Stephen Hawking is one of the most remarkable of living human beings. Afflicted by neuro-muscular dystrophy (Lou Gehring’s Disease), today he has the use of only his cheek and a finger. Read More »
Jewish Journal 
Happy New Year
© Copyright 2010 Tribe Media Corp. All rights reserved. JewishJournal.com is hosted by Nexcess.net . Homepage design by Koret Communications. Widgets by Mijits . Site construction by Hop Studios . Read More »
Deputy in Mel Gibson arrest sues LA Sheriff
James Mee, the Jewish sheriff’s deputy who arrested actor Mel Gibson on a drunk driving charge, is suing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for harassment since the July 2006 incident. Read More »
Understanding the lost art of repentance and its urgency
In the past several months I have had some version of the following exchange several times. I tell a friend that I’ve just finished a book on repentance, and he responds that he finds the subject of forgiveness very interesting. Read More »
May Last Year Be a Shana Tova!
Today is a day of Awe because today is a day on which we perform the miracle of changing the past. Submitting to the shofar, surrendering to the tefilla, we look backwards. And yes, initially, looking into the past is painful, is embarrassing, and it generates irremediable regret. Read More »
Rahm Emanuel
Have you ever danced with Rahm by the pale moonlight? http: //whatsannoyingjews.com/2010/09/08/rahm-emanuel/ So the most powerful Jew in the White House since ever is thinking about ditching out so he can run for mayor of the most twisty, insular, haplessly corrupt city in the nation? If that’s not self-ghettoizing, I don’t know what is. Read More »
A question for ‘progressive’ Jews who support the Ground Zero mosque
Jews who call themselves “progressive” and are overwhelmingly in favor of building a $100 million Islamic center and mosque two blocks from Ground Zero need to explain why, 26 years ago, “progressive” Jews were just as adamant in opposing the Catholic convent that was built near Auschwitz. Read More »
Group seeks Israel divestment initiative on Cal ballot
The Israel Divestment Campaign, a little known and recently formed organization, has submitted a ballot initiative to force California’s huge public retirement systems to withdraw investments from companies that “support Israeli settlement or supply military products to the government of Israel. Read More »
Pay It Forward
Tonight is Rosh Hashanah. Oh the pressure. ‘Cause if it’s not enough to deal with lots of baking, cooking and cleaning, organizing, and shopping, primping, and dealing, (look at me I sound like a pimp) you gotta also take inventory and face your own guilt, misconducts, culpabilities and wrongdoings. Read More »
Calendar Picks and Clicks: Sept. 9-17, 2010
Clare Burson (See Monday, Sept. 13) THU | SEPT. 9 (TELEVISION) Avery, an African American Brooklyn teen and promising track star, struggles with her “true” identity. Adopted by white Jewish lesbians, she struggles with the circumstances of her adoption and her estrangement from black culture in “Off and Running,” a documentary by Nicole Opper. Read More »
The Circuit: Mazon, LEAP and ADL, NCJW-LA, Bais Naftoli
Cantor Ilan Davidson, executive and artistic director of KindredSPIRITS, presented Joel E. Jacob, chair for MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, with a $30,000 check during an Aug. 9 luncheon at Spago in Beverly Hills, hosted by Barbara Lazaroff. Read More »
Letters to the Editor: Ground Zero Mosque, First Amendment, Sheik Jarrah
Cordoba Mosque Seventy percent of Americans do not want this grotesque monument to Islamic supremacism built where it would overshadow that hallowed ground, that stricken field, that graveyard of our murdered countrymen who were slaughtered one awful September morning (“The Islamic Center ,” Aug. 6). Read More »
It’s corporate power vs. government oversight in November election
I was going to write about the Glenn Beck White People’s March on Washington, but then I read Jane Mayer’s path-breaking article in the Aug. 30 New Yorker about the billionaire Koch brothers (David and Charles) and their financial backing of the anti-Obama movement. Read More »
Letting go of the big lie: Parashat Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32: 1-32: 52)
One of the talents of our sages was their ability to simultaneously hold the text of the entire Torah in their minds. When they saw an unusual word or phrase in one week’s parasha, other appearances of that word or phrase, from elsewhere in the Torah, popped into their minds instantly. Read More »
America, a mosque and me
When the planes flew into the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, I was living in Seattle, on the other side of America. My brother and his wife were visiting me. We did not leave the house for two days because we were worried that Americans angry at Muslims would attack my sister-in-law, who wore a hijab. On Sept. Read More »
Mishkon Tephilo’s members look to shul’s future
Temple Mishkon Tephilo In the early 1960s, when Jewish delis, kosher butchers and bakeries lined the Venice boardwalk, Temple Mishkon Tephilo was Aliza Wine’s neighborhood social hub. Wine and her Hebrew school friends would take drama classes and plan their Rosh Hashanah outfits together. The local Jewish tailor was a fellow congregant. Read More »
Vista Del Mar breaks ground for new special-ed center
Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services recently broke ground for a new education center on the campus of its special-education Vista School. Read More »
Web site for the childless to come together
Anna Olswanger is 56 and childless, but she doesn’t want to sit around being sad about it. A few weeks ago, Olswanger, a New York-based literary agent and children’s book author, started yerusha.com, a Web site with resources, forums and support for Jews who don’t have children. Read More »
An orthodox high School goes online … sort of
At Yeshivas Ohev Shalom, an all-boys Orthodox high school on Fairfax Avenue, students receive something more than an experimental general studies education — and something less than the universally accepted form of classroom learning. Read More »
Hamas threatens strike on PA
Hamas said it would strike the Palestinian Authority if the PA does not stop arresting its West Bank followers. In an announcement released Wednesday and reported by Israel Radio, Hamas threatened the Palestinian Authority. Read More »
Menu items at the glatt kosher taco truck Takosher include the “Original Latketaco” and a “brisketac
Chicken with onion, cilantro and brown salsa. Los Angeles’ food truck craze has motored on down to the kosher side of town. Kosher tacos where you walkest by the way, and even where you drivest by, are now on the menu and ready to order. Read More »
Obituaries: Sept. 10-16, 2010
Gertrude Adelman died July 28 at 92. She is survived by her sons, Gary (Rose Marie) and Jay; and two grandchildren. Mount Sinai William Axelrod died July 11 at 82. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; daughters, Kathy Hersh, Leslie (Ron) Randall and Tracey (Jim) Fuller; and six grandchildren. Hillside Aliza Ben-Ezer died July 7 at 88. Read More »
Danny Gordis Takes on Time Magazine
I hate to be the bee in the honey, but I fear Israel’s supporters are winding themselves up into an umbrage so high, they might actually fall down and hurt themselves. The cause: Time magazine. Yes, only in the Jewish world do people still get worked up over the cover a weekly magazine. Most of the rest of America forgot they exist. Read More »
Will Howard Stern Leave Sirius? Or Vice Versa?
Howard has been hinting that things aren’t working out between him and Sirius. In four months, his contract is up, and there’s a good chance, judging by his comments, he won’t renew. But he doesn’t seem particularly upset: He seems to have an option under wraps that will allow him to do his uncensored show through a different delivery system. Read More »
Burning the Quran: insane, not illicit
This is the United States, where flag burning is protected by the First Amendment. Of course an individual can raise their voice by burning the Quran , an act of utmost offense toward Muslims. Read More »
Shana Tovah from President Obama on Rosh Hashanah
© Copyright 2010 Tribe Media Corp. All rights reserved. JewishJournal.com is hosted by Nexcess.net . Homepage design by Koret Communications. Widgets by Mijits . Site construction by Hop Studios . Read More »
The peace talks—and their obstacles
Peace in a year? Try getting past Sept. 26. Or is it 30? Direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis have barely begun and already the sides are facing their first major hurdle—the end of Israel’s partial moratorium on settlement building. Read More »
Jewish groups step up efforts to combat anti-Muslim bigotry
Jewish groups are denouncing the wave of anti-Muslim bigotry stemming in part from plans to build an Islamic center near Ground Zero, where construction is underway for a 9/11 memorial (pictured above). Read More »
D.C. interfaith summit denounces anti-Muslim bigotry
An interfaith summit of Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders denounced anti-Muslim bigotry. In a statement released by the group, which represented the majority of the country’s Jews, Muslims and Christians, participants announced that they came together Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Read More »
May It Be a Year of Knowing What To Ask For -Rabbi Barry Gelman
Shanah Tova to all! http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpF-MhG-MPA © Copyright 2010 Tribe Media Corp. All rights reserved. JewishJournal.com is hosted by Nexcess.net . Homepage design by Koret Communications. Widgets by Mijits . Site construction by Hop Studios . Read More »
Abbas says he will not compromise
Mahmoud Abbas said he will not compromise during peace negotiations on core issues such as final borders and the status of Jerusalem. The Palestinian Authority president also said in an interview with the Jerusalem-based Al-Quds newspaper that he rejects Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand that he recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Read More »
Michael Oren, making the case for Obama
Michael Oren outlines what may be his toughest assignment: Making the case to a skeptical public for a leader who’s hard to pin down. Pitching Bibi to the Americans? No, that’s an easy one. The real problem for the Israeli ambassador to Washington is how to make Israelis understand President Obama. Read More »
Goldberg and Colbert; Israel and bombing Iran
The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11: 30pm / 10: 30c Read More »
UCI upholds sanction on Muslim Student Union
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) has upheld its decision to sanction its Muslim Student Union (MSU), though it cut short the group’s yearlong suspension to four months. Read More »
Is Victoria Beckham’s Hebrew tattoo kosher?
From the nape of her neck to just below her collarbone, Victoria Beckham has a famous line of Hebrew scripture inked onto her skin: “Ani ledodi vedodi li haro’eh ba’shoshanim.” The verse, from the Hebrew poem Shir Ha’shirim, or in English, Song of Songs, means “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine, who grazes among lilies. Read More »
Iraqi porn as a litmus for social change
You might remember that absurd Los Angeles Times editorial advocating Israeli-Palestinian peace through porn . Read More »
A New Year
September marks the new year for the Jews and double for me since it is also my birthday. But September really should mark a new year for everyone, don’t you think? Literally when September 1st hits, there is something in the air. A feeling that things are beginning to slow down a bit. Read More »
Dr. Seymour Butts Gives The Best Medicine
I admit I haven’t been as prolific as my usual. The truth is, when you’re mourning for someone you love, all you do all day is think about the person who you can no longer call, speak to, or hang out with. Read More »
Rosh Hashanah and General Conference
This week Jews worldwide will observe Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of both the new Jewish year and the Days of Awe period that ends with their names being sealed in God’s book – for better or worse – on Yom Kippur. Read More »
The Passing of Paul Conrad
Encomiums have poured in from around the world today for the celebrated former Los Angeles Times cartoonist Paul Conrad. The three time Pulitzer Prize winner, who died on Saturday at the age of 86, won renown as a political satirist, whose liberalism was worn as a badge of honor and who never shied away from confronting men and women in power. Read More »
Middle East Peace Requires A Warmer Nest
There is an old Yiddish proverb ” Beware of still water, a still dog and a still enemy”. That is an adage Benjamin Netanyahu’s peace delegation might take to heart as it prepares for peace talks in Washington this Thursday. Read More »
Is There a Word in Hebrew for Treason?
Ahmed Tibi is an Arab and the Deputy Speaker of Israel’s Parliament, The Knesset. As such, he enjoys a immunity from prosecution for incitement and for making statements which could be interpreted as endangering his country’s security. Read More »
Former Pearl Fellow abducted, tortured
Rob Eshman has tragic news from the ideological war front. In Pakistan, a former Pearl Fellow (seen above speaking in Los Angeles) was abducted and tortured. Fortunately, Umar Cheema, a News International journalist, was ultimately released and lived to tell the tale. Read More »
Pearl Fellow Umar Cheema Abducted, Tortured [VIDEO]
Umar Cheema was a 2008 Daniel Pearl Fellow who spoke, during his visit to Los Angeles that year, with conviction and insight about how America could improve its relation to the Muslim world and about his country’s own challenges. Read More »
Job Opening of the Week: Midwestern Lawyer
She doesn’t teach Saturday school http: //whatsannoyingjews.com/2010/09/06/job-opening-of-the-week-midwestern-lawyer/ A Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader—who also happens to be a high school teacher—won an $11m default judgment against a defaming website… only to realize she’d sued the wrong website. Read More »
Robert Schimmel z”l
The comedian, writer, thinker and mensch Larry Miller has a beautiful tribute to Robert Schimmel on his blog today. Schimmel was a regular Howard Stern guest. As funny as his stand up was, there was something in the interactions between him and Howard that unleashed an even funnier, even darker side. Read More »
Brother, NFL defenders, Muslims
Good story from ESPN about the Abdullah brothers, a pair of NFL safeties fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Actually, great story. Reporter Rachel Nichols doesn’t really get into the importance of Ramadan, but she demonstrates the challenge of fasting during it. And I’d loved hearing that Hamza likes “Cupcake Wars. Read More »
TGR Links Up With KosherHam.com
All week long TheGreatRabbino.com is running a promotion with KosherHam.com. We are highlighting their sports themed shirts. Check them out! © Copyright 2010 Tribe Media Corp. All rights reserved. JewishJournal.com is hosted by Nexcess.net . Homepage design by Koret Communications. Widgets by Mijits . Site construction by Hop Studios . Read More »
以色列前总理沙龙：为什么犹太人不可以买地 …
————多年以前读过一本书，作者是布特罗斯.布特罗斯.加利(曾经做过联合国秘书长)，译者记不起来了。依稀记得书中提到加利作为埃及的代表和以色列的代表谈判，以色列代表中有阿里珥. Read More »
God or gravity—what agent was responsible for creation?
It’s difficult to understand why this is a story. Frankly, when I saw the headline that Stephen Hawking had said God had no role in the creation of the universe, I assumed a very old story had accidentally been republished online. But it wasn’t. Read More »
Cheech’s violent priest in ‘Machete’
Politics aside , “Machete” looks entertaining, and the reviews have been good . But I’m really wondering about the role played by Cheech Marin, the shotgun-toting Catholic priest. I can only assume he is coming out on what he thinks is the side of good. Then again … © Copyright 2010 Tribe Media Corp. All rights reserved. JewishJournal. Read More »
A Time to Forgive
This is the time for repentance, return, transformation – and the key to it all is forgiveness: Asking forgiveness, and forgiving. We ask forgiveness of G-d and of others, and we can forgive others. Read More »
How do you pick up the pieces if it was broken anyway?
Residents of Sawnwal Kartiyo village in Dadu walk on a road damaged by floodwaters after their village was submerged, 180 km (110 miles) from Sukkur, in Pakistan’s Sindh province September 4, 2010. Read More »
Farewell to Heeb magazine’s print edition
I guess Heeb has gotten rid of that still-not-dead subscription card . All those funny cover photos , and at times distasteful art , will no longer be appearing in print. From a post at HeebMagazine.com, which is now the only Heeb home, titled “So Much for Controlling the Media ”: The good news is that Heebmagazine. Read More »
A Story of a Deeply Compassionate Man
It’s rare that we are given an opportunity to look inside the life of someone whose job it is to study our lives, but that’s exactly what happens in “Not by Chance Alone: My Life as a Social Psychologist” by Elliot Aronson (Basic Books: $27.50). Read More »
5770 in Israel: Diplomatic crises, but economic prosperity
For Israel, the Jewish year 5770 was characterized by ups and downs in relations with the United States, growing international alienation and a virtual stalemate in Middle East peacemaking—until the summit meeting in Washington just before Rosh Hashanah. Last November, after months of intense U.S. Read More »
Temple Judea Goes Glee-ish [VIDEO]
![Temple Judea Goes Glee-ish [VIDEO]](http://www.jewishjournal.com/images/bloggers_auto/agron.jpg)
Dianna Agron Sure, at least two of the cast members of Glee are Jewish (Lea Michele and Dianna Agron)… but what if they all were? The show might look and sound like what you’ll see by watching the video below: The rabbi, cantor, staff and leaders of Temple Judea in Tarzana singing a Alan Sherman-esque version of “Don’t Stop Believing. Read More »
Hezbollah leader praises Hamas for West Bank shooting attacks
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah praised Hamas on Friday for the West Bank shooting attacks which left four Israelis dead and two injured on two consecutive days, saying “this is the way to free Jerusalem and Palestine.” Four Israelis were killed and two injured this past week in separate shooting attacks in the West Bank. Read More »
EU Commissioner apologizes for ‘irrational Jews’ remark
The European Union’s trade chief apologized for saying that rational discussion about Israel was impossible with Jews and that the Jewish lobby is the most influential in Washington. Karel De Gucht, a former Belgian foreign minister who is now the E.U. Read More »
Jewish interfaith leaders urge Shabbat sermon about Islam
A group of Jewish interfaith educators is asking rabbis to talk about Islam next Shabbat. A letter signed by six prominent rabbis and scholars points out that Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, falls on Sept. 11, the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Read More »
