Cartoon Rehab: It’s Miller Time, Sort Of
Today's cartoon is from Al-Watan (Qatar), from way back in May 13, 2003. The U.S. and Israel are shown eating from two sides of an apple that represents “the Arab states.” According to the middle-east-info.org, where we found it, this cartoon is noteworthy because it was published in Qatar, home to the Al Jazeera TV network. Qatar is considered by many in the U.S. State Department to be a U.S. ally and a relatively moderate state.
Righteous Gentiles Honored in Warsaw, But Poland’s Record Remains Abysmal
Unfortunately, as highly as Jews praise the sacrifices made by brave Poles, it is difficult to overlook Poland's abysmal record in caring for its Jewish citizens.
Jewish Black Youth Wins Third Irish Dance Competition
What's a good Jewish Press Story for the Irish national day of beer and more beer? We've got one for you! It's about Drew Lovejoy, 17, from Greenville, Ohio, who is the son of a black Baptist from Georgia and a white Jewish mother from Iowa. But his fame is international, after winning the all-Ireland dancing championship in Dublin for a third straight year.
Blogger Puts Congressional Aide’s Get Refusal In Context
The case is, predictably, another ugly and scary and very personal one, which is why I stayed off it all this time. But as the pressure campaign is increasing and even Fox News is dumping on the husband (a Republican!), I went looking for some context. Now you can, too…
‘Nose Job’ El-Balkimy, Egyptian MP, Loses Parliamentary Immunity
What do you have to do as an Egyptian Member of Parliament to earn the nickname Nose Job? Anwar El-Balkimy, of the Salafist Nour Party (that means he's sooo religious, he has one regular prayer rug and a special one for yomim tovim), told everybody he had been beaten and robbed of LE100,000 by thugs on 29 February. But according to Al Ahram, it was later discovered that his facial injuries were caused by cosmetic surgery on his nose.
‘Paul Ryan Will Not Be Mitt Romney’s Running Mate’
This is too delicious for words. On Friday, Bruce Bartlett of the Fiscal Times published a column under this very headline. It should obviously be filed under the "Dewey Beats Truman" category.
Video: In Role Reversal, McCain Critical of Obama’s ‘in Your Face’ on Pakistan
What's wrong with this picture? Why didn't anybody tell me Sen. John McCain has joined the left wing of the Democratic party?
Gaza – You Won’t Recognize the Old Place…
What do you think of when you hear the name "Gaza?" Gut wrenching misery of a devastated people under siege. Not if you judge by this music video, shot against images of the thriving, beautiful, totally modern city of Gaza, with thousands of folks gathering in a stadium for a celebration, and the obligatory images of armed Hamsniks in training. Everyone looks well fed and quite happy.
Cartoon Rehab: Toon Gets Tattooed
This one took the Photoshop equivalent of plastic surgery. The depiction of both the vampire-like Jewish person and the dead child in his arms is so vile, I had to fix every little aspect of the image.
Precious Passover Pop Priceless
The Fountainheads are a group of young Israeli singers, dancers, and artists, all graduates and students of the Ein Prat Academy for Leadership, who "have joined forces to create new Jewish artistic content for today's Jewish world." So far, this could be an intro to some really boring stuff, but in this case it ain't so. In my search for great, new Passover content, I landed on their YidVid Breakin' Free, and will definitely be using it while running on my treadmill.
Technology Can Save Lives, Even in Borough Park
The Asifa was a sober and responsible approach to a real problem, and I was impressed by the quickness with which the organizers responded to the potential pitfalls of being portrayed as Luddites, which does not befit a nation of scholars and questioners.
Seattle LGBT to Visiting Israeli Homosexuals: Gay Aveck!
In the solidarity business, life can be unpredictable. Take, for instance, the story of the LGBT commission representing the gay community in Seattle, which this month canceled a Friday reception at City Hall for a visiting delegation of Israeli gay leaders. They argued that Israel was "pinkwashing" its treatment of the Palestinians by showing the world how fabulous they are on gay rights.
Swing States: Obama Ahead Everywhere but N. Carolina
There's only one bit of good news for the Romney campaign in the all-important swing state polls this weekend.
Video: Romney Channeling Republicans’ Wishes?
On Saturday, Mitt Romney introduced his running mate, Paul Ryan, as "the next president of the United States."
‘Ashkenic’ Jews to Celebrate the Passover with Brisket and Kuegel
In Woody Allen's 1973 comic Sci Fi masterpiece "Sleeper," an underground band in the far future is trying to revive Allen's memory by acting out scenes from his childhood in Jewish Brooklyn. One of the men, in the roll of Allen's father, urges him, "Stop whining and eat your shiksa…" That was the feeling that overcame me when I read the article in Monday's Daily Mail of New Baltimore, NY, under the headline "Church brings Jewish traditions to life."
Two Holocaust Survivers Reunited 70 Years Later
Lemel Leo Adler, left, and Leon Schagrin are cousins, the sons of two sisters. After the invasion of Poland, they were transported to the Tarnow ghetto, and then to several labor camps, and finally to Buna, "a chemical plant taht also known as Auschwitz III." In there they met only briefly, between shifts. In January 1945 they were separated and didn't see each other again. "A far as they know, everyone else in their families were killed."
Iran VP Says Talmud to Blame for Drugs Trade
Rahimi's remarks came at an international anti-drug conference in Tehran, attended by many foreign diplomats, and AFP says it was "a rare diatribe by an Iranian official targeting the Jewish faith, rather than the state of Israel."
Israeli Media ‘Crucifying’ Windsurfer who Said ‘Shma Israel’ and Lost
She told an Israeli reporter about her plans: "I get on the surfboard, say 'Shma Israel, Hashem Elokeino Hashem Echad' and I go to war."
Lubavitch Replicate Another Major Edifice
After moving the Rebbe's home at 770 Eastern Parkway to Israel, Lubavitch now moves the Kotel to America. My advice to you is, fasten the bolts and beams in your house, or one morning you'll wake up to discover Lubavitch has moved you to a new continent…
Swiss Politician Wants ‘Kristallnacht for Mosques’
Alexander Müller has resigned from the Swiss People’s Party after a tweet sent from his account called for a repeat of the Night of the Broken Glass, this time targeting Muslims. His tweet read: “Maybe we need another Kristallnacht… this time for mosques.”
I Want to have Your Baby, Sarah Silverman
Let's talk about motherhood and babies, and why some young girls start planning their weddings at age 7 and have the albums to show for it.
Haredim Throw Rocks, Eggs, at ‘Abomination Apartment’
Pashkvils (warning posters) were spread around the neighborhood, criticizing women wearing tight clothes, calling them "animals." According to the website Hadrei Haredim, the woman in question is being accused of luring young Haredi women to her path.
Is CUNY Planning a Jewish Quota?
CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein has stepped into a gigantic mound of odoriferous matter, and it isn't clear if and how he's getting out of it, and, worse, what will the cleaning bill be. What's worse, it's possible he didn't even intend all the mean things people are saying about him. Maybe all he wanted was to help…
Drake: ‘I’m a Proud Young Jewish Boy’ and I Want My Re-Bar Mitzvah
Drake says: "When I had a Bar Mitzvah back in the day, my mum really didn't have that much money. We kinda just did it in the basement of an Italian restaurant, which I guess is kinda like a faux pas. I told myself that if I ever got rich, I'd throw myself a re-Bar Mitzvah. That's the concept for the video."