March 3, 2009 | 6:28 pm

Meshugene Men - It’s How Mad Men Does Purim

Posted by Jay Firestone

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Advertising genius and mystery man, Dan Draperberg unravels the secrets of making mayonnaise the next herring or chopped liver to the Jewish world. I’ll admit, I’ve only seen Mad Men a few times, but if it’s anything like selling condiments to Jews, I’m in.

A promo for Purim show, “The Shushan Channel,” I’d say Meshugene Men is on par with some of their previous efforts (Jewno and Jewish Girls Gone Wild).

March 9th at 92Y Tribeca (shows at 8 and 10:30, tickets at www.92yTribeca.org),co-sponsored by Hazon (www.hazon.org) (show directed by Mike Shapiro).

February 19, 2009 | 5:09 am

LIVE VIDEO - Survival of a Jewish Nonprofit

Posted by Jay Firestone

On Thursday morning, Feb. 19, JewishJournal.com will broadcast LIVE from the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Tune in at 8:30 a.m. to watch “The Lean Years: Strategies for Survival,” a conference dedicated to creating a greater conversation about surviving the economic crisis as a Jewish nonprofit. 

Exclusive to JewishJournal.com, watch and listen to a briefing and discussion of the findings of the 2008 Survey of Jewish Organizations (conducted by Jumpstart, Natan and The Samuel Bronfman Foundation in December 2008).  This first-ever survey will offer critical data for understanding the world of Jewish nonprofits in the midst of an economic crisis that has rippled through the Jewish philanthropic and nonprofit landscape. 

UPDATE: THIS A RECORDING OF AN INITIAL BROADCAST WHICH AIRED LIVE ON THIS PAGE EARLIER TODAY.

If you are unable to view the player, try refreshing the page.

After the conference, JewishJournal.com will replay the recording throughout the day on our site. 

For more information, visit JewishJournal.com.

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February 10, 2009 | 5:23 pm

LIVE VIDEO ELECTION COVERAGE AT Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles

Posted by Jay Firestone

UPDATE: This footage was filmed and broadcast live at JewishJournal.com earlier today.

If you are having problems viewing the video, try refreshing the page.

Israeli Consul General Yakov Dayan discusses the recent elections in Israel. Dikla Kadosh reports.  Video by Jay Firestone.

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February 3, 2009 | 6:21 pm

National Hug a Jew Day!!!

Posted by Jay Firestone

Have you hugged a Jew lately?  If not, you might have missed a golden opportunity. 

On Monday Feb. 2, Jews around the world embraced each other with outstretched arms and G-rated physical contact.  Unfortunately, I kept to myself yesterday and now have wait a whole year to hug a Jew - I might as well be shomer negiah.

From the official facebook page:

!!!INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN!!!
*Every Jew that you see you must address with a hug

*This is an events for everyone around the world, Jews and non-Jews to hug Jews.

*This group is for anyone to join, that is except Jew-haters.

*Jew, in this event includes any sect or part of Jewishness (half, quarter, traditional, conservative, reform, orthodox, chareide, chabad, ALL JEWS INCLUDED).

* If someone has something that they want to say about Jews, do not post it here, send me a message and we will talk about it.

*Remember, invite all your friends and lastly everyone, HAPPY HUGGING!!

*** some religious jewish people can not touch the other sex so be careful if you have the slightest doubt you may want to ask them if you can hug them

you can hug the same person more than once and can recieve more than one hug. please take as many pictures as you can and send them to me and i will post the ones i think are the best, which would be most of them!

HAPPY HUGGING!

P.S. hug a jew day is the first monday of Feb. every year from now on!

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January 29, 2009 | 3:36 pm

Old Jews Telling Jokes [VIDEO]

Posted by Jay Firestone

Uncle Leo

I just came across this site and it’s as simple as it is brilliant: Old Jews Telling Jokes.  I think its safe to say that we all have a few of these in our families.  And there’s really no point in waiting until the next bar mitzvah, wedding or funeral to hear some cologne-drenched altacocker spray your face with his best “one about the _____.” 

Director, Editor and Co-Producer Sam Hoffman even put his mother, Diane in the spotlight.

From his description:

“Diane Hoffman is my mom. She can do pretty much anything and, at any given time, is doing everything. She’s also one of the few joke tellers to drop the F bomb. Kind of makes me proud.”

Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday for another joke.

Click here to see more Old Jews Telling Jokes.

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January 14, 2009 | 6:33 pm

Protesters disrupt consulate work flow

Posted by Jay Firestone

Video by VideoJew Jay Firestone

Here’s a look at yet another protest outside the Israeli Consulate on Wilshire Blvd.  Members of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network chained themselves together on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at around 8:30 a.m to protest the ongoing war in Gaza. Their goal was to block all entrances to the building in order to disrupt regular work flow for day.  The protest lasted until around 11 a.m. and with that block of Wilshire Blvd. closed for the demonstration, you can be sure that the damage was done.  Meetings were late, traffic was jammed and city tax dollars were spent on peace-keeping LAPD officers. 

For Danielle Berrin’s full story, click here.

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January 12, 2009 | 3:04 pm

[VIDEO] Pro-Israel rally in Westwood - Jan. 11, 2009

Posted by Jay Firestone

Video by Jay Firestone

Huge numbers gathered together in Westwood outside the Federal Building on Sunday afternoon, January 11 to support Israel and the recent actions against Hamas.  Among the supporters were several Jewish organizations, elected officials and community members from all over Los Angeles. 

Speakers included Roz Rothstein, International Director, StandWithUs; Esther Renzer, International President, StandWithUs; Sam Glaser, Singer; Cantor Ron Li-Paz, Valley Outreach Congregation; Gil Artzyeli , Deputy Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles; Councilmember Jack Weiss, 5th District; Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, 3rd District; Shoham Nicolet, Executive Director, Israel Leadership Council; Chaim Linder, Council of Israeli Community; John R. Fishel, President, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles; Patricia Johnson, Israel-Christian Nexus; and Rabbi David Wolpe - Sinai Temple

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January 8, 2009 | 2:46 pm

[VIDEO] Pro-Israel rally in Westwood - Jan. 7, 2009

Posted by Jay Firestone

A pro-Israel rally in Westwood brings adults and teenagers together in ruach, advocacy and support for Israel. Though no counter protest was present, several pro-Palestinian rallies are expected to occur throughout the weekend. 

Brad Greenberg reports from Westwood.

Video By Jay Firestone and Brad Greenberg

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December 31, 2008 | 7:22 pm

Protesters rally outside the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles

Posted by Jay Firestone

With about 500-600 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and about 250 Israel supporters (my estimates), this was one of the more heated protests I’ve been to.

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December 26, 2008 | 2:42 pm

VIDEO: Guinness Book great dreidel spin in Santa Monica

Posted by Jay Firestone

Can The Santa Monica Synagogue break the Guinness Book of World Record’s record for most simultaneous dreidel spins? 

We go to Simcha Monica to report .  .  .

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December 18, 2008 | 2:06 am

The great T-shirt circumciser

Posted by Jay Firestone

Here’s a great video by my friend and colleague, Orit Arfa and filmed by the amazing JewishJournal.com web editor, Dennis Wilen…and of course, edited by your VideoJew extraordinaire.

For Orit’s full story, click here.

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December 16, 2008 | 2:00 pm

Got a light?  Pass the candle

Posted by Jay Firestone

A Chanukah video collaboration and I wasn’t involved?  Shame on me. 

If I had been on my game, I would’ve submitted a dynamite candle lighting clip (maybe even with real dynamite).  I’d bring all the VideoJew friends together (Jelvis, Gino, Aaron Kemp, the guys from the kosher Subway, mah-jongg lady Elaine Sandberg)...the list could go on forever.  But I suppose the VideoJew holiday special will have to wait until next year. 

For the full effect, visit http://passthecandle.com/

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November 3, 2008 | 7:03 pm

VideoGuide to L.A. - Volume 5 - Jew vs. Wild

Posted by Jay Firestone

Volume V: Jew vs. Wild

One of the main reasons I moved to Los Angeles was for the weather.  Unfortunately, it took me a few months before I really started taking advantage of the climate and outdoor activities, like hiking, fishing, swimming, sailing, sunbathing, people watching, breathing, etc.  And of course, the common stereotype exists that Jews and the wilderness are not a match made in heaven.  But I traveled deep into the wild (Santa Monica pier and the Hollywood Hills) to prove that in the battle between Jews and the wild…Jews win.

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October 30, 2008 | 8:18 pm

L.A. Times protest - I was there

Posted by Jay Firestone

This morning I went to shoot a protest outside the Los Angeles Times in downtown L.A.  Enraged McCain supporters picketed the publication for withholding the release of a video tape showing Barack Obama at an event honoring harsh critic of Israel, Rashid Khalidi. 

It wasn’t a regular VideoJew special which so boldly engages YouTube viewers in the ongoing spread of VideoJudaism (fyi - volume 5 will be posted tomorrow), but it was nonetheless important for the community to witness.

This issue seemed to strike a nerve with staunch supporters of the Republican ticket who feel that Barack Obama has been hiding a secret identity.  An Obama supporter however, felt that the attack was part of an ongoing campaign to smear the senator from Illinois, just days before this important election. 

Now, I’ve covered several protests for JewishJournal.com, and this one was honestly nothing special, in part due to a poor showing by Obama supporters and zero response from the Times.  But, I imagine this issue will most likely consume the conservative presidential blogosphere for the next few days.

Remind me to set my Tivo.

For Brad Greenberg’s full article on the controversy, click here.

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October 23, 2008 | 4:27 pm

VideoGuide to L.A. - Volume 4 - The Hollywood Dream

Posted by Jay Firestone

Volume IV: The Hollywood Dream

This segment could arguably fit into Volume III, but given its significance to the L.A. community, it seemed worthy of special attention. Sure, Hollywood is filled with Jews, but what does it take to succeed as a Jew?  I talked to a professional in the business to find out.

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October 16, 2008 | 4:43 pm

VideoGuide to L.A. - Volume 3 - Jewish L.A.

Posted by Jay Firestone

Volume III: Jewish L.A.—Online Oct. 17

With one of the largest Jewish populations in the country, Angelenos don’t hesitate to flaunt the city’s Jewish culture. Discover the exciting opportunities of the Jewish neighborhoods—from the butcher shop to a great place to buy a yarmulke.

For a full schedule, click here.

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