Daily Podcasts Video Research
Forward For 'Aya,' From Israel to the Oscars 18 Feb 2015
"Aya," an Israeli short film directed by Mihal Brezis and Oded Binnun, grew from a simple daydream into an Oscar-nominated cinematic work. The film portrays ...
18 Feb 2015
Tablet On Watching ‘Roots’ and ‘Holocaust’ for the First Time 17 Feb 2015
In this essay reflecting on the impact of watching "Roots" and "Holocaust" for the first time, the author explores the significance of these groundbreaking m...
17 Feb 2015
Forward Jon Stewart Quitting 'The Daily Show' — Says 'Been an Absolute Privilege' 11 Feb 2015
Jon Stewart, the iconic host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" known for his sharp satire on politics and media, announced his departure from the show aft...
11 Feb 2015
Forward A Jewish David Foster Wallace? Welcome to Sundance 27 Jan 2015
Jason Segel, a Jewish actor better known for his comedic roles, takes on the serious portrayal of renowned author David Foster Wallace in "The End of the Tou...
27 Jan 2015
Forward 10 Movies for International Holocaust Remembrance Day 26 Jan 2015
The article discusses a list of 10 movies suitable for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, excluding some well-known choices like "The Diary of Anne Fra...
26 Jan 2015
Tablet Frederick Wiseman’s Cosmic Joke 15 Dec 2014
Frederick Wiseman, a pioneering documentary filmmaker known for his subtle yet profound explorations of everyday life, remains a unique figure in cinema. Unl...
15 Dec 2014
Tablet The Big Screen Gets Biblical, Again 8 Dec 2014
In 2014, Hollywood saw a resurgence of biblical movies with Darren Aronofsky's "Noah" and Ridley Scott's "Exodus: Gods and Kings." These films feature big-na...
8 Dec 2014
Forward The Secret Jewish History of ‘Twin Peaks’ 3 Nov 2014
In exploring the unexpected Jewish connections within the cult TV series Twin Peaks, author Seth Rogovoy unveils how the series, known for disrupting traditi...
3 Nov 2014
Tablet ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ is a Shoddy Imitation of ‘Prince of Egypt’ 1 Oct 2014
The article criticizes the upcoming film "Exodus: Gods and Kings," starring Christian Bale as Moses, comparing it unfavorably to the beloved 1998 animated fi...
1 Oct 2014
Jewish Review of Books I Believe: A Poem 16 Sep 2014
The poem "I Believe" intertwines references to Jewish tradition and practice with the popular TV show Jeopardy!. It includes allusions to Maimonides' 12th Pr...
16 Sep 2014
Tel Aviv Review headphones A time of harmonious coexistence: The Jews and Muslims of Tinghir 29 Aug 2014
Prof. Menachem Hofnung presents a study on Israel's treatment of Arab informants, shedding light on a complex issue. Additionally, a documentary film, "Tingh...
29 Aug 2014
Forward Richard Linklater’s 'Boyhood' Captures the Spirit of the Time 24 Jul 2014
Richard Linklater's film 'Boyhood,' shot over 12 years, captures the essence of life's passage as it uniquely chronicles the growth of its characters, partic...
24 Jul 2014
Forward The Male-Led Campaign To End Female Stereotyping in Hollywood 24 Jul 2014
Robert Shepyer is leading a Kickstarter campaign for a film called Not Another Pretty Face to challenge the stereotypical portrayal of women in Hollywood. In...
24 Jul 2014
Forward Jon Stewart Needles Israel on 'Bomb-Better' War 16 Jul 2014
Jon Stewart, the Jewish late-night talk show host, addressed the Israeli-Gaza conflict with his trademark humor, focusing on the asymmetry of the conflict. D...
16 Jul 2014
Tablet ‘Amistad’ and Spielberg’s West African Moses 15 Jul 2014
"Amistad and Spielberg's West African Moses" discusses how Steven Spielberg's film "Amistad" explores themes of bondage and freedom through the story of Cinq...
15 Jul 2014
Forward No Jewish Royal Baby — Gad Elmaleh's Son Baptized 26 Jun 2014
French-Moroccan Jewish comedian Gad Elmaleh's son, Raphael, was recently baptized in the royal chapel of Monaco with his mother, Charlotte Casiraghi, who is ...
26 Jun 2014
Forward Meet the 3 Jews Who Made 'The Lion King' Possible 24 Jun 2014
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Disney classic 'The Lion King,' the article highlights the contributions of three Jewish figures critical to the f...
24 Jun 2014
Tablet Jewish 12-Year-Old Shocks Reality TV Judges 18 Jun 2014
Josh Orlian, a 12-year-old Orthodox Jewish boy, recently made his stand-up comedy debut on Americas Got Talent, performing explicit jokes which drew mixed re...
18 Jun 2014
Tablet Seth Rogen Exemplifies the Jewish Journey From Chosen People to Just Showing Up 13 May 2014
This article from Tablet magazine explores the journey of Seth Rogen, a prominent Jewish actor and filmmaker, as a figure representing the evolution of Jewis...
13 May 2014
Tablet ‘Noah’ The Most Popular Name For Baby Boys 9 May 2014
In 2013, the name Noah surpassed Jacob as the most popular name for baby boys, possibly influenced by the blockbuster film "Noah" directed by Darren Aronofsk...
9 May 2014
Forward James Bond, The Mensch? 21 Apr 2014
Funny or Die's video humorously portrays James Bond as a mensch, reflecting on Harvey Weinstein's criticism of Hollywood violence. The spoof shows a nebbishy...
21 Apr 2014
Tablet Muslim Countries Ban Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’ 2 Apr 2014
Several Muslim countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, have banned Darren Aronofsky's film "Noah" due to its depiction ...
2 Apr 2014
Tablet Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’ Is a Hot, Wet, Cinematic Mess 31 Mar 2014
Darren Aronofsky's film "Noah" has been described as a cinematic mess, offering a dark, excessive, and eccentric retelling of the biblical story of Noah's ar...
31 Mar 2014
Tablet Bassler’s Letter: How Hollywood’s Man in Vienna Escaped the Nazis 25 Mar 2014
In 1938, as the Nazis annexed Austria, Hollywood studios like Twentieth Century-Fox faced a repeat of the purge of Jews they had experienced in Germany. Dr. ...
25 Mar 2014
Forward For Author and PBS Host Simon Schama, 'Story of the Jews' Is Personal 12 Mar 2014
Historian Simon Schama has created an intimate portrayal of Jewish history in his five-part documentary series, "The Story of the Jews," and its accompanying...
12 Mar 2014
Jewish Review of Books A Stone for His Slingshot 5 Mar 2014
Ben Hecht, a renowned writer, delivered a captivating speech at a Los Angeles dinner funded by Mickey Cohen, a notorious gangland boss, as part of a Jewish f...
5 Mar 2014
Tablet ‘Omar’ and ‘Bethlehem’ Tell the Same Story—But Only One Was Nominated for an Oscar 5 Mar 2014
"Omar" and "Bethlehem" were both nominees for the best foreign film Oscar, focusing on the complex relationship between Palestinian informers and Israeli han...
5 Mar 2014
Forward Conan O'Brien's Hasidic Maskmaker 28 Feb 2014
Stanley Allan Sherman, a maskmaker with a career spanning over 30 years, creates intricate masks for a diverse clientele ranging from pro-wrestlers to perfor...
28 Feb 2014
Tablet Hollywood’s Greatest Masterpieces Get Religion, Unlike Schlocky Biblical Dramas 28 Feb 2014
The article discusses Hollywood's approach to religious-themed movies, noting upcoming releases like "Noah," "Son of God," and "Exodus." It questions why Hol...
28 Feb 2014
Tablet How A Middle School Teacher Inspired ‘Noah’ 14 Feb 2014
Darren Aronofsky's film "Noah" has faced challenges in gaining support from faith-based audiences due to the artistic liberties taken in its retelling of the...
14 Feb 2014
Forward Carole King Musical Is More Than a Jukebox Show 8 Jan 2014
"Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" is more than a typical jukebox show; it's a bio-musical that explores the stories behind the legendary songs of Carole K...
8 Jan 2014
Jewish Review of Books Hollywood’s Anti-Nazi Spies 25 Nov 2013
In the 1930s, prominent Jewish studio heads in Hollywood secretly funded informants to infiltrate Nazi groups in Los Angeles, working with law enforcement ag...
25 Nov 2013
Tablet Watch the Surreal Trailer for ‘Noah’ 14 Nov 2013
The article discusses the surreal trailer for Darren Aronofsky's film "Noah," featuring Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, and Anthony Hopkins. A...
14 Nov 2013
Forward Mandy Patinkin On His Favorite 'Princess Bride' Quote 29 Oct 2013
Mandy Patinkin, renowned for his iconic role as Inigo Montoya in 'The Princess Bride', shares a deeper connection to a lesser-known quote from the film. Duri...
29 Oct 2013
Tablet Soccer Has a Distinctive Voice, and It Belongs to Andrés Cantor 10 Oct 2013
Andrés Cantor, known for his iconic "GGGGOOOOAAAALLLL" call in soccer, gained fame during the 1994 World Cup. Beyond his signature call, Cantor has become a ...
10 Oct 2013
Tablet Without Feathers, Woody Allen (1975) 17 Sep 2013
"Without Feathers" by Woody Allen (1975) features stories that resemble Saturday Night Live sketches with one-joke concepts like "The Whore of Mensa" that ar...
17 Sep 2013
Tablet Dolly City, Orly Castel-Bloom (1992) 17 Sep 2013
Orly Castel-Bloom's novel "Dolly City" presents a shocking and imaginative tale where madness is likened to a ripe orange being sent to Europe in Jaffa crate...
17 Sep 2013
Forward 'Daily Show' Picks Jon Stewart's Top Jewish Bits 27 Aug 2013
The article reflects on Jon Stewart's return to 'The Daily Show' and highlights some of his most notable Jewish-themed comedic moments. Particularly, it ment...
27 Aug 2013
Tablet Orthodox Singers With a Dream Get Their Own American Idol-style Reality Show 6 Aug 2013
"A Jewish Star" is an Orthodox Jewish singing competition modeled after American Idol, providing a unique platform for Jewish male singers within the constra...
6 Aug 2013
Forward The Heroic Brit Who Saved 600 Jewish Children 17 Jul 2013
Sir Nicholas Winton, a British hero, saved nearly 700 Czech and Slovak Jewish children before World War II, a story captured in the documentary "Nickys Famil...
17 Jul 2013
Tablet ‘Commie Camp’ Documentary Captures Camp Kinderland’s Idealism, and Its Imperfections 27 Jun 2013
"Commie Camp" is a documentary showcasing Camp Kinderland, a Jewish socialist summer camp in the Berkshires. The film captures the camp's unique mix of ideal...
27 Jun 2013
Forward Hannah Arendt Biopic Offers Rare Onscreen View of Political Philosophy 27 May 2013
Hannah Arendt's profound and controversial ideas are brought to life in Margarethe von Trotta's biopic, focusing on the philosopher's analysis of Adolf Eichm...
27 May 2013
Tablet Wu-Tang’s Kiddush 15 Apr 2013
The article discusses the significance of Emil Katz, a Holocaust survivor, whose Kiddush was featured in the opening scene of "Schindler's List". Emil's auth...
15 Apr 2013
Forward Kippah Man Settles Spider-Man Lawsuit 19 Mar 2013
Avi Binyamin, the owner of the Kippa Man store in Jerusalem, settled out of court with Marvel Comics and Warner Brothers after being accused of selling unlic...
19 Mar 2013
Jewish Review of Books Famous Jews 18 Mar 2013
In "Jewhooing the Sixties: American Celebrity and Jewish Identity," the author David E. Kaufman examines the intersection of Jewish identity and celebrity th...
18 Mar 2013
Tablet There May Be Two New Big Films About Moses 15 Mar 2013
As Passover approaches, Hollywood is showing renewed interest in Moses with two potential film projects - Warner Bros.' "Gods and Kings" helmed by Steven Spi...
15 Mar 2013
Jewish Review of Books In Brief, Spring 2012 27 Feb 2013
Jerry Weintraub, in his autobiography, paints a picture of a Bronx kid with chutzpah who made deals with Hollywood icons like Elvis and Sinatra. Shmuel Rosne...
27 Feb 2013
Jewish Review of Books Marginalia 27 Feb 2013
"He'arat Shulayim," directed by Joseph Cedar, is an Israeli film focusing on the tensions between father and son professors in the Hebrew University's Talmud...
27 Feb 2013
Jewish Review of Books Swept Up 27 Feb 2013
"Leap of Faith" is a documentary exploring the journeys of individuals and families converting to Orthodox Judaism, highlighting the sacrifices and challenge...
27 Feb 2013
Jewish Review of Books No Sex in the City: On Srugim 27 Feb 2013
"Srugim" is a unique Israeli show focusing on a group of modern Orthodox singles in Jerusalem, navigating the intersection of their faith with contemporary I...
27 Feb 2013