Jay Firestone

‘Savior’ of Tel Aviv, Goel Ratzon, accused of enslaving women

Published on February 8, 2010

The women tattooed his name and portrait on their bodies and gave their children his name – Savior.

NBC’s Black History Month employee menu: fried chicken and cornbread [VIDEO]

Published on February 5, 2010

Obama: Duty to remember Nazi crimes [VIDEO]

Published on January 27, 2010

Marking the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, President Obama said the death camp invokes a "sacred duty" to remember Nazi crimes.

Charities compete for Chase Community Giving prize of $1 million

Published on January 21, 2010

Jewish teen’s tefillin sets off bomb scare, diverting US Airways flight [VIDEO]

Published on January 21, 2010

Christoph Waltz takes Golden Globe for ‘Basterds’

Published on January 18, 2010

Christoph Waltz won a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor for his role as a suave and sadistic Nazi colonel in “Inglorious Basterds.”

Palestinian-hurled rocks hurt baby

Published on January 15, 2010

An Israeli baby girl was injured when Palestinians threw rocks at the car in which she was riding.

Seattle Jewish Federation shooter gets life sentence

Published on January 15, 2010

Holocaust archives go online

Published on January 14, 2010

Efforts to track down U.S.-held records that may assist Holocaust restitution claims are now a click -- and possibly a fee -- away.

Can West Bank improvements hold in 2010?

Published on January 11, 2010

In Israel and the West Bank, 2009 was the year that ended without a bang -- and people were grateful for it.

Emanuel: U.S. is fed up with Israel, Palestinians

Published on January 6, 2010

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel recently told the Israeli consul in Los Angeles that the Obama administration is fed up with both Israel and the Palestinians, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.

Hamas reportedly turns down prisoner swap

Published on December 31, 2009

Hamas has not accepted Israel's counter-offer for a prisoner swap but indirect negotiations will continue, a senior Hamas official said.

This Kiddush Cup Runneth Over

Published on December 3, 2009

For decades, choosing from among kosher wines has been a haphazard affair. Consumers face a dizzying array of increasingly expensive wines of unknown character, and uncertain quality. Since the early 1980s, the Concord grape has give way to the more familiar Cabernets and Chardonnays of the non-kosher wine world, and kosher consumers have begun to cultivate qualitative preferences beyond super cheap and super sweet. Now, however, Rogov’s Guide to Kosher Wines 2010: The World‘s Best Kosher Wines by Daniel Rogov (The Toby Press; 145 pages; $19.95) has entered the scene to aid the weary consumer.

Lebanon fires at Israeli planes

Published on December 2, 2009

The Lebanese army fired on at least four Israel Air Force planes flying over southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu falls ill, cancels Germany trip

Published on November 30, 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a joint Cabinet meeting in Berlin after being diagnosed with a viral infection.

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.