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Picture of Mike Levy

Mike Levy

Comedy Relief

When Heidi Joyce thinks Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she thinks comedy. It\’s worked for her before in an effort to combat domestic abuse, and it works again in her new play, \”Friends and Enemies.\”

Best known for her \”Stand Up Against Domestic Violence\” comedy fundraisers, Joyce opens her first full-length play this week, which runs through July 29 at North Hollywood\’s Bitter Truth Playhouse.

War of Words

David Suissa calls it the \”three-second war,\” the battle between Israel and Palestinians fought with sound bites more than mortar shells, a war fought in print and on television.

The founder and CEO of Suissa Miller Advertising, Suissa has unleashed an unconventional weapon in the three-second war: pro-Israel advertising.

Hate Israel, Love McFalafel

It wasn\’t the idea of a McFalafel that sparked the ire of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), but a McDonald\’s ad campaign in Egypt for the new falafel patty.

Mamela’s Messages

\”Amy\’s Answering Machine\” by Amy Borkowsky (Pocket Books, $14.95).

(Beep.) \”Yeah, hello, Amila. They just said on TV, \’It\’s 10 p.m., do you know where your children are?\’ And I\’m thinking, I don\’t know, so I figured I\’d call you, mamascheinz. You must be in the bathroom or something. Give me a buzz when you\’re done, OK? All right, bye-bye.\”

Goddess of ‘Shiksa’

Playwright Wendy Wasserstein went ahead and called her new essay collection "Shiksa Goddess." But not to worry, the title essay — a spoof on discovering her Episcopalian "roots" — and 34 others prove that Wasserstein remains the same witty Jewish cultural critic her fans have come to love through her plays, like "The Sisters Rosensweig" and the Pulitzer prize-winning "The Heidi Chronicles."

The Games Must Go On

After weeks of debate, organizers of Israel\’s 16th Maccabiah Games announced last Friday that the Olympics-style sporting competition will open as planned July 16 in Jerusalem, despite widespread individual cancellations due to fears of violence.

Searching for ‘Esther’

Wendy Graf\’s new comedy \”The Book of Esther\” focuses on a central character named Mindy, who, like Queen Esther, bravely declares her Jewishness in the face of opposition. Unlike Esther, Mindy doesn\’t save the Jewish people, but confronts her ardently secular family and friends when she discovers her religion.

Jewish, Republican and Proud

Aiming for a more potent voice in local politics, Los Angeles Jewish Republicans met with state party leaders last week to forge closer ties.

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