I just got back from getting the medical excuse form for jury duty. The problem is now getting my doctor to fill it out properly. This falls on my general physician. The only doctor I barely trust. When I moved to Riverdale, I stopped visiting my dazzlingly gorgeous rheumatologist in Gramercy Park. After many, many… Continue reading What’s up, Doc?
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
A friend of mine told me that he is not going to let me become the stereotype of “the angry black woman.” (Don’t even get me started on how I feel about this stereotype.) This worries me. I worry that some of my blog readers already think it’s too late. I am very sensitive to… Continue reading "Anger Does Not Equal Hate"
Yes, I have been writing a lot about race lately. This is much to the ire of one friend who keeps trying to convince me that race is meaningless. Check out the “Ashkenazi Privilege Checklist” another friend forwarded to me. Ashkenazi Privilege Checklist The checklist was created by Corrine Lightweaver, Sasha King, and the Jewish… Continue reading Ashkenazi Privilege Checklist
I miss teaching High School English. I miss the kids and their crazy stories. I miss the teachers and the constant gossip. I miss knowing deep down that no matter how horrible the day was, I made a difference. Lucky for me, I get fan mail on a routine basis that seems to suggest I’m… Continue reading A Little Hope
You know you’re Jewish when you get caught completely unawares by endless Christmas Eve traffic. We sat in it for two hours mystified as we drove from Times Square back to Riverdale after lunching with some friends. We came home to a sad, empty little fridge but we thought we could sit the rain out… Continue reading Things You’ll Hear @ the Kosher Mart on Christmas Eve
I’m trying to get all the Dominican Jews in Riverdale (who attend HIR) together for a Shabbat meal. Hooray! Yippey! I found this fact so entertaining, I decided to email all my Dominican family members about it. My cousin, who has been pumping me for Jewish knowledge ever since his doorman job led to gigs… Continue reading I was a rare white panda
I used to look forward to Thanksgiving. Well, not growing up. Unfortunately, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas meant more abuse at home. My mother reveled in the fact that we were not going to be school any time so she dug in and went all out with the bruises. One Thanksgiving beating left me hobbling… Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving!
Muslim-Jewish relations were on my mind after my interview with Sadia Shepard, but I was shy about bringing it up. When I got home though, I discovered a little treat in my inbox. The Riverdale Press featured an interesting spin on Muslim-Jewish relations right here in Riverdale. In the story, “At Riverdale Jewish Center, Muslim… Continue reading Muslim-Jewish Relations
I feel like I don’t fit in in Riverdale. Sure, it’s supposed to be a nice convergance of urban meets suburban but do you see all those trees? And do you realize everything closes at 9pm? That’s way more suburban than urban. And it’s so far from everything else. Yes, I’m whining. I really learn… Continue reading Riverdalian
Memoirs of a Jewminicana 