Hollywood executives offer support to Netflix after BDS movement asks it to scrap ‘Fauda’

April 05, 2018

(JTA) — More than 50 entertainment industry executives have signed a letter in support of Netflix, after the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel threatened a lawsuit over its distribution of the Israeli drama series “Fauda.”

The show...

Bruce Springsteen’s guitarist saved by an old bar mitzvah gift

April 05, 2018

By GABE FRIEDMAN

(JTA) — Bruce Springsteen’s longtime guitarist Nils Lofgren found himself in a pickle on Friday night: Just hours before a sold-out solo show in Dallas, he discovered that his four vintage guitars had been stolen.

Lofgren,...

Zach Braff is happy to be back on TV. ‘Scrubs’ fans should be, too.

April 02, 2018

By CURT SCHLEIER

(JTA) — Lightning struck Zach Braff in 2001. The up-and-coming Jewish actor, who had appeared in a few films — perhaps most notably a small role in Woody Allen’s “Manhattan Murder Mystery” — landed the lead role...

Trump congratulates Roseanne Barr on ‘unbelievable’ ratings

April 02, 2018

(JTA) — President Donald Trump called Roseanne Barr to congratulate her on the high ratings for the reboot of her late 20th-century sitcom.

The White House declined to provide any additional details about the call, which occurred on Wednesday, when the president had no public events,...

No-Bake Strawberry Coconut Pie for Passover

March 22, 2018

By SONYA SANFORD 

(The Nosher via JTA) — I first tried raw vegan coconut cream pie years ago at Café Gratitude, one of the popular plant-based restaurants in Los Angeles. Café Gratitude is a quintessential healthy L.A. eatery. The menu...

Mayim Bialik makes a Facebook pitch to light an Independence Day torch in Israel

March 15, 2018

(JTA) — Actress Mayim Bialik wants to light a torch on Mount Herzl for Independence Day.

For the second year in a row, one of the 12 torches lit by important Israelis at the annual Independence Day ceremony to open...

Oscars 2018: For Jewish nominees, a night not to remember

March 07, 2018

LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Half a century ago, Bob Hope’s films were wildly popular, but the comedian was never nominated for an Academy Award.

So when Hope served as host of the 1975 Oscar bash, he opened his monologue with...

Netflix creating miniseries about murdered Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman

February 15, 2018

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — Netflix began production in Buenos Aires of a miniseries about the late AMIA Jewish center bombing prosecutor Alberto Nisman.

The British director Justin Webster will prepare four to six episodes about the life and shooting...

Gal Gadot to voice herself on ‘The Simpsons’

February 06, 2018

(JTA) — Israeli actress Gal Gadot will voice herself on an episode of “The Simpsons.”

Gadot will appear in an episode of the animated sitcom titled “Bart’s Not Dead” airing in season 30 this fall, The Wrap reported Monday.

On Tuesday,...

Paul Simon says his upcoming tour will be his last

February 06, 2018

(JTA) — Paul Simon says he is going to stop touring, save for the “occasional performance” for charity.

“I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to reach the point where I’d consider bringing my performing career to a...