See Maya’s “Jewish Women” video. Oy… *head-wall*

However, since they are minors I am not going to post any of their pictures without parental consent.

I would really like to give them the opportunity to reflect on their experiences in a public forum, so that other youth may be inspired.

So what I am going to do is post images of some of the pieces created and ask that if you are the parent of a JRF camper or a camper yourself and would like to participate in this dialog please contact me and we will move ahead accordingly.

many of which have really little to do with our religion.

nationalism, secularism, and certainly modern racism have created a lot of contradictory and confusing notions of what a Jew is.

The American mainstream media almost always depicts Jews as being pale and homogenous. (This is probably rooted in racist history circa 1920s, when American Jews, at that time mostly European immigrants, in the minds of the general public began to be lumped into the “white race”.) Hispanic Jews are in every major city in the US…but the Jewish characters in television and movies are never Hispanic. Or Black, or Asian. Unfortunately, I’ve observed that sometimes this leads to most non-Jews in America and a lot of Jews even to think of Jews that dont fit the TV stereotype as “exotic”. I feel the Jewish community needs to address this in a big way, because this situation is, in many instances, causing huge problems for Jews who don’t fit the stereotype.

For adults, the remarks or different treatment may be something they can at least endure. But for younger people facing the same problem, such alienation can be psychologically disastrous. If the American Jewish community is to continue to flourish (IY”H!), then some diversity training may be in order for Jewish professionals and eventually the Jewish community at large.

Your stereotype videos were very thought provoking, though, I gotta say, a bit disturbing. Perhaps that’s what you were going for.

Actually one of the pics are pretty provocative to me.. The one where you wear the kippah:o).. I can’t stand it.. I just don’t get why woman want to become like men.. But on the other side, it makes me think and wonder, and isn’t that what provoking is about? Even though it might not make people come to the conclusion the provoker would like to have them come to?

Kol Tov..

Peter..

Ps. You are halachic a jew no matter what people says.. And a goodlooking to, no matter what the anti-semites say..

I myself converted…so i’m not jewish by blood, but i am jewish by faith, and choose to incorporate it into my culture…but no matter what anyone says, i’m jewish. i’m also latina…but my biological father’s background is german and irish. i never identified with that side of my heritage because i was not raised by him. i was raised by my mexican-american mother and mexican-american step father. being a latina is all i know…however i do acknowledge that i am multi-cultural, but put emphasis on my latino roots. so even though, by blood i’m not 100 percent latina…that doesn’t mean i’m not. it’s my state of mind. it’s so funny to read how ppl react to other ppl. and it’s sad that you rcvd anti-semitic remarks. all the people around us in this world will never agree, all you can do is be happy in your own heart and know that G-d already knows who you are.

People seem to think that one’s ethnic/religious/cultural identifications have to add up to 100% but in the case of a Jewtino, they don’t realize you can be 100% Jewish and 100% Latino.

And I loved the shtreimel video LOL.