Jay Firestone

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.

Cartoonist captures comics

Published on March 27, 2008

Friedman's new book, "More Old Jewish Comedians" (Fantagraphics Books, $16.99), a sequel to his 2006 "Old Jewish Comedians," continues his humorous, highly detailed caricatures of the Jewish comedians who once dominated the Catskills circuit.

VideoJew explores the Purim hangover…at Chabad Purim party

Published on March 27, 2008

Comedy: Getting back at life with a one-two punchline

Published on March 20, 2008

Mo Mandel had difficulties fitting in as a child. He grew up in the rural town of Boonville, more than 100 miles north of San Francisco, where his Jewish parents were hippies and he didn't have many friends. Between finding ways to rebel against his family and being the butt-end of anti-Semitic jokes by rednecks, the young social outcast eventually learned to channel his anger and frustration into comedy.

Richard Lewis, comedian from heaven

Published on March 13, 2008

The husband from hell. The uncle from hell. The comedian from hell. Richard Lewis is fully aware he has problems. And by the end of his set, his stand-up audiences know he has problems.

‘Boychick’ puts bar mitzvah audience in the simcha

Published on February 28, 2008

"The Boychick Affair: The Bar Mitzvah of Harry Boychick," is the latest addition to the ever-amusing genre of interactive theater, known in the business as "environmental theater." In such plays, the conventional fourth wall is broken as actors directly interact with members of the audience. Each character has a detailed background, either created on the spot or written prior to the performance. While the show is staged and scripted, about 30 percent to 40 percent is improvised, said playwright and director Amy Lord.

JewsChoose 2008: SuperTuesday results show no clear trend

Published on February 7, 2008

William Castle makes spine-tingling return in Jeffrey Schwarz docupic

Published on January 10, 2008

Aside from overrated CGI explosions, deafening sound systems and validated parking, the movie-going experience isn't exactly as thrilling as it once was. That's why director Jeffrey Schwarz wants to remind audiences of cinema's earlier pleasures with the documentary "Spine Tingler," which highlights the career of horror director and crazed '50s and '60s film marketer William Castle.

‘Shul for Kids’ redefines concept of youth services

Published on January 10, 2008

Each week, a group of more than 120 congregants gather together at Kol Yakov Yehuda for their regular Shabbat prayer. The rabbi gives a sermon, the president makes announcements and the congregation follows along with the occasional chitchat, followed by a Kiddush. In addition to having its own Web site and an annual fundraising banquet, Kol Yakov Yehuda seems like any highly functional congregation.

Except the congregants are too young to vote or drive, and many can't see a PG-13 movie without a parent.

Mother pens memoir on life with heroin addict son

Published on January 10, 2008

Rita Lowenthal raised her family in a nice Jewish home, lived in a nice Jewish neighborhood and belonged to a nice Jewish temple. So how did her son become a heroin addict at age 13?

The need for an answer to that question, as well as a desire for closure, is what inspired Lowenthal to pen "One-Way Ticket: Our Son's Addiction to Heroin" (Beaufort Books, $14), a memoir that compiles her experiences and correspondence with her son and his journal entries while in and out of San Quentin State Prison.

Newest mah-jongg players ‘crak’ stereotypes.  Bam!

Published on December 20, 2007

Elaine Sandberg fits the mold of what you would expect to encounter when you consider someone who plays American mah-jongg. She's Jewish and just past retirement age.

Young Jewish male takes ‘crak’ at mah-jongg

Published on December 20, 2007

Eight days of Chanukah candle lighting - Day 8: The great donut finale

Published on December 11, 2007

Eight days of Chanukah candle lighting - Day 7: Taglit Birthright party

Published on December 10, 2007

VideoJew’s Eight days of Chanukah candle lighting - Day 6: The Melech of Rock and Roll

Published on December 9, 2007

VideoJew’s Eight days of Chanukah candle lighting - Day 5: Adam, the dreidel wiz

Published on December 8, 2007

Eight days of Chanukah candle lighting - Day 4: Gino

Published on December 7, 2007

Jelvis bridges rhythm ‘n’ Jews

Published on December 6, 2007

Jelvis, the Jewish Elvis, will appear at Los Angeles' Genghis Cohen for the last night of the restaurant's Chanukah celebration.

Eight days of Chanukah candle lighting - Day 3: Temple Emanuel musical

Published on December 6, 2007

Eight days of Chanukah candle lighting—Day 2, The Latke Experiment

Published on December 5, 2007

Eight Days of Chanukah candle lighting - VIDEOS…with VideoJew Jay Firestone

Published on December 4, 2007

‘Mazel Tov’: Lifecycles of the rich and famous

Published on November 8, 2007

In Jill Rappaport's book, "Mazel Tov: Celebrities' Bar and Bat Mitzvah Memories" she interviews 21 celebrities as they describe how the b'nai mitzvah experience brought them to where they are today. With the photographic help of her sister, Linda Solomon, Rappaport provides a joyfully contrasting image of the celebrities and their familiar adolescent counterparts.

Subway takes a ride through kashrut

Published on October 11, 2007

The West Coast's first kosher Subway -- truly the best thing to happen to this religion since payos -- recently opened on Pico Boulevard, right in the heart of "the hood." And with a fleishig (meat) menu, halacha has never tasted so good.

Get ready to bug out

Published on September 27, 2007

With few exceptions, I sincerely hate bugs ... a lot. I hate the way they look. I can't stand it when they bite. And most of all, I feel violated each time I catch one crawling up my leg. Yeeech!

Get the best baruch for your buck when you hire a tutor

Published on September 27, 2007

One way to ensure your soon-to-be bar or bat mitzvah is on track and ready for the big day is to hire a tutor.

Do-it-yourself High Holy Days sermon

Published on September 13, 2007

You think you have it bad? What about your rabbi, who has to work weeks -- no, months -- to prepare a High Holy Days Sermon. You think it's easy writing a speech that people will remember for the rest of the year? Well, then, why don't you and a friend write your very own with our MadLibs [R] version. First ask your partner to supply the missing words. Then read the completed sermon aloud ... and enjoy.

7-step set training for spiritual fitness

Published on September 8, 2007

So you've trained all summer in order to show off that tight body at the beach. Well, as the High Holy Days roll around, impressing the opposite sex seems less and less important. Now it's time to show off your Judaism at shul so you can impress your rabbi. And if your rabbi is a member of the opposite sex, you can't lose.

Films: Garlin hopes audience will be pleased with ‘Cheese’

Published on August 30, 2007

Jeff Garlin loves being Jewish. He's a borscht-eating, challah-noshing, temple-going, "big bowl of Jewish," as he so proudly describes himself. A proud Jew at home, Garlin also plays one on television.

One camp, two camp, red camp, Jew camp

Published on August 23, 2007

And let me tell you, there's nothing quite like a Jewish summer camp. At a time when Jewish identity struggles to compete with the complexities and distractions of the 21st century, the Jewish summer camp experience has somehow continued to thrive on its simplicity.

Conning a con man

Published on August 23, 2007

Rich Siegel's day typically consisted of waking up, going to work, coming home and checking his e-mail. This routine probably would have continued had Siegel not become a bit curious about an e-mail he received from a Nigerian businessman offering him 25 percent of $45.5 million in exchange for his bank account information.

Thanks, Wingman!

Published on July 26, 2007

We all remember the buddy system from grade school. When you'd go to the ocean, you'd have a buddy. When you'd go to the museum, you'd have a buddy. And now that you're old enough to hit the bar scene, you should still have a buddy.

This book can help kick off successful year of study

Published on July 12, 2007

Bert Metter wrote "Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: How Jewish Boys and Girls Come of Age," a guide specifically geared toward the b'nai mitzvah student. But more than two decades later, Metter said the book deserved an update, because it no longer reflects contemporary ceremonies, especially since practices and celebrations have evolved.