A frustrating conversation.

I’m from a Brazilian and Portuguese background. My Portuguese grandfather was weirdly born in Brazil and my Brazilian grandfather was weirdly born in Portugal. This is confusing but I’m told the Brazilian grandfather was brought to Brazil young in part because his father wanted to get away from his father who was an unpleasant (Portuguese) Rabbi.

 

I look “Jewish” enough that I’ve most of the time been mistaken for Jewish by people who care about such things. When I worked for Getty Images, I found it funny when a Jewish person had to assure himself I was Jewish before he felt he could speak somewhat freely to me.