He’s Black, He’s Jewish, He’s Gay, Get Used to It, and It, and It
"Most people have probably never heard of Y-Love," writes Jerry Portwood in Out Magazine this week, explaining that "for a dedicated fan base, however, Y-Love, aka Yitz Jordan, is a popular Hassidic hip-hop artist who raps in a mix of English, Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin. That’s right: Jordan is an African-American rapping Jew. And now he wants the world to know he’s gay."
Two Hamas Terrorists Earn Darwin Awards in August while Caring for Explosives
A member of the military wing of Gaza's ruling terrorist movement Hamas died when a bomb he was securing accidentally exploded, the Hamas Ezzedine al Qassam said on Friday. He and another Hamas terrorist this month joined several other Palestinian terrorists who have been the recipients of the much coveted Darwin Award, which recognizes individuals who contribute to human evolution by self-selecting themselves out of the gene pool.
Anatomy of a Jewish Wedding with Natalie Portman and a French Guy
When JTA reports on a Jewish wedding with one of the participants probably not a Jew, shouldn't that merit a comment?
Monastery Door Set on Fire and Jesus Called ‘Monkey’ – But Are You Sure...
Police said they suspect this is a response to the evacuation of Migron on Sunday. I have my doubts.
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…
Video: Ultimate Haredi Western Featuring Assassination over Get Refusal
The world is full of people without a sense of humor, as was discovered recently by Vanya Heiman, Anat Vershovsky and Amit Shimoni, all students from the "Bezalel" Academy of the Arts, who created the clip "Der Mensch" for the Visual Communication Department at the Academy. It was only supposed to be a genre exercise…
German Federation Condemns Fans Who Hitler-Saluted Israeli Player
The German soccer federation condemned an anti-Semitic act involving Kaiserslautern's Israel striker Itay Shechter, 24, and says such abuse has to be "nipped in the bud" and "we must act decisively." Sunday's taunts came the day after his team's 4-0 defeat by Mainz – their fourth straight loss – in which Shechter did not play.
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.
At Last, Shimon Peres Gets his US Citizenship
Of course, it's just a typo, but, you know, come to think of it, wouldn't many of us have preferred it if Shimon were to do what he does on the other side of the pond?
Is Weiner Running for Mayor? Show Me the Money…
"I'm very happy in my present life," Weiner, 47, told People Magazine. But the WSJ is asking: if he's so stay-at-homish, what will he do with his election bucks?
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.
Arabs Attacking Jews in NJ Primary
With the race between two fellow Dems getting to the finish line, many fear that it has given rise to the first bona fide Jewish versus Arab competition, and an ugly one at that. The battle "has transformed into a troubling ethnic brawl."
Foster Son of Jewish Mom Leads Italy to Final
Mario Balotelli, who scored two amazing goals against Germany June 28, to take Italy into the Euro 12 soccer championship final against Spain on Sunday (which they lost 4-0, and were totally outclassed by the world champion) – grew up as the foster son of a Jewish mother. Balotelli talked about his adoptive Jewish mother when the Italian national squad visited Auschwitz ahead of the start of the games.
‘Peaceful’ Olive Pickers Stoning Jews on Shabbat
On Saturday, at noon, local Jews out on a walk at the Aner springs west of the village of Neria in Samaria were attacked by dozens of Arabs throwing rocks, Tazpit reported. The official reason for the Arabs to be in the area was the olive harvest. What can be more peaceful than the olive harvest? And yet, despite the peaceful properties assigned to the olive, despite all those olive branches everywhere – those Arab olive pickers put down the olives and picked up the rocks.
November Bout in NJ: ‘True Arab’ Pascrell Vs. ‘America’s Rabbi’ Boteach
Bill Pascrell, the "Arab" candidate, won the Democratic primary for NJ's 9th district. In the other corner, meet "America's Rabbi," Shmuely Boteach, the Republican candidate.
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…
Holy Smokes, Rabbi
According to the State, Rabbi Meshulam Rothschild, 26, was moving about 3,600 cartons a week of illegal cigarettes with no tax stamps out of his warehouse on Spencer Street in Williamsburg. At $50 a carton in taxes, that's a very nice income, although not so steady, it turns out…
Video: Bea Abrams Cohen – California’s Oldest Female Veteran
Bea Abrams Cohen, who turned 102 in February, believes in mitzvahs. "Pay back. It works," she told the LA Times. Bea enlisted during World War II and worked for more than seventy years supporting the U.S. military and charity organizations.
Cartoon Rehab: Fixing the Crucifix
This cartoon, by Syrian artist Tishrin, was published September 22, 2011, and, to be fair, as anti-Israeli cartoons go it is relatively tame. But I was delighted by the opportunity to turn Tishrin's clever (albeit kinda trite) use of the letter T as cross, into the letter T as clothesline.
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.
9th of Av Message of Peace and Messianic Yearning from Turkish Muslim Leader
We long for the days that we will see the reestablishment of Solomon's Temple and hopefully we will pray there together in the near future. This will definitely happen as the days of Messiah—Yamot HaMashiach—are imminent.
Why Is Romney So Feverish on Israel When Most Jews Will Vote Obama?
It appears that Romney is not playing for the Jews. He has much more serious worries.
A Hose By Any Other Name
Residents of Du-Pia Street in Rehovot, Israel, recently petitioned City Hall to change the name of their street, which they believe is not respectable.
Is Ryan Good for the Jews? Make that ‘Are the Jews Good for Ryan’
The selection of Paul Ryan, with his proposals for a trimmed-down federal budget, may not bode well for the Republican ticket among Jewish voters. And since Florida is the largest of the swing states, its Jewish voters will have a huge impact on the presidential election. On the other hand, the "Israel first" Jewish voters, after three years of constant conflict between Obama and Netanyahu, are not likely to stick with the president. Finally, what does it mean when Romney concedes the independents at the center and pick a VP to the right of him politically?
Supreme Court Won’t Hear ‘Birther’ Appeal, Obama May Be American After All
Believe it or not, the birther effort to de-legitimize the Barack Obama presidency may be officially over. The Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to Obama's U.S. citizenship and, consequently, to his eligibility to be the country's commander in chief.
Arafat’s Ninth Life Was Clipped by Poison
Man, that really unpleasant looking man had the force of life in him. Remember how many times he almost died?
Jerusalem Festival of Lights: Exercise in Overselling, Underdelivering
My family and I were certain it was going to be a tasteful, Jerusalem version of some of the better Disneyland rides, like Pirates of the Caribbean: dark, with stunning images and light displays and haunting music.
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."
First They Impose Gun Control, Then They Send You to Auschwitz
Samuel Wurzelbacher aka “Joe the Plumber” is in hot water (which, professionally speaking, he should be able to repair) over his comments blaming the Holocaust on gun control.
US Pediatric Doctor Favors Female Circumcision
Dr. Hatem al-Haj, PhD, MD, a senior committee member of the Association of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA), has recently published a 41-page Arabic-language paper titled "Circumcision of Girls: Jurisprudence and Medicine," explaining why female circumcision is recommended and even "an honor" for women.
