This Week’s Links

By Michelle Albert

• The Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have threatened Sacha Baron Cohen’s life because of their inclusion in his latest film farce, Bruno. Fashionistas of the world, unite: Save Sacha! [Jewlicious]
• Persian Jews live the high life in Los Angeles. [W]
• According to cartoonist Rich Tenorio, the right beverage can solve even the stickiest problems. [TheDevilMadeMeBlogIt]
• Iranian protesters meeting to honor the people killed in the post-June 12 presidential election fracas were met with violence and tear gas. [NYT]
• Jewish author Michael Chabon dislikes circumcision. [Jewcy]
• Haaretz examines the rumors that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is a “self-hating Jew” and is turning the Obama administration against Israel. [Haaretz]

This Week’s Links

By Michelle Albert

• Ivanka Trump received a Swarovski crystal-covered, lepoard print mezuzah when she completed her conversion to Judaism. Thanks to online shopping, you can bling out your doorpost, too! [PopJudaica]
• Can’t get to the Western Wall in Jerusalem? No problem. Now you can tweet your prayers to Israel. [@TheKotel]
• The New York Times’ Idea of the Day Blog lists Moment‘s article on Jews in Fashion from the July/August 2009 issue as part of their recommended reading. [IdeaBlog] Or, go straight to the source at momentmag.com.
• Three New Jersey Mayors, two state assemblymen, five rabbis and 34 others were arrested for involvement in the kidney-selling and money laundering scandal sweeping New Jersey and New York. An Apple Jacks cereal box was also involved. [NYTimes]
• A rabbi’s son served as the FBI mole responsible for the arrests. [Forward]
• Planning a Jewish wedding? Jewcy has a list of resources to help out with upcoming nuptials. [Jewcy]
• Israel is working to improve its image, one Facebook status at a time. [Haaretz]

This Week’s Links

By Michelle Albert

• Harry Potter connects to Jewish audiences. Did you know that Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) are Jewish? [JewishJournal]
• Moment columnist Gershom Gorenberg reports on Israeli soldiers’ claims that their top commanders were responsible for massive civilian deaths. [Prospect]
• Champion of relativity Albert Einstein was a Zionist. [Forward] (PS: Read Moment’s article from our archives all about Einstein.)
• Ultra-Orthodox Jews riot in Jerusalem. [AP]
• A new crop of Jewish authors are revamping the definition of Jewish literature. [VanityFair]
• Former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert calls for a refocusing of the Israel/Palestine peace process. [WashingtonPost]
• In the city of Nablus on the West Bank, things are looking up. [NYT]
• Pickles! [Forward]

A Circus Wedding

By Michelle Albert

Two circus monkeys recently got married, watched by two of their proud monkey parents. Such a scene would usually be reserved for a greeting card, one that pokes fun at a pair of newlyweds while sappily wishing them the best. This particular wedding, however, evoked outrage rather than “aws.”

The monkeys in question are part of a skit performed by the Old Moscow Circus, and the wedding they performed followed the steps of the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, ynet news reports. The monkey bride and groom, dressed in a wedding gown and kippah, respectively, were led to a chuppah in the center of the circus ring by performers dressed as Hasidic Jews. No other group, religious or otherwise, was portrayed by monkeys. According to ynet, Jews in the audience were not pleased and cited the mocking portrayal as anti-Semitism.

This was not the monkeys’ first performance with the Old Moscow Circus. According to the Circus’ Assistant Director-General Lidia Samoilovna, the monkeys have appeared on several occasions dressed in traditional Russian clothing. They have also performed traditional Georgian dances. Samoilovna insisted to ynet news that “no one complained” about the monkeys’ role in the skits.

This Week’s Links

By Michelle Albert

• A new game show puts a rabbi, a priest, a Muslim imam and a Buddhist monk in a room with 10 atheists. Let the proselytizing begin! [Reuters]
• Forget about Reform, Conservative or Orthodox. Jewcy has denominations for today’s Jews. [Jewcy]
• Gershom Goreberg discusses his article for Moment on his site, then links to the full story on ours. [SouthJerusalem] Or, go straight to the source at momentmag.com.
• The Jewish Week examines the differences between Jewish and American mourning customs and discusses the hoopla over Michael Jackson’s funeral. [TheJewishWeek]
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the word”judenrein,” a term used by the Nazis, in regards to removing Jewish settlements from the West Bank. [JTA]
• Kosher surveillance cameras in Israeli restaurants? [BintelBlog]
• Rabbis launch a monthly hunger strike to protest Israel’s involvement in Gaza. [JTA]
• The first Israeli to be drafted by the NBA joins the Sacramento Kings. [TheJewishWeek]

In Favor of Franken

After months of wondering and waiting, the Minnesotra Supreme Court decided in favor of Al Franken. To learn more about the funnyman-turned-politician, Check out Moment‘s cover story about Al Franken from our archives.

And Happy 4th of July!