JNF Canada withdraws event sponsorship over Israeli singer Noa

February 21, 2016

VANCOUVER, Canada (JTA) — The Jewish National Fund of Canada has withdrawn its sponsorship of the Jewish Federation of Vancouver’s Yom Ha’atzmaut event over the federation’s decision to feature the controversial Israeli pop singer Achinoam Nini, known as Noa.

“Due...

2 Israeli films win top audience honors at Berlin festival

February 21, 2016

BERLIN (JTA) — An Arab-Israeli rap artist won over audiences at the 66th annual Berlin International Film Festival, gleaning a top public prize for Israeli director Udi Aloni.

“Junction 48” was one of two Israeli productions to take home Panorama...

Seth Rogen, Amy Schumer and Paul Rudd starring in Bud Light Super Bowl commercial

February 06, 2016

NEW YORK (JTA) — Jewish comics Seth Rogen, Amy Schumer and Paul Rudd are starring in a Super Bowl ad that parodies the presidential campaign.

Rogen and Schumer portray political candidates campaigning at a rodeo, a factory and a basketball...

Jennifer Lopez to make debut performance in Israel 

February 02, 2016

JERUSALEM (JTA) — American singer and actress Jennifer Lopez reportedly will perform in Israel for the first time.

Lopez agreed to hold a concert this summer in Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv, the Ynet news website reported Monday.

She is...

‘Son of Saul’: For Claims Conference, Oscar nominee was a big gamble

February 02, 2016

By CNAAN LIPHSHIZ

BERLIN (JTA) — Set amid a 1944 prisoner uprising at Auschwitz, “Son of Saul” stood out as a long shot when its producers first applied for funding from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. The film’s director, Laszlo...

At Sundance, ‘The Settlers’ trains lens on movement’s extremist fringe

January 29, 2016

By URIEL HEILMAN

PARK CITY, Utah (JTA) – What is a settler?

That’s the question that opens the new documentary film “The Settlers,” which premiered last week at the Sundance Film Festival here.

Written and directed by Shimon Dotan, the...

Why Sinatra’s Body Was Hidden in a Jewish Funeral Home

January 21, 2016

By ABBY SHER

(Jewniverse via JTA) — Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday (on Dec. 12, 2015) has brought on a flurry of centennial celebrations, books, exhibits and Sultan of Swoon-inspired concerts. Jack Daniel’s even issued a Sinatra Century blend and Uber...

David Bowie was into kabbalah and other Jewish facts about the late icon

January 15, 2016

By GABE FRIEDMAN

(JTA) — It was clear long before the Internet swelled with heartfelt tributes to David Bowie that the late musician was an artistic legend. The 69-year-old Englishman, who died Sunday after an 18-month battle with cancer, reinvented...

Al Jazeera America to stop broadcasting by end of April

January 14, 2016

NEW YORK (JTA) — Al Jazeera America, the New York offshoot of the Qatar-based Arabic TV news channel, will shut down by the end of April.

The demise of the channel, which was sued last year by former employees accusing...

Dennis Ross, Shulem Deen among National Jewish Book Awards winners

January 14, 2016

(JTA) — Dennis Ross, a former top U.S. official, and Shulem Deen, who wrote about leaving the Hasidic world, were among the winners of 2015 National Jewish Book Awards.

“Anonymous Soldiers: The Struggle For Israel, 1917-1947,” a book by Bruce...