Cantor urges help for Haiti through song

Cantor Shimon Craimer has joined the worldwide effort to assist the people of Haiti following the country's devastating earthquake earlier the month. The UK-born vocalist released "Bring Them Peace" on his website www.shimoncraimer.com. Visitors to the site can download the…

Maori or Israeli? Same diff, says one Kiwi

The New Zealand Herald (and about a bazillion other news orgs) reports that New Zealand tour operator Discovery Heritage Group has been banned from the port of Tauranga, in the North Island's Bay of Plenty region, for hiring Israelis and Europeans to pose as Maori (New Zealand's indigenous…

An atheist-feminist siddur? Yep.

A professor at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles has composed an atheist-feminist siddur - seriously. The Jewish Daily Forward chronicles his creative, spiritual and translational process in a great feature story this week.

Tzemah Yoreh is a bible scholar and former IDF soldier who grew up in Toronto…

The best of the best: Jews at the Grammy Awards

It is that special time of year for the music industry again – The Grammy Awards. The mainstream music event takes place this year on Jan. 31 on CBS. And what do you know; there are plenty of Yids nominated for the…

Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig reps Jewish roots

Vampire Weekend is having a moment. The band recently appeared on MTV’s “Unplugged” surrounded by drippy candles and a plunky string section and the adorable rockers performed live on the Tonight Show with Conan…

Fool’s Gold guitarist doubles as Foreign Born player

So remember that super fun Los Angeles-based Afropop band I wrote about a few months back that sang in Hebrew and filmed lavish poolside music videos? No? A quick reminder: Fool’s Gold.

Turns out, the Jewish guitarist from that…

J. goes to the Crunchies!

The Crunchies are almost upon us - and j. (namely, me) will be there to witness them. The Crunchie Awards - sponsored by TechCrunch, GigaOm and VentureBeat and recognizing "compelling startups, Internet and technology innovations" - will be given out in a festive ceremony at the Herbst Theatre in San…

Friends, Romans, Countrymen ... Lenders me your bagels

You'll never catch me saying anything good about a Lender's bagel — let along eating one ... except if they happen to be a featured part of La Quinta's sumptious free breakfast "buffet" on those rare occasions when I'm not…

Diwon mixes free “mixtape”

Ah the ancient art of the mixtape. Or should I say, the forgotten art of the mixtape. There once was a time when no expression of love was concrete without the inclusion of a tape full of meaningful tunes, recorded artfully…