Circuit

Rebecca Tobias, representing Americans for Peace Now, presents the CINE-PEACE Award to filmmaker Ari SandelOctober 2, 2008

Oscar-winner Sandel gets Cine-Peace Award; Poker tourney a winner for JBBBS

By Danielle Berrin

Oscar-winning director Ari Sandel ("West Bank Story") racked up yet another prize when Americans for Peace Now presented him the 2008 Cine-Peace Award.

Featured

(From left) Actor Warren Beatty, producer Arnon Milchan and Chairman of 20th Century Fox Jim GianopulosThursday, September 25, 2008

Hollywood hot for Israel at Paramount gala; AJCongress honors human rights advocate

By Danielle Berrin

There were Hollywood stars and powerful studio heads, politicians, multinational rappers, Israeli Cabinet ministers, the Keshet Chaim dance ensemble, two-dozen Israeli Boy and Girl Scouts, a 3-D film segment, a tennis legend, professional and amateur comedians, resounding shofars, electronic fireworks and tables groaning with biblical fruits.

Nessah Israel Young Professional members at Area nightclub. Photo by Nejati PhotographyThursday, September 18, 2008

Nessah Young Professionals party like Paris Hilton; New VP for Masorti women

By Danielle Berrin

Nessah Young Professionals' Aug. 26 annual gala drew more than 600 local Iranian Jewish young professionals and college students to the Area nightclub in West Hollywood, where they danced the night away to live music while also raising money on behalf of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF).

Latest

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Stars come out for Jews in Cuba; Fall in love with Judaism

By Danielle Berrin

Hundreds of well-dressed, young Jewish philanthropists packed Cuban restaurant La Bodeguita de Pico the night of Aug. 14 to show off their support of the Cuban Jewish community.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Pelosi pilloried, garden party for Israeli art and artists

By Danielle Berrin

Pelosi, on a break from her post as the first female Speaker of the House, landed at American Jewish University (AJU) on Aug. 11 to promote her new book, "Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters" (Doubleay). Faced with an acrimonious audience, one of Congress's most outspoken critics of the Bush administration was lambasted for opposing impeachment proceedings against the president

Larry Greenfield (left), director of California Republican Jewish Coalition, and Iranian Jewish activist Frank Nikbakht. Photo by Karmel MelamedThursday, August 14, 2008

Debating Presidential politics, Chanukah in August

The Iranian-American Jewish community is avidly following the presidential election scene, and Craig Taubman taped a Chanukah show.

Event co-chair Max Aronson, Mike Binder, event co-chair Eli Sussman, event co-chair Aaron KaczanderWednesday, August 6, 2008

Motown Jews invade Hollywood

By Danielle Berrin

For the young Jews of Detroit now living in Hollywood, Bob Aronson might as well be a movie star. The gentle-voiced CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit has the money, power and prestige to throw a respectable Hollywood party. More importantly, he knows the magic ingredient required to attract young, aspiring industry types to the much-stigmatized Jewish mixer: Make it free.

(From left) Russell Simmons; the 2008 Joseph Papp Racial Harmony Award winners, Vicangelo Bulluck, Daphna Ziman and Jay Faires, Rabbi Marc Schneier, President of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Photo by Ed KriegerWednesday, July 30, 2008

Daphna Ziman praised, Justice Ball raises big bucks for Bet Tzedek

By Danielle Berrin

Paul S. Castro, right, executive director of Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, welcomes Jeff Nagler as the new JFS president at a June 16 installation ceremony. See story belowThursday, July 17, 2008

The hip Jewish museum by the Bay, Nagler new JFS chief

The new Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco is a hip amalgam of modern art. Daniel Liebeskind's peculiar architectural dazzle looks like a giant Rubik's Cube in metallic steel, standing on its tip beneath the city's downtown skyscrapers. Beside it is the Jessie Street Power Substation, a brick and terra cotta structure in the classical revival style, a landmark building first erected in 1881 that Liebeskind adapted to the project.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Jewish Journal scores at L.A. Press Club Awards, Magbit jokes for the money

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Banking on Israel’s future—from Brentwood

By Danielle Berrin

The earnest message was delivered in an opulent setting. First, the customary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were served in the Sheinbaum's plush backyard, where a clover-shaped pool, statues and sculptures seemed fixed into the landscape of the Brentwood Hills.

"Praying in Her Own Voice" producers Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus and Rabbis Lynn Brody and Lisa Edwards at the 23rd Israel Film Festival. Photo by Orly HalevyThursday, June 26, 2008

Women fight for equal Western Wall rights, Democrats for Israel leader moves up

By Danielle Berrin

Should women have equal prayer rights at the Kotel? It's a question of profound religious, spiritual and political complexities that a new documentary, "Praying in Her Own Voice," by filmmaker Yael Katzir, dares to ask but doesn't attempt to answer.

Snoop Dogg and Ray Lewis. Photo by by Thomas NeerkenFriday, June 20, 2008

Sports stars celebrate medical champs

By Adam Wills

It was an ESPN Zone on 'roids when more than 1,800 sports stars and fans gathered at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on June 1 for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's 23rd annual Sports Spectacular, which raised more than $1 million to benefit the hospital's Medical Genetics Institute and a fellowship endowment program.

Iranian Jewish school children helping with the care packages. Photo courtesy Simon EtehadThursday, June 5, 2008

Iranian Jewish kids fill care packages for troops, JFS honors goodness of Goldstines

By Danielle Berrin

Judea Pearl (right) is congratulated by Dennis Wint, president and CEO of the Franklin InstituteThursday, May 29, 2008

Judea Pearl gets Franklin Institute award; Beach services for Lag B’Omer

By Danielle Berrin

Thursday, May 22, 2008

L.A.’s birthday party for Israel

By Danielle Berrin

A rockin' good time

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Maher and Snow spar at American Jewish University, Journal veteran Tugend praised as ‘Distinguished

By Danielle Berrin

Tony Snow declared himself "the sacrificial lamb" the moment he stepped on stage at Universal Studios Gibson Amphitheatre, rightly anticipating a rough tumble with the provocative HBO pundit Bill Maher during the final installment of American Jewish University's (AJU) 2008 Public Lecture

Binoche and Liron Levo struggle in Gaza in "Disengagement"Thursday, May 1, 2008

Jewish life in the City of Lights

By Danielle Berrin

Calendar Girl Danielle Berrin finds herself in Paris for Pesach

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Jewish life in the City of Lights

By Danielle Berrin

Current statistics suggests that, even though France is depicted as less than empathetic to the Jewish community, the Jewish population there has actually grown.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Local students go to lobby in D.C., seniors party at ‘senior prom’

By Danielle Berrin

Local Students Lobby at the Capitol


A group of University Synagogue religious school students paid a springtime visit to Washington, D.C., where they

Daniel Rubin, left, and Ari Platt, organizers of the carnivalThursday, April 17, 2008

Holidays, happiness and hope for Sderot

By Danielle Berrin

When Ari Platt spent a Shabbat in Sderot and saw the depleted condition of civic life there, he knew he had to do something.

In only a few weeks, the Los Angeles native, currently studying at Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem, decided to organize a Purim carnival for the town of Sderot -- a reprieve from their harsh reality for a day of festivity, spirit and celebration. He galvanized support from the Jewish communities in Los Angeles and Israel, despite warnings from his yeshiva that he was embarking on a dangerous mission.

Theodore Bikel, left, Tamara Brooks and Severyn AshkenazyThursday, April 10, 2008

Theo for Jews in Poland, Italian seder, HIBM awareness

By Danielle Berrin

Passionately devoted to the resurgence of Jewish life in Poland, entertainer Theodore Bikel, accompanied by Tamara Brooks, performed an hour-long private concert of Yiddish, English and Hebrew songs to benefit the nonprofit Friends of Jewish Renewal in Poland.

Honoring firefighters and volunteers at the Hatzolah dinner at Congregation Beth Jacob are, from left to right, Andrew Friedman, Sheriff Lee Baca, LAFD Fire Chief Douglas L. Barry, Deputy Chief Terry Hara of the L.A.P.D., and Hatzolah President Zvika Brenner.Friday, April 4, 2008

Honoring Hatzolah, Anjelica Huston, Sheba

By Danielle Berrin

Honoring Hatzolah, Anjelica Huston, Sheba

IKAR dance floor crowd celebrates PurimThursday, March 27, 2008

Purimpalooza people party like its 500 B.C.E. +/-

By Danielle Berrin

Circuit briefs.

Ron Meyer, COO of Universal Studios with Robert Gibson, left, and Joe Rassulo, winners of AJU's Geller Screenwriting Competition. Photo by Michael KovacThursday, March 20, 2008

Screenwriting—the good news and the bad; Rev. John Hagee calls Jesus ‘a Reform rabbi’

By Danielle Berrin

Circuit briefs.

Dustin Hoffman, Eli and Edythe BroadThursday, March 13, 2008

Broad’s $45 million theater complex to open

By Danielle Berrin

Circuit briefs.

Chasidic reggae star Matisyahu shares an hour with young fans at Jewlicious 4.0, March 2 in Long Beach. Photo by David Jewlicious AbitbolFriday, March 7, 2008

Israel at the Oscars, Rove at AJU, Matisyahu at Jewlicious 4.0

By Danielle Berrin

Circuit briefs.

Blogs

10/7
The God Blog: Faith + 1 first album goes myrrh
10/7
The God Blog: Poll: Palestinians prefer McCain
10/6
The God Blog: Worshipping Allah at the Jesus Christ Mosque
10/6
The God Blog: Sarah Palin and me

Opinion Section

10/1
Opinion: Death to Fanatistan!
10/1
Opinion: Holiday Heartburn

Featured Stories