Jewish-Africana

Yavilah McCoy say, "More than anything, this is about the children. This is about the next generation having a chance to be Jews — just because."

On my fb newsfeed, I came across an inspiring link to an article chronicling African-American Jewry, courtesy of MochaJuden.

Serendipitously, I spotted my former Book Agent of HarperCollins, Adrienne Ingrum, in the audience of Ayecha's concert, in the video.

"The road towards Judaism was begun by Yavilah's grandparents. Her grandmother concluded that the Biblical children of Israel were actually Jews of Color."

Source:

Center For Afro-Jewish Studies (CAJS)

Hanukeyot Ha'Filipinim

Ha'Filipinim version of The Bottle Dance:

Pandanggo Sa Ilaw (Fandango With Light)

Pandanggo Sa Ilaw is a popular dance of grace and balance from Lubang Island, Mindoro Occidental in the Visayas region. This particular pandanggo requires skill in balancing three lighted oil lamps or Tinghoy candles, one on the head and at the palms of each hand. It is characterized by marking time with a clack of castanets, snapping of fingers, clapping and lively steps that varies rhythmically in 3/4 time. The lighting of the lamps represents fireflies fluttering at dusk.

"Like blinking fireflies, some marine clouds 'communicate' with each other, forming, raining, and re-forming in unison. These honeycomb-like clouds reorganize themselves in a synchronized cycle." — MochaJuden