October 4, 2007 | 3:57 pm

Bar Refaeli to ditch Israel

Posted by Dikla Kadosh

It comes as no surprise that model Bar Refaeli, Leonardo DiCaprio’s year-long arm accessory, is leaving Israel and moving to Los Angeles. After all, she doesn’t think her native country is even worth fighting for, so why would she want to continue living there?

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported yesterday that Refaeli told Yediot Achronot, an Israeli newspaper, that she doesn’t regret marrying a friend in order to dodge Israel’s mandatory army service. Apparently, she considers defending her country a waste of time and would much rather be posing in swimsuits to advance her modeling career.

The anti-patriot explained her reasons for moving in the Yediot interview:

“Israel or Uganda, what difference does it make? It makes no difference to me. Why is it good to die for our country? What, isn’t it better to live in New York?”

Refaeli said she’ll be living in Los Angeles for a few years, but I don’t expect to see her at any community functions supporting Israel.

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October 3, 2007 | 6:00 pm

Sexy strings and playboy politicos

Posted by Dikla Kadosh

Danielle: This past Saturday night, we journeyed to the 54th floor of the Wells Fargo building for a Magbit fundraiser featuring Miri Ben-Ari.

Dikla, you were alone for 45 minutes with a formidable crowd of young Persian men who have a reputation for being aggressive suitors. Did you find that to be true?

Dikla: I was a little intimidated being one of very few non-Persians at the party. And yes, I was approached by several men in a forward manner, but I managed to slip away towards the bar and engage a lovely young Persian woman in a conversation that kept me occupied until you arrived. Interestingly enough, this single 24-year-old who works in finance had a different perspective on Persian men. She didn’t consider them aggressive at all. The Persian mating ritual she described involves a cautious exchange of eye contact that lets the man know she’s interested and then subtle visual signals invite him to approach. Not exactly the experience I had, but perhaps Persian men have different rules for different women…

Danielle: It begins with her beauty - her delicate, feminine figure draped in a silk gown, straps falling from her shoulders as she lifts the bow. You’re compelled to look because she’s beautiful; but then she plays, unleashing this volcano of quivering strings and you’re mesmerized. There is such intensity and focus in her expression, it’s very controlled while her arms flutter with speed. She performs as if she’s alone in the room with her violin. And her sound is matchless - I don’t know any other artist who pairs a single stringed instrument with scratching records. But contrary to the way she appears, her personality is also somewhat of a selling point, despite it being a bit hard-edged: she’s forceful, self-assured, even irreverent. This adds up to compelling figure; a firestorm of female with unrivaled talent.

Israeli Consul Ehud Danoch appeared quite taken with her and the party in general. We know he makes frequent public appearances, why do you think he stayed so long at this one?

Dikla: Danoch is definitely making his rounds around town. The departing diplomat is showing up everywhere these days, from the pulpit to the dance floor. I think he enjoyed this particular shindig because ain’t no party like a Persian party, to put it in street talk. The women were decked out in gorgeous outfits that rivaled the glittering downtown views surrounding us. As he lounged in the VIP area closest to the stage mesmerized by Miri, a few of these beauties perched around him. Who would want to leave the comfort of that scene? Not to mention the endless flow of alcohol and decadent spread of Persian cuisine brought out after midnight. Danoch outpartied even The Calendar Girls that night; he was still milling about when we headed for the door around 1 a.m.

Speaking of heading for the door, it’s time to go home. Have we covered everything about this night?

Danielle: I just have to add, Danoch spent most the evening elbow to elbow with Beverly Hills Major Jimmy Delshad, so no wonder the lavish ladies were lingering!

I’ve gotta hand it to Magbit, not only do they know how to throw a party, they are a truly worthy enterprise that raises funds for interest-free student loans and scholarships to attend Israeli universities. Their work inspires Ben-Ari who told the crowd she had to drop out of school because she couldn’t afford to stay and didn’t know Magbit existed. “But don’t pity me. I won a Grammy with Kanye West. Things worked out for me,” she declared.

Miri Ben-Ari: Symphony of a Brotherhood:

Miri and Subliminal: God Almighty When Will It End?

Video from the party….Coming Soon!

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October 2, 2007 | 2:20 pm

The day we almost lost Dikla

Posted by Danielle Berrin

I was in the middle of a post on Iron Chef Morimoto when a loudspeaker announcement declared: “Evacuate the building. This is not a drill.” But I’m in the middle of blogging! And I have an interview this afternoon! There is no time for a 15-story descent to Wilshire Boulevard.

But there I was marching down the equivalent of a 5k in high-heel boots. I earned my lunch.

When I got to the street, I began rampantly searching for my counterpart. “Where is Dikla?” I cried. I called her cell.

“Danielle, where are you? Where is everybody?” she asked quite calmly, all things considered.

“Deeks, there was a fire in the building. We had to walk down 15 flights of stairs!”

Alone and unwitting, she took the elevator to the first floor. By then 6 trucks of firemen were sending people back to work. Bummer. It was such a beautifully hot day for standing in the middle of a Koreatown sidewalk. It was also the end of my Morimoto blogpost, because now I have to go to The Getty to check out Nicole Cohen’s video installation.

Thank goodness that was the worst of this exercise en-masse of flight-from-danger.

And Dikla is OKAY!

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October 1, 2007 | 4:40 pm

On our calendar

Posted by Dikla Kadosh

There are only four events posted on The Jewish Journal online calendar for Monday, Oct. 1. Kinda lame.

However, half of them sound really entertaining and if I wasn’t having my own sukkah fest tonight, I would definitely be heading to the Westside for one of these events:

ATID’s Sukkot Sports Bar. Football, beer and mini hotdogs at Sinai Temple. It’s like college frat parties all over again, except in a hut, with 30-year-olds. $20 at the door and be prepared to show your I.D. If you’re a day over 39, you better find a “plastic” surgeon to doctor your driver’s license if you want to get into this partay. 7-10 p.m.  For more details, www.atidla.com.  L’chaim!

Amelia Saltsman in Santa Monica. For slightly less than a Benjamin, you can treat yourself to a sumptuous evening of cocktails, dinner and a book signing with a top-tier chef. Amelia (I wonder if she was the inspiration for Amelia Bedelia?) will be presenting her new cookbook at Brass Cap Restaurant while you feast on dishes prepared from her recipes. $98. (310) 454-4544. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Bon Appetit!

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