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  Be’chol Lashon Newsletter: August 2010
They are African-Americans and Orthodox Jews, a rare cross-cultural hybrid that seems quintessentially Brooklyn, but received little notice until last week, after Yoseph Robinson, a Jamaican-born convert, was killed during a robbery attempt at the kosher liquor store where he worked.
Nell Irvin Painter's, "The History of White People," traces characterizations of the lighter-skinned people we call white today. Most ancient peoples defined population differences culturally, not physically, and often regarded lighter people as less civilized. Painter has written an unusual study: an intellectual history, with occasional excursions to examine vernacular usage, for popular audiences.
In Mexico City, on the same day that a US federal appeals court put same-sex weddings on hold, the nation's Supreme Court upheld a law that allows gay couples in the capital to adopt children. The gay adoption decision comes a week after the court upheld the constitutionality in general of gay marriage.
Some Jews fear that the societal openness confirmed by high-profile intermarriages like that of Ms. Clinton and Mr. Mezvinsky, or Caroline Kennedy and Edwin A. Schlossberg in 1986, prod more Jews to marry out of their faith.
The Andersons converted to Judaism four years ago via an interesting and poignant journey. Mark was adopted. When Mark learned that his mother was Jewish, he called a friend and said, "Guess what? I'm Jewish."
At a recent Friday night service at Beth Meier, a small Conservative synagogue in Studio City, a woman and her two grown daughters read, in voices that conveyed controlled fury, a lengthy list of those killed in a horrendous terrorist attack.
The time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a traditional period of reflection and renewal, is an ideal opportunity to kick-off an exciting initiative that will inspire self-introspection and contemplation of our relationship to the earth, ourselves and the community in which we live.
Through desert sands, visa lines, bus rides and the pressing patience of waiting, Natty Mitali arrived at the gates of Zion. The young guitarist had taken the bus from Cairo, dusty and hard-skinned, a journey that had begun further south, near the heart of Africa.
Jewish converts battered by storm seek help from co-religionists abroad. Although the Jews of Casa Hillel were forced to abandon their place of worship, which sits only two blocks away from the massive gaping hole, they did not leave without their Torah, prayer books and extensive library of Jewish literature.
Marhabi misses his sister, Lea, who disappeared several months ago. Marhabi claims she was abducted, forced to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim. Some six weeks ago, he returned to Yemen to look for Lea, and saw firsthand how Jews were living in a country where al-Qaeda cells roam free. 
Jewish Choral Singing Predictive of High Jewish Community InvolvementeJewish Philanthropy, August 20, 2010 Singers often quip that they “do it in harmony,” but the first survey ever conducted of Jewish choral activity in North America demonstrates that the harmony achieved refers not to the sounds they produce with other singers but to the integration of their Jewish and musical lives. 
The New Face of Hip-Hop In rapid fashion Drake has become part of hip-hop’s DNA, leapfrogging any number of more established rappers. Then there’s his subject matter: not violence or drugs or street-corner bravado. Instead emotions are what fuel Drake, 23, who has an almost pathological gift for connection. 
How Matisyahu's Hasidic Reggae Music Made Me Cry "Agas," featuring David Dan, a Jewish Jamaican singer from the UK, explores relationships, confusion, finding true love and having faith in G-d. The music video was recorded in the UK as a part of the "Light It Up" project.
After the successful opening in July, The Tobin Health Center is in full swing, helping patients and training medical staff. Check out the amazing video from the opening. Support the Jews of Uganda and keep the health center running and affordable by making a donation here.
Be'chol Lashon is launching a new, in-depth study of Bay Area individuals and families as part of a 10-year assessment of programming. Look for the online survey in your email soon!
Be'chol Lashon is partnering with Aardvark Israel to offer opportunities for Jewish students from around the world to participate in an exciting semester or year in Israel. Learn more | Help students participate Be'chol Lashon advocates for a global understanding of the Jewish people that reflects contemporary identity. Get the word out there! Support diversity by putting a banner on your website and connect with Jews around world by joining the new Be'chol Lashon social network!
Be'chol Lashon is now on Twitter! Follow us at www.twitter.com/bechollashon. Become a fan of Be'chol Lashon on facebook: facebook.com/bechollashon. We welcome your participation in the Be’chol Lashon Newsletter! Please send us information about events in your community or articles of interest that relate to Jewish diversity. E-mail Esther Fishman. Submissions are subject to editing for content, clarity and style. Special thanks to all the contributors who make the newsletter interesting and informative. |
