About Me

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I’m an American freelance journalist focusing on religion, race, and their intersection.

Previously I was a staff writer at Haaretz and editor of the blog Jewish&.

Over the last two decades, I’ve had the privilege of attending and covering a Samaritan Passover sacrifice on Mount Gerizim in the West Bank, an African migrant church service in Tel Aviv, a Hebrew Israelite festival in Dimona, a Karaite Torah dedication ceremony in Northern California, and the 100th anniversary celebration of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. I’ve also written extensively about Jews of color in the United States.

My work has been recognized with awards from the American Jewish Press Association and the San Francisco Press Club.

Since 2009, I’ve been reporting on the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, a spiritual community of African American expatriates in Israel. I’m currently working on a book about the community.

I have a BA from Harvard in African and African American Studies and a MA from Tel Aviv University in Middle East and North African History. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my wife and daughter.

Featured Stories

Cantor Jenni Asher
First Black American Woman Ordained as Cantor Vows to ‘Inspire Others to Sing’
Raised Christian in Southern California, Jenni Asher embraced Judaism as an adult – a path that led her to two conversions and a historic cantorial ordination.
Lilaq Logan poses in front of an Iron Dome unit. (Courtesy IDF Spokesperson's Office)
The Israeli army once excluded African Hebrew Israelites. Now one is an IDF social media star.
How did a young Hebrew woman become one of the public faces of the IDF? And what does it mean for her and her community?
Clockwise from top left: The Beastie Boys, Doja Cat and Rick Rubin, shown with Russell Simmons, are a few of the prominent Jewish figures from the first 50 years of hip-hop. (Getty Images; Design by Mollie Suss)
From Rick Rubin to Doja Cat, Jews have helped shape the first 50 years of hip-hop
Many Jewish rappers have left their mark on hip-hop culture, but the biggest contributions that Jews have made collectively to hip-hop may have been on the business side.
Attendees participate in a High Holidays tashlich ceremony organized by Jews on Ohlone Land in Berkeley. (Photo/Brooke Anderson)
Local Jewish activists are standing with Bay Area Indigenous people
A growing number of Bay Area Jews are engaging in activism around Indigenous rights, raising uncomfortable questions about their privilege in benefiting from colonialism and the genocide of Native Americans.

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“Truth has the inherent power to produce the promised effects.”

Ben Ammi Ben Israel