MY URBAN KVETCH

Missed the Salute to Israel Parade, So Here's a Video

If you missed this year's Salute to Israel Parade in New York City, you might be feeling guilty - I mean, if you're a NYC resident, this is probably a featured point on your calendar for many years in a row: you'd never miss your chance to experience the annual giant game of Jewish geography that results when many Jews gather in one place. 

I'll admit it - I missed it, and I feel a little guilty. But I guess I made my mark on the annual parade in support of Israel in 2005, by explaining to a TV reporter what "Chai" is, and explaining what Jewlicious is (yes, before all the rest of you knew the Jewlicious name and brand). Enjoy this clip from Paradetown USA, with excessive annotations by yours truly.

 

Petite Pre-Shavuot Post

Tonight begins the holiday of Shavuot, a commemoration of the Jewish people's receipt of the Torah at Mount Sinai. I've been so wrapped up in preparations for launching the ROI Summit and establishing myself as a social media consultant that I haven't had time to come up with fresh thoughts for this year. But here are some oldies and "newies" from me and others that you might find enlightening or entertaining:

In NYC? You'll want to check out the annual Tikkun Leyl Shavuot - all night Jewish learning, music and cultural experiencing - at the JCC of Manhattan. See partial list of presenters here.

Tamara Eden reexamines Shavuot and reflects on her Jewish knowledge in light of her coming to know the man who became her husband (2006)

A look inside the beit midrash (or beis midrish) during all-night learning on Shavuot, courtesy of Frum Satire (2007)

How an ad for a Shavuot retreat got my dander up about singles issues in the Jewish community (2006)

Or maybe check out JTA's article about GenKvetch, a social network aimed at older Jews.

And for something not-so-Shavuot related, try this post about talking religion on a first date.

For the entertainment-minded, you might want to set your DVRs for tomorrow night's "What Not to Wear" featuring Mayim Bialik. ("Whoa!")

Or, if you just can't forget American Idol's #2, Adam Lambert, you'll want to check out this interview over at BestWeekEver. Author Michelle Collins (who incidentally will be part of this summer's ROI Summit) conducted the interview with glee, giggles and camraderie, and promises that the interview will "change your life" - see for yourself!

Wishing you a good few days and happy holiday, if you're observing.

FFF: PLP (Yeah, You Know Me) LiveNetworks and ThinkTank

Some of you know I'm in a network called Professional Leaders Project, headquartered in LA but with networks across the country for outstanding nextgen professionals and/or volunteer leaders in the Jewish community. They run many programs throughout the year for network members, including a SkillsSummit that I'm attending this weekend. (They've connected me with social and professional opportunities out here, too, which shows some real networking-in-action.)

So if you think that describes you and you'd like to join a national network with other entrepreneurs and change agents, apply now for PLP's signature Jewish leadership programs: LiveNetworks 2009 and ThinkTank4 - "LEADERSHIFT! Next-Gen Changing Culture of Jewish Leadership."

LIVENETWORKS 2009
A national network of Talent (outstanding professional and volunteer leaders in their 20's to 30's) committed to leading and serving as change agents in both established organizations and start-ups in the Jewish community.  LiveNetworks seminars include leadership and skills development, customized Jewish curriculum, personal coaching and mentoring from successful leaders across the nation for all Talent.

THINKTANK4 (TT4) - "LEADERSHIFT! Next-Gen Changing Culture of Jewish Leadership"
Sunday- Tuesday, October 18 - 20, 2009
Universal Studios, CA

Talent unite to proactively shape and change the Jewish community in the 21st Century. Attracting the best minds, freshest thinkers, and next generation Jewish leaders, TT4 will ignite ongoing dialogue, brainstorming, and action. By learning from and sharing with mentors, philanthropists, and activists, participants will gain tangible leadership skills, best practices, and new networks.

Turning Jewish Leadership Over to the Next Generation www.jewishleaders.net

Thursday Quickie: The Crocs Car

Looks like I needn't have worried about what would happen if Crocs went out of business. 

Thanks to Wired for this information about the Crocs car, which is not made OF Crocs (which would be insane) but is instead inspired by Crocs (which is also kind of insane, actually). The car is, however, made of foam and gets 100 mpg, and ensures that you'll look as dumb driving around in Crocs as we all do when we're wearing them. 

Special apologies to Leah Jones and her yellow Crocs for that comment. The Urban Kvetch still loves you. And also, even after much deliberation, caved and now owns a pair in black.

   

Israelis love Crocs. And Israelis love electric cars. Can you say, "merger with Better Place"?..

Slice of Life: Walgreens

Esther, aka "our heroine," has just finished shopping for supplies for her upcoming weekend retreat at camp. Among other things, her basket holds two containers of sunscreen - one spray sunblock, SPF 70; and the other a lotion, SPF 85. At checkout, the cashier rings up her items.

Cashier: Wow. 70. And 85...

Esther: Yeah, well, I don't mess around.

Cashier: Well, you're really white.

Thank you, Walgreens cashier lady.Thanks to my sunblock, I'm hoping to stay that way.

'Jews' Your Illusion: Israeli Center for At-Risk Teens Hosts Illusionists for Charity

My friend Caryn Greene is the director of The Crossroads Center, the sole social service outreach provider for at-risk Anglo teens and young adults in Israel. In the past, the Center has hosted US comedians for charity performances, but this year, they've invited illusionist Elliot Zimet and magician Ben Cohen to help them work some fundraising magic. They're calling it The Crossroads Comedy Magical Mystery Tour which will run from May 14-18th, with shows in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and Ra’anana.

 

Elliot Zimet, acclaimed by People Magazine as “the most original illusionist seen in years,” is renowned for his unique high-energy performance style and modern spin on magic, having graced the stages of the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden, with memorable appearances on MTV’s “The Gamekillers,” VH1’s “Fabulous Life of… Celebrities in Las Vegas” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” (see video clip below). 

Ben Cohen is a  full-time, professional magician who has been performing across the United States for the past 10 years. Ben has won numerous awards, including the New York, International Brotherhood of Magicians, and “Magician of the Year”. Ben has worked as a "magic consultant" to such television magicians as David Copperfield and magicians who have appeared on "America's Got Talent" and MTV.  All proceeds from the Magical Mystery Tour will directly support The Crossroads Center and the young adult community it serves. Tickets are now on sale at www.crossroadscomedy.com - you've already missed tonight's Beit Shemesh show, but check out the rest of the schedule:

• Thursday, May 14th – 6:00 pm Beit Shemesh at the Mercaz Kehilati
• Sunday, May 17th– 5:00 pm Ra’anana at Yad Labanim
• Monday, May 18th – 5:30 pm Jerusalem The Begin Center
• Monday May 18th – 8:00 pm Jerusalem The Begin Center

Check out this clip of Elliot Zemet on "America's Got Talent."

How Not to Drive a Cab in NYC (MNN.com)

If you've ever wondered what driving a hybrid might mean to your personal safety and carbon footprint, well...that's not exactly what this video's about. But if you're interested in learning more about NY's cabbies through the literal lens of the creator of "The Hebrew Hammer," then you'll want to click "play" immediately. This short film is part of a new web series from "Hammer" creator Jonathan Kesselman and the Mother Nature Network (helmed by Benyamin Cohen, formerly of the now defunct American Jewish Life).

Israel Festival: Los Angeles

On Sunday, I joined thousands of other LA-area Jews to celebrate Israel with all the things that makes Israel Israel...like techno music; watermelon; people asking for tzedakah; rock concerts; Israeli dancing; endless lines for food; clothing designs that illustrate a provocative and brave fashion sense; and carnival rides where children sit in the belly of a dragon while the thing spins around. (Insert your own political metaphor for that last one.)

Streets were named after Ben-Gurion, Disengoff, and Ben-Yehuda, and featured booths from agencies representing Israel, from the Jewish Agency to the Aliyah Center, from Habonim Dror to the Israeli Scouts, as well as local Jewish organizations like Big Brothers-Big Sisters and the LA Jewish Federation. Israelis and Americans, Sephardis and Ashkenazis, adults and children filled Woodley Park to celebrate Israel as a community. Jewlicious Festivals sponsored a concert by Moshav, and raffles aplenty were announced over a public address system.

At left and right, some of the fashion show, which featured mostly grownups in pouffy taffeta, rhinestones and tulle, and a few belly-baring children. Because nothing says "wedding" like a child's midriff. And tulle.

 

Maybe it was because I was busy looking for crazy t-shirts to photograph for Benji at WhatWarZone, but I didn't think much of our "entrance-fee-paid" wristbands until I saw that some of the booth staffers (or VIPs, not sure) had blue and white ones. And then I started thinking. It looked strange. And then, a thousand Holocaust classes spoke up: "Great. Yellow stars. Because that's always worked out so well for the Jewish people in the past."

(Cue the crescendo of voices pointing out that they're actually blue stars on a yellow background. Well, it's close enough to evoke the memory, so argue if you want, but I'm still going with it.)

But I realize the whole thing was just a dry run: I leave for Israel in a month - let's see if I'm ready for the real thing.

Funny Lady: Mindy Kaling Gets Her Deal

If there's one thing I've always thought "The Office" needed more of, it's Kelly Kapur. A longtime writer for the show, Mindy Kaling is now in possession of a two-year, seven-figure NBC deal including a continuation of her writing and being featured in the Dunder-Mifflin office we've grown to love uncomfortably, while developing a show designed for her.

In my opinion, the deal is long-deserved - Kaling's been lurking, mostly behind the words you hear from "The Office" characters every week, but often scene-stealing with her laugh-out-loud comments and ludicrous relationships with Ryanthetemp and Darrylfromthewarehouse. A good starring vehicle is just what she deserves.

Go, funny women...go!

(And if for some reason you've not seen "The Office," check it out on Hulu.)

A Plea From the Fans to JJ Abrams and the New 'Star Trek' Movie

I have this friend in Los Angeles whom I've met only a few times in person: we have a lot of friends in common, through PLP, a Jewish professionals talent network we're both involved with. (Or, see this explanation.) But the rest of our relationship has been conducted solely over Twitter and Facebook.

Gordon Eick (or defenestrator1, as his Twittercommunity knows him), it seems, has always been a filmmaker. (For his early work in the zombie genre see the 1988 classic "Toxic Zombies.") But this one caught my eye, both for its wacky approach and for the sincerity of the plea, uttered by every "Star Trek" fan in anticipation of the new J.J. Abrams' helmed reboot of the franchise.

Here's Gordon and his friend from RTD Studios expressing their hopes for the new movie. For more of the world according to Gordon, check out the RTD Studios channel on YouTube, especially last summer's plea to Spielberg. And to register for PLP's upcoming programs, including ThinkTank4 and LiveNetworks, where you can meet lots of interesting creative people like Gordon (and me), see if you're eligible at JewishLeaders.net.