pop culture

  • Dr. House vs. Chabad

    Lubavitch.com has a post from writer Mordechai Shinefield breaking down the recent “Chabad” episode of “House” (which he notes was the highest-rated program of the night): The episode opened with a wedding officiated by California Chabad House representative Rabbi Yossi Mintz, and the singing of a Chabad style Chasidic melody. Richard Kaplan, a cantor from… More ▸

  • Winehouse snags top honors at Grammys

    I fear I must take leave of the Winehouse blogging, before I cast myself a one trick pony. But before I do, I just wanted to share with you that Amy took home five Grammy awards yesterday: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best… More ▸

  • ‘Ink’ star sends hateful kiss-off to Jewish boss

    TMZ Reality television star/tattoo artist Kat Von D raised some eyebrows this past week, when news surfaced that the illustrated woman had sent her former Israeli-born employer, Ami James, an autographed photo some months ago bearing a swastika and the invective “burn in hell Jewbag.” James’ tattoo parlor is the subject of The Learning Channel’s… More ▸

  • Winehouse denied US visa

    US officials have denied Amy Winehouse a visa to perform in the United States at the upcoming Grammy Awards, The Times Online reported today. The US authorities gave no reason for refusing Winehouse a visa, despite a personal plea by the star. She will make her return to the stage from a London studio instead…. More ▸

  • Aguilera adds unusual touch to circumcision ritual

    Sarah Gerke/Creative Commons As Ami mentioned a couple of weeks back, Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman recently celebrated the brit milah of their son Max Liron. Now the SF Gate brings us the juicier and more hilarious details of the event: Christina Aguilera insisted on turning her baby son’s bris into a big celebration and… More ▸

  • Winehouse considers Chanukah album, rejects association with Jewish community

    Mike A. Kelly/Creative Commons Pop songstress/tabloid fixture Amy Winehouse is contemplating recording a Chanukah album. Her producer, Mark Ronson, recently told Rolling Stone: “We’re talking about making a holiday record, with Christmas songs on one side and Hanukkah songs on the other,” Ronson explained. “She’s got songs called, like, ‘Kosher Kisses’ and ‘Alone Under the… More ▸

  • Wherever we stand, we stand with Springfield

    Hillel got a shoutout on last night’s episode of the Simpsons, which had some sort of weird flashback thing going with Marge attending college in the ’90s. The following image appears as she mentions “fraternity pledges in their beanies”: More ▸

  • Finding the Heath Ledger angle

    At times, the most challenging (or lamest, depending on your take) aspects of my job is trying to find the Jewish angle in the story that everyone is talking about. So, for example, for the past few days, Heath Ledger’s death has been a huge story. Maybe it’s because my brain is too wrapped up… More ▸

  • Entering the Covenant: Aguilera baby gets bris

    Enough with the bad news from Amy Winehouse and the Spears sisters. Finally a Mazal Tov in celebrity world: E! News has learned exclusively that new parents Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman held a bris, the Hebrew baby naming and circumcision ritual ceremony, at their Beverly Hills home Sunday. More than a dozen family and… More ▸