My sister-in-law is 7. My husband is 27. People can’t control themselves when they hear this so they always ask, “Are they from the same father?” Sigh. Yes, yes, they are. Please ask me more because who doesn’t want to talk about…
Author: Aliza Hausman
Aliza Hausman is a Dominican-American Latina and Orthodox Jewish convert (Jewminicana for short!), freelancer writer, blogger and speaker. Her blog chronicles Alizahausman.net her thoughts on being Hispanic/Latino and Jewish and looks at issues related to identity, Judaism, Jews of color, race, conversion, culture, diversity, muliticulturalism, writing, reading, films, news and much, much more….
Saying “No” to Drugs
Has anyone ever noticed the difference between what black and Hispanic people tell their kids about drugs and what white people tell their kids? I was listening to this white Jewish author talk about what she tells her kids. It’s…
Sighting: The Black Jew
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…
Aliza’s Guide to Interracial Dating
As a Latina and now a Jew, I write for both audiences. But a case of writer’s block has gotten me nowhere on an article I was supposed to be writing about interracial dating for a Latino audience weeks ago.…
When I told my family I wanted to be Jewish
Coming out to my family was difficult. Especially since I wasn’t telling them I was gay, I was just telling them I wanted to be Jewish. I was 14 the first time I told my mother I wanted to be…
Living Life from Under My Jewfro
I am a self-described Jewminicana—a Jewish American Dominican hybrid, who grew up Dominican in New York and converted to Judaism. I make identity seem like an extreme sport. Either people are really uncomfortable around me (“You can’t be Jewish and…
The Rastafarian Beret and Other Adventures in Hair Covering
Growing up, I thought obsessing about hair was a “Dominican thing.” Later, I found out it was also a “black thing.” And after converting to Judaism, I realized it was also a “Jewish thing.” I can remember back to a…