Rachel Ramos……………………………………… 26

Rachel Ramos

she/her

“I have a weird relationship with appearance versus identity. I look super white, but I’m mostly Hispanic, and that has been a part of my

life for a long time. I feel like I come off as a little more white, Jewish Ashkenazi looking than the average Hispanic person, so when people see me versus hearing my name they will come through with preconceived notions of what I’m like.

Anyone can be Jewish, but because it has such a history of being rooted within certain cultural groups. There is a disconnect when you realize that anyone can be Jewish and it doesn't matter what you look like.

I'd also say being a member of the LGBTQ+ community has had an affect on my Jewish identity. Growing up as somebody who isn't the typical cisheterosexual female has changed the way that I read to the Torah and the way that I go about new traditions.”