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Jewish Journal

Connect. Inform. Inspire.

December 3, 2019

WATCH: Israeli Child Pleads with Mother to Stay in Bomb Shelter

Leave a Comment / Israel, Online /

StandWithUs posted a video on Nov. 28 showing an eight-year-old child begging her mother for them to stay in the bomb shelter and not return home.

The child, identified as Ori, tells her mother in Hebrew through tears, “I can’t take it anymore.” Her mother later says that it’s time for them to go home.

“Mom, I don’t like it in the house,” Ori replies. “I want to stay here.”

Ori’s mother assures her that everything is fine and they can’t stay at the shelter for too much longer. Ori responds, “I’m scared. I want to stay here. I want to stay here.”

“This is the nightmare that 8-year-old Ori from southern Israel experiences, every single time a red alert siren goes off,” StandWithUs tweeted. “This is the reality for thousands of innocent children living in complete trauma under rocket terror.”

StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein tweeted on Nov. 29, “This is so painful to watch. This is just ONE rocket. Just one red alert. And there have been hundreds this month.”

In March, Israeli writer and activist Shoshana Keats Jaskoll tweeted out a video explaining that Israelis who are under the constant threat of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip have to always be thinking about where the nearest shelter is.

“Even if there’s no rocket at that moment, or there hasn’t been in a week or even a month, it’s with you everywhere you go,” Jaskoll said. “Every decision you make, every step you take, you need to know: where is there a bomb shelter? How do I get my children safe? Can I go here today? Can I drive to this place? Is there a bomb shelter? What’s the amount of time I have from hearing that siren that brings anxiety to getting my children safe? This is how Israelis grow up.”

Around 450 rockets were fired from Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip toward Israel on Nov. 12-14; two rockets were fired from Gaza again on Nov. 26.

WATCH: Israeli Child Pleads with Mother to Stay in Bomb Shelter Read More »

Tiffany Haddish Celebrates Her Jewish Roots in ‘Black Mitzvah’

Leave a Comment / Entertainment /

Some may wonder why actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish titled her latest Netflix stand-up comedy special “Black Mitzvah” and opens with a rap to the tune of “Havah Nagilah,” but she comes by the Jewish connections honestly. Although she did not grow up with him, Haddish’s father was an Ethiopian-born Jew and refugee from Eritrea, and she wanted to honor the Jewish heritage that she has come to embrace.

“The point of a bar or bat mitzvah is to be learning and applying the Torah to your life. I wanted to be an example to the world and to honor my father and my ancestors,” Haddish told the Journal. “I thought ‘Black Mitzvah’ would be a good way to say ‘I’m black, I’m Jewish and I’m a grown-up now.’ And maybe encourage others to pay attention to the Torah.”

A Los Angeles native, Haddish first met her father 13 years ago when she was 27, but learned she was Jewish 10 years earlier when she was hired to dance at corporate parties at bar and bat mitzvahs. “I didn’t even know what a bat mitzvah meant,” she said. But her grandmother encouraged her to take the job offer. “She said, ‘You need to get closer to your people. You have Jewish blood.’ So I started to learn and go to synagogue,” she said. “I think I know more about Jewish culture and religion than the average Jew in America.”

In “Black Mitzvah,” Haddish also tells stories about her difficult childhood and relationship with her mother and jokes about a variety of adult topics that may shock fans of her child-friendly ABC show “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” Her longtime fans won’t be surprised, “but the brand-new fans that just got on the bandwagon two years ago may be a little shocked,” she said, referring to those who’ve been fans since “Girls Trip” made her a star in 2017. She acknowledged that both sides are part of her.

“When I’m with my friends, I’m very blatant and honest,” she said. “I think it’s really healthy to speak it how you see it. When I’m with children, I’m letting them talk and giving them an opportunity to express themselves and nurturing their souls,” the one-time activity coordinator at a youth center said. “But there’s a time and place for everything. ‘Black
Mitzvah’ is for adults, not for children. It’s grown-up time.”

“I thought ‘Black Mitzvah’ would be a good way to say, ‘I’m black, I’m Jewish and I’m a grown-up now.’ And maybe encourage others to pay attention to the Torah.” — Tiffany Haddish

Haddish first realized she had a flair for comedy at age 9, when her mother suffered a brain injury in a car accident and couldn’t care for her. “I went into foster care and the girls were going to beat me up so I cracked jokes about myself and they didn’t mess with me. I was able to use comedy to deflect,” she said.

https://www.facebook.com/JewishJournal/videos/2479224819021676/

Her mother had become violent toward her, “and if I could make her laugh and turn her anger into some joy, I was less likely to get beat. Same thing in school: If I could make the kids laugh, they’d help me with my homework and protect me from other bullies. It was like a super defense mechanism — like a gun but way safer,” she said. “I’ve learned how to wield jokes like a weapon. You can destroy somebody’s spirit or you can lift them up and change their whole life. I choose to do the latter.”

Currently, Haddish has four movie comedies and a  Netflix miniseries about self-made millionaire Madam C.J. Walker in the works, and she handles everything by scheduling her time, taking care of herself (including exercise) and knowing her limits. She’s grateful that success came later in life, “because I know when to say ‘no’ now. I was not ready in my 20s. I was not mature enough to handle the workload,” she said.

Haddish, who won an Emmy in 2018 for hosting “Saturday Night Live,” is now nominated for a Grammy for the audiobook version of her memoir “The Last Black Unicorn.” Of all her projects so far, she is proudest of “They Ready,” her Netflix comedy showcase that premiered in August. “I was able to give an opportunity to other comedians and it fills my heart with joy because it changed their lives,” she said. “I see them living their dreams now and that makes everything worth it.”

In the future, she’d like to run her own production studio like Lucille Ball and Tyler Perry and play characters like Amelia Bassano, a part-Jewish 16th-century poet and member of the British royal court. “Just like the Torah tells stories that are passed down from generation to generation, I’d love to create movies that tell stories from all over the world. I don’t necessarily need to star in everything. I’d like to give other people opportunities to be stars.”

Coinciding with “Black Mitzvah’s” debut on her 40th birthday on Dec. 3, Haddish planned a bat mitzvah ceremony and party to celebrate. “Sarah Silverman’s sister is my rabbi. She’s flying in from Israel,” she said. She’s also looking forward to celebrating Hanukkah with friends. She loves to cook for them and she celebrates their success as much as her own.

“When I see my friends winning, it makes me really happy,” she said. “I’m usually happy when I wake up in the morning. I’m always super grateful because I know that every day is a gift.”

“Black Mitzvah” is now streaming on on Netflix.

Tiffany Haddish Celebrates Her Jewish Roots in ‘Black Mitzvah’ Read More »

Gal Gadot to Bring Israeli Series ‘Queens’ to U.S.

Leave a Comment / Entertainment /

The crime drama “Queens” was the most-watched series of the year on Israel’s HOT when it launched in 2018. Now Gal Gadot and her husband and producing partner Yaron Versano plan to bring it to the U.S. under a deal between their Pilot Wave productions and Endemol Shine.

The Israeli version follows the women of a crime syndicate family who band together to stay alive after their husbands and fathers are murdered by rivals.

“We are so excited to celebrate these women through the ‘Queens’ story,” Gadot and Versano said in a statement. “These complex characters are captivating, delightfully funny and emotional. It is rare to find content that conveys characters in such a truthful way, while mirroring society. We are looking forward to bringing their story to the world and working with the Endemol Shine team on this project.”

“‘Queens’ is a complex piece about being female in our day in age, and all that goes with that from a family, career and relationship perspective,” said Sharon Levy, Endemol Shine North America’s president of unscripted and scripted television. “Watching these women make bold decisions, hilarious mistakes and learn to lean on one another set against a thriller backdrop, gives this show such a unique spirit that we all fell in love with it immediately. It’s gratifying to see a series that treats women with a deft complexity, showcasing that our differences are the strengths that unite us.”

The second season of “Queens” is in production now for debut in 2020, when we’ll see at least four projects starring Gadot. “Wonder Woman 1984” is coming out June 5, followed by “Death on the Nile” in October and “Red Notice” in November. Her Showtime miniseries about the life of actress Hedy Lamarr is also due sometime in 2020.

Gal Gadot to Bring Israeli Series ‘Queens’ to U.S. Read More »

Arrest Made in Vandalism of Washington’s Historic Sixth & I Synagogue

Leave a Comment / Online, United States /

(JTA) — Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in the defacing of the historic Sixth & I synagogue in Washington, D.C.

The arrest of Luis Montsinos came on Monday, shortly after the synagogue announced the vandalism to the public. Montsinos, who has no address, was charged with defacing and destructing property, as well as resisting arrest.

The police report described the vandalism as a suspected hate crime, according to The Washington Post. It included swastikas and anti-Semitic language, the synagogue’s communications manager, Michelle Eider, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

In addition to hosting services and Jewish programming, the nondenominational synagogue hosts events featuring well-known entertainers, thinkers, writers and politicians.

Arrest Made in Vandalism of Washington’s Historic Sixth & I Synagogue Read More »

‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ to Return in January

Leave a Comment / Entertainment /

Everybody’s favorite kvetchy misanthrope is back!

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” fans have been asking Larry David about the show’s return since season nine ended in 2017, and today the star provided an answer in a teaser trailer for the series

The clip plays on David’s impatience and references our own by showing his frustration with a slow toaster. The words “We can’t wait either. ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ January” follow.

“Curb” has been in production for a year, with the core cast intact, including Susie Essman, Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines and J.B Smoove. Vince Vaughn is reportedly among the guest stars.

‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ to Return in January Read More »

French Parliament House Passes Resolution Saying Anti-Zionism Can Be Anti-Semitism

Leave a Comment / Online, Worldwide /

The French National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, passed a resolution Dec. 3 stating that anti-Zionism can manifest itself into anti-Semitism.

The resolution, which garnered 154 votes in favor and 72 against, says, “Anti-Zionist acts can sometimes obscure anti-Semitic realities. Criticizing the very existence of Israel as a collective composed of Jewish citizens is tantamount to hatred towards the Jewish community as a whole.” The resolution goes onto say that “anti-Zionism [is] ‘one of the contemporary forms of anti-Semitism’ in the words of [French President Emmanuel Macron].”

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz applauded the resolution’s passage.

“The adoption of the resolution confirms President Macron’s remarks that anti-Zionism is the new face of anti-Semitism,” Katz said in a statement. “This is an important step in the struggle against anti-Semitism, and I call on other countries to follow in France’s footsteps.”​

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted, “To combat hate, we have to properly identify it. Thank you to the French parliament for taking another step in the fight against #antiSemitism today, adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (@TheIHRA) Working Definition of Anti-Semitism.”

American Jewish Committee Paris Director Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache said in a statement, “The National Assembly’s endorsement of the working definition is a very welcome and significant boost to France’s determination to recognize the dangers to our society of rising antisemitism and to more effectively fight hatred of Jews in all its forms.”

French Parliament House Passes Resolution Saying Anti-Zionism Can Be Anti-Semitism Read More »

‘Game of Thrones’ Star Cancels Belgium Appearance Over Parade with Jewish Caricatures

Leave a Comment / Online, Worldwide /

AMSTERDAM (JTA) — Carice van Houten, a Dutch actress known for her role in the hit series “Game of Thrones,” canceled a television appearance in Belgium over the use of caricatures of Jews at a parade there.

Van Houten, who portrayed Melisandre in the series, and her associate, Halina Reijn, who is married to a Jewish soccer player, both pulled out of the panel of the talk show “The Appointment” after learning it would host Christoph D’Haese, the mayor of Aalst, who has insisted on the legitimacy of caricaturing Jews at his city’s iconic annual carnival.

In March, the carnival featured a float with effigies of grinning Jews holding money, one carrying a rat on its shoulder. The float received widespread condemnation, including by Belgium’s UNIA watchdog on racism, which called it anti-Semitic.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, condemned the display as “racist and anti-Semitic” and scheduled a vote on whether to remove Aalst from its list of culturally significant events. On Sunday, D’Haese said Aalst would leave UNESCO and insisted again that the display falls within legitimate expression of satire in the context of the carnival’s promotion of edgy humor.

“No Halina Reijn and Carice Van Houten as advertised,” Phara de Aguirre, the Belgian show’s presenter, wrote Monday on Twitter. “Reijn is married to a Jewish man and doesn’t want to share a table with Aalst’s mayor.”

De Aguirre quoted Reijn as having called the mayor “an anti-Semite” and said Van Houten canceled out of solidarity.

‘Game of Thrones’ Star Cancels Belgium Appearance Over Parade with Jewish Caricatures Read More »

Sarsour Says Israel Being ‘Built On the Idea That Jews Are Supreme’ Comment Was About Nation-State Law

Leave a Comment / Online, United States /

Former Women’s March, Inc. leader Linda Sarsour tweeted on Dec. 3 that her Nov. 29 remark about Israel being “built on the idea that Jews are supreme” was referencing Israel’s nation-state law.

Sarsour tweeted, “Over the weekend, I made comments about Israel that require context to understand. I was specifically referring to the racist argument at the heart of the nation-state law recently passed by the Israeli government – not the Jewish people. I apologize for the confusion.”

She added in a subsequent tweet that she had asked, “How can some be against white supremacy in America but support the state of Israel that operates on a supremacist system?” Sarsour later tweeted, “We need to be consistent and challenge the State of Israel on its system based on valuing one people over another. We are against a supremacist state in America that values race/class over others [and] we need to be honest in how we speak about Israel.”

Some weren’t satisfied with her explanation.

“There’s a cycle here: Linda Sarsour does something anti-Semitic, Jews speak out, Linda gaslights and victim-blames Jews, Linda Sarsour does something anti-Semitic again…” pro-Israel activist Hen Mazzig tweeted.

Reservists on Duty tweeted, “That wasn’t a ‘confusion’ that was a deliberate hateful speech you didn’t think [would] get out.”

Earlier in the day, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called Sarsour’s Nov. 29 comments “shocking. She slanders the founders of Israel as supremacists, invoking a centuries-old anti-Semitic trope when she describes them as having believed that Jews are ‘supreme to everybody else.’”

Sarsour Says Israel Being ‘Built On the Idea That Jews Are Supreme’ Comment Was About Nation-State Law Read More »