Eliza Blank: My father is from Great Neck. My grandmother, is from Far Rockaway. She's 93. My grandfather is from Bensonhurst. That's the Jewish side of my family. My mother is from the Philippines, as are her parents. My mother came over when she was in her early twenties on a nurse exchange program. She had no intention of staying, so she went back home, but then she did a second tour inspired by a friend who signed her up for a program in Brooklyn. My parents met at Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn and they still think New York is super dangerous. It's just me and my brother. That's my family. My mother converted. Somewhere along the way, it was spoken that it was important. She grew up Catholic, but I don't think it was ever something she felt very passionate about. She was happy to convert. I think there's a very special bond between Asians and Jews as it is, religion aside.
