Hot on the heels of j.'s fabulous (if I do say so myself) Facebook-style Purim parody, Punimbook, comes Moses is Departing Egypt: A Facebook Haggadah. I wish we could take credit for it, but it was created by Carl Elkin,…
After a successful first event, the folks who created Mitzvah on the Rocks are back for round two. The networking-meets-activism young Jewish adults group will host its next event this Wednesday, April 1 at Slide bar in San Francisco.
How did I miss this? The San Jose Public Library is hosting a Jewish literature discussion series called "Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel." The first three sessions (out of five) covered Will Eisner's "A Contract With God," Art Spiegelman's "Maus" and Ben Katchor's "Julius Knipl, Real Estate…
Undoubtedly you've heard of, listened to, or fallen in audio-love with singer M.I.A over the past few years. She's everywhere, from big music festivals around the globe to the hyperactive preview for 2008's "Pineapple Express" — which incidentally starred Jewish actors Seth Rogan and James Franco.
Living so far away from my family has inspired me to organize my own seder for the past three years. Each time I've put my own personal stamp on the decor, food and haggadah. The first year was pretty traditional, the second year was huge and joyous and potluck-y, and…
My boyfriend and I are big fans of the animated show "Family Guy," not so much of its creator Seth MacFarlane's other show, "American Dad!" - but I taped both this past Sunday to watch the following night. When the latter show came on, my boyfriend said I could turn…
Great news: "Watchmensch" is finally here. The 24-page Jewish-themed parody of "Watchmen" arrived in U.S. comic book stores this past Wednesday, so if you're a "Watchmen" fan - or a comic fan in general, in which case you've probably read "Watchmen,"…
In my column this week, I paid tribute to Bill Brand, a friend and a nationally known beer journalist who died last month from injuries he sustained when he was hit by a streetcar in San Francisco. A lot of people knew him for his beer expertise, but…
Occasionally you interview a musician, and you leave the club or hang up the phone feeling unquestionably inspired. There's this nagging sense of creativity-jealousy, that perhaps this person has a closer connection to their craft than you ever will. This is what happened to me when I interviewed Daniel Kahn,…
According to reports from both Haaretz and gossip site TMZ, a judge has rejected Disney's claim that a parody song from a once-banned episode of "Family Guy" infringed upon the rights on the original.
The song in question, "I Need A Jew," was a humorous take on the classic "When…
Since coming to work with the news junkies here at j., there have been a few "breaking news" moments so shocking that there's simply no way to react other than to exclaim, "WHAT?!?" I call them "WHAT?!?…
It's sort of last-minute, but if you're not doing anything tomorrow evening, you really should think about heading to the JCC of the East Bay to hear author Adina Sara and photographer Rachel Michaelsen talk about their new book,
Personally burned by Madoff? Tangentially burned by Madoff? Just interested in how it all went down and what it means for the Jews?
This newest edition of the PBS program "Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly" (broadcast locally on KQED this Saturday, March 21) will include a segment on the…
When Peninsula Temple Beth El cantorial soloist Elana Jagoda released her album "Zum Gali Gali" last year she told j.: "It was a goal to make it something that parents can tolerate," she says. "I was trying to make something appropriate for 2- and 3-year-olds that parents could…
Last night, I went to see the opening night of two world premiere dance pieces by the ODC Dance Company.
"Grassland" was gorgeous, mythic and powerful, a dance interpretation of (I think) the vibrant world of insects in the grass beneath our feet. The choreography reminded me of the beauty…
If you saw "Waltz With Bashir" -- or even if you didn't -- you might want to check out "The Dream" at the PFA (Pacific Film Archive), on the U.C. Berkeley campus, on Tuesday, March 31.
The San Francisco International Film Festival isn’t too far around the corner (April 23 through May 7) -- and here’s an early tip on a film that is expected to generate…
Last weekend I trekked to Berkeley on Sunday afternoon to watch an episode of HBO's "Six Feet Under" at Congregation Netivot Shalom. Why not simply mosey to Blockbuster or add the show to my Netflix queue?
This week I filed my third -- maybe fourth -- story about the recall of John Moghtader, the 21-year-old U.C. Berkeley student, Associated Students senator and ardent Zionist. I have a feeling it won't be my last.
Moghtader lost his bid to keep his seat, and by a wide margin,…
Israel's version of "American Idol," called "Kochav Nolad" (A Star is Born), will be holding auditions for its seventh season in the U.S. (and Israel, of course). Unfortunately, Americans aren't eligible - according to this article, you have to…
Back in August, the newly designed sanctuary at Congregation Beth Sholom, a Conservative synagogue in San Francisco’s Richmond District, was likened to a wedge of cheddar, a slice of yellow squash and…
Unique Israeli street artist Know Hope is sort of popping up everywhere. His much adored paintings and collages will be on display in Canada, Italy and Israel all during this fine month of March. He'll have pieces in Tel Aviv's mass artist showcase Fresh Paint throughout March, the…
Yes, it's true — Jews across the U.S celebrate Purim just like we do. Former Bay Area resident and current Pennsylvanian Seth Walot merely happened upon the rambunctious Lubavitcher Hasidim 25th Annual Purim Parade yesterday in downtown Philadelphia, and like any good aspiring photographer, Walot had his trusty…
I'm LOVING this video for the song "Her Morning Elegance" by Tel Aviv-born singer Oren Lavie. It's beautiful and mesmerizing. Watch it on a bad day (or a good day) and feel your mood get…
March 6, 2009 | by amanda pazornik
It’s a rare thing to be surrounded by hundreds of high school students and not hear the melody of a cell phone’s ring, laughter from the distracted or the soft, but oh-so-obvious sound of snoring.
So as I sat among five history classes at Palo Alto High School March…
When I was 19, I considered myself a radical: left wing politics, disdain for authority, untucked blue work shirt, long hair. It all added up to a portrait of a typical teenage Baby Boomer. Though I left those days (and the scruffy coif) behind long ago, I have never forgotten…
Just read this fantastic op-ed by Ishmael Khaldi, the deputy consul general of Israel for the Pacific Northwest. He writes that Israel Apartheid Week (the fifth annual this year) is completely antithetical to life in Israel and is a gross…
From Feb. 6 to Feb. 15, it was San Francisco Beer Week, the first of what will hopefully turn into an annual event. Did you hoist one? Or several? (Maybe hundreds!?) There were about 150 events at brewpubs, bars and restaurants all over the greater Bay Area (there…
The other day I stopped by the ODC Dance Commons to watch a rehearsal for "In the Memory of the Forest," a piece that has its world premiere next week. Given that I'm a huge fan of both classical ballet and pop-ballroom dance (ie. the cheesy…
There's something amazing happening in the Oakland indie scene right now. Glorious hippie art-folk bands and musicians seem to pop up everywhere — tiny clubs, coffee shops such as Mama Buzz, your friend's lush backyard.
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Great news: "Watchmensch" is finally here. The 24-page Jewish-themed parody of "Watchmen" arrived in U.S. comic book stores this past Wednesday, so if you're a "Watchmen" fan - or a comic fan in general, in which case you've probably read "Watchmen,"…
Since coming to work with the news junkies here at j., there have been a few "breaking news" moments so shocking that there's simply no way to react other than to exclaim, "WHAT?!?" I call them "WHAT?!?…
Israel's version of "American Idol," called "Kochav Nolad" (A Star is Born), will be holding auditions for its seventh season in the U.S. (and Israel, of course). Unfortunately, Americans aren't eligible - according to 
Since I'm the unofficial comic geek in the office (check out my story this week on 
Just read this 