Britney, Ivanka, Naomi—News Shticker hot celebrity edition

Los Angeles

Judge dismisses charges in ‘kidnap’ case

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge last week dismissed the criminal case against four Iranian American Jews. One woman and three men were accused of kidnapping and holding for ransom a man the defendants claimed had cheated them out of $100,000 in a business deal.

World

African AIDS fight uses Israeli circumcision skills

The United Nations announced last year that the procedure could reduce the rate of HIV transmission by up to 60 percent. It was in Israel, with its experience performing adult male circumcision on a wide scale, that the international medical community found an unlikely partner

U.S.

SF cops probing death of Israel activist—body found in elevator shaft

Daniel Kliman's body was found Monday in a San Francisco building where he was taking Arabic classes. It had been at the bottom of the elevator shaft since Nov. 25, building manager Brad Bernheim told the San Francisco Chronicle. There were no classes held last week, and the

Cartoons

Where in the world is Joe Lieberman?

Torah Portion

Lentil soup

Parshat Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9) Why does a mourner eat a round food? The circle represents the circle of life, and it is supposed to remind the mourner that life is cyclical: The tragedy of death that has stricken me today will strike my neighbor tomorrow.

Education

UCLA chancellor Gene Block tackles economy, civic responsibility

Picks and Clicks

Calendar Girls Picks and Clicks Nov. 29 - Dec. 5: NFL to frum; Shiksa syndrome, ‘Waltz with Bashir’

Food

Postville Jewish community struggles to survive after raid

Israel

Palestinian civil war casts shadow over peace process

Until now it is unclear whether Obama and his advisers will address the internecine Palestinian conflict as a key component in their Middle East foreign policy. If they fail to confront this critical issue, we risk engaging in yet another failed round of diplomacy. And as we

Singles

True confessions of an online dating addict #17: Things are not going well

Films

Q&A with producer Jeff Silver: ‘Making fewer films is good’

Music

Danny Goldberg: Hangin’ with the ‘geniuses’ of rock ‘n’ roll