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Opposition continues despite new Boy Scout policy
In 2001, Temple Israel of Hollywood (TIOH) overwhelmingly decided to end its sponsorship of Cub Scout Pack 1300 to protest the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) policy banning openly gay…
Jews should get offended
If there’s one thing the Palestinians are great at, it’s saying no. For years now, many peace-loving Jewish heads have been bruised from banging against the brick wall of Palestinian rejectionism.
NSA and JEW
If you ever needed a sign that Jews feel fully integrated and accepted by society, consider this: Not one major Jewish group made a peep over the revelations of National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance.
- HOLLYWOOD
“Curb” star Jeff Garlin spends two days in jail following parking lot confrontation
Actor Jeff Garlin ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") was released from a Van Nuys jail yesterday, at approximately 7:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) website. An incident…
‘Man of Steel’ screenwriter David S. Goyer on Superman and religion
“People are always so quick to point out the Christ allegory in “The Man of Steel” but Superman has always struck me as a combination of Old Testament and New…
Superman is a Jewish Fantasy
This past week my wife surprised me with tickets to the new Superman movie “Man of Steel” for my birthday. So late Saturday night, we sat in a packed movie…
- LIFE & CULTURE
Archie Comics feature film in the works
Archie comics lovers, rejoice!
Israel’s SodaStream inks deal with KitchenAid
The Israeli company SodaStream agreed to develop a home system for making carbonated drinks for KitchenAid appliances.
Barbra Streisand receives Honorary Doctorate from The Hebrew University
Barbra Streisand, after receiving an honorary doctorate from The Hebrew University, stands in front of the plaque of the Institute of Jewish Studies Building, established in 1984 in honor of…
- BLOGS
Summer Peaches Are Here
I always figured peaches were a super sugary fruit as they are so darn good. But it is not so. Peaches: are often less than 100 calories, making them a…
The Power of Language: Cultivating Positive Emotions
Language affects the heart. When we’re surrounded by others who speak negatively, it can really affect our mood and disposition. Are we aware of how much negative language there is…
Attention Forward: We Aren’t That Radical
It has been said that most of us believe newspaper reporting to be generally accurate, until we read an article on a subject with which we are intimately familiar. It…
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New York’s magnolia bakery brings sweet smell of (kosher) success to L.A. [VIDEO]
Craving a kosher cupcake? Magnolia Bakery is cooking up the cure. Now open at 8389 W. Third St., this chic New York transplant looks to quickly become part of the Los Angeles Jewish community. Famous for its pastel-colored cupcakes, fresh-from-the-oven pies and homemade icebox cakes, the stylish sweet shop carries more than 60 products — all of which carry a heksher.
Milken Baseball Loses First Championship
Milken Community High School's varsity baseball team attempted to make history on Friday, looking to capture the school's first Southern Section championship. The Milken Wildcats (19-4 at game time) faced the returning Division 7 champions, the Camarillo Cornerstone Christian Eagles, at the UC Riverside Sports Complex.
Dodgers Legend Koufax Pitches Wit, Wisdom to Enthusiastic Audience
"Dodgers spring training kicks off Friday with a game against the Chicago White Sox in Glendale, Ariz., but an early preseason event last Saturday treated L.A. baseball fans to an evening with Jewish pitching legend Sandy Koufax and Dodgers manager Joe Torre. The 90-minute program at downtown’s Nokia Theatre, a benefit for Torre's Safe at Home foundation, was a rare public appearance for the reclusive Koufax.
SoCal Sports Hall of Fame Inducts 2010 Class
Two weeks before the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games kick-off, Southern Californians honored their own top athletes at the 14th Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner. The Jan. 30 affair at the Skirball Cultural Center celebrated local Jewish athletes, coaches, media and executives who have made major contributions in sports.
USC Safety Taylor Mays Keeps Education and Football in Sights
Taylor Mays, an All-American, All-Pac-10 USC safety, is pegged as fast and physical in NFL scouting reports. Known for his intense, hard-hitting play and his blazing speed, he has the ability to go sideline-to-sideline, chase down opponents and deliver crushing blows. He runs a 4.25-second 40-yard dash, and in 2008 he made 53 tackles and a team-high nine deflections.
Facebook Change of Face
One night over dinner downtown, Ryne and I agreed we were just having fun. Fine by me. I mean, the fun was great, and it’s not like I started to have real feelings for him or anything.
She’s a mensch
In Hebrew, female nouns tend to end in "h" or "t," so what about menschah or menschat? We could stay Yiddish and call ourselves menschke or menschilah. There's also the French menschette, the Spanish menschita or the Jewish American menschess.
Just embrace the madness
There's a time in every relationship when its strength gets tested. For God and Abraham, it was that whole sacrifice your son bit. For Esther and Ahasuerus, it
was the "please don't kill me and everyone I know" thing. For Mr. and Mrs. Zebra, it was are you coming on this cruise with me or do you want to stand in the rain all day and argue about it? For many couples, the not-so-shining moment is the NCAA basketball tournament
Bruin coach is ready for March Madness
Growing up, Scott Garson's Calabasas family loved two things: Judaism and basketball. His mother, Corinne, was president of the Woodland Hills Reform congregation Kol Tikvah, while his father, Lee, is a UCLA alum who coaches youth basketball. So it's no surprise that Garson is a practicing Jew, as well as assistant coach for the UCLA men's basketball team.
Burden of proof
Where are they? I doubt I just overlooked a giant pool of eligible men. I always notice talent. Is there some underground society of bachelors who are just waiting to spontaneously surface? That's what my friend Ann and I think. It's the only explanation. Somewhere there must be a secret clubhouse where all these good guys are hiding, where all the other fish are swimming.
Red Date, Blue Date
Having now completed my unsuccessful world tour of bars, parties and weddings, I'm looking for new ways to meet new men.
L.A. teams are golden at Maccabi Games
More than 60 athletes from Westside JCC's Team Westside and The New JCC at Milken's Team L.A. represented the greater Los Angeles area this month during the 25th annual Maccabi Games, scoring numerous gold, silver and bronze wins in such sports as baseball, basketball, swimming, soccer and table tennis.
L.A. ‘boys of summer’ take to the diamond in Israel
Creating a baseball culture in Israel is one of the league's biggest challenges and primary goals. In a country where soccer and basketball dominate athletics, will people jump on the baseball bandwagon?
Working Girl
I'm an accomplished exec. I worked hard to get here. I work hard for the money. But work never gets in the way of dating, and dating never gets in the way of work.
Zapped!
At this high-tech, low-stress dating party, eager singles walk around, electronically zapping potential mates. Intrigued by this "Go Go Gadget" dating service, I decide to give it a whirl.
Leaders of the PAC are back
Camp Ramah marks 50 years
"Ramah is a place where campers and counselors have their first experience in not only participating in, but helping to form and lead the Jewish community in which they find themselves," said Camp Ramah of California Executive Director Rabbi Daniel Greyber.
The little things
When did things first get serious? When I gave my boyfriend, Scott, my guest parking pass. That's right. I presented him with that little laminated gem that allows
visitors to park on my happening WeHo street -- ticket free -- after 7 p.m. I told him it was his, for keeps. For real. Not impressed? Not amazed? Then you're not in Los Angeles.
Pro soccer rookie Bornstein gives small goals a big kick
ChivasUSA's Jonathan Bornstein is the top contender for the 2006 Major League Soccer (MLS) Rookie of the Year award. Not bad for the Los Alamitos native who was not invited to the MLS combine and was chosen in the fourth round (of four) of 2006 MLS SuperDraft (37th pick overall).
My True Best Feature—My Crazy Charm?
Could it be that my looks only complement my true best feature -- my crazy charm?
Dating by Committee
When it comes to relationships, girls are all about group think. We poll all our friends; we share all the evidence.
Bruins Prep for Tense Tournament
It's March Madness, so brush off your brackets, enter your office pool and cheer for two Jewish UCLA Bruins, one male, one female, as they head into the big dance.
Feminist Desktop Revolution
Don't have time to shlep to a museum? Too tired to remember if the free museum day is the first or second Tuesday of the month?
Boutique Teaches Brides Love Lessons
The Love Boutique sells everything from massage oils to lingerie and romantic board games to self-help books. In keeping with the store's philosophy, these items are merely tools to help women feel elegant, sexy and self-confident.
Two Bruins Get Big Kick Out of Sun Bowl
Jimmy Rotstein and Brian Rubinstein had never played in a college football game, but the 72nd annual Vitalis Sun Bowl on Dec. 30 proved to be a tale of two walk-ons for these UCLA Bruins. The second-string players not only came off the bench, they collaborated on an extra point play. UCLA beat Northwestern and, in their own way, these two athletes made a larger point about hard work and good sportsmanship.
Kitchen Confidential
My guy Scott dined with his friend Kate and her fiance Steve. No biggie. She's an old friend, she's taken. Nothing to worry about. I'm not jealous. It's cool.
Gifts for Your Honey Too Large to Wrap
Those eight crazy nights are coming up fast. Still stumped what to get your sweetie? Think outside the giftbox and give your loved one a gift certificate for an experience.
Get Married Without Disowning Your Mom
Many a wedding have lead to knockout, throw-down arguments between mother and daughter. Should it be black tie or California casual? Meat or fish? DJ or band? Should there be fewer guests at a lavish wedding or more guests at a bare-bones one? And why should cousin Sally, who the bride hasn't seen since her sweet 16, get an invite over a co-worker?
New Hadassah Chief Does Balancing Act
As a mother of two grown children, Morlie Hammer Levin knows the challenges of balancing family, career and spiritual life. But factor in the L.A. native's recent New York move, a high-pressure job with a high-profile organization and finding a new religious community and you have the makings of what would be a well-deserved nervous breakdown for anyone else.
Wedding Bell Oops!
Canceling a wedding has become that common these days. Just because a couple gets engaged, doesn't mean that they'll get married. It just means they've registered at Macy's.
Pin Up These Pinups
At last, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Calendar has some real competition -- some Jewish competition.
Women Get Assist in Drive for Basketball
Betty Laham played basketball throughout her four years at YULA High School. When she returned to Los Angeles after graduating from NYU, she was eager to find an organized women's basketball league and hoped to recapture the challenges and excitement of regular play.
Party Pooper
My college friends Jordy and Michelle are throwing a party -- a birthday party for their 1-year-old son. That's right, my former party 'til the break of dawn dormmates are hosting a luau for their little one. This should be good.
I walk into the Hawaiian-themed rager and am overwhelmed. It's like Tot Shabbat with leis. There are a dozen kids playing on the floor. How do my friends even know this many crawlers? Where did they find them? I can only imagine they rented them from the party store along with the tiki bar and folding chairs. And who are all these new mothers?
Running the Gamut of Faith
Racing fans don't fill out cross-country brackets at the office or lay down a C-note in Vegas on a marathon. But in his book, "God on the Starting Line: The Triumph of a Catholic School Running Team and Its Jewish Coach," Marc Bloom turns this discounted sport into a captivating tale and lures readers into its unexpected intensity.
Let the Games Begin
Let the games begin -- in Israel.
The 17th World Maccabiah Games, an intense, world-class Olympic-style competition, will begin July 10 in Israel. The quadrennial games will bring together more than 7,000 Jewish athletes from 60 countries in 30 sports and four age divisions: youth, juniors, open and masters. More than 80 of those athletes hail from the greater Los Angeles area.
The Dealbreakers
My blind date, Scott, likes college hoops, '80s TV and helping others. I like his cute tuchus. I'm thinkin' we'd make a fine pair of Jews. We stray from the first date playbook and follow a Santa Monica dinner with a Main Street stroll. As we walk past yet a third unique boutique on our way to get dessert (that we don't want) and more time together (which we do), Scott says those three little words that can rock a girl's world. "There's my car."
It's a PT Cruiser -- washed and waxed today, valid registration, parked less than 12 inches from the curb. No fuzzy dice, high school tassel or pine-scented Playmate air freshener. The car doesn't scream "show-off" or "shady," Speed Racer or gas guzzler. What it screams is middle-aged dad. More specifically -- my dad.
Ex-treme Takeoff
Jewish Jordan Gives UCLA His Best Shot
Bruin fans call him the Jewish Jordan. The Freshman Phenom. The Future of UCLA Basketball. Those are high expectations to place on an 18-year-old curly haired kid from the Valley; but the kid doesn't think so.
Duel Role for Fencing Teens
Fencing's all the rage in Hollywood hits like "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and "Die Another Day," although it's less of an everyday hobby with today's teen crowd. But for Jewish high school students Harry Mahaffey and Teddy Levitt, fencing is where it's at.
Mahaffey is the top-ranked 14-year-old saber fencer in the world. Ranked 49th in the international junior division (19 and under), only 10 Americans rank above Mahaffey, the youngest among them. Mahaffey started fencing at 7, when it was offered at his elementary school. He now practices two to four hours a day, five days a week at the Los Angeles International Fencing Center (LAIFC).
New Chuppah Honors Terror Victim
On the eve of her wedding, 20-year-old Naava Applebaum and her father, Dr. David Applebaum, the director of emergency medicine at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, sat at Jerusalem's Café Hillel. The two were celebrating her upcoming nuptials with a father-daughter talk. But Naava Applebaum never made it to her chuppah. That night, Sept. 9, 2003, she and her father's lives were taken by a terrorist's bomb.
Nothing But the Truth
Let's go live to my blind date at a West Hollywood Restaurant. The merlot is great, the gnocchi is inspired and the waiter taught me to say fork in Italian. The guy? Not for me. Marc is a rare blond Jew, but there was no click between us, no fireworks, no cell phone call from the bathroom stall to tell my girls I'd met my husband. Not that I've ever made that call or am looking for a husband. I don't even know how to spell husband. Or say it in Italian.
A Sporting Chanukah
On the third night of Chanukah my true love gave to me, an Olympic swim cap signed by Lenny Krayzelburg, a game of Horse with the Houston Rocket's Bostjan Nachbar and a chance to be on the set of ESPN's Cold Pizza.
Thanks to the Center for Sport and Jewish Life's online Chanukah auction (www.CSJL.org), gift giving just got more interesting.
Single Woman of Valor
I am a woman of valor.
But nobody is singing my weekly praises. Oh no, that's saved for the same lucky women who get the
Pottery Barn registry, the rock on their hand and a man in their bed.
According to Jewish tradition, every Shabbat, a husband sings "Eshet Chayil" -- "A Woman of Valor" (WOV) -- to his wife. This Friday night, I listened as my friend, Dan, told his wife, Jen, "Her price is far above rubies ... she's robed in strength and dignity, and cheerfully faces whatever may come." All true.
Singles ‘Curse’ Becomes a Blessing
Most single women in Los Angeles go through dry spells -- a few weeks without a date, a couple months without a boyfriend, a season without some action. But how many Southland women go years without a man's touch and confess to it publicly? In her new book "The Curse of the Singles Table, A True Story of 1001 Nights Without Sex," Santa Monica resident Suzanne Schlosberg talks about her long winter and spring and summer and fall, and winter again, and spring again and, well, her long, lonely time.
"There was no end in sight," said Schlosberg, who spent more than three and a half years going on dozens of first dates, but almost never a second. "The streak started to take on a life of its own."
Set, Spike, Kiss
I'll never play the violin in high heels again. OK, I'll be back in sticks in six weeks, and I never played the fiddle. But I did play an important game of volleyball.
Teshuvah for Two
There's nothing more romantic than a cantor's serenade, a symphony of grumbling stomachs, and an oversized sheet of dry honey cake.
Twin Triathletes Go for the Gold
Ran and Dan Alterman are Israel's reigning triathlon champions. For the past four years, they have dominated the sport in their native land. Now, they look to bring their success to the international arena.
Superflirt
Faster than a benching rabbi. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall bachelors in a single bound. Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SuperFlirt.
Trendy Is New Trend in Wedding Cakes
A round, three-tiered white cake topped with white buttercream frosting is so yesterday. This year's big wedding trend is the trendy wedding cake.
Modern brides are tossing out tradition along with their bouquets and matching their cake to their character. They're designing desserts in every color, shape, texture and size.
Fate With a Frummie
Of all the Jew joints, in all the towns, in all the world, I walk into his. The artist formerly known as Jake didn't just go to my high school. I was a freshman cheerleader in a sophomore geometry class and Jake was the hot football player who sat next to me.
Home Run
Shawn Green sits quietly in the Dodgers dugout waiting for pregame batting practice to begin. His unassuming nature seems at odds with his 6-foot-4 figure; his quiet presence inconsistent with his celebrity.
A Kick Out of Torah
What do you get when you cross Judaic philosophy with Chinese martial arts? Tora Dojo. The brainchild of Gandmaster H.I. Sober, Toro Dojo combines elements of traditional Karate and Kung Fu with Jewish spirituality. Tora Dojo, which started more than 30 years ago with 12 Yeshiva University students, is now taught to 30,000 people worldwide. There are no storefront studios; classes are held in synagogues, JCCs and at Jewish day schools and universities.
"Tora Dojo is a sport, but it's more of an art form," said Ben Andron, the head of Los Angeles' Tora Dojo West . "Students learn to defend themselves, fight, even break bricks, but the main goal is to improve their ability to focus and unlock unlimited potential."
Jewish Sportsmen?! No Joke
Why sit home and watch "SportsCenter" on TV when you can take part in a local sports highlight?
On Sunday, June 6, the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction banquet. Yes, there are enough extraordinary Jewish sportsmen and women in the Southland for a hall of fame. So wear your tux, but leave your Jewish sports jokes at the door.
To be held at the JCC at Milken, the black-tie optional affair will feature a silent auction and kosher dinner. The event will honor athletes, coaches, media personnel, officials and executives who have made significant contributions to the wide world of sports. Inductees are nominated by the public and selected by the Hall of Fame board of directors.
Like a Jew in a Bagel Store
I'm no longer a virgin. To Israel, that is. This single babe just returned from her maiden voyage to the land of milk and honey. And all I can say is -- there were a lot of honeys. Jewish men everywhere.
In the restaurants, on the streets, in the shops -- I didn't know where to flirt first. Forget a kid in a candy store, I was like a Jew in a bagel store. I'll take a dozen -- hot ones if you have them. Israel is a single Jewish girl's fantasy.
Tinseltown Players Schmooze in Israel
It's popular sentiment these days that Hollywood has turned its back on Israel. Recent visits by actor Jason Alexander, action hero-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a concert announcement by Madonna indicate a few stars are still looking to show their support.
Short-Term Help, Long-Term Effects
Michael Borkow had done the Israel tourist thing before, and wanted to spend his week's vacation volunteering in Israel.
College Finals Test Gymnasts’ Mettle
Two Jewish gymnasts, University of Denver's Ashley Shible and University of Florida's Orley Szmuch, are tumbling toward success at the NCAA's National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships, held April 15-17 at UCLA's legendary Pauley Pavilion.
Date My Friend
I'm always looking for new ways to meet new guys. So I was beyond excited to see a Date My Friend e-vite in my inbox (www.datemyfriend.net). Guys at organized singles events can be, well, honestly ... weird. I'm talking droolers, heavy breathers, socks and Tevas. But like a live Friendster, DMF is all about six degrees of separation. The party promoters invite their single friends, who invite their single friends, who invite Kevin Bacon.
Family Put Bruin on the Right Track
Jeremy Silverman's strength on the field is only matched by his strength of character. A shot put and discus thrower for UCLA, the 21-year-old student athlete has a kind, grounded quality.
Silverman grew up in Annville, Penn., a town with one stoplight and a gas station. As a member of the only Jewish family at a very small high school, Silverman bore witness to some anti-Semitic attitudes. Still, he celebrated the Jewish holidays.
Lending a Hand at a Community Seder
I'm spending Passover in Chicago -- home of the Cubs, the Bears and the whole Davis mishpachah (family). Mom's serving up chopped liver, chicken soup, matzah balls, matzah kugel, gefilte fish -- and those are just the appetizers. We'll drink wine, read the haggadah and belt out our never-ending version of "Chad Gadya."
It'll be a feast of freedom, family and what else -- food. One of my favorite holidays, Pesach does more than bring loved ones together, it brings us together with spirit.
Stanford’s Grunfeld Flies High
In Remembrance of Ringerman
A mentor to many, Jerry Ringerman left his handprint on California's education, music, camping, environment and Jewish life.
Milken Dances Into Bid for Nationals
Jews can dance a mean hora, but when it comes to hip-hop, they aren't known to hold their own -- until now. The Milken Community High School Dance Team swept the open regional Dance Team Competition in Las Vegas and earned a bid to the 2004 National Dance Team Competition of the High School.
When the Milken team qualified to compete in just one category at last year's nationals, they were the first private Jewish school to earn such an honor. By sweeping last month's regionals in the hip-hop, lyrical, medium dance, jazz and officers categories, Milken enters this year's nationals as one of the teams to beat.
Taking a Leap
Leap year fixes a flaw in the calendar and a glitch in our culture. We women constantly complain about our position on the dating food chain. We have to wait for men to ask us out, make the first move and call the next day. Well now we can stop waiting and start dating.
Between the Sheets
So what does a nice Jewish girl know about porn? Quite a bit.
Get Me to the Beach on Time
At one time, destination weddings were reserved for celebrity vows, hushed elopements and civil ceremonies. Exotic locales meant no chuppah, no rabbi, and no kosher-wine toast. But today, Jewish couples can have their wedding cake and eat it, too. Brides and grooms are getting married on the sandy beaches of the Bahamas and under the neon lights of Sin City, where traditional religious ceremonies are being hitched to romantic getaway affairs.
Maccabi Athletes Take Gold in Pan Am
From the fanfare of the banner-waving opening ceremonies to the pride of hearing the U.S. national anthem played during their medal ceremonies, Southern California athletes made the most of their experience at the 10th Pan American Maccabi Games. They joined over 2,000 Jewish athletes from 19 countries for the eight-day competition in Santiago, Chile.
A Leg Up
Nothing says casual first date like fresh flowers and kettle corn. So when Matt the internist suggests we spend Sunday afternoon exploring a Santa Monica street fair, I'm in. We share roasted almonds, sunshine and our own true Hollywood stories.
Winemaker Brings Kosher to Oxnard
Fruity, oaky and sugary; I taste blackberries, vanilla and sugar, lots of sugar; full-bodied, strong finish, and very sweet; horrible and, yet again, very sweet. That was the kosher wine tasting of yesteryear.
Working Out Solo Not Working Out
I'm an exercise addict who does it all -- hiking, running, spinning, dancing, aerobics and Tae Bo. I run the Santa Monica stairs and jog the UCLA perimeter. I'm hooked on Pilates DVDs, "Buns of Steel" tapes and hit the gym three or four times a week. But this September I hit a wall. I no longer found my workouts challenging or effective. I wanted to do more than lose five pounds. I wanted to sculpt my abs, firm my figure and mold my Jew.Lo tush. So I settled down and started seeing a personal trainer.
Athletes Sport Skills in Chile
Did you hear the one about the Jewish linebacker? If you did, don't tell it to Jed Margolis, executive director of Macabbi USA/Sports for Israel. "The joke is always that there are no good Jewish athletes, but that's not true, especially in Southern California," Margolis said. "Some of our Southern California Maccabi athletes are the best in their sport."
From Dec. 24, 2003-Jan. 4, 2004, 57 of those California athletes participated in the 10th annual Pan American Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile. According to Macabbi USA, more than 2,000 Jewish athletes from 20 countries were participating, making the event larger than the Winter Olympics.
Israel Philharmonic Strikes Teen Chord
Wearing Ug boots and draped wool scarves, a chatty clique of Milken Community High School girls slumped into their seats in a packed auditorium. About 600 had assembled to hear the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra's (IPO) KeyNote Brass Ensemble perform with the school's Chamber Ensemble and Concert Choir.
Hair Club for Jews
Hi. My name is Carin and I have a Jewfro.
Heeb hair. A Moses mop. A latke lid. I'm down with my fun girl curls, but I can't say the same for the men I meet. My big hair is the Mason-Dixon Line of my L.A. dating life. Some men love the untamed, wild, bed-head look of my natural waves. But many men prefer I play it straight.
In Sickness and in Taffeta
As a woman prepares to say "I do," her friends prepare to stand by her side in purple puffy dresses and lavender dyed shoes. In sickness and in health, in velour and in taffeta, in chartreuse and in lemon. As her bridesmaids, they will participate in a tradition that may be as old as Judaism itself.
Sit Down and Be Counted
We've all heard the wedding hora horror stories, where the beautiful bride plummets 10 feet to the ground with a thud -- another unfortunate victim of the Jewish chair-dance tradition. Well, the MitzvahChair will put the kibosh on that newlywed nightmare.
The Guy Clock
Ryan and I did the L.A. supercasual thing for six or seven months. When I tried to rev up our relationship from supercasual to just plain casual, he freaked. I'm talking full-on, take-it-to-Dr. Phil meltdown:
Trade You a Jutze For a Koufax
Just when baseball fans were denied the miracle of a Cubs-Red Sox World Series, another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes up to bat. The American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) has commissioned the printing of 15,000 sets of "America's Jews in America's Game" baseball cards. Featuring all 142 Jews who played in the major leagues from 1871 through the 2003 All-Star break, this collector's edition is as rare as -- well, as rare as a Jewish professional athlete.
Sorry for the Sin
Yom Kippur's on deck, boys -- so you better bust out your little black book. No, not the machzor. Your other little black book -- the one where you keep all your digits.
Pull out your PalmPilot, run through your phone sheet, sift through the scribbled notes on the back of crumpled coasters. It's time to scrounge up all your numbers and call all your babes.
Yom Kippur is a booty-free zone, so you're not calling to schedule a mid-Mincha make-out session. You're calling to apologize.
Single Conspiracy
Someone call Oliver Stone, I've uncovered a conspiracy. The system is trying to keep the single woman down. That's right, the world revolves around happy little couples. And who pays the price? I'll tell you who pays the price. Single people, that's who. And we're not going to take it anymore.
The Great Jewish Hope
Dmitriy Salita doesn't fight on the Sabbath, which gives his competition a much-needed day of rest from this powerful junior welterweight.
The Friend Zone
Jay and I met watching college hoops at Maloney's in March. He's a Syracuse fan who came to believe his team would only win when my tush was on the bar stool next to his.
An Emergency Case
Singles
Age-Old Dilemma
My friend Lindsay's friend, Michelle, hosted a 30th birthday bash for her friend, Beth, last Saturday night. So of course I was there.
The Dayenu Diet
We know you check out our top as we walk in, and our bottom as we walk out. Which is one reason why this Jew-Lo spends hours at the gym sculpting her curves. Pilates, spinning, weights and running. All in the name of a taut tuchis and a tiny waist.
Mensch Madness
Representing the West Coast in this year's dance are Cal forward/center Amit Tamir and Stanford University guard/forward Dan Grunfeld.
Your Dime or Mine?
Speed Flirting
I talk a lot. And I talk quickly. So when my friend, Talia, suggests I use my speedtalking at SpeedDating, I'm in. Why not spend a night with "The Fast and the Flirtiest"? Daters take your mark, get set, go!
The Matzah Bull
Christmas Eve 2001. Bing Crosby's on my radio, Jimmy Stewart's on my television and I'm on my couch.
My Chanukah Miracle
I'm an experienced multidater, so I'm usually pretty good at juggling men.
Bruin Pair Ready to Battle Trojans
Crosstown football rivals UCLA (7-3) and USC (8-2) will face-off in their 72nd annual battle for city bragging rights at The Rose Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 23. And leading the Bruins are Jewish senior starters Mike Seidman and Mike Saffer.
Wingman Wanted
Oh where, oh where did my single friends go? Seems the chicks in my clique are all dating, married or hauling around gargantuan diamonds.
Tribemembers With Halos
Two Jewish pitchers -- Al Levine and Scott Schoeneweis -- are part of this World Series' miracle, where the Anaheim Angels have made it for the first time (as of press time the series was undecided).
E-mailer at the Bat
I'm a sucker for a slugger in a baseball hat. So I got caught looking at Alex, the hottie at my weekly Sunday softball game. He works for a nonprofit, volunteers at a local hospital and drinks at St. Nicks. And he has the greatest laugh.
Combatting Hunger
Give a hungry man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. Give him chicken soup while fishing, you feed him, teach him and give him a taste of home.
Finding the ‘It’ Shul
In Los Angeles, the happening High Holiday haunts sell out faster than Springsteen at The Forum. And the tickets cost just as much. So every fall, Jewish singletons like myself do the New Year hustle, seeking out affordable, last-minute tickets to The Main Event. About a week before the big Rosh, the calls start coming in: "Davis, where are you going to services this year?" "How are you ringing in 5763?" "What are you doing New Years, New Year's Eve?"
Tea House Therapy
Tired of serving up that familiar holiday honey cake? At the Rooibos Tea House, a happy, healthy New Year starts with African red tea and red tea baked goods.
"Cooking with our tea is a delicious way to celebrate the High Holidays -- tasty and energizing," said Rooibos owner Nira Levy Maslin.
Serving Jewish Pride in L.A.
Jewish tennis players served up a strong presence at this summer's Los Angeles-based pro tournaments, with Israelis Harel Levy, Noam Okun and Anna Smashnova participating in recent Southland competitions.
Plus Guest
I'm amazed Jewish boys ever find the courage to take a wife, because the ones I date can't find the courage to take a guest.
Kibbitz
KosherPets, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based pet food company, offers up "kosher-style" pet chow for your Jewish cats and dogs.
Knitting Trend Is No Yarn
Guess my Grandma Faye was a hip, trend-setting bubbe. A real lady before her time, she knit sweaters, crocheted blankets and kept closets full of colorful yarn.
Combatting Hunger
Give a hungry man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. Give him chicken soup while fishing, you feed him, teach him and give him a taste of home.
Jewish Fans Fill Dodger Stands
"Hot dogs! Get your glatt kosher hot dogs."
Not your typical vendor cry? Not your typical Dodgers game.
The fourth annual Jewish Community Day at Dodger Stadium boasted an Israeli and American flag color guard, a reserved section filled with as many kippot as baseball caps, and a 10-1 Los Angeles victory over the Montreal Expos. Despite overcast skies, hundreds of Jewish Angelenos turned out on May 19 to enjoy America's favorite pastime.
Synagogue’s Biggest Hit
It's 20-19 in the seventh, two outs, runners on first and third. The unrelenting Valley sun beats down on four-time league champions Temple Judea, who have allowed Kol Tikvah Black to score three runs in the game's final inning and narrow the margin to one. With a clean crack of the bat, the Kol Tikvah hitter connects with the pitch. Victory, bragging rights and synagogue pride cling to the long fly ball. But an outstretched Judea glove snags the fly, and with it the week's win.
Everyday Judaism
Late-night giggles in a bunk bed, lazy afternoons in a cool pool, sweet summer Shabbats with friends that will last a lifetime -- to Rabbi Daniel Greyber, the new executive director of Camp Ramah in California, the Jewish camp experience is a delicate balance of athletic, social and artistic adventures, all peppered with soulful Jewish traditions.
Ziegler’s Elite Eight
Three bouncers, two lawyers and a musician among them, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies class of 2002 brings a new leadership to the Conservative movement this week with the ordination of eight rabbis. From backgrounds as different as the paths on which they are about to embark, together Mark Ankcorn, Micah Caplan, Andrea Haney, Daniel Greyber, Baruch HaLevi, Barry Leff, Eric Rosin and Ranon Teller received ordination on Monday, May 17.
Israel in the Arab Mind
As tensions in the Middle East soar, many Jewish Angelenos search for answers to the generations-old question: Can there ever be peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors?
LARAM
Three men storm the gym and force us to the ground: Our hearts race as they press mock guns to our heads.
But as students of LARAM, we know we have options. We have tools to neutralize our aggressors -- during this in-class drill and during true-life attacks.
The Safe Spot
"How do you explain breast cancer to your 3 1/2-year-old son?" asked Susan Cohen of Woodland Hills. "How does your spouse feel about becoming your caretaker?" These are some of the questions addressed at The Safe Spot. "The things we shared with other families [who] were on the same difficult journey as us," said Cohen, a USC professor and breast cancer survivor.
7 Days In Arts
7 Days In The Arts
The Four Menches
The haggadah speaks of the Four Sons: the wise, the wicked, the simple and the one who doesn't know how to ask. And on a good night in Hollywood, you can pick up all four. The first Saturday in March is a girls' night out (with the understanding we intend to pull men). Elizabeth, Sasha, Sarah and I throw on low-cut tops, low-rise pants and do the L.A. barhop thing.
Aromatherapy Miracles
"American Pie" star Shannon Elizabeth may appear to have perfect skin. But Michelle Ornstein knows that everyone, even stars, have bad skin days. And when they do, they turn to this Israeli-born spa owner for help.
7 Days In Arts
7 Days In Arts.
West Valley JCC Open and Synagogue Basketball League
Sports Briefs
Mind, Body and Soul
What do women want? Happiness, family and to shed those last 10 pounds. Women can learn how to accomplish all this and more at an educational conference produced by women and designed to meet the needs and wants of women.
The Basketball Diaries
Two standout Jewish hoop stars headlining the Pac-10 basketball tournament? It's all part of March Madness. David Bluthenthal, USC's 22-year-old small forward, and Amit Tamir, UC Berkeley's 22-year-old forward/center, each look to lead their team to the conference title at the March 7-9 tournament at Staples Center.
A Matter of Opinion
Rabbis to your corners. We want a clean fight, a fair fight, and no hitting below the beard. It's not the WWF Wrestling Smackdown -- it's the JSI rabbinical smackdown, brought to you live by the Jewish Studies Institute (JSI) Talkback Series.
The Queen’s Advice
The Megillah tells us that Esther found the courage to confront Ahasuerus, confess she was a Jew and not only save her relationship, but the entire Jewish people. And yet more than 2,000 years later, this Jewish girl can't even find the courage to confront the guy I'm dating and confess how much I truly like him.
The Porn Star and the Rabbi
Did you hear the one about the rabbi, the porn star and the adult magazine editor? They don't walk into a bar, they walk into a synagogue.
My Very Own Chuppah
Hold onto your son's baby blanket. Don't give away your daughter's cheerleading uniform. If they hold precious memories and deep meanings, you may be able to recycle them -- as part of your child's chuppah.
A Kosher Kisser
I keep kosher, but most of my Jewish peeps do not. To them, Double Doubles with cheese are a basic food group, and pizza without pepperoni is like the Rams without Warner.
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