By Benjamin Ivry, The Forward
• Published December 21, 2022
The actress Ava Gardner, whose 100th birthday is celebrated Dec. 24, was more than just the alluring star of such films as Show Boat, The Barefoot Contessa and Mogambo. Born to a North Carolina Baptist family of impoverished sharecroppers, Gardner...
Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief
• Published December 21, 2022
Sunday night I did something I don’t often do these days. I watched a movie — with commercials — on “regular” TV. It happened to be “The Sound of Music,” one of my all-time favorites, which clocked in at four hours on ABC.
I realize I could...
(JNS) Dani Zoldan told JNS that he gave the city of Miami a Hanukkah present a few nights early. The owner of Stand Up NY and founder of The Chosen Comedy Festival said that the event, held at the James L. Knight Center, attracted more than 2,500 people...
By Alan Zeitlin, JNS
• Published December 21, 2022
(JNS) The latest entry to the ever-growing musical category of “modern Hanukkah songs” has arrived.
Distant Cousins—the popular Los Angeles-based band featuring former Blue Fringe frontman Dov Rosenblatt, Moshav’s Duvid Swirsky and singer-songwriter...
(JTA) – As “The Daily Show” looks ahead to a future without host Trevor Noah, at least three Jewish comedians are waiting to take his place — at least temporarily.
Al Franken, Sarah Silverman and Chelsea Handler are among the extensive list...
(JTA) — The Detroit Pistons wished Brooklyn Nets star guard Kyrie Irving a happy Hanukkah Sunday night, the first night of the holiday.
The Pistons appeared to be trolling Irving, who recently shared an antisemitic film on Twitter and initially refused...
By Alan Zeitlin, JNS
• Published December 20, 2022
(JNS) A Tel Aviv LEGO store has secured what is believed to be the largest-ever LEGO menorah.
Located in the Dizengoff Center, LEGO Store Tel Aviv in July became the first official LEGO store to open in Israel. The store commissioned expert LEGO artist...
JACKIE HAJDENBERG, JTA
• Published December 19, 2022
(JTA) — Just a few years into her comedy career, Lisa Geduldig was invited to perform standup at the Peking Garden Club near Northampton, Massachusetts. She went to the gig assuming it was a comedy club.
It wasn’t.
“I just had the most ironic...
Evelyn Frick, Hey Alma
• Published December 19, 2022
As a Jew who grew up in an interfaith Jewish-Christian household, I have seen surprisingly few Christmas movies. Every year on Thanksgiving, my family watches “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “The Grinch” (the original), and for the past 24 years...
Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer
• Published December 18, 2022
The Brothers Lazaroff hope the experience that is their annual Hanukkah Hullabaloo concert is one fans will continue to enjoy now Hanukkah is underway.
"Got a little Hanukkah treat we wanted to share before we hibernate for a bit," wrote brothers Jeff...
Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer
• Published December 18, 2022
Sometimes the real story gets buried. On Saturday, “NBC News” aired a story on King Charles' first 100 days, which included the news-making rift between his son Harry, his daughter-in-law Meghan Markle and the rest of the royal family. But what should...
By Alan Zeitlin, JNS
• Published December 18, 2022
(JNS) Three Hanukkah music videos have been released that are bound to get people’s attention. All three explicitly or implicitly reference the rise in antisemitism.
The first is from rapper Nissim Black, who now lives in Israel. The video for...
