|  | Israeli-Iranian music sensation Rita Yahan-Farouz will perform at the United Nations for a peace dialogue event next month, Rita's team confirmed to JTA.
| | | | | |  | | Barbra Streisand will perform at this year's Academy Awards - the first time in nearly four decades she will grace the Oscars stage. | | | | | |  | Israeli model Bar Refaeli is part of internet domain site Go Daddy's new "Smart Meets Sexy" campaign, and in their Super Bowl commercial, she played the "sexy side."
| | | | | |  | | Scarlett Johansson is back on Broadway, this time starring as the sultry Maggie in the 1955 Tennessee Williams classic "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." | | | | | |  | "Homeland," a television drama based on an Israeli program, won for best drama at the Golden Globes Awards.
| | | | | |  | Grammy Award-winning singer Amy Winehouse died of consuming too much alcohol, a second inquest into her death confirmed.
| | | | | |  | Reconciling God's attribute of Justice with Mercy.
| | | | | |  | The Israeli documentary "The Gatekeepers" was named the best nonfiction film of 2012 by the National Society of Film Critics in the United States.
| | | | | |  | Dog TV provides dogs left alone at home the comfort of sights and sounds that they enjoy.
| | | | | |  | One watchdog group says that Roger Waters, composer, lyricist, singer and bassist for rock mega-group Pink Floyd, has become a "hero to genocidal terrorists."
| | | | | |  | Are Israel's recent publicity problems finally over? Or did they just get worse?
| | | | | |  | Bar Refaeli is getting heat again -- this time for a picture showing the Israeli model in a Santa suit.
| | | | | |  | | Sesame Street characters, celebrities and stories, viewers learn about Jewish traditions, culture and holidays such as Purim, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with celebrity guest appearances. | | | | | |  | | A new TV drama, based on novel "Hitlerland", will relay "a fictional tapestry of political intrigue. pursuit of power and personal danger." | | | | | |  | | Ironically, what I initially perceived to be a book that neglected Judaism, turns out to resemble a course in Jewish mysticism 101. | | | | | |  | In an ironic turn of events, the new Noah's Ark film with Russell Crowe has been delayed by flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy.
| | | | | |  | Sure, his hit "Too Close" is currently the seventh most popular song in the United State, but Alex Clare is really just a nice Jewish boy.
| | | | | | | | Lebanon's tourism minister said he wants to sue the producers of "Homeland" for the show's portrayal of Beirut.
| | | | | |  | Jay-Z lit up the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn not only with his performance but a menorah.
| | | | | |  | Iran will not submit a movie for the 2013 Oscars, in protest of an anti-Muslim video.
| | | | | |  | | "Homeland," which is based on the Israeli television series "Hatufim," was named the year's best drama series at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards. | | | | | |  | | "Bodies: The Exhibition," which is an exhibition of dead human bodies has been condemned by rabbis and religious leaders as morally abhorrent. | | | | | |  | An actress who was featured in the controversial anti-Muslim film "Innocence of Muslims" has sued the film's director, as well as Google and YouTube.
| | | | | |  | | Over a decade ago, as an avalanche of terrorism rocked Israel, the popular band Red Hot Chili Peppers pulled out of a planned performance in Tel Aviv. Monday, they hit the stage. | | | | | |  | | Matisyahu as the exorcist makes an impressive screen debut. | | | | | |  | | Edon Pinchot, a kipah-wearing Jewish day school student, won cheers from the live audience and the judges in the semifinals of "America’s Got Talent." | | | | | |  | | After receiving a great deal of backlash for displaying an image of a swastika in a video clip shown during her concerts, pop star Madonna has finally decided to alter her show. | | | | | |  | | British actor Patrick Stewart, known for his roles in Star Trek and the X-Men movies, arrived in Israel August 9 to star in "Hunting Elephants," a film by Israeli director Reshef Levy. | | | | | |  | | Marvin Hamlisch, the acclaimed composer and arranger of dozens of Broadway plays and films, has died at 68. | | | | | |  | | Lollapalooza, one of the largest U.S.-based music festivals, will be coming to Tel Aviv in the summer of 2013, founder Perry Farrell announced Saturday. | | | | | |  | | Mayim Bialik, Larry David and Lena Dunham are among the Jewish performers nominated for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards. | | | | | |  | | A Palestinian grocer who sued actor Sacha Baron Cohen for $115 million over his portrayal as a terrorist in the film Bruno has settled his slander lawsuit. | | | | | |  | | Who would have thought that Old Jews Telling Jokes would create such a buzz on the streets of New York? | | | | | |  | | The publisher of the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles has launched a project aiming to have Woody Allen shoot his next film in Israel. | | | | | |  | | Actor Jesse Eisenberg, who portrayed Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network" has written a play revolving around the Holocaust. | | | | | |  | | Icelandic indie band's Sigur Ros' music video for the song "Four Pianos" features the actor in full-front nudity and was directed by Israeli filmmaker Alma Har'el. | | | | | |  | | American actor David Arquette celebrated his Bar Mitzvah - albeit slightly late - at the Western Wall this week, and launched a segment that will provide a window to the Holy Land for the rest of the world. | | | | | |  | The Israeli creator of the successful horror trilogy "Paranormal Activity" has a new film out, "Chernobyl Diaries," that takes place in the deserted nuclear-disaster town in Ukraine.
| | | | | |  | | Did Madonna take Tel Aviv by storm last Thursday or did she create a storm? | | | | | |  | | Tel Aviv University put a stop to a planned concert of music by German composer Richard Wagner. Wagner's music traditionally has been boycotted in Israel. | | | | | |  | While Madonna attends Kabbalah events and her children visit the beach, one of the Queen of Pop's dancers tweets that he is visiting "Palestine."
| | | | | | | | Madonna has begun rehearsals in Tel Aviv for the opening concert of her new world tour. The international pop star will open her MDNA world tour on May 31 at Ramat Gan Stadium near Tel Aviv.
| | | | | |  | | The Cannes film festival screening of "The Anti-Semite," a film by a French comic with a "history" of anti-Semitism, was cancelled. The film was produced by the Iranian Documentary and Experimental Film Center. | | | | | |  | | Two of the top three hottest women on earth are Jewish! | | | | | |  | Cleese will play a disgraced, eccentric British lord in the heist comedy "Hunting Elephants," in which three Israeli senior citizens help a 12-year-old boy hatch a plan to rob a bank.
| | | | | |  | | American actress Claire Danes arrived in Israel to film the second season of the popular television series "Homeland." | | | | | |  | | The man behind "Borat" is promoting his new film "The Dictator." Sacha Baron Cohen now dresses up as Admiral General Aladeen of a fictional Middle Eastern country, the Republic of Wadiya. | | | | | |  | | The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has been the site of some controversies lately, and this week it was the host himself who was caught in a furor. | | | | | |  | | The Beastie Boys were among several bands and performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at its 27th induction ceremony | | | | | |  | | Hollywood screenwriter Joe Eszterhas has accused Mel Gibson of sabotaging a film about the Jewish Maccabees. "I've come to the conclusion that the reason you won't make The Maccabees is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews." he wrote. | | | | | |  | Drake released his newest music video this week, titled "HYFR" (Hell Yeah F***ing Right). The entire video is set in a synagogue.
| | | | | |  | Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor has stayed close to her Jewish roots even as she has achieved mainstream success.
| | | | | | | | | Bar Refaeli will join the cast of "Spear," an upcoming French-Israeli film about the Mossad assassination of Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in 2010. | | | | | |  | | The popular Showtime series "Homeland" will film part of its new season in Israel. | | | | | |  | | A British television station is searching for the "ultimate Jewish mother" for a new series. | | | | | | | | | Woody Allen will play a pimp who arouses the suspicions of his Chasidic neighbors in a movie directed by John Turturro. | | | | | | | | | "Homeland" star Mandy Patinkin expressed solidarity with Israeli actors who refuse to perform in West Bank settlements. | | | | | |  | Brad Pitt is in final negotiations to star in "The Gray Man," a movie based on a successful novel about a CIA agent who goes rogue that is scheduled to be shot partially in Israel.
| | | | | |  | | Jewish pride had a place at the Academy Awards with the triumph of "The Artist," a black-and-white homage to Hollywood's silent film era. | | | | | | | | | "Footnote" failed to win Israel’s first Academy Award, coming up short in the best foreign-language film category. | | | | | |  | | Actor Sacha Baron Cohen received two tickets to the Academy Awards, despite threats that he would be banned if he comes dressed on the red carpet as the title character from his upcoming film, "The Dictator." | | | | | | | | | Actor Sacha Baron Cohen reportedly will be banned from the Academy Awards if he comes dressed on the red carpet as the title character from his upcoming film "The Dictator." | | | | | |  | | It seems like the show will go on for Adam Lambert and Queen. | | | | | |  | | Cat Power canceled an Israeli show that was to have taken place Sunday, citing fans' concerns about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | | | | | |  | | George Clooney is expected to star in a film about U.S. and British art experts who tracked down Nazi-looted artworks, mainly from Jewish owners. | | | | | | | | | Most of us have forgotten what silence feels like... | | | | | |
| | | | International pop star Madonna reportedly will launch her new world tour in Israel. | | | | | |  | | At the venues in the mountainous ski town showing the films at Sundance, the views of Israel range from critical to abysmal. | | | | | |  | | Ben Stiller reportedly has signed on to direct, produce and star in an HBO original series about a Jewish family called "All Talk." | | | | | |  | | "Footnote," Israel’s Oscar entry for best foreign-language film, has qualified for the shortlist of nine semifinalists. | | | | | |  | | Australian Jewry's umbrella body slammed a national broadcaster for screening a controversial TV series that it says "endorses and reinforces demeaning stereotypes about Jews." | | | | | |  | | The movie industry’s two veteran super-Jews, Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, did not walk off with the most prestigious awards at the Golden Globe Awards, but neither did they go home empty-handed. | | | | | | | | | Angelina Jolie told the Israeli media that she would like to "spend more time" in Israel and "Palestine." | | | | | |  | | The work features crematoria and barracks made from Legos, as well as Lego inmates being beaten by Lego guards. | | | | | |  | In case you ever wanted to see Matt Damon sing the Dreidel song...
| | | | | |  | The future judge is being judged, as NBC is being condemned by the Parents Television Council for hiring Howard Stern to replace Piers Morgan on "America's Got Talent."
| | | | | | | | | Famed directors Woody Allen and Steven Spielberg led the list of Jewish nominees for Golden Globe Awards. | | | | | |  | | Joe Simon, the co-creator of Captain America and a leading figure during the golden age of comic books, has died at 98. | | | | | |  | Jewish megastar Matisyahu, a poster child for the Chassidic community, shocked fans on Tuesday when he revealed pictures of himself with a clean shaven face, along with a statement on his faith.
| | | | | |  | Are The Muppets a metaphor for the State of Israel?!
| | | | | |  | | The pioneering hip-hop group made up of Mike D (Michael Diamond), MCA (Adam Yauch) and Ad-Rock (Adam Horowitz) will join a Hall of Fame class of 2012 that includes the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N Roses. | | | | | |  | The Red Hot Chili Peppers inked a deal to perform in Israel a decade after the rock band canceled a performance at the last minute.
| | | | | |  | Renowned Harvard law professor and expert on Israeli policy Alan Dershowitz, recently sent an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to watch with PA leader Mahmoud Abbas.
| | | | | |  | | Tom Hanks may portray Adolf Hitler in the upcoming film, In the Garden of Beasts. | | | | | |  | Steven Spielberg is in talks to direct a movie, "Gods and Kings" about the life of Moses.
| | | | | |  | | The CW network has bought the rights to an Israeli comedy-drama about a time-traveling filmmaker. | | | | | |  | Oscar-winning actor Robert DeNiro will portray jailed Ponzi-schemer Bernie Madoff in an HBO made-for-television movie.
| | | | | |  | | Oprah Winfrey visited Chasidic Jews and a mikvah in Brooklyn for a new television series. | | | | | |  | The first image from American artist Spencer Tunick's nude photo installation at the Dead Sea can be seen online.
| | | | | |  | The Debt is an exploration of Israeli intelligence failures, moral ambiguities, and, of course, Jewish guilt.
| | | | | |  | | Robert Downey Jr. at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles urged the Hollywood community to forgive Mel Gibson for his recent troubles. | | | | | |  | | A Michigan woman has filed a lawsuit over the film "Drive," charging that the trailer was misleading and that the movie is anti-Semitic. | | | | | |  | | Director Lars von Trier was questioned by Danish police for saying at the Cannes Film Festival that he had sympathy for Hitler. | | | | | |  | | ESPN pulled its "Monday Night Football" introduction by Hank Williams Jr. after the singer compared President Obama to Hitler. | | | | | |  | | The Los Angeles Times corrected an item about an anniversary release of a "Ben-Hur" DVD that called the title character a Palestinian. | | | | | |  | Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer will portray Superman's Kryptonian mother in the Superman movie sequel.
| | | | | |  | | A planned photo shoot of some 1,000 naked Israelis is in jeopardy after the regional council where the event is to be held said it had not given its authorization. | | | | | |  | | The traditional Shabbat dinner might be coming to American television. | | | | | | | | | Mel Gibson is slated to produce and possibly direct a Warner Bros. adaptation of the story of the Jewish hero, Judah Maccabee. | | | | | |  | | NBC is joining the Israel club, picking up the rights to "Pillars of Smoke" a mystery described by one American media critic as "Twin Peaks meets Northern Exposure meets Lost." | | | | | |  | | Amy Winehouse had no illegal drugs in her system when she died, her family said Tuesday. | | | | | |  | | The Biblical life of Moses now is part of a Facebook game, which may cause shudders to traditionalists, but might help educate the uninformed and bring people closer to religion. | | | | | | | | | Amy Winehouse wasn't always a "bad girl." She once was a freshly scrubbed Jewish teen from northeast London. | | | | | | | | Zionist group My Israel is protesting an Israeli Chamber Orchestra performance, in which it will play the works of anti-semitic Richard Wagner this Tuesday in his home town.
| | | | | |  | | Jennifer Love Hewitt was cast in a leading role for a movie version of "Jewtopia." | | | | | |  | | The famous 1941 front cover of "Captain America #1" showed its titular hero punching Hitler straight in the face, sending the ridiculous looking Fuerher tumbling backward. | | | | | |  | American photographer Spencer Tunick has posted a registration for volunteers to participate in a photo shoot of nude Israelis at the Dead Sea.
| | | | | |  | | Sherwood Schwartz, the legendary Jewish television guru who created "The Brady Bunch" and "Gilligan's Island" has died at the age of 94. | | | | | |  | | Broadcasting rights of the TV series, "TLV Doing Tel Aviv" have been sold to six European countries: Germany, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Poland and France. | | | | | |  | | This week, Brad Pitt's new film World War Z is shooting in Malta, and aside from Pitt, about 300 extras portraying zombies, Israelis and Palestinians are present. | | | | | |  | | Facebook page established to convince pop star Shakira to stay away from an Israeli conference has received nearly 1,500 likes. | | | | | |  | Thousands of fans packed a stadium just a few miles from the Auschwitz death camp for a concert by the Chasidic reggae artist Matisyahu.
| | | | | |  | | Does being part of society mean you have to blend in and look like everyone else, or can you be proud of what makes you different and contribute what no one else can? | | | | | |  | Actress Natalie Portman has given birth to a baby boy, her first child.
| | | | | |  | Coldplay removed a message posted on its Facebook page urging the British rock band's fans to check out the "Freedom for Palestine" music video.
| | | | | |  | The two IDF radio stations Army Radio and Galagalatz will continue to play songs performed by anti-Israel artists, including those who accuse Israel of genocide, IDF spokesmen said Friday.
| | | | | |  | On Wednesday Coldplay posted an invitation on their official Facebook page, asking fans to check out a new song recorded by some of their friends called "Freedom for Palestine."
| | | | | |  | | US cable network will air the Israeli reality show "The Frame", which has not yet been aired in Israel, as part of its summer line-up. | | | | | |  | | Rabbi Joyce Newmark, a Conservative rabbi, is a contestant on a Jeopardy! episode set to air Monday night. | | | | | |  | Performers who cancel their concerts in Israel due to politics are "real wimps," the rock band Deep Purple's drummer said.
| | | | | |  | Fox TV has canceled its version of Israeli sitcom Traffic Light after 13 episodes, because of disappointing ratings.
| | | | | |  | The stars of the Fox show "House" arrived in Israel to celebrate Independence Day.
| | | | | |  | Renowned Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim will present a "peace concert" in the Gaza Strip.
| | | | | |  | With the greatest Jewish rock and roller of all time, Bob “You can call me Zimmy” Dylan, making his return to Israel after nearly two decades, the question arises: Will the crowd be bored?
| | | | | |  | | Bieber has been touring Israel since Monday and is attending a Passover seder next week. However, according to Bieber's Twitter account, the trip isn't everything the star hoped for. | | | | | |  | Some 700 children from southern Israeli communities that have been hit by rockets and missiles from Gaza were given free tickets to pop star Justin Bieber's concert.
| | | | | |  | Several of Hollywood's biggest names, including Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem are now coming out with public support of Julian Schnabel's controversial new pro-Palestinian film "Miral."
| | | | | |  | | Enrique Iglesias has been added to the ever-growing list of top music artists booking concerts in Israel this year. | | | | | |  | | Good Jewish boy, Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal visits Shalom Sesame and has a hard time finding the Afikomen. | | | | | |  | | The AJC accuses the United Nations of spreading anti-Israel propaganda via popular culture through a new film called 'Miral' that chronicles the life of a Palestinian girl who falls in love with a terrorist. | | | | | |  | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Neil Diamond at the age of 69.
| | | | | |  | | Transgender pop diva Dana International will represent Israel at this year's Eurovision song contest, singing a song called "Ding Dong." | | | | |
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