Walking down the street in Los Angeles, a little blond seven-year-old Jewish girl sees a black Orthodox Jewish man in a black suit, black hat, white shirt and tzitzit flying in the wind. “Wow, that’s weird,” she says to her mother. Her white Jewish mother holds her breath waiting for the next statement. “Did you… Continue reading Sighting: The Black Jew
I get such great letters from readers and I’m going to try to post more of them up here. Here’s a good one! Dear Aliza, A good friend of mine recently sent me a link to “Funny, You Don’t Look Jewish” and it blew my mind. It stirred up feelings in me that I haven’t… Continue reading Dear Aliza: It’s Easier Being Black in Israel. NOT!
I don’t necessarily agree with all of these articles but they definitely caught my eye this past week. “Gay vs. Orthodox: A Deadly Turn in Israel’s Culture War? (Time) This article points the finger at the ultra-Orthodox segment in Israel for the attack on a local gay youth club. “The Intermarriage Dividend” This article uses statistics to… Continue reading Jews in the News Roundup
If you couldn’t get enough of my piece in last week’s Jewish Journal, then you can see it again at the Tolerant Nation blog “Thoughts on Race and Gates” and on Jewlicious. In case you don’t have the Jewish Journal in front of you, here are the Letters they received in response to my piece last week.… Continue reading Reprint: Thoughts on Race and Gates
Whew, I need to get this off my chest. I have some bad news, folks. I do not live in a racist community. I live in a racist world. I spent a great deal of time in New York City and Los Angeles and I wouldn’t call either of the Jewish communities I live in… Continue reading I do not live in a racist community
“Ethiopians at the gate” (Haaretz) Why is Israel suddenly resuming immigration from Ethiopia? “Jewish school requirements ‘racist,’ British court rules” (Jewish Tribune) Did Britain decide that Judaism is racist? “Who is a convert?” (The Forward) Why Ruth is pretty lucky she’s not converting in 2009…. “New Conversion Legislation” (Ynet) A step forward or a step… Continue reading Conversion News Roundup
Check out my latest piece in The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles: “A Lesson for Jews in Gates’ Arrest?”
Over at Zinc Plate Press, I was asked this question and for a second, I didn’t have an answer until finally, it poured out of me. Usually, people are trying to find out what strengths from Judaism, I’m bringing to my Latino side, not the other way around. For the answer to this question, mosey… Continue reading What strengths from your Latino background have you brought to Judaism?
Check out the interviews with “From Ghetto to Ghetto: An African-American Journey to Judaism” author and African-American convert Ernest H. Adams and “Unlocked: The Life and Crimes of a Mafia Insider” author and convert Louis Ferrante. I just picked up Ferrante’s book and I’m hoping to read it soon. As for Ernest H. Adams, I’ve… Continue reading The Jewish Channel Features "Atypical Converts"
I’ll probably offend plenty of people with this one. I’m not even sure it’s funny. It’s definitely a work in progress. I don’t think I have it in me to be the Jewish Chris Rock. Maybe I’m just trying to get back at the classmate who made jokes about being a Columbian (he’s not) drug… Continue reading Stand-up Comedy Routine #3
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 