Mainstream media loves to glorify stories of Orthodox Jews who flee their communities. Reuven Fenton, a New York Post writer and second time novelist, flips the script on this trope. His new novel Goyhood, distributed by Simon and Schuster, tells the story of Georgia-born Mayer Belkin who thought he was a Jew, but finds out […]
Growing up, I didn’t have a strong religious background. I never would have expected to become an Orthodox Jew. Being non-affiliated was a choice my grandfather made that trickled down to my immediate family. Other Latino families had Catholic memorabilia donned all over their walls, but we didn’t. I was curious about God, and I […]
Even though I grew up in a Hindu household and was exposed to other polytheistic religions throughout my childhood, I always found myself praying to one God. This innate pull toward one God foreshadowed my eventual conversion to Orthodox Judaism. I was introduced to Judaism during my training as an auxiliary police officer for the […]
Last week, a Sephardic member of our shul (synagogue) asked me which Middle Eastern country my family comes from. “None,” I explained, “We’re Ashkanazi.” “Really?” he exclaimed, “I was certain you were Sephardic.” After this encounter, I got to thinking: despite being completely Ashkanazi, with both sides of my family hailing from Ukraine, Russia and […]
Dear Jew in the City- I’ve been wondering why matrilineal descent is how people are considered to be born Jewish. Do you have an explanation for it? Sincerely, Cameron Dear Cameron- Thanks for your question. Overly simplified, matrilineal descent means that “religion follows the mother.” A lot of people mistakenly think that, Biblically speaking, we […]
Nissim Black, the Orthodox Jewish rapper who has made a new life for himself and found new musical inspiration in Israel was recently interviewed by Sheinelle Jones on The Today Show. Raised in a non-Jewish household, Black started rapping as a teen and eventually found Orthodox Judaism as not just an outlet, but the answers […]
