Federation defers decision to include interfaith members

September 19, 2014

By DEAN M. SHAPIRO

Current or former members of Jewish households who are not Jewish themselves will have to wait another three months to learn whether they will be allowed to join the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, according...

Max Nathan honored at JFS gala

September 17, 2014

By KAREN LOZINSKI

The elegant and alluring Audubon Tea Room was filled to capacity on Sunday, September 14, for the Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Greater New Orleans’ Rhythm and Soul Gala. Proceeds from this affair, the organization’s annual fundraiser,...

Plotkin addresses crowd at WWII Museum

September 14, 2014

By ALAN SMASON

Ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin delivered a major lecture at the Boeing Freddom Pavilion of the National World War II Museum on Thursday, September 11, the 13th anniversary of the attacks on America.

Plotkin, a native New Orleanian, spoke...

Chloe Valdary: Christian, black and a rising star of pro-Israel campus activism

September 08, 2014

By MIRIAM MOSTER and ANTHONY WEISS

(JTA) — Growing up in New Orleans, Chloe Valdary kept kosher, studied the Jewish Bible and celebrated Jewish holidays with festive meals. In recent years she has become an outspoken pro-Israel campus activist, contributing regularly...

At private funeral for Joan Rivers, celebrities, fans gather

September 08, 2014

(JTA) — Howard Stern offered a eulogy and Hugh Jackman provided a musical interlude at the celebrity-studded funeral for comedian Joan Rivers.

Hundreds of mourners attended the private service on Sunday at Temple Emanu-El in New York City. The temple’s...

Tulane unwraps Yulman Stadium for season opener

September 05, 2014

By ALAN SMASON

There is no Star of David atop its state-of-the-art facility, but Tulane University’s new Yulman Stadium, the 30,000-seat football arena that opens to the public for the first time tomorow, has many Jewish benefactors and promoters to...

Joan Rivers, TV and comedy trailblazer, dies at 81

September 04, 2014

(JTA) — Joan Rivers, who broke barriers for women in comedy and on television, has died.

Rivers, 81, died Thursday a week after being rushed to Manhattan’s Mount Sinai Hospital after her heart stopped during throat surgery at a clinic....

Cease-fire marks end to Israel’s longest, bloodiest war in Gaza

August 29, 2014

By BEN SALES

TEL AVIV (JTA) — A rocket barrage fell on Israel, a boom sounded over Tel Aviv and then it was over — at least for now.

After 50 days of missiles,...

Valerie Sassyfras: a musical phoenix emerges

August 22, 2014

By ALAN SMASON, Exclusive to the CCJN

On a cloudy and rain-threatened afternoon, Valerie Sassyfras is dancing behind a multi-colored scrim at Melba’s, a St. Roch neighborhood daiquiris and fast food eatery. Trance-like, she is moving to a track of...

Alleging U.N. bias, Israel again keeping distance from Gaza probe

August 20, 2014

By BEN SALES

TEL AVIV (JTA) — The United Nations probe into the Gaza conflict hasn’t even begun, but Israel already is convinced that it won’t end well.

In a resolution adopted by a vote of 29-1 with 17 abstentions,...