In a video posted to her IGTV, Black Jewish comedian Tiffany Haddish just announced some exciting details about her upcoming Netflix special, Black Mitzvah. The premiere date? Her 40th birthday: December 3, 2019. The special is her birthday gift to us. And we are so excited.
“It’s called Black Mitzvah for a reason — because I’m Black, and on that same day, I’m gonna have my bat mitzvah, and then I’ll be an official grown woman.” That’s right: On the day her special comes out, she is going to celebrate her bat mitzvah.
“‘And what do you mean you’re Black and you’re having a bat mitzvah, Tiffany?’” the comedian went on to say. “Well, don’t know if y’all know this about me, but I’m Jewish. I’m Jewish by DNA. I did my 23 & Me. I know what I am. I’m a real Hebrew over here. So, because of my father, I want to honor him and our ancestors. I want to do something that represents growth and maturity. And I want to teach. That’s what I’ve been put on this planet to do: teach. And Judaism is all about that: teaching, learning, sharing stories. That’s what Black Mitzvah is all about.”
Are you breaking out into song and dance yet? No? Then let’s keep going.
“I’m teaching y’all all the experiences that God has blessed me to have,” she ends the video with. “It’s my Black Mitzvah, baby. She grown! She ready! You’re gonna love it.”
We believe you, Tiffany.
Haddish has previously called herself a “Jew-Jo” — her dad is Jewish and her mom is a Jehovah’s witness. Her dad is an Eritrean Jew, and she’s honored him before by wearing traditional Eritrean garb to the Oscars in 2018.
As she explained on the red carpet, “My father passed away this year and he’s from Eritrea. He said, ‘One day you’re going to end up at the Oscars and when you go, you have to honor your people.’ So I’m wearing an Eritrean, authentic princess dress. And I’m proud of it.”
Image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage
(TBH, we cannot wait to see her bat mitzvah dress!!)
As she previously explained, she’s currently learning Hebrew and is getting ready to read from the Torah for her bat mitzvah. We are just so proud.
Watch the full video (try not to cry):
Image of Tiffany in header by David Livingston/Getty Images
