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…
Tag: Aliza Hausman
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…
Shabbat is for Shtupping
By Aliza Hausman From Friday night to Saturday night, I observe Shabbat, you know the Jewish Sabbath, most stringently. No Twitter. No Facebook. No Blackberry. For 25 hours I am sucked into, what I like to call, a technological black…
I don’t wear pants anymore
Aliza on Pants Jews are funny. That’s what people keep telling me. But I wasn’t born Jewish. I was born Dominican. So if we’re going by genes here, I’m probably really good at baseball and shimmying my hips. Not so…