August 29, 2007 | 1:38 pm

Beating up Big Brother

Posted by Dikla Kadosh

Unless you’ve been living under a big rock, you’ve heard by now about Amber’s anti-Semitic rant on CBS’s Big Brother 8. The shockingly ignorant and offensive remarks, whispered under her breath to another contestant, were never aired on the network, but the youtube video has been seen 16,013 times as of this very minute.

In case you haven’t seen it already, here’s the video:

CBS managed to duck the controversy by releasing a statement that in essence says they are not responsible for the personal opinions of the contestants. However, they will not rebroadcast her remarks.

That’s not repentant enough, declared the Jewish Defense League. They are organizing a protest at CBS Studios in Studio City tomorrow at 5 p.m. The email I received said, “How can CBS allow this? She should not be in the running for the 1 million $$ prize. Anti-Semitism is not something to be rewarded for!!”

From that statement, I assume that the protesters will be demanding nothing short of CBS evicting Amber from the show, a right usually reserved for the housemates themselves.

I highly doubt the JDL will succeed in roughing up CBS to the point of acquiescence, but I admire their efforts and wanted to give our readers a chance to join the protest if they feel compelled to speak out.

August 28, 2007 | 4:30 pm

A late night mensch

Posted by Dikla Kadosh

Avi Liberman is a Jewish comedian. I know what you’re thinking: so what? Jewish comedians are about as common in LA as single Jewish women in their 40s. And I don’t mean that in a derogatory manner, I’m only referencing a recent explosive editorial by our Editor-in-Chief, Rob Eshman.

What makes Avi Liberman blogworthy is that he is not only a Jewish comedian, he’s also a second grade teacher, an observant Jew and a neshama tova (good soul) who brings a group of comedians to Israel every summer to bring laughter to those who need it.

In 2003, he wrote an article for The Jewish Journal about this comedy-for-charity idea he just started:

Our first show was in Ra’anana,which has a large English-speaking community. There were about 225 tickets sold and suddenly, I got nervous. Not because of the crowd, and not because I didn’t think we could pull it off. I just really wanted the audience to have a good time. I felt a greater responsibility to provide some joy for these people who have suffered through so much terror.

All the proceeds from the comedy nights go to a center for homeless and drug-addicted teens in Jerusalem.

This guy isn’t just blog material, he’s marriage material! Sorry ladies, I don’t actually know if Avi is single, but I do know he was born in Israel, raised in Texas, went to college in New York and now lives in “The Hood” in Los Angeles. And, he’s adorable. See for yourself:

For more of our mensch of the moment, tune in Thursday night (12:30 a.m.) to the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS, where Avi will be doing a stand-up routine and Pamela Anderson will be doing, well…her routine.

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August 27, 2007 | 3:35 pm

Stem cell saga

Posted by Danielle Berrin

The bomb scare threatened to overtake the evening. There was a “suspicious toy” found leaning against the wall of Sinai Temple. Police set up a blockade, cordoning off the streets and summoning the bomb squad. A lady I met on the circuitous walk asked if I was heading towards the temple. “I’m concerned. I have a son,” she said. I tried to reassure her that if it were anything truly serious, they’d evacuate the surrounding buildings. We stopped to chat with LAPD but the officer seemed ill informed. Rachel and I decided to take our chances, but the thought crossed my mind that Dr. Michal Schwartz’s lecture on stem cell research might be the last I ever heard.

As I approached the building, Sinai security performed their routine rummage through my purse, and I was instantly propelled back to normalcy. I walked into a room where a formidable crowd of older adults was assembled, attentively listening to Schwartz’s lecture about rats, brains, the immune system and neurogenesis (the process by which neurons are created).

Schwartz’s groundbreaking research, performed at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel requires engineering various defects or injuries in animals and then trying to cure them. Her team induced spinal cord injury in a rat (though she promised the creature felt no pain) and remarkably, it was rehabilitated from complete paralysis to re-gaining the ability to stand and walk. What Schwartz ultimately discovered was that repair was dependent on immunological mechanisms, which are more closely linked to brain activity than previously thought.

Schwartz will soon begin working in a research lab at Cedars-Sinai International Stem Cell Research Institute. The “atmosphere in California” as well as ample funding, permits greater flexibility with these experiments. Schwartz believes the study of stem cells will lead to medical advances that may help slow brain aging and memory loss, enhance repair after trauma and weaken disease progression.

“It takes time but we are starting to convince the people,” she declared, referring to the resistance she’s encountered. Schwartz’s work is not as controversial as say, embryonic stem cell research, which involves the use of human stem cells, typically 5-day-old embryos floating in the fallopian tube that never find their way to the uterus. These are the frozen, discarded embryos—the blasocyst byproducts of in vitro fertilization that couples sign over to science, with a flood of ethical questions in their wake. Schwartz was the first to admit that her discoveries are only applicable to modern medicine insofar as they have been tested on animals; research with humans may well reveal different results. And so the question remains…

What does Jewish halacha (law) say about such scientific research? Is it ethical?

During the Q&A session led by Rabbis David Wolpe and Ahud Sela, RDW was quick to point out that “it is a deeply rooted imperative in the Jewish tradition to heal,“citing the concept of “rapo y’rapeh—you shall surely heal” and the Talmudic section of bava kamma, which outlines the ways in which one who has injured another is responsible for healing them (lucky for the rats).

I have wondered many times, in the tradition of all great scientific and technological advances, how to maintain a healthy balance of inquiry. Too often, discovery has had destructive consequences. E=mc2 became a nuclear bomb. Was the evening’s beginning a strange irony or foreshadowing?

Perhaps more importantly, the question is “when?” When will this science be certain enough to make a difference in someone’s life? When does animal testing mean one less parent descends into the dementia of dying from Alzheimer’s?

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August 24, 2007 | 4:47 pm

Shabbat Shalom, Hey! (challah)

Posted by Dikla Kadosh

Shabbat would not be Shabbat without challah. The soft golden-brown loaf of bread that graces Jewish dinner tables around the world each Friday night has about as many recipes as there are Jewish mothers. Wheat, eggless, sesame seed, poppy seed, raisin, chocolate chip, olive, jalapeno…challah comes in every size, shape, and flavor you can imagine.

Take your enjoyment of this Jewish comestible icon to the next level by not only devouring handfuls of the sweet bread, but by making it yourself!

Making the challah and performing the ritual of separating a small piece of dough from the rest of the batch, called hafrashat challah in Hebrew, is considered one of the three greatest mitzvot a woman can do.

My dear friend Anita Schmidt, a Mexican Jew and the Program Director at Sinai Temple, was kind enough to give me the recipe to her mom’s special challah - which I had the pleasure of tasting myself one Friday night. Mrs. Schmidt’s recipe is simply and confidently titled “Delicious Challah Recipe” and looks fairly easy to make. The only reason why I have not yet made it myself is because of that 2 1/2-hour rising period. With the rest of the preparation, it would take me 4 hours to make the challah, which means I would either have to wake up at 5 am on Friday morning or leave work at 3 pm in order for it to be ready for dinner. Not too convenient.

But if you like waking up early, don’t work on Fridays, or eat Shabbat dinner really late, I highly recommend trying this recipe. Shabbat Shalom!!!

Ingredients:

4 packages of dry yeast
4 cups of warm water
1 cup of sugar
2 tbsp. Of salt
1 cup of oil
2 eggs
13-14 cups of flour

Directions:

1. Mix yeast, water and sugar.  Let sit covered until mixture is bubbling.
2. Add salt and 1/2 of the flour, and mix together.
3. Add eggs, oil and then the rest of the flour, one cup at a time.
4. Cover, place in a warm place, and allow to rise for 2 hours.  Punch down, and allow to rise again for 20 min.
5. Shape the challah.
6. Take a small piece of challah dough, about the size of an olive, and repeat the following:
“Blessed are you who has commanded us to separate challah from the dough.”
7. Place challah on a greased cookie sheet, including the small piece of dough.
8. Bake for 1/2 hour at 350 degrees.

(Chocolate chips and/or raisins can be added for an extra touch)

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August 23, 2007 | 5:53 pm

‘Rush Hour 3’ director Brett Ratner doesn’t care to show up

Posted by Danielle Berrin

I didn’t anticipate the buzz. But then Brett Ratner got profiled in The Miami Herald and my grandmother called to tell me alllll about the nice Jewish boy from Beach High who became a big Hollywood director (and subsequently invited his grandparents to cohabit his Beverly Hills mansion). The headline declared, “Rush Hour 3 director Brett Ratner doesn’t care what critics think.” Well, that’s good, considering it doesn’t take a critic to know ‘Rush Hour’ isn’t exactly Oscar material.

In the article, Ratner had more flattering comments for the enemies of the Blockbuster film. ‘‘Critics are snobs. People like [Roman Polanski] know that it’s easier to make a pretentious art movie than a movie that makes f- - - - - - $500 million.’‘

Nice? The Jewban—once removed (Ratner is a U.S. native while his family hails from Cuba) is known for throwing lavish, star-studded parties at Hillhaven Lodge, the Beverly Hills estate that looms high on a hill near Benedict Canyon. He’s also known for a devil-may-care attitude and infamous for womanizing. Nice Jewish boy. But when I got invited to his house, I had to go.

150-or-so Hollywood heavy hitters were chaffeured up the hill and granted entry to his not-quite-as-sprawling as I had imagined backyard. The large pool glowed, particularly luminous among the predominantly dressed-in-black business set present for tonight’s grand affair: The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding‘s Los Angeles Benefit honoring two of the biggest agents in the biz, Charles D. King (William Morris Agency) and Steve Smooke (Creative Artists Agency), along with Randy Spendlove, President of Motion Picture Music for Paramount and still riding the waves of a brilliant job with “Dreamgirls.”

There was mixing and mingling, though not quite the kind you see at a J-Date event. This was hardcore Hollywood. I could hear deals being made. Moguls shook hands, blackberrys were at arm’s length, talk of money, money, money.

The usual, compulsory and quite boring award ceremony took place at the top of the steps, in the shadow of the brick-and-mortar built lodge. Rabbi Marc Schneier spoke long and hard, with interminable pauses between each word so all I managed to cull from his address on ethnic understanding was, the importance of amicable race relations, the importance of ethnic communities working together, and how proud he is of the new anti-racism/anti-Semitism public service announcement starring Russell Simmons and Jay-Z. Simmons basked in the glow beneath the hanging tree-lights—-or was that bright spot just his forehead? He delivered an eloquent message, although I can’t remember much of that either…

I was preoccupied watching Jamie Foxx uncomfortably crouch into the corner at an event where he was not the most powerful or best-loved among the crew, but the only real celebrity present. He seemed to oscillate between discomfort (or nervousness?) and genuine enjoyment. Smooke is his agent and he seemed proud.

After that, I hit the road. The buffet line was way too long and I was hungry. On the way out, our driver peeled off the property, sped down the hill (in reverse!) and gave a big, bad bodyguard a hard time for parking his monster Escalade in the middle of the driveway. He tried excuses but she wasn’t having it. She was in control and very pregnant.

I thought, ‘only in Hollywood does a superstar director host a benefit at his home, not even feign intention to be there and get away with it.’ I’m told this sort of “generosity” in donating one’s lawn to charity for an evening affords lovely tax deductions. At least we know Ratner is smart and savvy.

And Gram, when I can afford a house like that, you’re welcome to bunk with me.

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August 22, 2007 | 5:05 pm

Femmes on fire

Posted by Danielle Berrin

Smart, sassy, beautiful, sexy and talented. That’s the word on the women in this 100% female-centric serenade, set to inflame Woodley Park this Saturday, Aug. 25 at the first annual Los Angeles Women’s Music Festival. “Females on Fire” features 50 female-fronted acts performing music from around the globe, across all genres, rocking 5 stages. Now that’s hot.

Though women’s music festivals have enjoyed fertile success around the country (read: Lilith Fair), this is the first celebration of the form in Los Angeles, epicenter of the North American music industry. Artist Sophie B. Hawkins, who shot to #5 on the Billboard chart for her single “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover” will headline the day-long event with other cutting-edge women musicians.

The event is also being billed as an eco-adventure fest. Powered by eSolar renewable energy and benefiting animal rescue, these gals are tuning their audience into the benefits of going green. There will be vegan and vegetarian cuisine, pet adoptions, a healing arts tent, open-mic sessions and a mini-recording studio to test out your own vocals. So spread out your picnic blanket for a wild, rock-and-roll romp through a woman’s world.

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August 21, 2007 | 6:56 pm

Where are all the Jews?

Posted by Dikla Kadosh

That’s what I kept thinking as I wandered up and down the multiple wooden staircases of the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard on Saturday night.

The August 18 cocktail mixer and “Lost 80s” Live Concert was supposed to be the centerpiece event of JDate’s Schmooz-a-Palooza, a weekend-long extravaganza beginning with an oh-so-LA poolside party on Friday night at the Hyatt and ending with a swanky hotel brunch on Sunday morning-ish.

I didn’t make it to the early evening munch-and-meet, but according to one of the very few JDaters who stuck around for the rest of the night, it was, eh. Shelby, a bright, friendly and confident 23-year-old, verbally expressed her disappointment at the paltry turnout to Joel, one of the JDate representatives running the Palooza (we’ll get back to him in a bit). Shelby was also shocked and offended that the potato skins served at the reception had gasp! bacon on them! What is it with Jewish organizations serving blatantly non-kosher foods at their events (recall the Justice Ball)? Is it really that difficult in the land of abundance to find food options that aren’t treyf? Seriously.

Joel, who was extremely likeable and accommodating (and single I think), sincerely apologized to Shelby and explained that the House of Blues was informed that the event was Jewish, but apparently, no one explained the laws of kashrut to the kitchen staff.

“You’re not going to write about that, are you?” Joel grimaced as I stood by and listened to his exchange with Shelby. Yes, Joel, I am. But I’m not blaming you at all for the mistake. And from the sweet smile Shelby flashed Joel all evening, I don’t think she blamed him either.

Maybe the smile had more to do with the fact that Joel was one of the only other Jews left in the House. And one of the few people under the age of 30. “Everyone here is so old, ” remarked Shelby, perched on the arm of a plush couch in the House of Blues Foundation Room. The VIP lounge was gorgeous and decadent and had a sparkling view of the city below, but all that didn’t distract me from noticing the same thing. Let’s just say my boyfriend’s brother, who loves older women, was like a kid in a candy store that night.

A shiksa candy store.

According to JDate’s count, roughly 300 people schmoozed throughout the weekend and 175 attended the cocktail/concert night. To be fair, I didn’t do a visual count of Jewish looking people at the concert itself (I was having too much fun dancing in the Foundation Room), so maybe all the Jews were rockin’ to A Flock of Seagulls.

Despite the lack of a Jewish vibe, I had a wonderful time. The venue was great, Joel was great, and I made a friend. I gave Shelby my number. I wonder if she’ll call. It’s been three days already…

I guess this event had a JDate stamp on it after all.

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August 21, 2007 | 9:31 am

Adam Stein: the final take

Posted by Danielle Berrin

The talent has dwindled from 12,000 to 3.

The only filmmakers that remain “On The Lot” are Jason Epperson (Winchester, Kentucky), Will Bigham (Canyon, Texas) and Adam Stein (Miami, Florida). Last week, they screened two films that best exemplify their skills as directors and viewers then cast their votes for America’s favorite new filmmaker.

We’ve been watching Adam since his national debut and he is one talented director. A guest judge remarked, “I have a feeling we should be sucking up to this guy!”

You can watch Adam’s top two picks, “Dough: The Musical” (about a couple who meet in a bakery; he hopes to win her heart through his bread and she needs a job) and “Army Guy” (where oversexed figurines duke it out in a dollhouse) before the final episode.

Tonight, the winner of the competition will be revealed, gifted with a million dollar development deal and welcomed onto the Hollywood ‘lot’—Dreamworks SKG—by Mr. Steven Spielberg himself.

You can tune in for the final episode of “On The Lot” tonight at 8/7c on FOX.

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