Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 6 of 6
MONTREAL (JTA)-As long as there have been Jews, there have been two unwavering constants: anti-Semitism and Jewish jokes about anti-Semitism. Like the one told about the assassination of Czar Alexander of Russia in 1881, when a government official approaches a rabbi and growls, "I assume you know who was behind it." The rabbi replies, "I have no idea, but I'm sure the government will blame the Jews and the chimney sweeps." Confused, the official asks, "Why the chimney sweeps?" "Why the Jews?"...
(JTA)-Despite a career of more than two decades kvetching incessantly about life's absurd little annoyances, comedian and actor Orny Adams insists he's an optimist who's always been an early riser, eager to tackle anything that confronts him. "When I wake up," he says, "I find myself to be a very happy person, excited for the day. I love to forge ahead; I love a challenge." After a perfectly timed pause he adds, "And by 2 p.m., I just want to curl up and get into a fetal position." Adams truly...
(JTA)-For nearly half a century, Elaine Holstein was periodically confronted with one of the most haunting images in modern American history: the bone-chilling picture of Kent State University student Jeffrey Miller lying on the pavement seconds after being fatally shot in the mouth by an Ohio National Guardsman during an anti-war protest. Photographer John Filo later said, "The volume of blood that was flowing from his body was as if someone tipped over a bucket." And, of course, there was the...
NEW YORK (JTA)-It's a recurring theme in the career of actor Jeremy Shamos: extravagant praise for playing some less-than-extravagant characters. In reviews for "Meteor Shower," the new Broadway comedy by Steve Martin, the entertainment website Deadline.com says Shamos "is priceless as the zhlubbish Norm," who is the "mushy husband" to the character played by comedian Amy Schumer. And the Los Angeles Times calls Shamos "the strongest actor in the quartet," which in addition to Schumer features...
(JTA)-There's a long and poignant story behind the T-shirt that Ari'el Stachel often wears these days. It says, in Hebrew letters, "Totzeret Teman"-"Product of Yemen." The unexpected juxtaposition of two cultures, Israeli and Arab, is as fascinating and complex as Stachel himself. Stachel, 26, is an actor and singer making his Broadway debut in "The Band's Visit," a charming new musical starring Tony Shalhoub ("Monk") and the rising star Katrina Lenk. The play is based on the 2007 award-winning...
NEW YORK (JTA)-We were sharing a pastrami sandwich and pickles at the Los Angeles landmark Canter's Deli. I was 24. She was nearly 50 years older, with a piercing voice as loud as her flaming red wig. Her name was Eva Rubenstein Grant, and she was a little-known nightclub manager the morning of Nov. 24, 1963, when her brother left the apartment they shared in Dallas and blasted his way into infamy by fatally shooting Lee Harvey Oswald. It was history's first live televised murder. Eva worked...
