Message to “mainstream” Jews: We don’t all look like Woody Allen or Barbra Streisand. GET OVER IT!

From Racialicious

JC
Okay, maybe this is some of my damnhowdidtheweekendflybysoquicklyagain angst talking, but I’m just gonna run with it. Saw an article in American Jewish Life Magazine about Esti Mamo, an Israeli model. She happens to be Ethiopian, and that of course becomes the focus of the story.

This is yet another instance of “Whoa! Who would have thought that this person of color would be Jewish?” Honestly, it’s so ridiculous. Obviously there are Jews of color. There have been for all of time, and there are many of us around now, actually (in this country, and in Israel). Yet, always this shock and surprise. The “Jewish community” (how much of a community is it when so many of us are not included?) needs to get over it.

Maybe once it does, it will see Jews of color joining their congregations, getting involved in their organizations… I have been in a lot of conversations with Jewish organization professionals who wonder why they don’t see many of us. Well, when the majority of the “broader/mainstream Jewish community” constantly makes Jews of color seem like strange occurences, we tend to want to run away from that, rather than join in and deal with all of the awkwardness and questions. Who needs to feel like a freak in a place where one should be welcomed and considered to be a fellow “countryman”? I’m pretty tired of it, but the truth is that there is no room for this weariness. There is a lot of work to be done (admittedly, I used to be active in efforts around issues of diversity in Judaism and I left it due to my already full plate…but to be honest, on top of that, it seems like there is very little change. It has been about six years since I was active, and the same need to create visibility alone is still very much present).

Hot Israeli supermodel — the description conjures up certain images of tanned brunettes with chiseled features and a look that says, “I’m trained with heavy weapons; don’t try anything.” Naomi Campbell or Tyra Banks, arguably the most famous of black supermodels, is not what you might picture. Nevertheless, Esti Mamo is the latest fashion-clad sabra to come out of the Holy Land, and she looks more Naomi than Upper West Side JAP. The 24-year-old is a member of Israeli’s Falasha community of Ethiopian Jews.

So, not only do I read this article and feel estranged because a fellow woman of color is not being included as a natural part of the Jewish community, but the words are directed at an audience — the Jewish community — which obviously does not include my kind of thinking. The author says that someone who looks like Esti “…is not what you might picture” to be a Jewish person. Oh really? Who says? I wouldn’t naturally assume she wasn’t! Good work author, you just pointed out that the “you” here is just as close-minded and ignorant as can be. The “you” refers to a group of people who would assume that Israeli looks like olive-skinned and brunette, and Esti Mamo could not be Jewish. I don’t think like that, so clearly, I am not part of the audience. For which I am happy.

Jewish people can be Jamaican, white, Indian, Puerto Rican, Chinese, black… they can be anyone. Get with it already, and absorb that. Jews don’t all look like Woody Allen or Barbara Streisand. (De ja vu. See what I mean? I’ve been delivering the same message over and over. I think it’s that — one — people don’t absorb it, and — two — there aren’t enough of us saying the same thing. If you are interested in helping the cause and getting the Jewish community to recognize and be inclusive of diversity, give Ayecha a holler and tell Yavilah Jen sent’cha. )

See full article here at Racialicious