The new “Charlie’s Angels” premiered Thursday night. One of the three new darling detectives,Abigail Sampson (played byRachael Taylor), has been billed as an expert in Krav Maga. Check out our list of other film and television references to the Israeli system of martial arts. Mazal Tov to Henry Winkler for being made an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Speaking of Fonzi... We’re mourning the death ofFrances Bay, the actress who famously wrestled with Jerry Seinfeld over a marble rye. She also played grandma to Arthur Fonzarelli and Happy Gilmore. Poll of the Week: Was Jerry right to grab the marble rye? Plus: Jonah Hill’s feud withMatthew Morrison. Ben & Jerry’s dirty joke. Birthday haiku forLeonard Cohen. “Twilight” starvisits Israel. At 86, Brenda Senders isn't your average Florida snowbird: She fought as a partisan during World War II. And like other living partisans, she's invited to a Nov. 7 dinner hosted by the Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation and a group of A-list celebrities. Read about how you can recognize partisans in your life. This week “Mad Men” took home its fourth straight Emmy for Outstanding Drama, so Mazal Tov to series creator Matthew Weiner. The show’s genius comes from its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone world, even while embracing the progress that comes with its demise -- think “Fiddler on the Roof,” only this time its hard-drinking, womanizing, WASPy advertising executives having to wrestle with the seismic cutlural shifts. And nothing made the point clearer this past season than all those Yiddishisms and Jewish-or-not-Jewish characters popping up. (OK, there was that Muhammad Ali episode, but you know what we mean.) As Michael Jordan’s longtime business manager,Estee Portnoy knows about building brands. But that’s not the only reason she was an ideal choice to spearhead development of the new BBYO logo and strategic plan unveiled this week. She and her husband met through the youth movement when they were 13 and 15. (Read profile) Mahmoud Abbas’ gambit to petition the United Nations for Palestinian statehood may prove to be a transformative moment not just for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but for America’s reputation as Mideast broker, Benjamin Netanyahu’s political fortunes and the lives of millions of Israelis and Palestinians. Or, it could turn out to be yet another exercise in U.N. babble. But if nothing else, Abbas has managed, at least for a week, to put his people’s plight at the top of the international agenda. Hiker Josh Fattal of Elkins Park, Pa., got headlines this week for his release Wednesday from two years in prison in Iran, got the mic for his gracious thank you to the Oman government for facilitating his release and got a long, fierce hug from his brother, Alex. But the 29-year-old environmentalist -- whose Jewishness added an anxious element to his imprisonment on trumped up spying charges after a hike gone bad -- won hearts with the news that he gave up a precious hour of prison-yard time so his buddy Shane Bauer could propose to Sarah Shourd. Israeli soccer star Maor Melikson sparked an uproar this week afterannouncing that he planned to play for the Polish national team. Melikson had previously acquired Polish citizenship and is already a top player for Wisla Krakow, but the Israeli sports media pounced on the news -- playing up the fact that members of his family were killed during the Holocaust. Melikson eventually reversed his decision, with Polish reports claiming that he had received death threats. A MORE MODEST MEMORIAL: Jewish veterans in Toronto finally broke ground on a long-delayed memorial to Canadian Jews who fought in World War II. An earlier plan called for an ambitious $7 million work by a famed architect, but funding challenges and internal squabbles resulted in it being scaled down to a more modest $75,000 monument, The Canadian Jewish News reports. A CARLEBACH HOMECOMING: A new synagogue in Chabad’s Brooklyn stronghold of Crown Heights is channeling the spirit of the late Jewish music path-breaker Shlomo Carlebach. The basement shul is attracting young Lubavitcher spiritual seekers, some of whom say other neighborhood synagogues have too much idle chit-chat, one member tellsThe New York Jewish Week. Archive blogger Adam Soclof was hanging up his cleats after last week's Michigan football tribute when he received this note from Archive Blog reader Richard Lezell: "Dr. Marvin Sonne, a member of Temple Israel, West Bloomfield, saved the life of a Notre Dame fan about the time the Rabbi arrived at the game. By using CPR he was able to maintain him until the paramedics arrived." Read about the amazing circumstances that led to the life-saving play.
a sense that the tide is beginning to turn
Matthew Weiner is Sterling, Again
Estee Portnoy Airs Up BBYO
Mahmoud Abbas Sets Agenda
Josh Fattal Takes a Hike (Home!)
Maor Melikson Kicks Up Soccer Furor
MEMPHIS MUSLIM KOSHER COOKS: The 23rd annual Kosher BBQ Contest and Festival in Memphis, Tenn., drew a crowd of thousands -- and JTA was on the scene. Let's go to videotape! Contest participants included a team from the Memphis Islamic Center, which took third place in the kosher brisket contest. “This is what America is all about,” said Adam Itayem, who manned the “Halal Smokers” booth.
Friday, 23 September 2011
@JoeLieberman: Finally got to read President's speech to UN...Thought it was strong & encouraging, identifying with Arab spring, supporting Israel, urging Palestinians to come be back to negotiations.
@DannyAyalon: More meetings, media and events in New York and there is
@HipsterJew: Benadryl: the Jewish drug of choice
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