- NEWS & COMMENTARY
A new era of Jewish leadership in L.A.?
Los Angeles chose Eric Garcetti as its first elected Jewish mayor, one of a number of political contests on Tuesday that reflected the city’s diversity, as well as its numerous…
Stone-walling
In the last two years, the Western Wall in Jerusalem — also known as the Kotel — has become a place of controversy as much as of worship. It’s the site of a battle that has long been waged by…
Gun violence in America: Scandal!
Two years after his mother was shot and killed, Dallas Sonnier received a phone call from the police: His father had just been shot and killed.
- HOLLYWOOD
Spielberg to produce ‘Halo’ television series, plus other news from the Xbox One announcement
Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and…
Justin Timberlake and Coen brothers answer Jewish questions at Cannes
Using his preternatural smoothness, Justin Timberlake saved the Coen brothers from some serious awkwardness at a Cannes press conference for their folk singer film “Inside Llewyn Davis” on Sunday. “Jewish…
Sean Penn lobbies for Charedi man imprisoned in Bolivia
Actor Sean Penn urged a congressional hearing to pressure Bolivia to release a haredi Orthodox father of five under house arrest in the country.
- LIFE & CULTURE
Sarah Silverman sings about staying home in ‘Perfect Night’
For your listening pleasure, “Perfect Night,” in which Sarah Silverman recounts the benefits of skipping the club for the couch. Because this is a Silverman production you can expect references…
Maccabi Tel Aviv back on top but coach future uncertain
Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have reasserted their dominance of Israeli soccer but media reports on Tuesday suggested they might have to continue their revival without coach Oscar Garcia.
7 Rules for Perfect Hummus
When was the last time you opened a tub of hummus and swooned? When was the last time a restaurant put a plate of hummus in front of you, and…
- BLOGS
State 194: A Documentary About Palestine
Opening this weekend at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3 is a very hot-button new documentary called State 194, which follows the recent history of Palestine. Many will approach this film with…
7 Rules for Perfect Hummus
When was the last time you opened a tub of hummus and swooned? When was the last time a restaurant put a plate of hummus in front of you, and…
What would my Israeli grandmother think?
When I hear about the latest events in Israel – the air strikes on weapons facilities in Syria, the flare-ups over women donning prayer shawls at the Western Wall –…
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The Kotel Exchange- Part 2: Is the Western Wall Compromise an Opportunity?
7 Comments on a Jewish Habitat Called Hollywood
Judaism’s Big Moment at the Oscars
Melissa McCarthy, Rex Reed & Identity Thief
Gingrich sticks by Palestinian comment, draws rebukes from GOP candidates
Republican presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich stood by his assertion that the Palestinians are an "invented people," drawing criticism from other GOP candidates.
What's really wrong with Israel's ad campaign
The ads calling for Israelis to return home recently produced by the Israeli Ministry of Absorption and subsequently killed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are being criticized for all the wrong reasons.
New book stirs controversy about British chief rabbi
A new book that criticizes Britain’s chief rabbi is opening old wounds and sparking a new debate about whether the institution of the British chief rabbi has outlived its usefulness.
Jewish Agency wants changes in Israel conversion policy
It calls on the government to establish Jewish religious courts that "will base themselves on appropriate moderate and tolerant prior halachic decisions to allow the conversion process to move forward.
Chabad, Getty and neighbors square off over Palisades school plan
Everything went smoothly until April 2, when Getty Trust attorney Lori Fox informed Cunin that Chabad does not have the right to approach the building via a private Getty service road -- which Chabad disputes
Iranian Jews still awaiting apology from Muslim singer
The concert at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas was advertised as a "night to remember," and it lived up to the hype.
The many sides of Bob Dylan
In its own oddball way, "I'm Not There" is among the best pieces of music criticism I've seen or read on the subject of Bob Dylan. It is a jigsaw puzzle, with its various pieces scattered around the table by a deft, if quirky hand. It's a film that rewards close attention and deserves repeated viewings. The film's one significant omission is the place of Judaism in Dylan's life.
Rabin memorial rally draws 100,000, Coulter controversy escalates
News briefs.
Girlz in the hood
'Miriam' and 'Shoshana' live in the Pico-Robertson area. They're seniors at a religious girls' school, they study Torah, dress modestly and keep the Sabbath. But Miriam and Shoshana are not your ordinary Orthodox girls. They rap. They use foul language. They fantasize about professional wrestler Bill Goldberg. And they head up a dreidel-rolling gang. The two faux frumsters are the comedic creations of Kara Luiz and Deena Adar.
Loving our passion
Rabbi Kanefsky is as passionate a Jew and lover of Israel as I've ever met. By lighting up a firestorm of passion in other Jews, he reminded me why I so passionately love my people, even -- and sometimes especially -- when I disagree with them.
Israel cuts power and fuel to Gaza in bid to stop rocket attacks
In the face of unceasing rocket attacks on Israeli towns, cities and kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip, Israeli leaders approved the new policy to reduce fuel and electricity to the territory as the most humane way of trying to persuade Gaza's terrorist Hamas leadership to keep the peace.
Bratz : They’re cool, hot and controversial
Depending on whom you ask, Bratz are odd-looking multiethnic dolls with big eyes and skimpy clothes - or they're, like, the coolest things ever.
Museum of Tolerance expansion plans controversy continues at City Hall
A long-running dispute between homeowners and the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance (MOT) and Yeshiva of Los Angeles (YOLA) entered a more formal stage last week, with a hearing by the Los Angeles City Planning Department on Oct. 24 at City Hall.
Federation may face lawsuit over fundraiser Prizant’s firing
Prizant's defenders allege that his firing was for personal, not professional, reasons and assert that fundraising totals grew steadily under his stewardship.
Prager shouldn’t lose his museum post
For Prager is one of a handful of America's most valuable Jews. Why? Because of the role he has taken as a foremost Jewish spokesman for the Bible. I don't mean he's some sort of radio preacher. But when appropriate, in his daily discussions with callers on political and cultural subjects, he often brings in a scriptural perspective -- without apology, always with a light touch, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Briefs: Western Wall dig starts, Israel and U.S. back gays at U.N.
briefs
Our Hollywood moment: An article in three acts
That initial meeting, as it happened, was the start of something entirely unexpected. Within a year, we were engaged. That was the fairy-tale ending of one story, but the prelude to another -- our Hollywood moment.
After Agoura eruv dismantled, residents ask ‘What’s up with that?’
The Agoura Eruv, a project conceived by a small group of local Chabad congregants, covered portions of Agoura Hills and Oak Park, as well as a small sliver of Westlake Village. The Oak Park segment of the eruv had been taken down prior to the Jan. 23 meeting, and on Jan. 25 the Eruv Committee officially ordered the elements in Agoura Hills and Westlake Village dismantled.
Arab’s nomination to Israel’s Cabinet stirs up simmering controversy
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert praised Majadele's nomination. But its ratification, which was expected to take place at Sunday's Cabinet meeting, was postponed for a week.
Release of ‘Alpha Dog ’ reopens Markowitz family wounds
The film, "Alpha Dog," based on the 2000 kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old West Hills resident Nick Markowitz, has received mixed reviews but growing notoriety.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council distances itself from Prager
Leaders of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, ensnared in a raging controversy over one of its members, this week moved to distance themselves from the cause of the furor.
With Friends Like These…
Write a factually sloppy, unfairly partisan polemic about a complex and sensitive issue and you get just what you'd expect: controversy at every whistle stop, major face time with Larry King and a book that shoots up the best-seller list.
Ed Koch wants Prager out—will ask him to resign from Holocaust Memorial Council next week
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council faces continuing questions over recent statements by one of its members, local commentator and writer Dennis Prager.
An (Israeli-American) Voice in the Wilderness
At the very least, Tasini wants voters to get a chance to listen to him. He offers himself up as a new kind of Jewish American anti-war candidate for Congress, the only one who, as this summer's news about the miseries of Iraq merged with that of the Lebanon blow-up, critically addressed both situations.
Gunter Grass Admits to SS Past
Grass, 78, whose autobiography is due out this fall, told the Frankfurter Allegmeine Zeitung in an interview published last Friday that he was drafted into the Waffen SS in the final months of World War II.
Letters to the Editor 07-07-06
Letters to the Editor
Torture? Nah, Just a Tantrum
A new billboard depicting Jill Greenberg's photographs of sobbing toddlers might raise the profile (and debate over) her controversial exhibition at the Paul Kopeikin Gallery.
Rabbi Gafni Ousted for Misconduct
Rabbi Mordechai Gafni's dismissal came last week after four women, including students of his and a staff member, filed complaints of sexual misconduct against Gafni with the police in Israel.
Real Danger in Myth
The film version of author Dan Brown's bestseller, "The Da Vinci Code," premiered this week amid a cacophony of unhappy historians and theologians who hoped to reach the horde of curious moviegoers seeking a good diversion -- which is also what prompted many readers to pick up the book in the first place.
First Person - Snips and Snapshots
Satmar Fight Underlines Its Assimilation
The death of Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum, spiritual leader of the Satmar Chasidic sect, marks more than the passing of a revered Torah sage. It also signals the conclusive passage of his community from Europe to America, a process that first began nearly 60 years ago.
Tommywood - Unanswered Questions
On April 7, 1944, Rudolf Vrba escaped from Auschwitz, one of very few to do so; he died last week at age 81, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Vancouver, British Columbia. Vrba once said that he spent 95 percent of his life on science and 5 percent on the Holocaust. It is worth considering the importance of that 5 percent and the controversy it engendered, which resonates to this day.
Critics Pound Paper Panning Israel Lobby
Walt and Mearsheimer portray as interchangeable the pro-Israel lobby and the neo-conservatives who have developed Bush's foreign policy. Not surprisingly, this report got negative reviews from pro-Israel groups.
Weisz Gets Gold; ‘Munich’ Out in the Cold
"Munich" and "Paradise Now," two films subjected to considerable controversy in the American Jewish community and Israel, came up empty-handed at Sunday evening's Academy Awards ceremonies.
Not at all controversial was the selection of Rachel Weisz as best supporting actress in "The Constant Gardner," in which she plays a passionate activist fighting an international pharmaceutical company.
Where in the World Is ‘Paradise’?
In the listing by countries of the five nominees for foreign language film honors, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives the origin of "Paradise Now" as "Palestine."
In various Academy news releases, the designation has been "Palestinian Authority."
Letters
Letters to the Editor
Europe’s Jews Caught in Cartoon Furor
As frequent targets of anti-Semitic cartoons -- many of them in the Arab press -- Jews on one hand sympathized with the Muslim outrage over depictions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, which is considered by Muslims to be blasphemous.
But Jews joined many others in expressing shock at the level of violence the controversy sparked.
Cartoon Riots Spark Sweet Backlash
Pedersen said that since anti-Danish rioting began, several people have called in long-distance orders and mentioned their desire to "buy Danish." Consumers in heavily Muslim countries, in contrast, are boycotting Danish products, reportedly costing Danish business up to $1 million a day. In response, European and American free-speech supporters have been advocating a less well-known "Buy Danish" campaign.
Don’t Ignore the Quiet Majority of Muslims
Most Muslims -- and especially American Muslims -- cannot fairly be accused of hypersensitivity when it comes to the Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. That's because most Muslims have not overreacted, despite the stereotypic images served up by the media.
American Actor Busey Stars as Murderous Jew
In the Turkish film, "Valley of the Wolves: Iraq," former "A-list" American actor Gary Busey plays a Jewish U.S. Army doctor who cuts out organs of Iraqis at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison and sells them to wealthy foreign clients. The movie is breaking all box office records in Turkey.
Drawn to Controversy
The letter writers wanted The Journal to reprint cartoons of the prophet Muhammed that first appeared in a Danish newspaper in September. The cartoons have sparked international outrage among Muslims, including riots, kidnapping, diplomatic reprisals and death threats.
A Timid Pro-Israel Lobby Doesn’t Work
Ever since news emerged that officials at Washington's powerful pro-Israel lobby were suspected of violating national security laws, speculation has raged over how this would affect its legendary clout. Now, two years down the line, after unceasing crises of investigations, subpoenas, surveillance, wire taps, grand juries and indictments, the consequence is clear: Unhappily, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is in peril of becoming a modern-day version of the ancient court Jew. In this case, that means bowing to the prerogatives of the Bush administration rather than using its avowed clout actually to influence government policy.
Library Group Draws Fire Over Web Site
With more than 64,000 members, the American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest organization of its type in the world. The group aims to improve the quality of libraries and to ensure equal access to information for all. This mission has included advocacy when libraries or librarians are in danger.
Snip Judgment
If you were circumcised as an adult and have experienced sexual relations both before and afterward, then Emily Bazelon wants to know about it. Why that concerns me -- and may concern you -- takes a little explaining.
Madonna and the Elusive Isaac
Now, on her latest album "Confessions on a Dance Floor," the track that is receiving the most attention and critical acclaim is one called "Isaac." About a month before the CD's release on Nov. 15, rabbis in Israel claimed the song was about Rabbi Isaac Luria, the 16th-century kabbalist better known as the Arizal, and they blasted Madonna for using his holy name for profit.
Wolpe Leading Pick for Seminary Spot
The position of JTS chancellor is widely viewed as the head of the entire Conservative movement, as well as the leader of its flagship institution.
How to Polish a Tarnished Image
For decades, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has successfully worked behind the scenes to influence U.S. policymakers to pass pro-Israel legislation.
Textbook Battle Hits California
The state of California is on the brink of a major election that involves neither Arnold Schwarzenegger nor Clint Eastwood. The candidates are textbooks and other teaching materials that will influence what schoolchildren across the state -- and across the United States -- will learn for more than a decade.
Q & A With Daniel Ayalon
The mid-August Israeli pullout from Gaza is fraught with risks and unknowns, but the Israeli government remains committed to "unilateral disengagement," says Daniel Ayalon, Israel's ambassador to the United States.
Fence in Jerusalem May Face Barriers
A year after the U.N.-affiliated International Court of Justice at The Hague ruled that Israel's West Bank security barrier was illegal, controversy over the section in and around Jerusalem could spark new international pressure on the Jewish state to change the fence route or stop construction altogether.
Todd Solondz, Provoking Again
>"People call me a provocateur," filmmaker Todd Solondz said. "I'd say that's fair." Peering out from his oversized thick green glasses, dressed in rose-colored pants, a nubbly gray sweater and yellow sneakers, Solondz looks the part of independent cinema's presiding nerd incendiary.
Rabbi Retracts Claim Against Hahn
A Los Angeles rabbi has retracted his charge that Mayor James Hahn's re-election campaign was "dishonest and manipulative" in claiming endorsements from Jewish community leaders.
Rabbi Retracts Claim Against Hahn
A Los Angeles rabbi has retracted his charge that Mayor James Hahn's reelection campaign was "dishonost and manipulative" in claiming endorsements from Jewish community leaders.
Vote Confirms Westside, Valley Split
The gap between Westside and Valley Jewish voters goes back at least to the busing controversy of the late 1970s.
New Allegations of Forged Hahn Support
A growing number of Jewish community members are saying that Hahn's re-election campaign falsely claimed them as endorsers in that ad.
What’s Next for Shalhevet?
Despite its fair share of controversy and assaults on its reputation, the school Jerry Friedman founded 13 years ago has established itself as an innovative, liberal Modern Orthodox high school with high academic standards, where kids for the most part really love the school.
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