Thoughts From A Unicorn: 100% Black. 100% Jewish. 0% Safe.

by MaNishtana

African-American and Orthodox Jewish blogger MaNishtana’s "not-autobiography” Thoughts from a Unicorn is a witty, straight-talking collection of memoirs, essays, and a few haikus that will take you on a journey of laughs, tears, self-reflection, learning, and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. Full of insight, reflections on personal experiences, fond memories and honest regrets, this book will have you reaching for the tissue box sitting next to the pen and notepad you’ll want to keep on hand just to remember more than a few points. As any reader of his blog, www.manishtana.net, knows, his sharp humor cuts straight to the core of a matter. You’ll never be left guessing, but maybe wondering, at the end of each chapter.

Genres: Jewish, Judaism, Nonfiction, Memoir, Judaica

392 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 29, 2012

Reviews

[Sonia Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Thoughts From a Unicorn" is a desperately needed and much welcome addition to the American Jewish literary genre. AND a really engaging read! MaNishtana uses great humor, knowledge, snarkiness, and honesty to describe both his life (so far) as a FFB (frum from birth) African American Orthodox Jew as well as mincing no words in pointing out that American jews are not immune from the racism that affects the rest of the country. In fact, his clever and "in your face" writing challenges the reader to acknowledge the pervasive racism within the jewish community, and calls for us to do something about it. At the same time, I really enjoyed reading the lovely story about how he met his wife as well as the immensely moving chapter about his friendship with and the murder of Yoseph Robinson, with whom he plotted to change the world for the better for jews of color.

I am a white, ashkenazi woman a generation older than MaNishtana, with a child who is a generation younger and a jew of color. I am indebted to MaNishtana for agreeing to be a public advocate and role model for my son and so many others (me included). He is one of a growing cadre of incredibly talented jews of color working to shift the American Jewish paradigm through their leadership across disciplines. Every synagogue/jewish book club/chavurah etc should buy and discuss this book. Every JCC and Jewish Day School/yeshiva should invite MaNishtana to speak. And white jewish folk -- read his book; get out all your defensiveness, and then go back and read the book AGAIN. and then maybe a third time to begin to understand that the ugly stain of racism is indeed a part of modern American Jewish life, and that there are real ways to change that.

In the mean time, I look forward to more incisive, snarky, funny and talmudic commentary from MaNishtana for many years to come!

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

MaNishtana is essential reading for American Jews who want to take on racism in our own communities.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read. Thought providing in occasion, but mainly fun.

[Arnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today's Jewish community is more ethnically diverse than ever. That's right, we're an ethnically diverse ethnic community. So, the Jewish community has increasing (and increasingly visible) Black Jews, Latin Jews, Asian Jews and any number of other combinations. Blogger/writer MaNishtana, a Jew of Color, has written a highly thoughtful and highly challengine book that looks at what life is like living as a Black Orthodox Jew -- and what the rest of the Jewish community needs to do about the challenges he's faced.