Archive for March 2012
Clearing the Chametz
Posted by: erika on: March 31, 2012
It’s not secret that I love Mayim Bialik. I’ve been following her blog on Kveller for as long as I can remember. Of course, being a child of the 90s I watched Blossom and thought she was the coolest. She wrote this amazing piece for Kveller that I want to share with you. Shabbat Shalom. [...]
Mixed Mulitudes on Pesach
Posted by: erika on: March 29, 2012
Written for the Pursue blog The other day I had an interesting conversation with one of my friends about Passover. She’d just received an invitation to attend the seder of a perfect stranger—well, almost a perfect stranger. During a business interaction, my friend’s client, who is an identifiable Orthodox Jewish woman, noticed my friend, somewhat [...]
Let All Who Are Hungry Eat!
Posted by: erika on: March 25, 2012
- In: Jewish Holidays | Judaism | Pesach
- 1 Comment
The past few weeks seemed to have sped by at lightening pace. Some how I find myself eleven days away from Passover and quite honestly unprepared. Yes, I’ve started to remove the chametz from my home, I did an initial deep clean, I’ve pestered people who haven’t yet RSVPed to my seder and am putting [...]
What Does a Jew Look Like?
Posted by: erika on: March 22, 2012
What does a Jew look like? Answer: like anyone you might see on the street. Whatever ethnicity, whatever denomination, a Jew is someone who calls themselves a Jew. Saying that someone does or does not “look like a Jew” is inaccurate, stereotyping, and downright offensive, and in fact stems from anti-Semitic propaganda. This blog is [...]
Happy Spring!
Posted by: erika on: March 20, 2012
Today is the first official day of spring, though for New Yorkers it’s as if we went from fall directly into spring. With only two snow falls this year, a 60 degree day on January 1st and today’s highs reaching for the 70s I’m beginning to think that I live in San Francisco and not [...]
What to Expect at a Seder
Posted by: erika on: March 16, 2012
- In: Jewish Food | Jewish Holidays | Mitzvot | Pesach
- 2 Comments
Disclaimer: I am, in no way shape or form an expert on Judaism. There are a wide variety of resources for Jewish thought, holidays, traditions. I’m just one Jewish woman sharing my thoughts and reflections on my personal experiences. This post does not reflect what you will find at the most traditional Pesach Seders. If [...]
Want to find the Messiah? You’ll Need a QR Code for That.
Posted by: erika on: March 15, 2012
Walking through, around, and under R. Justin Stewart’s sculptural installation, “Distorting (a messiah project, 13C),” doesn’t immediately bring to mind the idea of the ‘messiah’—though, as Stewart’s website explains, the “intricate web of fleece, rope, and plastic is a three-dimensional representation of the concept of the messiah, as it existed in the 13th century.” Yet [...]
Do You Dress Modestly?
Posted by: erika on: March 14, 2012
I’ve talked about modest dressing before and am still struggling with ideas about it. I’m working on a post and I’d love the opinions of people who either do or do not dress modestly. Only four questions and it can remain anonymous. Please send me an e-mail if you want to help out. blackgayandjewish@gmail.com [...]
Remembering the Little Blessings
Posted by: erika on: March 12, 2012
מוֹדֶה (מוֹדָה) אֲנִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ מֶֽלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּים. שֶׁהֶֽחֱזַֽרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְחֶמְלָה. רַבָּה אֱמֽוּנָתֶֽךָ Modeh ani lifanekha melekh ḥai v’kayam sheheḥezarta bi nishmahti b’ḥemlah, rabah emunatekha. I offer thanks before you, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great. According to tradition, as soon as you open [...]
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