Jewish Journal’s “Video Jew” Jay Firestone brings us his video journalism about elections in addition to his thoughts on meatball-schwarma subs and, uh, mah-jong. Enjoy.
In an odd twist of events, Erran Baron Cohen, Sacha’s brother, was commissioned to compose a symphonic piece based on Kazakh folk tunes.
The commission came after someone from Kazakh saw “Borat” and loved his composition for the soudtrack so much, they rang him up. I guess they got over the initial bruises and realized [...]
First, Mr. Ari Gold, its pronounved Yome Kippour. Not Yahm Kippur. The Sea Atonement? I think not. At the Orthodox shul. the Chazzan is chanting Ani Maamim. We usually stand for that prayer. And what’s with an Orthodox congregation full of men wearing those funny ’short’ tallit? As for not having a phone on [...]
If you watch HBO’s series Rome, you may have noticted that “Tymon” has been augmented by his brother Levi, and that the Jewish angle is being explored on the series. Newly arrived from Jerusalem, Levi has hinted at his displeasure with the Judean leadership accepting Roman yoke. Saying he has arrived in Rome to [...]
TV’s revenge for my watching a little too much Star Trek as a kid is my father really liking Boston Legal and its star, Denny Crane, aka Willliam Shatner aka Captain Kirk (everyone together in your Ricardo Montleban voice: Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirk!).
Granted, I don’t seem to have the same fascination as sometimes does Psychotoddler, but I do [...]
True Ancestor isn’t a regular read of mine but its one of the funnier things I’ve read about the passing of Anna Nicole Smith. Actually its the only things I’ve read about it, but its pretty good:
One was driven to destruction by warring interests, a quest for power, slavish devotion and feverish worship, and upon [...]
When I was 13 or so, I wanted to jump on the American Girl Doll wagon. But I never fancied myself a Molly, a Samantha, or even an Addy. I wanted to be different. So, I ordered myself one of those “design your own” dolls. I got her with red hair (because much as people [...]
Check. It. Out.
Click the poster for info, mp3’s and tickets!
All of Lakview is abuzz, the Jews, the gays and especially the gay Jews: Babara Streisand is coming to town.
A few months back, Oprah visited visited Auchswitz with Elie Weisel when she made “Night” part of her book club. It was her “make good” after the ‘million little pieces’ debacle. There was something a bit creepy about an anesthetic walk through an empty, abandoned death camp may be effective in person, but TV [...]
Okay, first of all, I grew up on the original series. I confess, I love this show, and to my amazement, so too do a number of Jews. Could be because of all the crypto-rah references- or the fact that the show it well written, thoughful and beautifully shot. To my dismay, [...]
A while back there was an article in the Jewish Week by Gabrielle Birkner, posing the question of whether hipster Judaism is a substanceless fad or a gateway to Judaism for many once unaffiliated disconnected Jews. Ms. Birkner reports:
But some young people echoing the grievances of Jewish communal leaders say the answer to the worrisome [...]
Chicago Jewish News covers Material Girl’s Kosher connection in Chicago. Sammiches from Skokie’s Sandwich Club, supavized by the cRc. I must say, they do make a mean steak sandwich. When Shylock demanded his “pound of flesh,” it was Sandwich Club that delivered. Madge seems to have enjoyed the Chicken most. Here are the order slips [...]
I was watching BET’s 25 Years of Hip Hop when Dr. Dre took the stage. Wearing a MASSIVE chai. We read recently that Shyne is observing the Sabbath, in Jail, but is there some kind of Hip Hop conterpart to the recent Kaballah craze that we haven’t heard about? [...]
Sunday afternoon, having shlepped all over Lakeview looking at apartments, I stopped into Borders for coffee. A Compay Segundo tune is playing in the background, but a minute later a new one starts and this tune is in an odd key, a balkan or turkish rhythm. Its catchy and somehow familiar with [...]
I don’t know how many people have been following the slow transformation of the worlds biggest pop star into a walking advertisement for the Jewish faith. A lot of people think the whole Kabbalah thing is a fad at best and a cult at worst, but what’s it mean when Madonna (aka Esther) keeps [...]
