Author Page: Shoshana Lewin-Fischer

Shoshana Lewin-Fischer

Calming those wedding-day jitters, virtually

Published on April 10, 2008

The situation couldn't be more stressful: convince your ex-boyfriend to sing at your sister's wedding after the band quits; keep the groom's sister from making it "her" day; assure the groom's mother that it is OK to have a store-bought wedding cake; make sure the bride's divorced parents don't kill each other; don't let the bride know the groom had a stripper at his bachelor party; and above all, keep the bride calm.

Enter Elijah, designated drinker

Published on April 3, 2008

Passover is a holiday near and dear to Marc Jaffe's heart. So when the "Seinfeld" and "Mad About You" writer went to a friend's house for a seder last year, he was let down when an Elijah's entrance gag bombed.

"They shook the table. I thought, 'You gotta be kidding me,'" he said. "You gotta have better effects than that."

New Pesach haggadah is off the page!

Published on March 27, 2008

Kids page.

Purim in the produce section

Published on February 28, 2008

Purim festival suggestions.

Election 101—who is your choice?

Published on January 24, 2008

This time of year, we know that you are seeing signs everywhere about the upcoming presidential election. So many people, so many numbers; we think you should know what it all means.

Let kids rule the land

Published on January 3, 2008

Kids can influence how their families handle the growing global warming issue, at least according to Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, co-authors of "The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming"

No matter how you say it

Published on December 27, 2007

How to get your favorite things without losing your mind

Published on December 13, 2007

At some point between "Will you marry me?" and "You may kiss the bride," a happy couple must devote some time to the gift registry, which will help fill the shelves and drawers of their new home.

But the first time a couple walks into a store to register for their wedding gifts can be overwhelming. Myriad appliances, gadgets, pots, dishes and sheets seem to loom large, and the choices are dizzying.

Top Chanukah tunes

Published on November 29, 2007

It's the same problem every year: There are a million songs about Xmas and three about Chanukah. OK, maybe not quite that, but you get the idea. In a world where "Chanukah O' Chanukah" and "I Had a Little Dreidel" just won't do, songwriter Adam Chester created a holiday miracle: a real Chanukah song that is being played on the radio that you and your parents can sing -- together: "Eight Days and Nights."

Producer Josephson’s vision for a new fairy-tale princess stars in Disney’s ‘Enchanted’

Published on November 22, 2007

One of Barry Josephson's first forays into the world of fairy tales was in an elementary school production of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Although the "Men in Black" producer doesn't remember which dwarf he played, that glimmer of the land between "once upon a time" and "happily ever after," started him on the path to creating Disney's latest film, "Enchanted," opening in theaters Nov. 21.

Golems, schlemiels, reporter for a day

Published on October 25, 2007

We're getting into the "spirit" of things this month. YeLAdim loves a good scary story, so we asked our friends at the Jewish Community Library of Los Angeles to suggest some of their favorites.

YeLAdim yaks with Disney’s Adam Bonnett

Published on September 27, 2007

How cool would it be to pick what everyone else gets to watch on television?

Kids slip into reading and cozy up with PJ Library

Published on September 13, 2007

The High Holy Days can be a confusing time for children. It's not easy for them to understand the sense behind the story of a father who almost sacrifices his son or how a chicken can help take away sins. Luckily, the answers to these mysteries and many more can be found in a book -- and thanks to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation's PJ Library (as in pajamas), parents around the country are getting those books for free.

Say L’Chayim to 5768!

Published on September 8, 2007

Happy New Year—shofar so good!

Published on August 30, 2007

Kid's page.

Jack Gindi, American Jewish University philanthropist, dies at 83

Published on August 5, 2007

Jack Gindi, real estate developer, lawyer, philanthropist and Jewish community benefactor, died Saturday, Aug. 4, at 83, following a prolonged illness.

You get when you give

Published on July 26, 2007

Kids

‘Hairspray’ style holds up

Published on July 19, 2007

There must be something in the water. How else can Hollywood explain the screen-to-stage-to-screen adaptations of "The Producers," the recently announced "Footloose" and, hitting theaters July 20, "Hairspray"?

Backlot parties put simchas in the spotlight

Published on July 12, 2007

More than 70 years after the beginning of Hollywood's Golden Age, when talkies became the rage and Jews routinely Anglicized their names, film factories are playing up the Jewish angle by hosting some of the largest and most unique b'nai mitzvah parties in town.

Curtain call—Stars and Stripes forever

Published on June 28, 2007

Kids and teens page.

Off the page, holidays not on the calendar, cool quiz

Published on May 24, 2007

Kids page.

The ‘Show’ behind the show

Published on May 24, 2007

The documentary, "ShowBusiness," captures the behind-the-curtain drama of the 2003-2004 Broadway season, illustrating the ups and downs the public isn't privy to - from blockbusters that shine to "turkeys" that crash and burn.

Hey, hey! We’re the SqueeGees!

Published on April 26, 2007

Kids page.

Create an emergency kit for The Big Day—just in case

Published on April 19, 2007

Bridal emergency kits are a great way to handle problems as they happen, especially at destination weddings where you can't exactly run out to the nearest drug store.

Curtain call; More holidays not on the calendar

Published on March 29, 2007

Kids page.

Skateboarder’s project links charity and sport

Published on March 8, 2007

Devin never thought he would get to bring his love for skateboarding into his rite of passage: "I thought it would be like my sister, and I'd work at a shelter, but this was a lot more fun."

Holidays not on the calendar

Published on February 22, 2007

“Wicked” producer Platt flies across another bridge

Published on February 15, 2007

Platt has crossed more than a few bridges himself. After he graduated from Penn, where he produced a small off-Broadway musical titled, "Francis," about St. Francis of Assisi, Platt studied entertainment law at NYU, while interning with agent Sam Cohn at International Creative Management, Inc. in New York.

Premarital counseling gets short shrift in Jewish L.A.

Published on February 8, 2007

Premarital counseling can be a time for honest reflection and sharing, but frequently the lines of communication can get buried under layers of tulle and wedding cake.

Holidays <B>not</b> on the calendar; Rockin' with Himmelman

Published on January 25, 2007

Kids

Give me a happy ending

Published on January 4, 2007

I'm so happy that my parents are happy. Each of them are very much in love -- just not with the other.

What’s Up for 2007?

Published on December 28, 2006

YeLAdim will be mixing it up next year with more movies, books, music and TV reviews than ever before.

A wish list of guilty pleasures and goofy gifts

Published on December 7, 2006

We've all been there.

You go to the store, turn on the TV or pick up a catalogue and see something incredibly silly that you never in a million years would buy for yourself (it's also called a "guilty pleasure"). But you can always say you are buying it for someone else. So in the grand tradition of the Pet Rock, the Moses action figure and the snow cone machine, The Journal presents the Chanukah gifts you really want but won't admit it.

Why we celebrate Chanukah—according to YOU!

Published on November 23, 2006

Why We Celebrate Chanukah ... According to ______________________ (YOUR NAME)

Television: Will Shabbat dinner drama hold ‘Nine’ viewers captive?

Published on November 16, 2006

A new series, "The Nine," created by siblings Hank ("Without a Trace") and K.J. Steinberg ("Judging Amy"), tells the story of nine strangers at a L.A. bank and a robbery that will "only take five minutes" -- until, in TV fashion, something goes horribly wrong. The flashbacks -- very small ones that lead every episode -- only hint to the whole story of what happened during the 52-hour standoff.

It happened one weekend ... at the Sisterhood

Published on November 16, 2006

"Something happens," I was told across the "first timers" table Nov. 2 at BJ's Restaurant in Woodland Hills. "When these women get together. I can't explain it, but something happens."

Noah is full of animal crackers

Published on October 26, 2006

Jewish Journal for kids. Animal Crackers and Halloween.

Brachas vs. bluegrass: moms make the switch

Published on October 5, 2006

The Season premiere of FOX's "Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy." The very intriguing but highly unlikely pairing of a Shomer Shabbos Jewish family from Brookline, Mass. (near Boston), and a coon-huntin' family from Olympia, Ky.

Exercise your right to read—without censorship

Published on September 28, 2006

The American Library Association got more than 400 requests to ban books last year. But most of those requests were unsuccessful, because of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other people who make sure books stay on shelves.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Published on August 24, 2006

Kein v' Lo: Snack Attack.

How YOU Can Help Israel; Electronic Devices

Published on July 27, 2006

Kids

My Superpower: Datedar

Published on July 27, 2006

Perky Obit Girl

Published on June 29, 2006

When I came to The Journal as a copy editor and had the opportunity to write and edit stories and interview celebrities (both real and pseudo), I couldn't have imagined a better job. Then came the curveball: In addition to writing and editing, I was asked to coordinate the obituaries. Ouch.

What Will Life Be Like in 2026?

Published on June 29, 2006

Kids

Spectator - The ABCs of LUV

Published on June 8, 2006

Now retired from the dating game, Teresa Strasser happily enjoys her new role as love coach. Journal readers have long been treated to her insights on being single in these pages. Strasser, an Emmy winner and news reporter for Adam Carolla's show on KLSX 97.1 FM, now takes on the role of co-dating adviser on the new ABC reality show, "How to Get the Guy."