Journalism
Some of my recent work, organized by category.
Latest rap beef wraps in Drake, rhinoplasty and pastrami
“It doesn’t make sense that the most prominent Black Jew in entertainment is going through this right now,” said Y-Love, the rapper and content creator who is also Black and Jewish.
Rapper Nissim Black blesses crowd in first Bay Area show
Nissim Black has a minhag before he performs: The Orthodox rapper recites a blessing on stage. The custom is a way to make amends for his past as a gang member and gangsta rapper in Seattle who “used to do the opposite of making blessings.”
How Jessica Cohen became the go-to English translator of Israeli literature
Over the past 25 years, Cohen has translated more than 30 books and dozens of shorter works by some of the most renowned Israeli writers, including Amos Oz, Etgar Keret, Dorit Rabinyan, Ronit Matalon and Nir Baram.
Feeling triggered: Local Jews join post-Oct. 7 event to practice shooting
Branden Johnson grew up in a gun-owning family in Oregon. His mother and stepfather had several rifles and pistols, and they would head to a range in Eugene for target practice. Yet Johnson never had the slightest interest in joining them.
L.A. musician Jenni Asher studying to be first ordained Black woman cantor
When she graduates next year, Asher will become the first Black American woman ordained as a cantor — and one of only two Black cantors in the country, according to the other one, Cantor David Fair.
Meet two Bay Area Jews whose paths to Judaism went through Rastafari
To mark the release this week of “Bob Marley: One Love,” a biopic about perhaps the most famous Rastafarian, J. spoke with two local Black Jews who found their way to Judaism through Rastafari.
Who is behind ‘God’s Gang,’ a new multifaith animated show that plays with Jewish and other stereotypes?
"God's Gang" features Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu characters, each with a unique superpower associated with their religion, squaring off against mad scientists and aliens.
For a Righteous Cause Report: Reviving the Black-Jewish Alliance
In the year following the Ye and Kyrie Irving antisemitism controversies, some heartening progress was made to repair the historical Black-Jewish alliance.
Civil rights icon Bayard Rustin, subject of Netflix biopic, was ally to Jews and Israel
“He felt very loyal to Jews because they supported the Civil Rights Movement financially and emotionally and by directly participating in it,” said Nancy Kates, the Berkeley-based director of a 2002 documentary about Rustin.
Graphic novelist tells story of Jewish and Native American girl
“I wish people would just not see Native Americans as foreign. We are your neighbors. We’re in your synagogues. We’re there davening next to you.”
Black Israelis mobilized for their country — as soldiers, volunteers and social media warriors
A group of Black Israelis in their 20s and early 30s have been vigorously defending Israel online — and in English — since its war with Hamas began on Oct. 7.
St. Louis bar mitzvah serves as a bridge between Jews and Hebrew Israelites
During his d’var Torah, on the theme of showing respect for others, he acknowledged Ben Ammi Ben Israel, the late spiritual leader of his community who was known as “Abba Gadol,” or “Great Father.”