Eagle That Eagle

The Boys, I have learned, is a television series, now in its second season. It deals with a " team of vigilantes as they combat superpowered individuals who abuse their abilities."

One character, played by Aya Cash (who considers herelf Jewish* and has visited Israel), is Stormfront with plasma-based abilities. Native to Nazi Germany, she holds supremacist views towards minorities and individuals without superpowers.

Here she is in costume

Notice the belt:

And notice the historical accuracy:

Is there a problem?

Here's Cash, who 

told Refinery29 during a recent Zoom call. “That I’m the face of that is a very intense, confusing thing.” 

Expanding, she added

While The Boys does a lot with Stormfront, it certainly doesn’t celebrate her. Her execution of an entire apartment building filled with Black residents is one of the most upsetting scenes in the series...It’s a satire..It was important to show that and to show the newer dangers of white supremacy: the way that they have been using the internet and using narratives. I thought, I can do that.” 

How many reading this think real White Supremacists are smart enough to grasp the staire and not get excited, er, very excited, over such a character? 

From the trailer when she gets her tits lasered (at 1:42)

Looking like that, talking like that and dressed like that?

*

I learned that she has a hawk tattooed on her back because she was told that Aya means “hawk” in Hebrew. However, when she visited Israel she was told that “Aya” is an archaic translation of “hawk.” 

Actually, in my neck of the woods, Aya (אי"ה) stands for ארץ ישראל השלמה or the Complete Land of Israel. Or אם ירצה השם, If God Wills It, for that matter.

The word she might have been looking for is עיט, which means eagle.

In any case, "Aya" was a popular song, here sung by Shoshana Damari, a favorite of Jewish soldiers who enlisted in the British Army during Worl War II from Manate Palstine.

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I've Fallen Off of My Seat

The news:

An episode of the popular American television program Game of Thrones will be filmed in Israel, according to the Tower of David Museum. The management of the iconic citadel located in the Old City of Jerusalem wrote on their Facebook page on Tuesday, "the Tower of David is proud to announce that the citadel has been chosen as the main location for the shooting of the last episode of the successful TV show "Game of Thrones". 

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Tolkien and The Hobbit Key

The author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, as pointed out, was sorry he wasn't Jewish, writing:

“If I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.”

Now, on the eve of the release of the filmed version of The Hobbit, we are being informed, has a scene that possibly could undergo literary deconstruction and then reconstruction and perhaps be interpreted as a symbol of "Palestinian resistance".

As in the first chapter of the book, during a party, the decision is taken to go to a mountain and regain the treasure stolen from the dwarves earlier.  The quest is defined in the movie as one to "reclaim our homeland."  The visual punch has a key being held up,

a key that's been kept for many years.

The book's text reads, in edited form for shortness here:

The dark filled all the room, and the fire died down, and the shadows were lost, and still they played on. And suddenly first one and then another began to sing as they played, deep-throated singing of the dwarves in the deep places of their ancient homes; and this is like a fragment of their song, if it can be like their song without their music.

Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek the pale enchanted gold...

..."We are met to discuss our plans, our ways, means, policy and devices. We shall soon before the break of day start on our long journey, a journey from which some of us, or perhaps all of us (except our friend and counsellor, the ingenious wizard Gandalf) may never return. It is a solemn moment. Our object is, I take it, well known to us all...

Many a time afterwards the Baggins part regretted what he did now, and he said to himself: "Bilbo, you were a fool; you walked right in and put your foot in it."
"Pardon me," he said.. Tell me what you want done, and I will try it, if I have to walk from here to the East of East and fight the wild Were-worms in the Last Desert...
...You can say Expert Treasure-hunter instead of Burglar if you like...
...On the table in the light of a big lamp with a red shad he spread a piece of parchment rather like a map.
"This was made by Thror, your grandfather, Thorin, he said in answer to the dwarves' excited questions. "It is a plan of the Mountain."
"I don't see that this will help us much," said Thorin disappointedly after a glance. "I remember the Mountain well enough and the lands about it. And I know where Mirkwood is, and the Withered Heath where the great dragons bred."..."In lots of ways," said Gandalf. "But in what way this one has been hidden we don't know without going to see. From what it says on the map I should guess there is a closed door which has been made to look exactly like the side of the Mountain. That is the usual dwarves' method- I think that is right, isn't it?" "Quite right," said Thorin.
"Also," went on Gandalf, "I forgot to mention that with the map went a key, a small and curious key. Here it is!" he said, and handed to Thorin a key with a long barrel and intricate wards, made of silver. "Keep it safe!"
"Indeed I will," said Thorin, and he fastened it upon a fine chain that hung about his neck and under his jacket...
..."That would be no good," said the wizard, "not without a mighty Warrior, even a Hero. I tried to find one; but warriors are busy fighting one another in distant lands, and in this neighbourhood heroes are scarce, or simply lot to be found. Swords in these parts are mostly blunt, and axes are used for trees, and shields as cradles or dish-covers; and dragons are comfortably far-off (and therefore legendary). That is why I settled on burglary-especially when I remembered the existence of a Side-door. And here is our little Bilbo Baggins, the burglar, the chosen and selected burglar. So now let's get on and make some plans."

..."O very well," said Thorin. "Long ago in my grandfather Thror's time our family was driven out of the far North, and came back with all their wealth and their tools to this Mountain on the map. It had been discovered by my far ancestor, Thrain the Old, but now they mined and they tunnelled and they made huger halls and greater workshops -and in addition I believe they found a good deal of gold and a great many jewels too. Anyway they grew immensely rich and famous...So my grandfather's halls became full of armour and jewels and carvings and cups, and the toy-market of Dale was the wonder of the North.

"Undoubtedly that was what brought the dragon. Dragons steal gold and jewels, you know, from men and elves and dwarves, wherever they can find them; and they guard their plunder as long as they live (which is practically forever, unless they are killed), and never enjoy a brass ring of it. Indeed they hardly know a good bit of work from a bad, though they usually have a good notion of the current market value; and they can't make a thing for themselves, not even mend a little loose scale of their armour...There was a most specially greedy, strong and wicked worm called Smaug. One day he flew up into the air and came south...Then he came down the slopes and when he reached the woods they all went up in fire. By that time all the bells were ringing in Dale and the warriors were arming. The dwarves rushed out of their great gate; but there was the dragon waiting for them. None escaped that way...But we have never forgotten our stolen treasure. And even now, when I will allow we have a good bit laid by and are not so badly off"-here Thorin stroked the gold chain round his neck-"we still mean to get it back, and to bring our curses home to Smaug-if we can...

..."Your grandfather," said the wizard slowly and grimly, "gave the map to his son for safety before he went to the mines of Moria. Your father went away to try his luck with the map after your grandfather was killed; and lots of adventures of a most unpleasant sort he had, but he never got near the Mountain. How he got there I don't know, but I found him a prisoner in the dungeons of the Necromancer.""Whatever were you doing there?" asked Thorin with a shudder, and all the dwarves shivered.

"Never you mind. I was finding things out, as usual; and a nasty dangerous business it was. Even I, Gandalf, only just escaped. I tried to save your father, but it was too late. He was witless and wandering, and had forgotten almost everything except the map and the key...The one thing your father wished was for his son to read the map and use the key.

...The Tookishness was wearing off, and he was not now quite so sure that he was going on any journey in the morning. As he lay in bed he could hear Thorin still humming to himself in the best bedroom next to him:

Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day,
To find our long-forgotten gold.

So, if indeed an attempt is made to read into this scene a subtext of pro-Palestinian propaganda, remember:

a) it isn't a homeland they wish to reclaim;
b) they wish to regain treasure ("Far over the misty mountains cold/To dungeons deep and caverns old/We must away ere break of day/To seek the pale enchanted [ find our long-forgotten and To win our harps and gold from him!] gold.");
c) Baggins is the burglar, not the warrior-hero;
d) the direction is East;
e) despite the "We hates it, we hates it, we hates it forever!" directed at Baggins by the Gollum, we do not wish to curse our enemy although their impudent and despicable curses
f) and let's not forget Baggins' exclamation: "Victory after all, I suppose! Well, it seems a very gloomy business."

_____________

Been alerted to this:

Tolkien thought of Dwarves like Jews, in that they were both native and alien in their habitations, speaking the local language but with an accent since they had a private tongue.

Tolkien 1955

and from a 1966 interview:

D. Gueroult: Did you intend in Lord of the Rings that certain races should embody certain principles: the elves wisdom, the dwarves craftsmanship, men husbandry and battle and so forth?J.R.R. Tolkien: I didn't intend it. But when you've got these people on your hands, you've got to make them different haven't you? Well of course, as we all know, ultimately we've only got humanity to work with. It's only clay we've got. We should all … or at least a large part of the human race … would like to have greater power of mind, greater power of art by which I mean, that the gap between the conception and the power of execution should be shortened, and we should, like a longer time if not indefinite time in which to go on knowing more and making more.
Therefore we make the Elves immortal in a sense. I had to use immortal, I didn't mean that they were eternally immortal, merely that they are very longeval and their longevity probably lasts as long as the inhabitability of the Earth.
The dwarves of course are quite obviously, couldn't you say that in many ways they remind you of the Jews? Their words are Semitic obviously, constructed to be Semitic. Hobbits are just rustic English people, made small in size because it reflects (in general) the small reach of their imagination - not the small reach of their courage or latent power.

_________________

Update


See this.

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Hebrew on American TV Action Shows

First, there was fractured English from an "Israeli" character on NCIS.

Thanks to EstherK, the Urban Kvetcher, I've learned about an Israeli on a show called Covert Affairs.

So, why is this spy running away from these Hareidi men, or is she?  Or whatever.

Details:

The CIA has learned that the Iranians have somehow gained access to American missile specs, and, to find out how that might have happened, Annie is sent to Jerusalem to make contact with Isaac Reiss, the rocket scientist who designed the missiles. Annie is delighted to find out that she'll be working with her old friend Eyal Lavin again, but dismayed to learn that he has orders to report back to the CIA on her conduct in the field. Still, the two forge ahead with their mission and make contact with Isaac. When he mentions a mysterious girlfriend whom Mossad's surveillance failed to find evidence of, Annie knows she's found the source of the intel leak-Isaac's unknowingly dating a spy.

By the way, this blogger notes (see my first reference above) that it's

nice to hear Hebrew spoken properly

Is this part of the plot to take over the entertainment industry?

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Worse and Worse - Batsheva in the UK

I couldn't decide which was worse in this report.

Was it

a) the lack of adequate security?

...Pro-Palestinian demonstrators managed to bring to a halt the performance of the Batsheva dance troupe on three separate nights during one of the country’s biggest arts festivals...during their final performance on Saturday night, up to 20 protesters entered the Edinburgh Playhouse auditorium and “ran amok” during performance, forcing security staff to eject them at least nine times.

b) that the dancers presented a rather timid and cowed charcater, very un-Israeli:

Witnesses reported that on each occasion the dancers stood stock still on stage, the curtain was lowered and the house lights brought up until the protesters were ejected.

c) that the audience seemed to be uninvolved accept for a post-demo cheer:

At the end of their performance, the highly-regarded, ethnically diverse contemporary dance group was greeted with enthusiastic applause and standing ovations...One audience member told The Daily Telegraph: “A few audience members, including a group including several children, left after the first disruption but other than that the audience remained calm and seated.

d) that the police ignored a criminal act and permitted threatening behavior::

More than 200 protesters have also rallied outside the theatre and have been seen shouting abuse at patrons as they left. No arrests have been made.“As we left the protesters simply screamed and yelled angrily, behind a line of police.”

e) or that they included the music of the German anti-Semite - and banned in Israel - Wagner:

During their three one-hour performances of “Hora”, they danced to a "mash up" including the Star Wars theme and music from Richard Wagner, the renowned German composer.

f) or the scurrilous and fascist attitude of certain 'persons of the spirit'

Leading up to the festival writers and artists including Iain Banks, Tom Leonard and Al Kennedy called for the festival's artistic director Jonathan Mills to axe the Israeli dance troupe. 

g) or the craven response of the festival spokeswoman, who viewed the protest and the dance performance equally and who said: 

"The festival supports freedom of expression and people's right to protest. “It welcomes constructive criticism, regularly facilitates debates and recognises the right to peaceful and orderly protest in any public place including outside its theatres. Equally the festival defends the rights of all artists, irrespective of nationality, creed or culture to have their voices heard."

h) or that the most robust and confrontational counter-attack came from...Brendan O'Neill who I presume is not Jewish:

Boycotts of everything Israeli have well and truly crossed the line from political campaigns into expressions of bigotry against the people and produce of Israel...This highly intolerant effort by one group of artists to have another group of artists banned – or perhaps quarantined at the borders until they renounce their home country and everything it stands for – is part of a bigger chattering-class trend to ghettoise Israeli culture...they practise cultural apartheid against Israelis...But there is nothing political about these censorious efforts to keep everything Israeli out of Britain. It is just an acceptable form of bigotry, a way of advertising one’s own moral decency by contrasting oneself to an inferior, infected people from Over There.

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Meet A Chozeret B'teshuvah

This is the first single from the first album of Orian Reiss, released in 2009:

It's about a reserve soldier called to serve in the Second Lebanon War. Her other big hit is here.

This is how Orian looked then, a singer since 6 who spent time in Germany and is from Ramat Hasharon:

And now, just before her 30th birthday, this is Orian, Orian Zano now:

That's correct.

She's a chozeret b'teshuva.  One who has returned to the more observant Jewish lifestyle.

Her blog (in Hebrew) is here.  You can write to her here:  makorianreiss@gmail.com.

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Israeli Puts Herself in The Arms of British Troops

Seen at "The Expendables 2" UK premiere:

 "The Expendables 2" claimed an estimated $28.8 million domestic US debut.

Oh, that's celebrity Hofit Golan, who earns a living as FashionTV actress/presenter. Our Israeli on red carpets (she's from Netanya via Toronto, Miami and now London).

There are Israelis all over and doing everything.

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Another Hollywood Talmudic Plot

A new movie is in the works.

A Biblically-themed film.

With Russel Crowe

playing...Noah.

An item:

"Noah" won't be your average Biblical epic though. Aronofsky plans to feature wingless angel demons and giants--based on his tweets, a creature named Og. According to Indie Wire, Og was the King of Bahan, a race of giants, and part of the Rephaim in the Bible.
"According to Jewish folklore, Noah built a special compartment in the Ark for him and/or he rode out the flood by sitting on the top. Either way, we'll see how Og will make an appearance, but it's another interesting note to a movie that is playing as much with myth and legend as it is with the elements of the standard story we know," writes Kevin Jagernauth.

That, of course, is not Hollywood but Midrash:

The Midrash (Pirkei D'Rebbe Eliezer 23) relates* that Og sat on one of the rungs of the ark's ladders and swore to Noach and his sons that he would be their slave forever. Noach then punched a hole in the ark to which he would feed Og through every day. This pledge, however, wasn't enough for Og to survive the flood. The Gemara (Zevachim, 113b) relates that the waters in the flood of Noach were boiling hot but Hashem cooled all the water around the ark so Og would be able to survive and the ark could travel. So we see that Og was a pretty great man as well, for he merited a miraculous miracle.

*

And all living things which were upon the face of the 
earth decayed,^ as it is said, " And every living thing was 
destroyed which was upon the face of the ground " {ibid. 
23), except Noah and those who were with him in the ark, 
as it is said, " And Noah only was left, and they that 
were with him in the ark " {ibid.), except Og,^ king of 
Bashan, who sat down on a piece of wood under the gutter ^ 
of the ark. He swore to Noah and to his sons that he 
would be their servant for ever.'' What did Noah do ? 
He bored an aperture in the ark, and he put (through it) his 
food daily for him, and he also was left, as it is said, " For 
only Og, king of Bashan, remained of the remnant of the 
giants " (Deut. iii. 11). 

And there's this in Talmud Nidah 61b:

...He thought: Peradventure the merit of our father Abraham will stand him by, for it is said, And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew, in connection with which R. Johanan explained: This refers to Og who escaped the fate of the generation of the flood.

An interesting take.

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Rebbe Nahman Conquers...Cannes

Rebbe Nahman conquers...Cannes.  With God’s Neighbors.

Here's the trailer for it:-

Another international achievement for Israeli cinema:

God's Neighbors, a film by Meni Yaesh has won the Gaul's Society of Authors, Directors and Composers award in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.  The film is also nominated in the Caméra d'Or category for best first feature film.
 
God's Neighbors is an Israeli-French co-production by Mark Rosenbaum and Transfax Film Productions and was one of seven films competing in the category.

The movie features a group of young Hasidim in the city of Bat Yam who force their beliefs on the neighborhood's residents. When the group's leader falls in love with a woman from the neighborhood he is forced into a moral and existential conundrum.

From Hollywood Reporter review:

What looks at the outset to be a straightforward vigilante movie about a trio of hot-headed religious watchdogs in Israel turns into a worthy study of personal maturation and growth in God’s Neighbors...the film’s raw power and controversial content make it a good festival item and will ignite strong reactions among Jewish and Israel-minded audiences.

A trio of twentyish skull-capped guys, Avi, Kobi and Yaniv, have taken it upon themselves to police their Bat Yam neighborhood for transgressions against the letter of religious laws. Handy with baseball bats and their fists, they’re particularly hot to go after Arabs who have the effrontery to play loud music and otherwise disrupt the Sabbath, but they’re also rough on more relaxed Jews who keep their stores open too late on Friday nights, don’t dress right and so on (the film’s Hebrew title can best be translated as The Supervisors or The Monitors).
While they pursue Torah studies seriously with a notably inspiring and charismatic rabbi, the boys aren’t exactly exemplars of conservative behavior...The arrival of an attractive, independent-minded woman, Miri, into Avi’s life causes the expected, and resented, disruption in the young men’s dynamic. Ari wrestles with his desires in predictable ways, but where God’s Neighbors feels fresh is in he portrayal of his intense religious struggle...The result causes a moving and entirely plausible growth of character, one spurred—of course, since this is in part an action movie—by a final round of bloody violence. But the final stretch gives the drama a heft and impressive perspective that are not necessarily evident up to that point.

...a scrappy, hard-hitting debut.

From Variety:

As forceful as a kick in the jaw, "God's Neighbors" reps a sharp rebuke of bigotry and

male aggression perpetrated under the banner of religious orthodoxy. Israeli writer-helmer Meni Yaesh borrows savvily from genre conventions to portray a young man's attempts to break away from a gang of religious extremists who terrorize their suburban neighborhood...

As the gang's thuggery escalates, Yaesh vividly captures the men's intoxication with self-righteous brute power ("There's a higher force, and there's an earthly force," Kobi smugly remarks) through raw, dynamic lensing and visceral violence. But the filmmaker also weaves in scenes to remind that they're regular dudes as well, whether dancing joyously to their own remixed songs, playing backgammon or praising the teachings of their rabbi (Gili Shushan).

Their blatant sexism, racial intolerance and eagerness to pick fights are subtly attributed to sexual frustration. This becomes the catalyst for a fallout when Avner successfully courts Miri (Rotem Ziesman-Cohen), the feisty new neighbor whom they initially try to intimidate for wearing skimpy clothes.

...the film is fundamentally about a crisis of faith, its most powerful scene is an introspective one, in which Avner delivers a cri de coeur to God at the beach, culminating in a moving, symbolic gesture.

The pic opens with a quotation from Hasidic spiritual leader Reb Nachman of Breslov: "To the true believer, faith is observation." It also reflects the helmer's artistic mantra as he consistently regards his characters with an observer's neutrality, using extreme closeups to linger searchingly on his subjects' rage and arrogance, as well as their self-doubt and spiritual longing. The entire cast, particularly Assaf, turn in intense perfs, though Friedman and Golan convey little complexity beyond hot-headedness. Ziesman-Cohen exerts a sensual presence amid all the testosterone, and subtly reveals a tender side beneath her no-nonsense exterior.

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Sheitels and Sex, Hollywood's Take

There's a new movie in production.  It's John Turturro's comedy, Fading Gigolo, about a cash-strapped guy who decides to become a gigolo in the Hasidic Jewish community.

It get's interesting as Woody Allen is involved:

...But nobody has ever asked me to be in their film! Over the years. When I say nobody, two or three times I've been asked, and I've always said yes. But it's been two or three times in, I don't know, thirty years. Or more than that. So when John Turturro asked me if I would be in Fading Gigolo, I said sure. Because nobody ever asks me, so I was happy to do it.

Are you going to be the fading gigolo?

WA: No, he is!

Will any of these ladies be in sheitels?

...Sofia Vergara is in talks to take on a supporting role, and Sharon Stone is also set to co-star.
Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte ("The Kids Are All Right") and French shingle MK2 are producing the pic, which finds Turturro and Allen playing cash-strapped best friends who decide to go into the gigolo business together and subsequently attract the suspicion of the Hasidic Jewish community in which they live. Duo take on the pseudonyms Virgil and Bongo, with Allen pimping out Turturro's character until he falls for a Jewish widow, who has not yet been cast. Stone will play Allen's dermatologist who hires Turturro to sleep with her, while Vergara is expected to play another wealthy client who's bored with her marriage and wants to have a threesome with Turturro and Stone.

 and

Because this project isn't crazy enough, "Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara is also circling the film as a housewife on the prowl for more exciting bedfellows and Sharon Stone is already set to co-star as Allen's dermatologist, who hires Turturro's services. Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte ("The Kids Are All Right") is producing the film with MK2.

 Is his next movie to be about the Yeshiva-bochur who tries out for the job of lifeguard at the local mikveh?


P.S.  NYTimes on Hassidic cress in hot weather.

...When the mercury passes 90, most New Yorkers start to wilt. Many resort to shorts and tank tops, even in the office. More than a few bankers and lawyers reach for their seersuckers.

A shtreimel, a fur hat, has been given holes for ventilation. /Joel Czin displayed lightweight frock coats at G&B Clothing in Borough Park./ A prayer shawl, lighter because it is made of fine thread./ A sleeveless tzitzit for daily wear, offered by Malchut Judaica, is made of cotton and eliminates the need for a separate T-shirt. 

Yet amid all the casual summer wear, in some neighborhoods more than others, Hasidic men wear dark three-piece suits crowned by black hats made of rabbit fur, and Hasidic women outfit themselves in long-sleeved blouses and nearly ankle-length skirts. To visibly cooler New Yorkers, they can look painfully overdressed. 

Some New Yorkers who are not Hasidic surely ask themselves: How on earth do they stay cool?

The answer is a mix of the spiritual and, yes, the creatively physical. The Hasidim will tell you they have learned to live comfortably in all seasons with their daily attire. 

“I think I’m not as hot as other people because the sun is not on me,” said Chany Friedman, who was shopping recently in Borough Park, Brooklyn, with two of her five children in tow, wearing a sweater and dense stockings in addition to other concealing clothing. “If I’m covered, the sun is not on me. I’m happy that I’m not exposed to the world.” 

Using a Hebrew name for God, she added, “That’s what Ha-Shem wants from us.”...

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When A Press Conference Is Too 'Open-Miked'

From a report on the Sacha Baron Cohen's new film promotion with the press:

On his military uniform, supposedly made by disgraced Christian Dior designer John Galliano, who was charged with anti-Semitic hate speech in France:

“Well, I love Galliano. Say what you want about his avante-garde style and his fashion approach, but the guy does hate Jews.”

When an Israeli journalist stepped to the mic for the last question, Cohen demanded to see the man's circumcision as proof of his Judaism.

“As long as you write good reviews, your families will be released,” he said before storming off the stage, his comely security guards in tow.

At 2 minutes or so in the clip there, he takes down the UN over inaction to Syria - "remember, you can always do less".

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She Might Have It All

Israel has a talent show, The Voice, and a recent arrival, Cathlin Reiter, gave an outstanding audition, covering Adele's hit, You Could Have Had It All.

Worth a watch



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Curious?

Does this picture make you curious?

Interested?

Go here.

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Adah Girl

This woman

accepted an unheard-of offer from Tom Maguire's San Francisco Opera House: She would receive one-third of the gate. This made [her] the highest paid actress in the world [during the 1860s].

Mark Twain described her appeal:

"A magnificent spectacle dazzled my vision—the whole constellation of the Great Menken came flaming out of the heavens and shed a glory abroad as it fell! I have used the term 'Great Menken' because I regard it as a more modest expression than the 'Great Bare.'"

And she was Jewish.

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Shiloh and An Almost Jewess

The "Shiloh" is Shiloh Fernandez and the "almost Jewess" is Jane Levy - her father is Jewish.

The story:

Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez Join "Evil Dead"

With Lily Collins out of the picture, Fede Alvarez's upcoming "Evil Dead" remake was lacking a female lead. But today, the film announced two big casting decisions. Jane Levy from ABC's "Suburgatory" joined the film as Collins' replacement. Additionally, Variety is reporting that Shiloh Fernandez will be one of the five friends holed up in a cabin facing demonic forces let loose on the world. The flick is pegged for an April 12, 2013 release

I haven't the faintest idea about this but, well, I did spot 'Shiloh' and 'Levy'.

More here, if you're interested.

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Bluegrass Fringe

Just discovered Andy Statman.

He's the one on the left, with the tzitzit:-



"Andy’s most recent mandolin album, included a track (Rawhide) nominated for an instrumental Grammy. AWAKENING features Andy’s clarinet"

Enjoy.

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Is The New Springsteen Single An Anthem for G'machim?

G'mach is an abbreviation for "gemilut chasadim" which is Hebrew for providing good deeds assistance to the less-than-fortunate and is used to described the community free loan system in traditional Jewish society.

Bruce Springsteen's new single is entitled "We Can Take Care of Own Own":



And that reference at the beginning to the "throne", is that a play off of Matisyahu's One Day?

see everybody that's existing got a mind of their own
we're all kings and queens with a throne of our own
tryn' raise a family in another big home
we gotta learn to stick together
hate to be here alone

hook (akon):
cuz the world is a place that will eat you alive in one day
said the world is a place that you cant survive without faith

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You're Invited to a Sing-a-Long

Tuesday night, January 17, 9 PM

Menorah St. 8 in Jerusalem

30 NIS

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Bob Geldof's Grandchild to Be A Cohen But Jewish?

Reported:-

Peaches Geldof is pregnant with her first child. The model and television presenter, 22, is expecting a baby with rocker fiancé Thomas Cohen, 20. Her spokeswoman said: 'Peaches Geldof and her fiancé Thomas Cohen are delighted to announce that Peaches is pregnant with their first child. 'Peaches is utterly thrilled and they have the full support of both of their families who are equally excited for the baby's arrival.' Peaches met Cohen four years ago and they announced their engagement on December 11.

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Jewish Trivia on CSI: Miami

Jonathan Togo was born on August 25, 1977 to Michael, a Ukranian-Jewish retired graphics designer and Sheila Togo, an Irish-Italian store owner. He was raised in Rockland, Massachusetts, attending Hebrew school as a child and graduating from Rockland High School in 1995.

Togo describes himself as "a little bit of a mutt. My mother is Italian and Irish and my father is Ukranian-Jewish," he says, noting that Togo was originally Tonkaviev, shortened by a grandfather in search of a catchier name for his carpet business. "I was raised as a Jew in a predominantly Irish-Catholic part of the country. We were extremely liberal Jews. I went to Hebrew school but we were middle and it costs money to join a synagogue, money we didn't always have. I was bar mitzvahed at 13 and basically never returned to the synagogue."

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