Kehila Magazine by Musings of a Blerd

‫קהילה‬

ISSN 2158-0189

November 2010

Welcome to our Community

‫ קהילה‬Kehila Issue No.1 November 2010/5771 Editor & Publisher: Talisha A. Harrison Published By: Talisha A. Harrison P.O. Box 520392 Longwood, FL 32752 (407) 388-8216 Printed by: Talisha Harrison Editor: Talisha Harrison Design: Talisha Harrison Cover Photo: Photograph courtesy of Artist Sabina Saad, Color Doesn’t Matter You are Always a Jew Dialogue with a Symbol Collection. KEHILA is a monthly magazine that gives a voice to Jews of Color while educating and informing the Jewish and non-Jewish community as a whole. © Talisha Harrison 2010 Printed in the USA, all rights reserved. KEHILA welcomes comments from our readers. Please send comments to: Email: Kehila23@yahoo.com

Table of Contents

4 From the Editor’s desk

21 Spotlight: Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan

Special Feature

23 Discussion Series: Maimonides 13 Principles

5 Community:-Jews of Color Culture Chai-Life 25 Celebrate the All-American fress

9 A two-year weight loss study held in

festival with Jewish flair and create a special kosher Thanksgiving experience for your family & friends with these delicious recipes.

Israel reveals that dieters who consume milk lose more weight on average than those who don't.

30 How to Get Clothes at Real Bargain Prices

11 JocFlock: The first online dating site for Jews of Color

32 Punk Jews: The Movement, The People, The Documentary

What's Going On? 33 Artist Spotlight: Sabrina Saad 13 In the News Community Happenings 19 Hot Topic: Exotic Looking I am Not: Why are Jews of Color considered “exotic”?

34 Resources 35 Upcoming Events

Spirituality 36 Announcements

From the Editor's Desk

Welcome to Our Community! Shalom, and welcome to our community! “Kehila” in Hebrew means community, and this magazine is specifically for Jews of Color. We are a minority within a minority whose community is growing and needs more outlets in the Jewish and non-Jewish world to express, share, educate, discuss, debate, and voice the many opinions, topics, and issues that are important to us. I hope that this magazine will be such an outlet. As a Jew of color and a writer, I was looking for a way to help break down the barriers that we face as well as have a place where Jews of color could express themselves freely. Kehila is one of these places. While this magazine is geared toward a target audience-Jews of color-everyone is welcome to participate in the growth of this magazine! That's right, I need your help to make this magazine grow and be a voice in the Jew of color community, the Jewish community and beyond. This is the first of what I hope to be many issues. The theme for this first issue is “Community.” Please take a look and read through the magazine about the many aspects that affect the Jews of color community. When you're done reading please take time to contact me and give me feedback on the various sections of the magazine. Tell me what you do and don't like and let me know what I can do to improve the magazine so it can be at its best. Also let me know what you would like to see in future issues of the magazine. At this moment, I am the only member of the Kehilla magazine staff. In the future I hope to have more people on the Kehila staff. If you're interested please let me know! The more help I have to create this magazine, the better! As everyone knows, we're in a bad economy. I am currently creating this magazine with limited resources. If you would like to contribute to this magazine momentarily or by writing articles, or taking pictures, helping to create the magazine website, etc. it would be appreciated. Well I hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine and there will be more to come I hope. Thank you. Tali Adina

Special Feature

Community-Jews of Color Written by Talisha Harrison (this was first printed on 4JewsOnly.com)

It’s a cold Shabbat evening. I had just gotten off the plane and was walking through the Ben Gurion Airport with my Taglit Birthright Israel group towards customs and baggage claim. I’m tired as we had just completed a 10 hour flight from JFK airport to Turkey and now Tel-Aviv. But I’m also filled with excitement because this is my first trip to Israel. As we stroll along to our destination, one of the guys in the group comes right up to me. I’m thinking “Oh he’s going to introduce himself. Maybe he’s one of the people in the group that I had talked to on Facebook before the trip.” Wrong! This is what comes out of his mouth: “Hey Tali, is your mother white?” I’m taken aback by this of course and I reply, “No. She’s black.” He says, “Huh, I’ve never of that before.” And before I can even respond to curse him out, he’s off ahead of me talking to the other people in the group. That’s the first and last thing (as he never spoke to me again) he says to me. No “Hey my name is Jeremy we talked on Facebook, it’s nice to meet you,” nope, none of that. Throughout the whole trip these are the questions that I’m asked by some of the people in the group: “So how are you Jewish?” and “Is your family Ethiopian?” Being one of the two only JOC in the group of almost 40 young Jewish Americans can make your first trip to Israel not as fun as you would of liked. So what’s a JOC? A JOC is a Jew of Color and there are many of us around the world but also here in the USA. For those of you who aren’t in the know, Jews come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and color. A lot of people whether they’re Jewish or not think that Jews are only white Americans or Europeans which isn’t true at all. Be’chol Lashon’s (In every tongue) website (http://www.bechollashon.org/population/north_america/na_color.php) states that at least 20%that’s 1.2 million-of the Jewish population in North America is racially and ethnically diverse and that it includes African, African-American, Latino (Hispanic), Asian, N. American, Sephardic, Mizrahi, and mixed-race Jews. And all of these groups of people are Jews through conversion, adoption, marriage, and heritage. There are Jews of color whose families have been Jewish for generations. An example would be MaNishtana- whose popular blog and videos have made him well-known in the Jewish community and beyond-who is a 5th generation Orthodox African-American Jew and can trace his heritage back to the 1800’s. Another is Yavilah McCoy-founder of Jews of Color education and advocacy group Ayecha-whose family also has been Jewish since the 1800’s. So, why the distinction? What makes us different from our white counterparts? Well nothing and everything. We’re Jews just like them. We’re Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Hasidic, and Secular. We read the Torah, we go to the mikveh, and we celebrate all the Jewish holidays, 5

Special Feature attend shul etc. The difference is our skin color and ethnicity and the challenges that come with that which white Jews do not have to deal with. So how can people understand the obstacles that Jews of Color face? To start off, there’s an Ashkenazi Privilege Checklist that has statements that explain the privileges that white Ashkenazi Jews have that Jews of Color do not have and to show the differences between white Ashkenazi Jews and Jews of Color. A few of the statements on the list are: “I can walk into my temple and feel that my children are seen as Jewish.” “I can walk into temple with my family and not worry that they will be treated unkindly.” People never say to me, "But you don't look Jewish," either seriously or as though it was funny,” and, “I am never asked “how” I am Jewish at dating events or on Jewish dating websites.” The full list can be seen on Jewish Multiracial Network’s site (http://www.jewishmultiracialnetwork.org/resources/educational/), and there are other sites/blogs where you can take a look at it as well. By looking at the checklist, one can see that two of the many challenges that Jews of Color deal with are racism and relationships. Personally, I have dealt with a lot of racism. I’ve had one recent experience where I supposed to rent a room in the home of an older Jewish couple who would rent out rooms to students attending a university in Chicago. At the last minute, the place I was going to be living didn’t work out and I was having trouble finding a new place to stay. They said “We’re a family,” and since they had 3 other students staying there who were from Brazil, Japan, and Italy, I thought there wouldn’t be any problems. Yeah, right. They didn’t treat me as family. From the beginning they were very mean and racist towards me and my mother who had come to help me get settled in. When we arrived, the husband acted as if he didn’t want me and my mom to come into the house. The room that I was renting out (for $600) was down in the basement where he had a lot of boxes full of stuff from his old business and the room was dirty-we had to wash the blankets and pillows for the bed and clean the broken down closets, and the bathroom had no shower so I would have to go upstairs to take one and the toilet overflowed. They wanted us to eat stale old leftovers they had in their fridge and the guy cooked burnt pancakes for us, the wife wanted me to be a servant and serve food for the High Holidays. After 3 days of this, my mom & I decided to leave. They didn’t even get up to say goodbye. They stayed in their bedroom, left the check with a note saying to leave the key to the house on the table, along with the t-shirt that I had given to the husband as a thank-you gift. Needless to say it was horrible experience for me and I didn’t start school because of it. Like other Jews of color, it’s not often that after Shabbat services are over, and it’s time for kiddish luncheon, that while I’m sitting and enjoying a conversation with the other people at a table a person will come sit at the table and say: “Oh I’ve never seen you here before do you come here often?” And you’ll reply “Yes I’ve been coming here for a while now.”

Special Feature They reply “Are you Jewish?” “Yes.” “Oh. So how are you Jewish?” And then that’s when the conversation turns sour and usually at this point my mom will tell the person off and then we’ll leave. That happened a lot to us in the past, but not anymore. I guess word got around that my mother would give them a piece of her mind. Now granted, there are some people who are asking this because maybe they’re curious. But a lot of times the person who’s asking this is trying to justify us being Jewish. It’s like they can’t fathom in their minds at all that a person of color could be Jewish. It’s impossible! I’ve also gotten the “Where are you from?” question. A lady at my shul one Shabbat afternoon asked me & my mom “Where are you from?” “We’re from here.” “But where are you from? I’m from Chicago.” “We’re from Florida.” “Okay but where are you from? My family is from Chicago.” It’s as though we couldn’t possibly be from America, no we must be from another country. Another area of challenge for Jews of Color is relationships. It’s hard to date as it is, but if you’re a Jew of Color the sites that are out there aren’t that friendly to you and will give you a hard time while signing up. I haven’t experienced this personally as I have never signed up for any of the Jewish dating sites out there. But MaNishtana whom I spoke of earlier has and he wrote a blog about it entitled “My One Night Stand-Off” (http://www.manishtana.net/profiles/blogs/my-onenight-standoff) that I think you ought to read. MaNistana has created a dating site geared specifically to Jews of Color. It’s called JocFlock (www.jocflock.org). I have had the experience of being the exotic fetish of a white Jew. This is when a white Jew wants to date a person of color not because they really like them but because it’s a fantasy they want to fulfill-I’m exotic looking and that’s all I am to them unfortunately. When it comes to matchmaking there have been occasions when a matchmaker will set one Jew of color up with another Jew of Color just because they’re Jews of color and that’s the only thing that they have in common! I’ve also have not personally experienced this because I’ve never sat down with a matchmaker but there are hundreds of stories that any Jew of Color who’s been to a matchmaker can tell you concerning this very issue.

Special Feature As a Jew of Color, I don’t get to see our beauty and value often reflected in Jewish spaces. One of the biggest challenges in the Jewish community is the lack of consciousness that Jews of Color are Jewish, are mothers & fathers, that we are beautiful. Jews of Color face many challenges but there are resources out there to help confront and deal with these challenges as well as to support and build a community where all Jews feel welcome. For information about the many resources available for Jews of Color, please see the Resources section in Community Happenings feature of the magazine.

Photos: In our community-some well-known Jews of Color. Top right: Blogger and Anti-activist MaNishtana (Photo courtesy of MaNishtana www.manishtana.net), and Bottom left: The Jews of Color Panel that was held on the Jewish Channel. From left to right, Yitz Jordan a.k.a. Y-Love (Rapper, Writer, Activist), Aliza Hausman (Blogger, “Memoirs of a Jewminicana”), Joel Sanchez (Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services), Yavilah McCoy (Jewish educator, Diversity Practitioner, and Founder of Ayecha Jewish Diversity Resources) and Akira Ohiso (Author, “Survivor”) (Photo courtesy http://www.jewpi.com

Health

Milk drinkers lose more weight, research shows By ISRAEL21c Staff (Originally printed September 26, 2010)

Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash9 0. Dieters with the highest dairy calcium intake were found to lose more weight.

A new weight loss study conducted in Israel has revealed that dieters who consume milk or milk products lose more weight on average than those who consume little to no milk products. The two-year dietary intervention study, of 300 overweight men and women in middle age, was carried out by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). The researchers found that regardless of diet, dieters with the highest dairy calcium intake - equal to 12 oz. of milk or other dairy products, lost about 12 pounds (6kg) at the end of two years. Dieters with the lowest dairy calcium intake - about half a glass of milk, only lost seven pounds on average. The researchers, led by Dr. Danit Shahar, of BGU's Center for Health and Nutrition, and the Faculty of Health Sciences, also discovered that levels of vitamin D found in the blood, also affected the success of weight loss treatments. The results confirmed existing research showing that overweight participants have lower blood levels of the vitamin. Higher vitamin D levels in successful dieters "It was known that over-weight people had lower levels of serum vitamin D but this is the first study that actually shows that serum Vitamin D increased among people who lost weight," says Shahar. "This result lasted throughout the two years that the study was conducted, regardless of whether [participants] were on a low-carb, low fat or Mediterranean diet."

Health Vitamin D increases calcium absorption in the bloodstream and in addition to sun exposure can be obtained from fortified milk, fatty fish and eggs. Americans generally consume less than the recommended daily requirement of Vitamin D which is found in four glasses of milk (400 international units). The study, which was published in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, was part of the Dietary Intervention Randomized Control Trial (DIRECT) held at the Nuclear Research Center in Israel in collaboration with Harvard University, the University of Leipzig, Germany and the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Some 322 moderately obese people, aged 40 to 65, took part in the study evaluating low fat, Mediterranean or low-carb diets for two years. In earlier findings, scientists discovered that low-fat diets aren't the best way to lose weight, but that dieters are likely to lose more weight on a Mediterranean diet, or a low-carb diet. The study was supported by the Israel Ministry of Health and the Israel Dairy Council, the Israel Chief Scientist Office, German Research Foundation and the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Research Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Microsoft Office Word 2007 Clip Art.

Relationships

JocFlock: The first online dating site for Jews of Color A lot of us have gone through this: you’re on a Jewish dating site such as Frumster.com, or JDate.com, and you sign up and you’re creating your profile and you come to the “Ethnicity” options. Out of all the choices listed, there’s nothing there that represents you…Or maybe you have had this happened: you’ve completed your profile and either it took days for it to be approved, it was deleted, or the site managers gave you and email runaround…These and the numerous horror stories that JOC’s have gone through online, are what made MaNishtana create the first online dating site for Jews of Color: JocFlock.org. The site started the week of July 26th 2010. It now has 169 members and is growing. Starting out, it was free to join but as of October 10th, there is a monthly membership fee of $4.95. Some might ask why is there a dating site specifically for Jews of Color? What does that mean? MaNishtana responds to this on the site: “Everybody needs their own exclusive space. Somewhere where they can feel at ease. There are so many JOCs on the usual gamut of Jewish dating websites who don't even feel comfortable enough to put up their profile picture out of [very justified] fear of the responses they'll get from Site Administrators as well as other Site Members. Jocflock.Org is here to put an end to that.” As far as the site being discriminatory, MaNishtana writes on the site: “Not particularly. Everyone else gets to have their own, I don't see why JOCs should be the

exception. Only boys are allowed in the Boy Scouts. Only directors are allowed in the Director's Guild. Frumster is only for Frum Jews. Sephardiclink is for Sephardic Jews. And Jocflock is for JOCs.” Although the site is specifically for JOC’s, white Jews are also welcomed to sign up. But there’s one thing that white Jews need to understand that won’t be tolerated at all before signing up. MaNishtana addresses this on the site and in his blog (http://www.manishtana.net/profiles/blogs/gotta-catch-em-all): “I'm not exactly about to set up a barrel full of fish to be shot. Jocflock.Org will not be a place for someone to select from an ethnic menu when they're in the mood for something "exotic" but still

Relationships Jewish…Although, more often than not, people mosey on by Jocflock looking for something exotic to whet their palate. I’ve deleted/declined several non-JOC profiles so far. One was joining for “cultural curiosity”. Another said that they wanted to find “someone sensual to explore with.” I personally haven’t signed up for any of the Jewish dating sites out there, but I have experienced being a victim (if that’s the right word) of a Jewish white guys’ “cultural curiosity”. Fellow blogger and activist Aliza Hausman (http://www.alizahausman.net/) writes “Yes, anyone can join but those looking for an "exotic escapade" or "cultural curiosity" should probably use their frequent flyer miles to...visit a foreign country instead of treating a human being like a exotic fantasy pleasure cruise. When I spoke at Brooklyn College about the issues Jews of color face in the world of Jewish dating…” So if you’re not looking for an exotic experience or any of that nonsense, you’re more than welcome to join. For the first online dating site for Jews of Color, Jocflock.org is a great example of seeing a need in the community and providing a solution. So far, there haven’t been any couples or wedding bells yet, but I’m sure there will be in the future.

Photos courtesy of www.jocflock.org, and Microsoft Office Word 2007 Clip Art

In the News News stories from around the nation and the world

Push To Amend Civil Rights Act Forces Basic Questions About Jewish Identity By Nathan Guttman October 06, 2010, issue of October 15, 2010 Jewish Daily Forward

WASHINGTON — When the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, it was seen as the main vehicle for ending racial discrimination against African Americans. Now, two Jewish lawmakers are trying to amend the law, in order to have it include protection for Jewish students on college campuses. In the process, they are taking on a heavy historical question: Are the Jews of America part of a religion, or are they an ethnic group?

America, and the events triggering it took place at the University of California, Irvine, where tensions between Jewish and proPalestinian students have run high. In 2004, after receiving complaints of harassment from Jewish students at the university, the ZOA made an official appeal to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which is charged with enforcing Title VI. The group claimed that UC, Irvine’s leadership did not properly address these events and that Jewish students should enjoy the protection provided by Title VI, since the university receives government funds.

The proposed amendment, sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Rep. Brad Sherman of California, both Democrats, seeks to broaden the definitions of groups protected under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in agencies receiving government funding. The lawmakers believe that the landmark legislation had left open a loophole in its formulation of Title VI protections. It prohibits discrimination based on “race, color, or national origin,” but does not mention religion.

At the time, the prevailing interpretation of Title VI at the DOE was that it also covered religious groups that share ethnic characteristics. But while the investigation was under way, the OCR changed its position and adopted a narrower interpretation, one that recognizes discrimination based only on race, color or national origin. “When someone shouts at Jewish students, ‘You’re baby killers,’ or, ‘You’re Nazis,’ this is intimidation that is not covered by the criminal law,” said Morton Klein, national president of the ZOA. “If someone turns to a black person and uses the N word, then it is covered. But if he calls a Jew ‘Nazi,’ it is not.”

“We need to close the loophole that allows students to be harassed and threatened because of their religion,” Specter said in a statement. He added that religious discrimination is already prohibited in other parts of the Civil Rights Act, including those relating to employment and housing.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act does not infringe on free speech on campus, but it does require universities to maintain an environment free

The driving force behind this proposed legislation is the Zionist Organization of

In the News of discriminatory harassment. Use of racist language, for example, could be addressed by condemnation by campus leaders or through educational efforts. In addition to incidents at UC, Irvine, ZOA also pointed to other campuses at which anti-Israel activity has left Jewish students feeling harassed. The Specter-Sherman bill mentions several incidents at other universities, as well, including the University of California’s Berkeley campus, where a student holding a pro-Israel sign was pushed and injured. At the University of North Dakota, anti-Semitic slurs were shouted at a Jewish student. Amending the Civil Rights Act would also provide other religious groups with protection, which, according to sponsors of the new bill, is needed, as well. The sponsors detailed several cases of discrimination against Muslim, Sikh and Hindu students, including a case in which a Muslim student at the University of Illinois was beaten and had a swastika drawn on her locker, alongside the words “Die Muslims.” In another case, a Sikh seventh-grade student in New Jersey faced repeated taunts and harassment from students who called him “Osama.” But when dealing with these cases, activists and lawmakers had to struggle with frequent changes in policy at the OCR. After turning down requests for investigation regarding the UC, Irvine, case, the OCR agreed in 2004 to broaden the definition to cover Jewish students, too. Then, with the new administration, the policy was reversed again to exclude Jewish students. “The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was almost entirely about race,” explained Erwin Chemerinsky, founding Dean of the UC, Irvine law school. Chemerinsky added that even if amended, Title VI would do little to stop religious harassment, since it would only make universities liable in case of “deliberate indifference” and that, he said, “is a hard standard to meet.” The issue was discussed in a recent phone conversation between Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Sherman, who later told the Forward that he is “more than cautiously optimistic” that the Department of Education will readopt the broader interpretation of Title VI. Sources within the DOE said that it would be releasing a new policy statement in the coming weeks. Sherman also stressed, however, that even if the department revises its policy to include protection for Jewish students, he still intends to go ahead with the legislation in order to ensure that the interpretation of the Civil Rights Act on this issue is not subject to future administrative changes. A spokesman for the DOE would not comment on the conversation between Sherman and Duncan. As for the proposed legislation, the spokesman said the department does not have a position on the bill. Tackling the issue of anti-Jewish discrimination on campus also required the opening of a centurieslong debate over the definition of the “Jewish people.” For Jews to be protected under Title VI, assuming the Civil Rights Act is not amended, activists would have to make the case that Jews are members not of a religion, but rather of an ethnic group, or of a group that shares a national origin.

In the News Sherman said the OCR failed to understand that “there is a Jewish people, not only a Jewish religion.” To prove the point, he argued that Jews can be atheists, while there is no such thing as a Catholic atheist. Furthermore, he said, Jews have a national origin, although thousands of years have passed since they actually shared this common national origin. “The word “Jew” is short for ‘Judean,’” Sherman explained. In actuality, “Jew” is derived from “Judah,” a son of the biblical patriarch Jacob, and the leader of one of the Tribes of Israel. The tribe later gave its name to the southern portion of the Land of Israel. Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com

Pink Floyd's Waters insists critics misread symbols By Jennifer Lipman, October 7, 2010 The Jewish Chronicle Online British rock singer Roger Waters has dismissed the claim by American Jewry's main defense organization that parts of his current concert tour "cross the line into anti-Semitism". The former Pink Floyd bass player and vocalist was attacked by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for using a projection which shows Israel dropping bombs in the shape of stars of David, followed by the dollar symbol. The animated scene - an attack on Israel's security barrier - forms the backdrop to performances of the song Goodbye Blue Sky, from the hit 1979 album The Wall. The images also show the B52 bomber dropping symbols including the Shell logo and a crucifix. Abraham Foxman, the ADL's national director, criticized the "outrageous" choice of imagery, saying it was "playing into and dredging up the worst age-old anti-Semitic stereotype about Jews and their supposed obsession with making money". But Mr. Waters, rebutting the accusations of anti-Semitism, said, in a letter to the Independent: "Nothing could be further from the truth. "You can attack Israeli policy without being anti-Jewish. It's like saying if you criticize the US policy, you are being anti-Christian." He said he was critical of Israeli settlement policy "which is entirely illegal under international law, and also of ghettoizing the people whose land they are building on. It's that foreign policy I'm against. It's nothing to do with the religion." The Surrey-born singer, 67, said the symbols had been chosen to represent religious, national and commercial interests "which have a malign influence on our lives". He said: "Contrary to Mr. Forman’s assertion, there are no hidden meanings in the order or juxtaposition of these symbols."Four years ago Mr. Waters moved the location of a concert in Israel from Tel Aviv to the Jewish-Arab village of Neve Shalom in order to demonstrate solidarity with peace campaigners. In July, he played a charity concert on behalf of Palestinian children.

In the News

Israeli sightseeing gets an iPhone app Jweekly.com Thursday, October 7, 2010

Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tourism Ministry launched an application for the iPhone that will make visits in the country easier. The application will find the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location and allow them to receive fast and updated information on sites, tours, accommodations and events taking place in the immediate area, as well as other areas in Israel they plan to visit. The system, in English and Hebrew and soon to be translated into Russian, German and French, also will be adapted to other electronic devices, according to the ministry. The application is free to download, and can be used offline. The user also can upload photographs and comments in real time to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Photo courtesy of http://cr.ucdavis.edu/commsrv/wireless/cellular.cfm

In the News

Israel loyalty oath bill stirs Arab-Israeli unease By Joshua Mitnick, Correspondent / October 7, 2010 The Christian Science Monitor

Tel Aviv Israel's cabinet next week will consider a bill that would require non-Jewish candidates for Israeli citizenship to pledge allegiance to the country as a Jewish state. The bill, backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an amendment to Israel's citizenship law to include "a Jewish and democratic state" in a mandatory oath of loyalty. In addition to kicking up accusations of discrimination against the country's Arab minority, observers suggested the proposal is timed to push Israel's diplomatic campaign to force the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state as a condition for a peace accord. "There is an agenda here," says Yedidia Stern, a law professor at Bar Ilan University and vice president of the Israel Democracy Institute. "The agenda is to push in the face of everybody how serious we are about the definition" of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Mr. Netanyahu's office announced its endorsement of the amendment just as US, Israeli, and Palestinian negotiators are struggling to resolve a dispute over settlement expansion that has Palestinian leaders threatening to abandon direct negotiations. Israeli journalists asked the prime minister Thursday if his support for the bill was meant to buy the support of ultranationalist Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who failed to pass a controversial loyalty oath for Arab citizens, for an extension of a moratorium on new housing in the West Bank. Bigger plans? Though Netanyahu demurred, he did say that significance of the revised loyalty oath is part of something bigger "There is a very great struggle today to nullify and blur the character of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people and to say that it doesn't belong to the Jewish people on a national basis," said Netanyahu. "I think that the struggle on this issue, both on an international and a domestic level, is a necessary struggle." Ever since Netanyahu first threw his support behind creating a Palestinian state in 2009, Israel has pursued a demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a state of the Jewish people as part of the negotiations. The Palestinians have resisted, arguing that the issue is solely a domestic one. The amendment was made public at a sensitive diplomatic juncture. On Friday and Saturday, the Arab League is expected to issue a statement regarding the future of Palestinian participation in the

In the News peace talks after Israel ended a moratorium on settlement building. There have been intensified diplomatic contacts over the last two weeks to avoid a breakdown of the talks. "There are direct talks with the Palestinians and they are refusing to recognize Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, in contrast to the UN in 1948," says Tal Nahum, the spokesman for Foreign Minister Lieberman's political party, Yisrael Beiteinu. "It's very important for us that the rest of the world will recognize Israel as a Jewish state â&#x20AC;Ś This is what this amendment is for." Are Israel's Jewish and democratic identities in conflict? Israelis have become more alarmed in recent years at what many here consider a growing campaign internationally to delegitimize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. The country's one-fifth Arab minority sees the amendment to the citizenship law as new evidence that there is a conflict between Israel's dual identity as Jewish and democratic. There has been growing support among Palestinians for the so-called "one state" solution, which would essentially give everyone living in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel citizenship in one country, which would end the exclusive Jewish character of the state. Jaffar Farah, the director of the Israeli civil rights group Mossawa, noted that the bill would have little practical impact because family members of Israeli Arabs have been barred from becoming naturalized citizens under legislation passed during the height of the Palestinian uprising. Still, that doesn't ease the sense of injury. "This is a dictatorship of the majority," he says. "We see this as part of the delegitimization campaign against our existence in Israel, which is led by the current government since it was established." Law Professor Stern says it's reasonable for Israel to require naturalized citizens to recite such a pledge because Israel's quasi-constitutional Basic Laws mention the country's identity as a Jewish and democratic state. What is problematic, he said, is enforcing that requirement solely on nonJews. Under Israel's Law of Return, Jewish requests for citizenship are granted automatically. "In order to make it totally kosher we need to demand the same kind of pledge of everyone," he says. "If we want people to commit to a set of values, what does it make a difference whether they are Jewish or not?"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (c.), Interior Minister Eli Yishai (r.) and Israeli official Ilan Harari attend a meeting during Netanyahu visit in the Israeli town of Lod, Oct. 7. Photo Courtesy Jack Guez/AP

Hot Topic

Exotic Looking I am Not: Why are Jews of Color considered “exotic”? So I was on a website and I saw an article about "Celebrate The Year 5771 With 20 Hot Jewish Girls.” So I check it out just to see if any women of color made the list and lo and behold two did! One was Quincy Jones’ daughter and the other was Emmanuelle Chirqui. Here’s how the writer described her: "2. Emmanuelle Chriqui Entourage star Chriqui gets her exotic name and look from her Moroccan Jewish heritage." So I made this comment about that entry: “What do you mean by exotic when referring to Emmanuelle Chriqui? Why is she exotic because she's Moroccan and Jewish? We Jews of Color don't like to be called exotic.” A few other people commented on how the article was a great one and then someone responded specifically to what I had written: “Great bit, XXX! @Talisha, as a Tunisian jew I find nothing wrong with "exotic" :-) “ I was a bit perturbed and I wrote back: “@XXX I was just expressing my opinion. I thought it was a good article but I don't like people describing people of color as exotic looking. And that's just me.” Looking back at it now, I think I should of written my responses a little bit better but I wrote them in the heat of the moment and I didn’t express myself as well as I wanted to. So that’s what I’m doing now. The article wasn’t a bad one, I’m sure the writer wasn’t trying to offend anyone. But what bothered me personally was how the writer described Emmanuelle and how for a long time Jews of Color as well as non-Jews of Color have been described as “exotic” or having “exotic” names. Why are we called exotic? I mean, are we an endangered species, the last of our kind? Are Jews of Color going extinct? I know that the guy who wrote the article didn't mean it in a bad way, but why are we Jews of Color "exotic looking"? What makes us exotic? That's what I want to know. First of all, what does the word “exotic” mean? I looked up the definition of the word exotic online (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exotic). There were three entries for exotic. There were three entries listed. The word exotic can be used as an adjective, a noun, or to describe a certain breed of cat. So here are the definitions of exotic: “1: introduced from another country : not native to the place where found ; 2: archaic : foreign, alien; 3: strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual; 4: of or relating to striptease; 1: one (as a plant or animal) that is exotic; 2: stripteaser; 3: exotic shorthair

Hot Topic And here are the words that are related to exotic: “Synonyms: bizarro, fantastic (also fantastical), glamorous (also glamourous), marvelous (or marvellous), outlandish, romantic, strange, curio, curiosity, objet d'art (also objet), oddity, oddment, rarity Related Words: found object, objet trouvé; curiosa, ephemera, virtu (or vertu); marvel, prodigy, rara avis, rare bird, wonder; abnormality, anomaly, freak, monster, monstrosity; malformation, mutant, mutation” So look at the definitions and the related words.....go ahead take your time.....do you or would you like to be described as "exotic looking" ? If you do, then I take it you don’t have a problem with being described as exotic and I respect your view. Me? Not so much...yes there are some nice related words like "glamourous" or "marvelous" but then the other related words and synonyms that are listed are words that I don't think I would like to be described as. Words like “bizarre”, “oddity”, or “strange” are not words that I want to be described as. They mean the same thing as exotic. So no, I don't want to be described as exotic. And I don't think you want to be either. And why are our names also described as “exotic”? What’s wrong with my name “Talisha” or “Emmanuelle” or “Barack” or “Shias”? People of color whether Jewish or not are beautiful people. We have nothing to be ashamed of and I wish that everyone could see that beauty isn’t just one specific thing or group of people. Yes there are certain things that distinguish one group of people from the other but when you bleed we all bleed the same color blood red-unless you’re the Hulk, then your blood would be green. So next time when someone describes you or another Jew of Color as "exotic looking", you might think twice about it. You could also JOC slap them but I'm not advocating violence, you could just JOC slap them with your words.

Above: Emmanuelle Chriqui (Photo courtesy of http://www.dailymakeover.com/hairstyles/all_womens_looks/emmanuelle_chriqui_july_09_2009)

Spirituality

Spotlight: Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan was a noted American Orthodox Rabbi, writer, and physicist. He is widely viewed as an original thinker and prolific writer. His work ranged from the studies of the Torah, Talmud, and mysticism to the introductory pamphlets on Jewish beliefs and philosophy that was aimed at non-religious and newly religious Jews. He was also known for his intimate knowledge of Kabbalah which the rabbi himself utilized (the meditation form of Kabbalah) on a daily basis.

Breslov’s Rabbi Nachman’s Tikkun. Rabbi Kaplan produced the first ever English translation of Sichot HaRan (Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom) which Rabbi Rosenfeld edited. Also Rabbi Kaplan translated and annotated Until the Mashiach: The Life of Rabbi Nachman for the Breslov Research Institute that was founded by Rabbi Rosenfeld’s son-in-law Chaim Kramer. From 1976 onward, Rabbi Kaplan’s major activity was the English translation of the anthology Me’am Lo’ez from Hebrew which had been translated from Ladino (Judaeo-Spanish) in 1967. In 1981, Rabbi Kaplan completed The Living Torah which was a new translation of the five books of Moses and the Haftarot. In 1983, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan died suddenly of a heart attack at the young age of 48.

He was born in the Bronx, New York City to a Sefardi Recanati family from Solonika, Greece in October 23, 1934. He studied at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn and continued his studies in Israel at the Mir yeshiva in Jerusalem. He was ordained by the foremost rabbinic authorities that included Rabbi Eliezer Yehudah Finkel. He then earned his Master’s degree in Physics and was listed as Who’s Who in Physics in the U.S. as a graduate student. Later on, he briefly worked as a lab assistant and then attempted to serve as a Rabbi in a Conservative congregation in upstate New York near Albany. He also spent a year as a full-time abstract painter and then spent another year as a first grade teacher in Louisville.

During his lifetime he had written almost 50 books on various topics such as prayer, Jewish marriage and meditation. In finding and pulling Jewish sources for his books, he once remarked, “I use my physics background to analyze and systematize data, very much as a physicist would deal with physical reality.” This ability enabled him to undertake these monumental projects and produce the number of books that he wrote which are highly praised even now. His works are often regarded as a huge force in the growth of the baal teshuva movement-the return to Jewish observance. He once remarked “Throughout history, Jews have always been observant, the teshuvah movement is just normalization. The

Rabbi Kaplan was first published when he was commissioned by NCSY (National Council of Synagogue Youth)-the official youth the group of the Union of Orthodox Congregations-to write several pamphlets. These short writings were a huge success, and established him as an original thinker. Later, he worked with his major influence Rabbi Zvi Aryeh Rosenfeld to translate and annotate Rabbi Nachman of

Spirituality Jewish people are sort of getting their act together. We’re just doing what we’re supposed to do.” A colleague of Kaplan’s Rabbi Pinchas Stopler, described him as never fearing to speak his mind. “He saw harmony between science and Judaism, where many others saw otherwise. He put forward creative and original ideas and hypotheses, all the time anchoring them in classical works of rabbinic literature." Even though he is gone, Rabbi Kaplan’s works continue to attract many readers from all aspects of life. His works are read and studied by beginners as well as by scholars. His works have been translated into Russian, Modern Hebrew, French, and Spanish. If you would like to get a small taste of how the Rabbi was like go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAB19Jyp1BA to watch two clips of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan & Dr. Russell Barber discuss Jewish Mysticism on The First Estate broadcast on WNBC-TV channel 4 in 1979 which was recorded on a VHS tape. You can also visit this website http://www.aryehkaplan.com/ to view the video and receive information about the many works and books that he wrote. Another great example of the rabbi’s prolific ability as a writer read “The Aryeh Kaplan Reader” it’s a collection of his essays. http://www.ou.org/publications/kaplan.html is another site to gain information about his books and the man himself. If you would like to read some of the rabbi’s books, go to www.FreeJewishBooks.com. There’s no shipping and handling it’s all free. The only downside is that you can only get one free book at a time and you can only get one every three months. This site also has many books by Rabbi Kaplan and by others.

Center: The late Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. Photo courtesy of http://www.jinsider.com/videos/vid/130-examined-life/7774collectible-rabbi-aryeh-kaplan-interview.html Above: Books by the Rabbi. Photo courtesy of http://www.eilatgordinlevitan.com/kurenets/k_pages/kaplan.html

Spirituality

Discussion Series: Maimonides’ Principles The Fundamentals of Jewish Faith Starting this month, we will begin a discussion series on a variety of topics in Judaism. Our first topic will be about Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Faith which also form the basis of the well known synagogue hymn Yigdal. The main text source that we will be using will be Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s book Maimonides’ Principles: The Fundamentals of Jewish Faith. To obtain a copy simply sign up at www.FreeJewishBooks.com and order a free copy of the book from the site (shipping & handling are free). If you do not have a copy of the book, a copy of the hymn Yigdal is just as useful. The discussion questions will come from Rabbi Kaplan’s book. We will be also having live streaming of the discussions on Ustream.tv. There are 13 principles so each month we will be covering 1-2 principles. I hope that this discussion series will be of value to you and that we will continue to do discussion series in the magazine. If you have any questions/comments/complaints/suggestions, etc. please contact me. Here is the first principle and the discussion questions for it. Enjoy. The First Principle: I believe with perfect faith that G-D is the Creator and ruler of all things. He alone has made, does make, and will make all things. Yigdal: Great is the Living G-D, and praised, He exists, yet His existence has no time. Discussion Questions: 1. How do we define G-D? 2. Why do we say that G-D is both Creator & Ruler? Is it possible that He be one without being the other? Are there religions or philosophies that only believe in one of these two facets?

3. What do we mean when we say that G-D is perfect in every possible way? 4. We say that G-D does not need His creation. If so, why did He create the world? What do we say of a person when he does something that he is not required to do? How does this relate to G-D?

Spirituality 1. What do we mean when we say that nothing is as real as G-D? 2. The first of the Ten Commandments reads, “I am the Lord your G-D, who took you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.” Why is the Exodus mentioned in this commandment and not creation itself? That is why does the first commandment not say, “I am the Lord your G-D who created you?” 3. Maimonides (Rambam) counts “I am the Lord” as a commandment to believe in G-D. How is it possible for G-D to command us to believe in Him? What purpose does this commandment serve? 4. Nachmanides (Ramban) disputes Maimonides and contends that belief in G-D is the foundation of our faith and therefore cannot be considered a mere commandment. Discuss both options. 5. Discuss the verse in Yigdal in light of this principle. Is time also included among the things that depend on G-D?

Photo: The book that we will be using during this discussion series. Photo courtesy of http://www.freejewishbooks.com/index.php?page=book_details&bid=64 Principle, Yigdal, & Discussion questions from Maimonides Principles The Fundamentals of Jewish Faith By Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, pgs. 13 & 15. Copyright 1984.

Food

Kosher Recipes for Thanksgiving These kosher Thanksgiving recipes can help you to prepare an easy, delicious, and kosher Thanksgiving meal for your family and friends. Here are some recipes that will enrich your table with warmth and joy.

Kosher Turkey with Challah Stuffing From Lisa Katz, former About.com Guide staffer. Ingredients:   

Turkey: 1 10-12 pound turkey 2 large onions, sliced           

   

2 stalks celery, sliced 1 cup water 1/2 tsp salt Stuffing: 4 cups cubed challah 1/4 cup oil or margarine 2 stalks celery, finely diced 1 onion, finely diced 1 cup canned mushrooms, drained and finely diced 2 eggs, beaten 1 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper

Basting: 3/4 cup oil 1 Tbsp. paprika salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

rack over vegetables.

Turkey: 1. Buy a turkey large enough for family and friends - at least a pound for each person. Then add a few extra pounds for leftovers. 2. A frozen turkey will take 24 hours to defrost for every five pounds. Defrost in the refrigerator; Never thaw a turkey at room temperature. A 20-pound turkey will take 4 days to defrost. 3. Rinse turkey and pat dry. 4. Place sliced onions and celery on bottom of roasting pan. Add water and salt, then place a

Stuffing: 1. Soak challah in hot water until soft, squeeze out water. 2. Heat margarine in skillet. Sauté vegetables for about 5 minutes. 3. Mix challah and vegetables. Add beaten eggs and spices. Mix well. 4. Stuff into turkey. Bake extra stuffing in greased dish along with turkey, basting with drippings. Cooking and Basting:

Food 1. Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in roasting pan. 2. Place in a preheated 325 degrees Fahrenheit oven. 3. Baste with the oil and spice mixture to ensure the turkey will be evenly browned. 4. When the skin is a light golden color and the turkey is about two-thirds done, shield the breast loosely with a tent of lightweight foil to prevent overcooking of the breast. 5. Cook until juices run clear. The turkey is done when 180 degrees Fahrenheit is reached in the thigh, 160 degrees Fahrenheit in the breast, or 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the center of the stuffing. Some recommend cooking 15-20 minutes a pound (less if the turkey is unstuffed and more if it is stuffed), but using a meat thermometer is the best method for knowing how long to cook the turkey. 6. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before carving

Sweet & Savory Bread Pudding Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis, 2008 from the Food Network. Prep Time: 12 min Cook Time: 45 min Serves: 6 to 8 servings Ingredients             

2 tablespoons butter, plus extra for greasing the pan 1 pound butternut squash, peeled, and cut into 3/4inch pieces 4 parsnips, peeled, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces Kosher salt for seasoning Freshly ground black pepper for seasoning 1 (1 pound) loaf brioche, challah, or sourdough bread, cut or torn into 1-inch pieces 3 cups heavy cream 8 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup brandy 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons cinnamon 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped

Food Directions: Set an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. Set aside. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the butternut squash and parsnips. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until slightly softened. Set aside to cool. Add the bread to a large bowl. In another bowl mix together the heavy cream, eggs, brandy, vegetable oil, brown sugar, cinnamon and thyme. Pour the cream mixture over the bread and toss gently to coat. Add the cooked vegetables and toss until the bread is coated. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the bread pudding is puffed and golden.

Jerusalem Noodle Kugel Recipe courtesy of KosherDelight.com Ingredients: ½ pound thin eggs noodles ¹/³ cup sugar ¹/³ cup oil 3 large eggs, beaten Salt, black pepper, garlic to taste. Directions:

Grease 9 X 13-inch baking pan Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain . In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and oil. Cook over low heat until caramelized. Add the caramelized sugar to the noodles and stir until all the noodles are coated. Add the beaten eggs and season with the spices. Pour the noodles into the pan and bake for about 45 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.

Food

Pear-Cranberry Sauce Recipe Courtesy of KosherDelight.com Yield: 2 servings. Serving size about 1/3 cup

Ingredients:     

1/3 cup fresh cranberries 3 tbsp water 2 pears, peeled and coarsely chopped 1 tbsp sugar 1/4 tsp grated orange rind

Directions:

1. Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan. Cover and cook over low heat 25 minutes or until cranberries pop, stirring occasionally.

2. Remove from heat; Stir in sugar and rind. Cool to room temperature.

Photo courtesy Microsoft Office Word 2007 Clip Art

Food

Apple Pie Recipe courtesy of KosherDelight.com Ingredients:        

7 tart apples, peeled & cored 1 cup white sugar 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, or to taste 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg Salt to taste 2 recipes unbaked pie shells 1 tablespoons parve margarine

Directions:     

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) Cut the apples into ¼ in. slices. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, flour, nutmeg, & salt; mix thoroughly. Pour the spice mix over the apples & stir until apples are coated. Line one crust in a 9 in. deep dish pie pan. Place the apples in the pie crust. Dot the apple filling evenly with margarine. Fit the top crust over the apples. Press the crust down gently & cut 3 or 4 slits in the top curst to allow steam to escape while the pie bakes. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 min. or until the crust is golden brown. Check the pie after the first 30 min. of cooking: if the crust is already browned reduce the heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to allow the apples to cook without the crust burning.

Photo courtesy Microsoft Office Word 2007 Clip Art

Fashion

How to Get Clothes At Real Bargain Prices So you’re shopping and you see an outfit that you catches your eye. You try it on, and it fits and you look good in it, and then you see the price tag: it’s $75! Should you get it now or should you wait for the price to go down and get it later? Some of you would probably buy it now, while the rest of you would get it at a later date. What would I do? I would wait, and that’s what I always do when I go shopping. I buy my clothes at bargain prices. When I say bargain prices, I mean real bargain prices. Remember a few years ago when Vera Wang was on Oprah and she was showcasing her new clothing line that would be sold in Kohl’s? I was sitting there watching the show, excited and thinking “Alright, now I can go and get some nice Vera Wang stuff for decent prices.” And that’s what the audience was thinking while the first model walked up the runway. That is until Oprah asked Vera the price of the outfit and then the audience’s mouths dropped and so did mine. It was still unaffordable and out of my price range. I mean, yeah, Oprah could afford it and so could a few other people. But me? No way. Even, if I had the money I couldn’t fathom buying clothes for that price. It’s just wrong! I think people spend too much time worrying about keeping up with their neighbors and their neighbors are too worried about keeping up with them. Yeah everyone wants to be en vogue and keep up with the fashion trends, but it is one thing to do that when you can afford to and it’s another thing to do it when you can’t. You can be fashionable and stylist without getting into debt. I’m no expert, but I wanted to share a few tips about how you can get some really nice expensive outfits for real bargain prices. Tip #1: Wait. That’s what I said. Yes, a lot of fashion trends come and go, and the majority of them are things that people say “WTH?” Fashion is here to stay and it’s not going anywhere. It’s ever changing. Create your own personal style and just wait on buying those clothes. The outfit will still be there when you return to the store, and the price will go down considerably and when you buy it later than now you’ll save a lot of money. Tip #2: Head for the clearance rack. Anytime I enter a store, I make my way to the back where the clearance racks are. It doesn’t matter if the store is MaxRave or Macy’s I scan the horizon for the clearance signs and BAM! I’m there. There is a reason why the stores put the clearance racks in the back. They want people to buy the newer stuff that’s in the front! Eventually those new entries will end up in the clearance racks where people like me purchase them for cheaper prices instead of paying full price for them. Trust me, there’s no shame in hovering around the clearance rack. Tip#3: Wait! Again? Heck yeah again! Even if the nice outfit is on the clearance rack, it doesn’t mean you go and buy it. Sometimes things are on the rack but they’ve only been marked down once. If you wait a little bit more, that outfit might be marked down two-three more times! So yeah, I know patience is a virtue that not everyone has but it is worthwhile in the end.

Fashion Shopping can be a pain the butt, and it’s a battlefield out there trying to buy nice things while trying not to spend all of your money. With these strategies, you can win every battle. Whether you’re shopping at more pricey stores like Macy’s or Kohl’s; or you’re shopping at cheaper places like Ross, MaxRave, Charlotte Russe, and Forever21; by using these 3 tips, you can get real nice clothes at real bargain prices. Take a look below to see a few clothes & accessories that I bought at real bargain prices:

From left to right: My purple/black gothic dress from Forever 21: Originally $29.00 I paid: $8.99; My white dress from Macy’s: Originally $59.00 I paid: $8.47; and my American Eagle shoes from Payless: Originally $24.99 I paid: $6.00! Photos courtesy of Talisha Harrison

Movies

Punk Jews: The Movement, The People, The Documentary When you hear the word “punk” what pops into your head first? Rebellious teenagers, crazy hairstyles like purple Mohawks, the Ramones? What pops into your head when you hear the words “punk Jews”? You might be thinking, What? Those two don’t go together! Actually, they do. The New York Punk scene was primarily led by Jews. There was a significant over-representation of Jews in the first wave of New York punks. From Lou Reed, Joey and Tommy Ramone, Suicide's Martin Rev and Alan Vega, Jonathan Richman, to the Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye, and Blondie's Chris Stein, the list of Jewish punk notables is lengthy, and impressive. Now in 2010, there is a new movement of punk arising, and it’s emerging from the radical Judaism scene in New York. These are the Punk Jews. What are punk Jews? Brooklyn-based filmmaker and Emmy-Award winning documentary producer and cinematographer Jesse Zook Mann, describes Punk Jews as, "People owning their heritage, being creative with it, having fun with it—and doing so at any cost." He and his partners Evan Kleinman-an Emmy nominated producer, and Co-Producer Saul Sudin (writer & director of Jurotrip: “A Jewish, Historical, & Artistic perspective on a trip through the Northwestern Mediterranean” and The Stetson Pin.) have come together to create a documentary series of Punk Jews. On their website (www.punkjews.com), Punk Jews is described as “a documentary series featuring stories of people expressing Jewish culture and religion in unconventional, and awesome ways. From musicians to artists and activists, Punk Jews covers badass politics, music, art, fashion, philosophy, and religion that you can't see anywhere else.” Among the Punk Jews featured in the documentary series are: Cholent-a group of singing, dancing, music-playing, debating hasidic Jews, that meet once a week to pray; Y-Love-a 30-year-old half African-American, half Puerto Rican orthodox Jewish rapper who draws crowds at shows around town; Rivka Karasik, a 34-year-old mixed media artist who left her orthodox upbringing to experiment with religion through art; and Levi Okunov, who also left the hasidic community to experiment with controversial women's clothing that contrasts revealing cuts with traditional symbols. Each documentary will be posted online on their website. To view a sample of their work, or to donate to the cause, go to the website. Punk Jews is a transformative movement that is just getting started. Look for more of it to come. Photo: Levi Okunov Photo courtesy of www.coolhunting.com

Art

Artist Spotlight: Sabina Saad Sabina Saad is an Israeli artist whose work speaks volumes. She uses her art to talk about antiSemitism, the Holocaust, and to express all aspects of Judaism. Her art is also inspired by the four members of her family who hid during the Nazi regime in Italy. She tells their story in Italian: “In 1934, the Alexander family that included my grandfather, Paul Leopold, my grandmother Margareta, my uncle Hans, My mother Anni, fled from Leipzig, Germany. They fled to Milan in Italy and remained there until 1939 when my grandfather was arrested. After a month in the jail St. Vittore he was transferred to the concentration camp in Ferramonti in Calabria in south Italy. After three years he was transferred to Fanzolo in the area of Treviso. The other family members joined him in 1943, thinking that the war ended since the Italians surrendered to the Allies. However, the Germans invaded Italy and the family was compelled to find a hideaway. Firstly, they hid in the attic of Tessaro family, and later in the attic of their sister in law Olivia. After the Germans located their headquarters nearby, the small family (with the help of Reverend Don Giuseppe Casarin) found refuge in the Temple of the Madonna Del Caravaggio, where they stayed until the end of the war, and thus they were saved. I, Sabina Saad, the daughter of Anni Alexander, have four children: Kuki, Itai, Noa and Eliel and six grandsons. I live in Israel. My cousin Roberto, the son of Hans, lives in Switzerland and has two children: Jonah and Elianah. Paul Leopold Alexander 1893-1967 & Margareta Alexander 1896-1952.” Sabina lived in Italy for many years before moving to Israel. She now lives in Ramot Meir, Israel. Her artwork is featured on this month’s cover and is entitled Color Doesn’t Matter You are always a Jew. It’s from 2008 from her Dialogue with a Symbol Collection. To view her works online, here are some sites to visit: http://star-of-david.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeHT8ju6g1Y http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeevveez/tags/sabinasaad/

Above: Artwork by Sabina Saad. From left to right Butterfly, 2008; Beads, 2008; Without Words, 2008. Photos courtesy of zeevveez’s photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeevveez/).

Community Happenings

Resources Here are some helpful organizations & people that can give you more info, and help you stay connected to the JOC Community. If you know of any more resources please contact me so I can add them to the resources section each month.

Jewish Multiracial Network

www.zincplatepres.com

http://www.jewishmultiracialnetwork.org/

Jews of Color Roundtable via The Jewish Channel

Beâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chol Lashon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suWNpe RSuKU

Is an organization that grows & strengthens the Jewish people through ethnic, cultural, & racial inclusiveness.

MochaJuden

http://www.bechollashon.org/

This website was created by a Jewish Black German Woman. This is a wonderful site!

MaNishtana http://mochajuden.com http://www.manishtana.net/ mochajuden@gmail.com http://www.youtube.com/user/MaNishtanaT V

Center for Afro-Jewish Studies (CAJS)

Aliza Hausman

http://www.temple.edu/isrst/Affiliates/CAJS. asp

www.alizahausman.net Lacey Schwartz

A Mixedjewgirl World: Where race meets Judaism, gender, class, & popular culture.

www.outsidetheboxproject.com

http://mixedjewgirl.wordpress.com/

Akira Ohiso

Black & Jewish: A Community for Jews of Color

www.ohiso.com http://www.blackandjewish.com/bajpages/ba jindex.html

Community Happenings

Upcoming Events Here are the latest events coming to a city near you! Please let me know of any events that are going on in your local community! November 6-7, 2010 Book Fest SFJCC, 3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA November 7, 2010 Global Day of Learning with LimmudLA at the Shalom Institute 34342 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu, CA November 21, 2010 Chanukah Fair at Netivot Shalom 1316 University Ave, Berkeley, CA January 11, 2011 Undoing the Inquisition, featuring Rabbi Juan Mejia 92nd Street Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd, New York City January 30, 2011 Yom Limmud: Community Day of Learning San Diego, CA

Community Happenings

Announcements Since we are part of the community, we want to be able to share any announcements that you would like to make. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a joyous occasion-a birth, a bar/bat mitzvah, a marriage, a graduation, or an anniversary-we will print it in the magazine for a small fee of $1.00 per announcement. If you happen-G-D forbid-to have a death-we will print the obituary in the magazine free of charge so everyone in the community can say a prayer. Yahrzeits will also be printed for free. If you want to just give a shout out to anybody that is $.50 per shout out. Advertising: Advertising in throughout the magazine is also available. A whole page is just $5.00, Â˝ a page is $2.50, and anything smaller is a $1.50.