MaNishtana is a blogger, screenwriter, and filmmaker who is trying to use his work to make the world—both Jewish and secular—a better place for Jews of Color (or "JOCs"). While he doesn’t think he’s nearly active or influential enough to claim the title of Jew of Color “activist”, he proudly declares himself a JOC “advocate”.

Born into an Orthodox African-American Jewish family, MaNishtana’s traceable familial ties to Judaism reach back a span of almost two centuries—all the while remaining African-American. His unique, humorous, and often irreverent outlook on Judaism, race politics, and racial issues within Judaism and without—illustrated through his blogs and videos—have gained popularity through mentions by blogger Aliza Hausman, the Bechol Lashon, Jews In ALL Hues and Jewish Multiracial Network organizations, The New York Times, The Jerusalem Report, Moment Magazine, Jewcy.com, and have led to speaking engagements for A Taste of Limmud NY and Birthright Israel NEXT, as well as gaining him a 2010 nomination for Jewish Hero of the Year.

However, despite the popularity his blunt declarations garner, MaNishtana eagerly looks forward to the day when he has nothing left to say...

For interviews or to just generally contact me, email me at MaNishtana@manishtana.net.  For all other inquiries including speaking engagements and the like, please contact my Business Manager, G. Shoshana Rollins, at Shoshana@manishtana.net

Some FAQs...

Hi MaNishtana. How are you Jewish?

Fine thanks. And how are you Jewish?

Ha. But no, really, what made you become Jewish?

Nothing. I was born that way. The doctors say there's nothing they can do.

So your parents are Jewish?

Yep.

Your mom and your dad?

Well I was sure I covered that when I answered the "parents" question, but yes. My mom was born Jewish. My dad converted.

Oh, so your mom's the white one.

Um, no. She's black too.

What?! Then how are you Jewish?!

This again. My family's been Black and Jewish in America for a couple hundred years now. But where does it come from? The same place it comes from if you asked a white Jewish person: a couple generations of known practice and then a reliance on an oral tradition that it's always been there...Unless there's some family you know of who can trace themselves back to the original twelve sons of Jacob.

That's crazy. I've never heard of Black Jews in America for so long.

Oh wow. I guess it must not exist then. Since, you've never heard of it and all...

So why do you blog and make videos?

I blog and film so that Jews of Color know they're not alone out there in their struggles and frustrations, and also so that at some point in the future, they can look forward to not being asked stupid questions like these ones.

Speaking of you being Black and Jewish: Big deal. What's the big whoop? What makes you so special?

Good question. Maybe you should ask those Jews over there who keep staring at me while I'm davening.