World’s oldest Holocaust survivor takes center stage in Oscar-nominated film

February 16, 2014

By TOM TUGEND

LOS ANGELES (JTA) — In her 110 years, Alice Herz-Sommer has been an accomplished concert pianist and teacher, a wife and mother — and a prisoner in Theresienstadt.

Now she is the star of an Oscar-nominated documentary...

Facebook page implores Rolling Stones to boycott Israel

February 14, 2014

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A new Facebook page called on the Rolling Stones to boycott Israel.

The “Rolling Stones: Boycott Israel” page established Wednesday had 144 likes by Thursday morning.

Earlier this week, reports in the Israeli media said the Rolling...

Menken’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ returns to Saenger Theater

February 07, 2014

By BRIAN TURK, Special to the CCJN

Alan Menken gained notoriety in the early 80s for his work with lyricist Howard Ashman on the off Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors, but the Jewish composer is best known for the...

50 Years Later: A Jewish perspective on The Beatles

February 07, 2014

By JOEL BENJAMIN, Special to the CCJN

Just as Judaism is an ethical and spiritual lighthouse – so, too, were The Beatles.

Most religions have their roots in spiritual awakening. The Beatles had a powerful appeal to a generation in...

‘Monuments Men’ recalls Allied effort to save Europe’s heritage

February 06, 2014

By PENNY SCHWARTZ

BOSTON (JTA) — There’s nothing like a star-studded Hollywood movie to shine a light on a little-known piece of history.

That’s the hope of Robert Edsel, who wrote the book that inspired “The Monuments Men,” the George...

Le Petit Theatre adds Feb. 9 performance for ‘Golda’s Balcony’

January 30, 2014

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré announced this past week that it was extending its run of “Golda’s Balcony,” the William Gibson play on the life of Golda Meier for an additional performance on Sun., February 9.

The reason was...

Husband of Natalie Portman says he is converting

January 30, 2014

JERUSALEM (JTA) — French choreographer Benjamin Millepied, the husband of Jewish actress Natalie Portman, told an Israeli newspaper that he is converting to Judaism.

Millepied told the Hebrew-language Yediot Acharonot in an article published Wednesday that he is “in the...

Israeli documentary on Hamas spy wins Sundance honors

January 27, 2014

JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli documentary about how the son of Hamas leader Hassan Yousef spent a decade as Israel’s top informer in the West Bank received a top honor at the Sundance Film Festival.

“The Green Prince,” which premiered...

In Sundance premiere, a look at Shin Bet’s methods

January 24, 2014

By MATTHEW WEINSTEIN

PARK CITY, Utah (JTA) — Perhaps the most difficult thing about watching the new documentary “The Green Prince” is feeling that you should not be there, that everyone in the theater should be asked to leave before...

New visa allows ‘X Factor’ winner to work in Israel as singer

January 20, 2014

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Rose Fostanes, the Filipina caregiver who won Israel’s “X Factor,” will be allowed to work in Israel as a performer.

On Monday, Israeli Interior Minister Gideon Saar ordered the Population and Immigration Authority to issue Fostanes an...