Archive for the ‘Judaism’ Category

This Week’s Top Three Tweet-Worthy Events From Jews Who Make News

1. Zuckerberg Takes Facebook Public

Traders can expect to see the ticker symbol “FB” on a major stock exchange soon.

Facebook, Inc. filed paperwork to go public last Wednesday. Mark Zuckerberg, who was raised Jewish, founded Facebook in 2004. Since then, the company has grown tremendously, earning $1 billion in profits last year alone.

CNN reports that Zuckerberg will now officially become a billionaire on paper. On Wednesday, CNN’s Breaking News account Tweeted, “Facebook says stock worth $29.73 a share; Zuckerberg holds 534 million shares worth $16 billion.”

2. SJP Fills In For Demi Moore In An Emergency

Sarah Jessica Parker is taking over Demi Moore’s role as Gloria Steinem in the forthcoming Linda Lovelace biopic. Parker accepted the part just three days before she was asked to start filming. The actress, whose father is Jewish, is filling in for Demi Moore who dropped out of the film after being hospitalized last week.

US Weekly is already Tweeting new pics of SJP in a long blond wig for the Steinem role. On Thursday, the magazine Tweeted, “First pic of Sarah Jessica Parker as Gloria Steinem in Lovelace! http://bit.ly/z0qqht Is SJP a good replacement for Demi Moore?”

3. The Truth Behind “Online Sweetheart”

JDate’s newest Success Story has been getting plenty of attention on The Howard Stern Show. Elisa Jordana, the Jewish former keytartist for Cobra Starship, and Benjy Bronk, a Jewish comedian and writer on The Howard Stern Show, are not only a JDate Success Story, but are also behind the song, “Online Sweetheart.” The song, which can be viewed on YouTube, is an ode to the love Jordana and Bronk found on JDate.

Some HSS staffers and fans say Jordana and Bronk are exploiting their connection to the show and only wrote the song to further their careers and find greater fame. However, Jordana says their love is real and tells JMag she and Bronk only wrote the song to share a positive message about finding love.

Jordana Tweeted a grateful response to a fan who read the article on Thursday, “Thank u we appreciate that! RT @SkipStarcher: @bronk Okay I was a skeptic at 1st. I love ur Jdate interview. I DL’d the song on iTunes (2x).”

This Week’s Top Three Tweet-Worthy Events From Jews Who Make News

1.  Gabby Giffords Resigns, Promises To Return

Representative Gabrielle Giffords handed in her resignation last Wednesday.  Giffords, Arizona’s first Jewish congresswoman, says she needs more time to heal from the gunshot wound she suffered last year at the hands of a would-be assassin.

Giffords team Tweeted on Wednesday, “Today Rep. Giffords will step down from Congress. Watch her official resignation now on @cspan #Inspiration.”

Giffords does plan to make a comeback in politics though. In a public resignation letter, the congresswoman says, “I will recover and will return.”

2.  Ferris Bueller Returns For The Super Bowl

Matthew Broderick will be resurrecting one of his most memorable characters next weekend for a Super Bowl ad. The actor, whose mother was Jewish, will bring Ferris Bueller back for a mystery commercial that will air during the big game.

A short teaser was posted to YouTube, reenacting the first scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Media outlets around the country are all excitedly reporting the news. TV Guide Tweeted, “Bueller… bueller… BUELLER! Matthew Broderick to reprise iconic ’80s role for mysterious Super Bowl ad. Watch the video!”

3.  Hoffman Makes His TV Debut

Dustin Hoffman is trying his luck at TV with the new HBO series, Luck. The Jewish actor has starred in dozens of movies, but will be making his debut on television with this new series.

Luck is centered around characters who are tied to the same horse-racing track. HBO is working to promote the series by giving viewers a shot at winning $50,000! The cable network Tweeted on Thursday, “On Saturday at 4pm ET, cheer your horses on as they race to earn you $50,000. Feeling #LUCK-y?”

We just may try our luck!

My friend Ari is dating a girl who isn’t Jewish and they’ve started getting serious. He is adamant that he only wants to marry a Jewish girl.  So is it fair to Christina to keep dating her? She hasn’t done anything wrong, she’s awesome and they have fun, but he knows there’s something missing. He told her how he felt when they first met, but I think she’s hoping to change his mind. The longer they date, the harder it will be to break it off and the more it will hurt. He says they’re having fun, but she seems to really be into him.

I think it’s selfish of Ari to let it get any deeper when he knows it will never amount to anything. Sure, some couples end up falling in love, even when they told themselves they would never date a non-Jew/a lawyer/a smoker/etc, but if Judaism is one of your top priorities (and I, of course, hope it is), then letting a casual date turn into a relationship isn’t a smart idea. Shiksas have feelings too.

This Week’s Top Three Tweet-Worthy Events From Jews Who Make News

1.    Kate Hudson Takes To Modeling

Kate Hudson was recently chosen to be the new face of Ann Taylor®. Hudson, who is part Jewish, says, “The new Ann Taylor is not afraid to be sexy and real. The clothes are stylish and comfortable, easy and wearable.”

Ann Taylor sings equal praises for their new spokeswoman. The clothing retailer Tweeted on Tuesday, “We’re proud to announce the new face of Ann Taylor for Spring 2012 – Kate Hudson! #KateisthenewAnn.” In a press release, the company went on to say “She is also a devoted mother, daughter, sister and philanthropist who manages to do it all with a radiant smile, joie de vivre and effortless style.”

2.    She’s A Model Mother

Model mama Josie Maran and boyfriend, Ali Alborzi, announced the former Dancing With The Stars contestant is pregnant with baby number two! The two already have a daughter, 5-year-old Rumi Joon.

Maran, who is of Russian-Jewish descent on her paternal side, Tweeted on Tuesday, “Yes, it’s true! I’m having baby no. 2! So thrilled!”

3.    Is It Over? (Probably Not…)

Bethenny Frankel’s reality show will return in February for what appears to be a highly emotional season. People.com recently posted a first look at what’s coming up on Bethenny Ever After this season. The most dramatic moment comes during a big fight with the Jewish reality star’s husband Jason who is seen walking away and saying, “I’m done!”

Is he really done though? Probably not. Last week Frankel Tweeted a picture of her husband at mealtime saying, “My husband is eating a veggie burger w soy cheese on a sprouted bun w baked fries & veggie chili. This is historic!!” Sounds like everything is still going well in the Frankel household.

This Week’s Top Three Tweet-Worthy Events From Jews Who Make News

1. One Year Later

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords plans to attend an Arizona candlelight vigil exactly one year after she and 18 others were shot outside a Tucson grocery store during a congressional meet-and-greet. Giffords, Arizona’s first Jewish congresswoman, suffered a gunshot wound in the head that day.

A number of commemorative events are planned for this weekend. A staff member on Giffords’s team Tweeted, “Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will be in Tucson this weekend & participate in Jan. 8 vigil at @UofA. Details: giffords.house.gov/2012/01/us-rep…”

2. Mila Kunis: The New Face Of Dior

She may claim to be a “jeans and T-shirt” kind of girl, but Mila Kunis is about to turn up the glam, big time! The Jewish actress has just been named the new face of Christian Dior.

Images of the 28-year-old star showcasing the latest versions of the Miss Dior handbag were just released this week. E! Online took to Twitter on Thursday to show their support, “Whatever Mila Kunis is selling (@Dior), we’re buying! So pretty.”

3. The Way To Jason Segel’s Heart…

Is through the World Wide Web! Check out this YouTube video of aspiring singer Chelsea Gill asking the “Muppets” revivalist, Jason Segel, on a date. She promises she’s completely sane, disease-free and down with his dorky side.

Segel’s response? Let’s just say he was pretty enthusiastic! On Wednesday, Segel Tweeted, “My favorite thing, maybe ever. I am in awe. Response on the way.” He later Tweeted, “I’m gonna need a couple days on this one.”

2011’s Top Five Tweet-Worthy Events From Jews Who Make News

1. Amy Winehouse Dies

Amy Winehouse, the Jewish singer whose career was rocked by drug addiction and alcohol abuse, died in July at age 27. A London police official said she was found dead in her home and that alcohol toxicity was the cause of  death.

One of Winehouses’s reps used her Twitter page to promote her final song and posthumous foundation, “Amy’s final track ‘Body And Soul’ w/ @itstonybennett is out today on iTunes http://bit.ly/TonyAmy, proceeds to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.”

2. Gabby Giffords Shot

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head during a public campaign appearance in Tucson, Ariz. Giffords, a Democrat, is the first Jewish woman elected to Congress from Arizona.

Giffords suffered a traumatic brain injury, but is recovering and recently hosted an online town hall meeting about traumatic brain injuries. In early December, Giffords Tweeted, “Send your traumatic brain injury questions to @Rep_Giffords & we’ll try to answer during our #TBItownhall today.”

3. Ashton & Demi Divorce

Demi Moore ends her marriage to Ashton Kutcher. The two actors were married in a Jewish Kabbalah wedding ceremony in September 2005, but filed for divorce in November 2011.

After the divorce was announced, Kutcher Tweeted, “I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi.”

Moore has not yet changed her Twitter handle, @mrskutcher, Tweeting, “changing my twitter name isn’t a top priority right now. sorry it bothers so many of u. should I not tweet until I do? does it really matter?”

4. Natalie Portman Wins The Oscar

Natalie Portman won the Oscar for Best Actress at the 83rd Academy Awards last February. The award is a credit to the Jewish actress’s terrifying portrayal of an obsessed, paranoid ballerina in Black Swan.

Portman’s win puts her in elite company with only a few Jewish actresses who have won an Oscar for Best Actress, including Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Streisand.

The Academy used its Twitter page to give Portman a special shout out, “Congratulations Natalie Portman Best Actress Winner for Black Swan #Oscars.”

5. It’s A Jewish Wedding For Lauren Bush

Lauren Bush married designer Ralph Lauren’s son, David Lauren, in a ceremony presided over by a rabbi last September. Bush is the granddaughter of President George H. W. Bush and niece of President George W. Bush.

The wedding ceremony itself was Jewish, lead by famed New York-based Rabbi Angela Buchdahl. Bush didn’t reveal much about the ceremony, other than this simple Tweet, “Good morning world… I’m getting married today! Yay! Xo.”

Welcome back to September 12, 2012. Or forward, that is. Hope you’re having a rockin’ Jewish New Year’s Eve. Our own Sarah Silverman is at Times Square feeling the electricity…

Sarah: “Actually, Andy, it’s the pins and needles from my foot being asleep. Jews everywhere partying like it’s 5999. That was the Prince song he was smart enough not to release. Jewish New Year’s Eve is the one night when we throw caution to the wind and really let our hair down. As a full-fledged member of the tribe, I can attest that it’s a nice break from all the other nights of the year when our hair lets us down, but I’ve learned to live with the frizzies, if you call this living. Here’s a young man that looks like he’s ready to nosh up a storm. Happy Jewish New Year!”

Young man: “What’s nosh mean?”

Sarah: “Keep moving – There’s a sale on mayonnaise down the street, not that you’d care. About the sale, that is. Okay, now here’s a gal that looks like she’s in for a night of kvelling. Happy Jewish New Year!”

Gal: “Same to you.”

Sarah: “Are you making any Jewish New Year’s resolutions this year?”

Gal: “I resolve to resent my folks for spray-painting my name and phone number on their roof in case an eligible young doctor spots it on Google Earth.”

Sarah: “Finally, a resolution that’s unbreakable. If an eligible young doctor is watching, I’m on JDate.”

Sarah, I have to interrupt! We’re just seconds away from the sun dropping down into 5773!

Ten-nine-eight-seven-six-five-four-three-two-one…Happy Jewish New Year! Come on, folks. Look up from your hand-held devices.

Okay, so maybe most of us will be gazing at Blackberrys® versus blackberry Manischewitz shooters the first night of 5773. But at least that’ll leave us bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next morning for the Roses’ Parade. The Roses – the parade sponsors who allowed me to co-opt their name for that little joke. First up – the Larry David float. All natural materials, the little pisher he’s kicking off his front yard is a mixture of 350 blintzes and 84 pounds of lox. While Larry is crafted from a combination of knishes and bitter herbs.

Nu? As in the Yiddish expression, “So, what’s new?” Certainly not 5772, the year we Jews ushered in well over three months ago. My celebration kind of paled in comparison to the merriment non-Jews and Jews alike are planning, to welcome in 2012. Where were our wacky 5772 eyeglasses? Where were our noisemakers? (Our stomachs growling from the approaching fast is about all I can come up with.) Where was my hot Rosh Hashanah Eve date? Where is my hot generic New Year’s Eve date?

I didn’t even experience the exhilarating embarrassment of accidentally writing 5771 on my October rent check. Why can’t our holidays be as festive as everybody else’s? It’s not too late to glean a lesson or two from the galas about to unfold, and incorporate them into next year’s high holidays. Our high holidays, not the “high” holidays in which those planning to get high need a designated driver. Picture, if you will, September 16, 2012. It’s shortly before sunset. Time to kick back, pour yourself a glass of Manischewitz and tune into… Rockin’ Jewish New Year’s Eve!

To the chosen people around the world, thank you for choosing Andy Cowan’s Rockin’ Jewish New Year’s Eve. The feeling of anticipation is truly palpable – the anticipation I have that some of you are now looking up the word “palpable” to see if it also means “negligible”.

We’re just moments away from greeting the year 5773! Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Then again, 5772 didn’t exactly roll off the tongue either. We may be knee deep into the ‘70s, but at least we can all be thankful we aren’t wearing polyester leisure suits again. Speaking of the ‘70s, fellow sons of Israel, Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond, will be tearing it up here later. The “it” I’m referring to, is the business card of the agent who landed them this gig.

Can you believe another whole year has flown by since last Rockin’ Jewish New Year’s Eve? Me neither. Then again, last Jewish New Year’s Eve began September 28th, so that may have something to do with it. It’s a wild scene here at Times Square. Okay, maybe not wild, but I do see a reasonable amount of people ambling about, staring into their Blackberrys. Sarah Silverman is out there amidst the dozens of revelers, and we’ll hear from her when we come back!

(To be continued)

This Week’s Top Three Tweet-Worthy Events From Jews Who Make News

1. Ashton & Demi Headed For Divorce Court

Demi Moore is ending her marriage to Ashton Kutcher, she told the Associated Press Thursday. The two actors were married in a Kabbalah wedding ceremony in September 2005.

Moore, 49, and Kutcher, 33, have increasingly become tabloid fodder in recent months as rumors swirled about Kutcher’s alleged infidelity.

Kutcher tweeted about the divorce on Thursday saying, “I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is… http://bit.ly/sbz0Qa.”

 2. People’s Sexiest Man Alive List Includes Just One Jew

Bradley Cooper scored the coveted top spot on People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” list with nine other Hollywood hunks scoring honorable mentions.

However, actor Josh Charles was the only Jew to make the list. Charles joked about his new status via Twitter, “Guess I should put down this steak sub & hit gym.”

Currently starring in The Good Wife, Charles has also had roles in several films from Dead Poets Society to Four Brothers. Other celebrities on the list include Ryan Gosling, Joel McHale and Justin Theroux.

3. Jack & Jill Tumbles… Or Does It?

Even if no one is laughing in the theater, it looks like Adam Sandler will be laughing all the way to the bank! Sandler’s new movie Jack and Jill received a phenomenal mauling from critics when it opened last weekend, but it was a huge success as far as the box office goes.

Jack and Jill managed to open in the number 2 spot, with $26 million. Immortals came in first last weekend, raking in $32 million.

Larry King came to the rescue of his fellow Jew on Thursday when he Tweeted, “Forget the critics. Jack and Jill is a funny, funny movie. Al Pacino is hysterical. You’ll love it!”

This Week’s Top Three Tweet-Worthy Events From Jews Who Make News

1. Ashton Kutcher Banished To The Twitter Sidelines

Ashton Kutcher fumbled his Twitter account Wednesday night. The actor/Kabbalah follower/top Tweeter temporarily asked his management team to take over his Twitter account after a tweet about the firing of Penn State coach Joe Paterno caused major backlash.

“How do you fire Jo Pa?” Kutcher tweeted Wednesday night in a message that has since been deleted from his feed. “#insult #noclass as a hawkeye fan I find it in poor taste.”

The response from Kutcher’s eight million followers was unrelenting. Twitter users criticized the star for not being aware of the finer details surrounding the Penn State abuse scandal.

 
2. Billy Crystal To Host Oscars

Billy Crystal tweeted Thursday, “Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show.”

The comedian will replace Eddie Murphy as the host of the 2012 Oscars. Murphy had been chosen as host, but the comedian stepped down after his friend Brett Ratner resigned as the show’s producer. Ratner was criticized for using a gay slur in an interview.

This will be Crystal’s ninth year hosting the Oscars.

 
3. Howard Stern’s Got Talent

Howard Stern is in talks to become a judge on America’s Got Talent. According to The Wall Street Journal, the controversial radio host is in talks to replace Piers Morgan on the popular talent show.

Morgan announced on Twitter that he was leaving the show saying, “Big thanks to NBC, Fremantle, and of course, my friend Simon Cowell, for giving me such a great opportunity. It’s been a blast.”

If Stern agrees to join America’s Got Talent, he will serve as a judge alongside Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel.