Jay Firestone

Report: U.S. stopped Israeli attack on weapons ship

Published on November 6, 2009

The United States vetoed an Israeli plan to attack a ship bearing weapons allegedly from Iran to Hezbollah, according to a report in an Arabic-language newspaper.

Fans Embrace Maccabi Electra at Staples

Published on October 28, 2009

It’s a long way to fly for a home game, but that was the effect when Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv’s players walked into Staples Center, more than 7,500 miles from Israel, to play the Clippers in an exhibition game on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Rather than wearing the blue uniforms normally associated with a Maccabi away game, the players wore home gold, which gave the superficial appearance of a Lakers-Clippers match-up.

New Group Forms for Non-Jewish Mothers Raising Jewish Children

Published on October 14, 2009

Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills is recruiting participants for the Los Angeles area’s first Mothers’ Circle, a group for non-Jewish mothers who are raising their children Jewish. Set to begin mid-November and funded by The Jewish Federation Valley Alliance, the 16-session course includes information for mothers on Jewish lifecycle events and celebrating Jewish holidays. The group also provides access to local rabbis for one-on-one dialogues and a forum in which mothers can discuss issues and get answers to questions that “just aren’t comfortably asked with Jews in the room,” according to Temple Aliyah’s program director Lori Marx-Rubiner.

A Time to Cast Away Stones

Published on September 9, 2009

They come to the cemetery with a pocketful of stones for the gravesite. Once we’ve recited the tradition’s prayers and a few words of memory, they dutifully place the stones on the marker. But I can see in their faces that the stones they carry home are so much bigger than those left behind. Tiny pebbles are left on the grave marker, but boulders sit heavily on the heart: cold stones of bitterness, betrayal and rage.

L.A. county to vote on Iran divestment

Published on July 19, 2009

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is due to vote on a Iran divestment motion.

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD: The Wailing Wall

Published on June 11, 2009

CA Election Results Early Analysis

Published on May 20, 2009

New Endangered Species: Israeli Sperm

Published on May 11, 2009

Making swine flu kosher:A sympton of the disease of Israeli politics

Published on April 30, 2009

Swine Flu in Israel

Published on April 28, 2009

U.S. Seizes Demjanjuk, But Court Halts Deportation

Published on April 14, 2009

US ‘Set to Detain’ Nazi suspect

Published on April 14, 2009

Israel Fears Jewish Extremists Will Avenge Settlement Murder

Published on April 3, 2009

Netanyahu Sworn In as Israel’s Prime Minister

Published on March 31, 2009

JEWISHJOURNAL.COM EXCLUSIVE: An Eyewitness Recounts the Day Venezuela Booted Israel’s Embassy

Published on March 26, 2009

On February 6th, 2009, Shlomo Cohen, Israeli Ambassador in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, received an unwelcome and distressing phone call. The government of Venezuela was expelling all Israeli diplomats and staff – they had 72 hours to leave the country.

Never Too Old to Write a Letter ... of Torah

Published on March 24, 2009

The Jewish Home for the Aging has never had a Torah it could call its own. Since the home first opened in 1912, synagogues or individuals have donated Siferei Torah to the senior-living community, but the scrolls were often old and tarnished, with faded letters or finger smudges on the parchment. These Torahs are considered pasul, or unfit for public reading, but they were the only ones available to the home for religious services.

Expert Tips for the Phony Bar Mitzvah Boy

Published on March 17, 2009

A few months ago, an e-mail message began circulating among religious scholars: “Film studio looking for someone to teach non-Jewish 13-year-old actor a haftarah portion for Todd Solondz movie bar mitzvah scene.”

‘West Wing’ Actor Ron Silver Dies at 62

Published on March 15, 2009

Israel’s Facebook Kids: ‘Unrestrained Monsters?’

Published on March 15, 2009

Obituaries March 13, 2009

Published on March 10, 2009

HOLY HADASSAH! France’s First Lady Honored by Women’s Group

Published on March 9, 2009

Jewish Group: Long-Awaited Bashir Arrest Is a “Window of Opportunity”

Published on March 5, 2009

Mah Jongg

Published on March 3, 2009

Clinton: Palestinian Relief Aimed at Statehood

Published on March 2, 2009

LIVE VIDEO: Diversity and LGBT Inclusion in the Jewish World

Published on February 27, 2009

On Sunday night, March 1, JewishJournal.com will broadcast LIVE from the American Jewish University. Tune in at 7:10 p.m. to watch a panel discussion from the “Welcoming Synagogues Project: Strategic Convening.” Moderated by Dr. Caryn Aviv of Jewish Mosaic and University of Denver, the panel will discuss gender/sexual diversity and inclusion in the Jewish community, emphasizing success stories, challenges, and lessons learned.

JewishJournal.com LIVE: Survival of a Jewish Nonprofit

Published on February 18, 2009

On Thursday morning, Feb. 19, JewishJournal.com will broadcast LIVE from the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. At around 8:40 am, tune in to watch “The Lean Years: Strategies for Survival,” a conference dedicated to creating a greater conversation about surviving the economic crisis as a Jewish nonprofit.

Breaking News: American Student Stabbed in Jerusalem

Published on February 9, 2009

Upgrade to Holocaust 2.0

Published on January 27, 2009

The ceasefire in Gaza seems to be holding, but on the streets of Los Angeles, Paris, London, Chicago –wherever Jews live – a new front has opened up. The battle against openly voiced hatred of the Jewish people and calls to annihilate us is just beginning.

Mayor Villaraigosa Welcomed at Shabbat Service

Published on January 15, 2009

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was a surprise guest this month at Friday evening's Shabbat services at Stephen S. Wise Temple, after he had accepted an invitation from Rabbi Elie Herscher to allow the congregation to express its appreciation for the mayor's unwavering support for Israel.

Protesters Block Entrances to Israeli Consulate [VIDEO]

Published on January 14, 2009

At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, six people from the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network chained themselves together using piping chain-link to blockade the entrance to the Israeli Consulate building on Wilshire Boulevard on Los Angeles’ Westside.

Hamas reportedly accepts cease-fire proposal

Published on January 14, 2009

Santa Monica Synagogue set its dreidels on a world record [VIDEO]

Published on December 29, 2008

They came, they signed up, they spun

Hey, Hipster Jew—you probably think this book is about you

Published on October 29, 2008

If you count yourself among the Heebsters and Sheebsters, you're proud to be a Jew and have no reservations when it comes to flaunting your J-bling. If this is all new to you, welcome to the world of hipster Jews.

VideoJew’s VideoGuide to L.A. #1—How to look like an Angeleno

Published on October 2, 2008

VideoJew Jay Firestone reveals the most important aspects of visiting Los Angeles: fitting in

The Fall Season: VideoJew’s VideoGuide to Los Angeles

Published on September 24, 2008

I've decided to offer help to others who feel as lost as I once did ... with my VideoGuide to Los Angeles, launching online today.

Man drowns in Lake Piru while rescuing daughter

Published on September 3, 2008

Smolyansky had taken his 9-year-old son and 5- and 7-year-old daughters out on the lake Monday afternoon when the youngest daughter fell off the boat. All of the children were wearing life vests. Smolyansky immediately leapt into the water to rescue the girl.

Activists champion Darfur in pre-Olympic vigil at Chinese Consulate in Koreatown [VIDEO]

Published on August 7, 2008

A day before the scheduled opening ceremonies in Beijing, Jewish World Watch (JWW) hosted at the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles

The costliest word in show business . . . the 'N-word' [VIDEO]

Published on July 23, 2008

Jamie Masada of the Laugh Factory on Sunset says Jesse Jackson owes $50 to the Museum of Tolerance for using the 'N-word' on TV

The Hadassah convention - VideoJew style

Published on July 17, 2008

The 94th annual Hadassah convention recently traveled to Los Angeles and JewishJournal.com VideoJew Jay Firestone was all over it, like jelly on gefilte fish.

VideoJew does Hadassah

Published on July 17, 2008

Coming soon to a blog near you—VideoJew returns

Published on July 15, 2008

My (early) ‘golden years’

Published on July 9, 2008

My nursing home is my mattress, my "stories" are Sunday morning football and my "meals-on-wheels" program is a delivery of Buffalo wings. At 24 years old, this is my retirement -- from teaching religious school.

Balancing humor and current events in ‘Zohan’ proved to be a struggle for Smigel

Published on June 5, 2008

A New York native, Robert Smigel said he never really planned to become a writer. After failing as a pre-dental student, Smigel moved on to writing and performing improv in Chicago for the Players Workshop of The Second City, where he met fellow "SNL" writers Conan O'Brien and Bob Odenkirk.

VideoJew gets shaved

Published on May 22, 2008

VideoJew gets shaved

Published on May 22, 2008

VideoJew Jay Firestone has been growing the traditional beard during the post-Passover Omer period. Until now

Secrets of their success

Published on May 22, 2008

New book looks at what makes people successful

VideoJew discovers kosher water

Published on May 11, 2008

VideoJew tries kosher water -- Mizmor -- fresh from the riparian office buildings of Pico-Robertson

The matzah challenge…VideoJew’s blind taste test

Published on April 10, 2008

Blogroll

Published on April 8, 2008

Big Sunday looks good in green

Published on April 3, 2008

Environmentalism may be trendy, but expensive hybrid cars and solar paneling aren't the only ways of being fashionably green.