a tragic figure.
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
“…America at its best — open, diverse, pluralistic, fighting for human dignity and decency, confronting the hatreds that resulted in the Holocaust, the hatreds that would invite its repetition.” “Holocaust Museum: America at its best” is a heartfelt look at the latest tragedy and how we can fight against it.
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.
Chabad usually gets pretty good press. Almost every convert or formerly unaffiliated Jew I’ve spoken to thinks that Chabadniks are the most welcoming Orthodox Jews. Can one rabbi (Manis Friedman) destroy such a good rep? You decide. Check out: “Popular Rabbi’s Comments on Treatment of Arabs Show a Different Side of Chabad“
According to “Triple Threat: Entertainer Rain Pryor on Comedy, Caberet and her famous father,” Richard Pryor’s daughter isn’t just white or black or Jewish or Buddhist or funny. She’s a damn funny biracial Jewbu. Except when she’s being serious (see below). Oh, and did I mention she can sing?
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 