NEW YORK — When tragedy struck last week in Aurora, Colo., Jewish celebrities were among those who took to Twitter to express their shock, outrage and sadness at news that a gunman had opened fire in a crowded theater showing “The Dark Knight Rises,” killing 12 people and injuring dozens.

“Colorado. So much pain. So much suffering. Sorrow without end,” tweeted Leonard Nimoy. Henry Winkler wrote, “what are we doing to one another? the glue that holds us together is slowly starting to loosen these events are more and more frequent >RIP.” 

Some celebrities used Twitter to raise the issue of gun control. Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld” fame attracted the most attention when he tweeted, “More innocent lives taken. Peace and prayers to the families,” and then followed with, “I cannot understand support for legality of the kind of weapon in this massacre. It’s a military weapon. why should it be in non-mil hands?” The tweet generated intense debate, prompting Alexander to pen a letter (of more than 140 characters) laying out his stance on gun control, assault rifles and the Second Amendment.

Lena Dunham says Dayeinu

The nominees for the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced last week and — surprise, surprise — plenty of Jews made the list. Four of the six shows nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series boast Jewish producers: “Big Bang Theory” (Chuck Lorre), “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Larry David), “Girls” (Lena Dunham), and “Modern Family” (Steven Levitan). In addition, “Homeland,” which is based on the Israeli show “Hatufim” (Abductees), received nine Emmy nominations, including for best drama, best actor and best actress. Dunham, creator of HBO’s “Girls,” received four nominations, to which she responded in a New York Times interview, “You know that song they sing at Passover, ‘Dayeinu,’ which is, “It would have been enough.” If God had just taken us out of the desert, it would have been enough. If he’d give us a cow, it would have been enough. But he did all this other stuff. I feel like with everything that happens, Dayeinu.”

Bob Costas’ Olympic moment of silence

It’s not just the Jews anymore. The campaign calling for an official moment of silence at the London Summer Games to remember the 11 Israelis murdered during the 1972 Olympics in Munich has gone viral and worldwide. In recent days, President Obama and Republican contender Mitt Romney have even joined the call for the International Olympic Committee to hold the moment of silence. But perhaps the biggest boost for the cause came from Bob Costas, the ageless NBC Sports commentator, who told the Hollywood Reporter that he has a problem with the IOC’s rejection of a moment of silence. Costas said he will hold a moment of silence on NBC’s broadcast of the games when the Israeli national team enters the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony on Friday.

Justin Bieber discovers Madison Beer

Justin Bieber is known to be a Twitter trendsetter because everything he tweets is immediately retweeted and discussed by his millions of fans. In the past, when he decided to lip-dub Carly Rae Jespen’s “Call me Maybe,” it became a crazy hit. Now he may have done the same with a 13-year-old Jewish girl named Madison Beer after tweeteing a video of her singing Etta James’ hit “At Last,” and adding “wow. 13 years old! she can sing. great job.” It’s possible that much like Bieber, who became a sensation after a series of YouTube videos, it’s Beer’s time to shine. In the meantime, all Beer could say in response is “OMGOGMFHAHDBSBAWHEBSBSHHWEHHDXHSHHAFBBAGEEHYBT I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING. I AM CRYING.”

Mindy Meyer, ‘Sexy’ state Senate hopeful

Mindy Meyer, a 22-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman from the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, decided to run for the New York State Senate on the Republican and Conservative Party slate. Other than her age, Meyer also grabbed attention with a bedazzled pink website that has the song “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO playing in the background and the line “Mindy Meyer — Senator and I know it” sparkling on top. It’s not clear whether or not Meyer has a shot at winning, but she’s sure to get some attention.

Pranked Egyptian actor loses it

Egyptian actor Ayman Kandeel was on the “Candid Camera” version that runs on the Egyptian network Al-Nahar. The prank? After thinking he was being interviewed for a local show, he was informed that he was being interviewed on Israeli television. He lost his temper, cursing, kicking chairs, slapping the “Israeli” producer and even hitting the female host and knocking her to the ground. After realizing he’d been pranked, the producers all applauded Kandeel, and he hugged the host and told her she “brought it upon herself.” Perhaps most disturbing, Kandeel told the host that after the show she should come to his car and he’d put some lotion on her back.

(For more Jewish celebrity news, visit 6nobacon.com, the illegitimate child of JTA.)