MY URBAN KVETCH

Happy and Meaningful Passover to You, Folks

We're on the eve of redemption, folks. Tonight, Jews everywhere will gather to eat, drink and talk about the Exodus from slavery in Egypt. Don't forget to crunch on some matzah. As if you could... 

Enjoy this new acoustic version of the smash YouTube hit, "20 Things to Do With Matzah." If you listen carefully, maybe you'll hear a special harmony. :) 

Happy and meaningful Passover to all! And happy Easter to my (10) Christian friends.

 

"Projecting Freedom" - Event Thursday, April 1 at the JCC (NYC)

Over the last year, noted artists have been studying and interpreting the steps outlined in the Passover Haggadah that together create the Seder, or order, of our remembering the Exodus from Egypt. Taking their learnings and reflecting them through their art, they've created a series of short films; the resultant video series, "Projecting Freedom: Cinematic Interpretations of the Haggadah," is now being screened in select venues in New York City, San Francisco and London, and is available for viewing at www.projectingfreedom.org. 

The video shorts premiered on www.projectingfreedom.org and in New York on March 22nd at The Skirball Center. They will be shown again THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 1, at 7:30 pm at the JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. at 76th St. along with a panel discussion on “Art and Interpretation: New Ways of Looking at Tradition,” featuring Jeremy Dauber, Associate Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture at Columbia University; Jewish blogger and social commentator Esther Kustanowitz (hey, that's me!); Rabbi Michael Strassfeld of The Society for the Advancement of Judaism; and, some of the participating video and film artists. 

If you're in New York, please consider joining me at the JCC on Thursday night for this interesting discussion about text, art, and interpretation. 

Send Jay Sanderson a Note (or a Video)

I'm on the East Coast now with friends and family - I heard there's this exciting new flatbread that's going to be all the rage for about a week, so I decided to book passage back to the tri-state area to check out that scene. 

But back in L.A., new Federation President Jay Sanderson doesn't seem to be interested in the arrival of this tremendous carb replacement product - he's driving full steam ahead using social media to connect with L.A. constituents and learn about creating a joint vision for the future of Federation in Los Angeles, as well as for Jewish Los Angeles itself. 

His latest foray is the YouTube video below - he invites Jewish community members to focus on the Jewish present - taking care of those in need - and urges us to be at the forefront of social action; plus, to focus on the future of the Jewish community and the state of Israel. He invites people to send him "a note or video so that we can begin this two-way conversation about our Jewish community."

  Well, 

Well, Jews of Los Angeles? Thoughts for the future of the Jewish community? 

Shabbat shalom and a happy and sweet Passover to all.

A Glimpse Into the Jewlicious Festivals Experience

In case you've wondered what the vibe is like at the Jewlicious Festival, you can check it out in this newly posted video compilation of scenes from the past 5 festivals - the video was prepared by Scott Drucker, a filmmaker and longtime Jewlicious participant, and premiered at this winter's Night of Jewish Unity fundraiser for JConnectLA and Jewlicious Festivals.

How many familiar faces can YOU spot?

H   

Belated Funding/Fellowship Fridays: Jewish Service Corps and Green Loan Fund

I know traditionally we've presented these kinds of opportunities on Fridays. But better late than unfunded, right? In this week's edition, apply for a Jewish Service Corps fellowship, or learn more about a new Green Loan available for L.A. residents.

Check them out.

JDC Jewish Service Corps Fellowship 2010-2011

JDC is currently recruiting 2010-2011 Jewish Service Corps fellows to spend one year serving overseas! JDC’s Jewish Service Corps (JSC) is a year-long, paid, professional opportunity for recent college graduates and young professionals to directly engage with the work of the world’s largest Jewish humanitarian aid organization and actively fulfill the value of Jewish responsibility. 

JSC fellows are catalysts for change, creating innovative programs that respond to Jewish and humanitarian needs around the world. JDC offers placements in Israel, the overseas Diaspora Jewish communities, and countries where JDC has non-sectarian projects. Locations range from India to Ethiopia, Turkey, Ukraine, Slovakia, Germany, Israel, Rwanda, and more. 

Placements run for one full year, with most beginning in September 2010. Apply now:  www.jdc.org/jewishservicecorps. For more information, contact globalservice@jdc.org. Application deadline: April 15, 2010

Jewish Free Loan Association Green Loan Fund

The Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) is proud to announce the launch of an exciting new program – The Green Loan Fund. The fund will make available interest-free loans for environmental upgrades to residences and small businesses in Los Angeles. Upgrades include compact fluorescent light bulbs, shower and sink aerators, energy star appliances, double pane energy efficient windows, environmentally wise building materials, drip irrigation systems, additional insulation, ceiling fans and other improvements that capitalize on helping to preserve the earth. 

JFLA recently launched the fund at an exclusive event held at a private home in Brentwood. Featured speakers included Ed Begley, Jr., actor and environmentalist and a key player in developing the fund guidelines, and David Nahai, Senior Advisor to the Clinton Climate Initiative. “The JFLA is taking an important step toward encouraging green living and protecting our environment,” said Ed Begley, Jr. The event helped raise seed money for the fund so that JFLA can begin offering loans to Los Angeles County residents. JFLA hopes to raise an additional $3 million over the next year to augment the fund. Loans of up to $5,000 will be made available to qualifying borrowers who have participated in a home energy audit. 

A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy homes and small businesses consume, and to evaluate what measures can be taken to make a home or small business more energy efficient. JFLA has partnered with L.A. Trade Tech to administer the audits free of charge. “We are thrilled to offer this new program at a time when many people are looking for efficient ways to save energy and reduce their monthly expenses,” said Mark Meltzer, CEO of Jewish Free Loan Association. For more information on qualifications and procedures, visit the JFLA web site at www.jfla.org or call (323)761-8830.

Socalled Movie Premiers at SXSW and on YouTube

If you've never heard of Socalled, you're missing a unique and weird talent whose music blends klezmer, hip-hop, funk and other elements in a fusion like you've never heard before. And now he's the subject of a new documentary, which will be released Tuesday on YouTube and screened at a special event at the SXSW festival (Maggie Mae's, 323 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX on Tuesday, March 16, 9pm- 1am, with a Socalled live performance @ 10PM). You can also view the trailer below, and you can rent from YouTube for $.99. 

Klezmer-hip hop maestro Socalled is a musician, producer, composer, arranger, magician, filmmaker, photographer and visual artist based in Montreal. Born in Ottawa and raised just north of there, in Chelsea, Quebec, he grew up taking piano lessons and loving funk and hip hop. When Socalled first heard klezmer music on an old Yiddish record, he was fascinated by the cool sounds he could sample to make hip hop beats. Then he realized that integrating this Jewish music from the 1930s into his songs was a way of representing himself and his cultural heritage. It enabled him bring something of his own to funk and hip hop, giving him what he calls "a real reason to make music." (from his bio)

 

April 1 - NYC - "Projecting Freedom: Cinematic Interpretations of the Haggadah"

In NYC on April 1 (during the intermediate days of Passover)? Join Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, Professor Jeremy Dauber, and me for "Projecting Freedom: Cinematic Interpretations of the Haggadah" at the JCC of Manhattan. (Note to self: get a more impressive title - perhaps "Duchess" or "Queen.")

Discussion will be based on 14 short films based on the steps of the Haggadah that will premier at the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning in NY on March 22, in London on March 25, and in San Francisco on March 31. You can read about the project (and see a video about the project) at www.projectingfreedom.org. 

Here's more information about the event: 

For the past year, a diverse group of filmmakers and video artists have been studying the Passover Haggadah creating 14 short films based on the "steps" of the Haggadah as a project of the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Emanu-El. The JCC is pleased to present a West Side screening of these films during Pesach followed by a panel discussion on the theme of "Art and Interpretation: New Ways of Looking at Tradition" with Professor Jeremy Dauber, Associate Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture at Columbia University; Esther Kustanowitz, writer; and Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, Society for the Advancement of Judaism, and co-author (with Rabbi Joy Levitt) of A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah. Responses will follow by Saul Robbins (curator), Carrie Dashow (video artist), and Hanan Harchol (video artist).The project is made possible by a grant from The Covenant Foundation and the program is presented in partnership with the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Emanu-El.

Please join us!

"Shabbat in the Shul Today" - A Parody Video

If you're like me, you're thinking, "Why aren't there more Jewish teenage boys making parody videos of Miley Cyrus songs?" 

Now your prayers have been answered like yeah. So I'm posting this video like yeah. Here's the official description from YouTube:

Everyone gets a little nervous about reading Torah. Shlomo, who is practicing Torah, falls asleep and has a dream about the day when he has to chant his portion in front of the congregation. The song is a parody of the hit single by Miley Cyrus, "Party In the U.S.A.""Shabbat in the Shul Today" is the FIRST PLACE WINNER in the "18 and older" category of the TAMPA BAY JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL's Short Film Contest. Produced by Matthew Bloom, Daniel LeVine and Eli Marger.

For more videos from JewishTampa, including some "Small Talk" with me, visit their channel on YouTube.

 

The JDate Breastplate of Truth (full version)

[A slightly shorter version of this piece appears at JDatersAnonymous.com.]

Recently, Jews observed the holiday of Purim, a day whose themes center on disguise, withheld information, and political intrigue. The theme of hiddenness is primary – in which people aren’t necessarily who they seem to be. One notable example of this is that the Book of Esther (also known as the Megillah) is the only book of the canonized Torah that does not contain the name of God. Even the Deity’s presence is hidden in the story, only evidenced within small phrases that intimate help will come from “another place.” 

On Purim, to commemorate the theme of hiddenness and celebrate the inner parts of our lives that we might not always feel comfortable expressing, Jews traditionally dress in costume. Some of these costumes are fun, or (taking a cue from secular cousin Halloween) present an excuse to sex it up a little, at least for the one day. I decided that if the theme was exposure and honesty, my costume choice became clear: I would become the clichés that people write (over and over again) in their online dating profiles. 

How would I do this? Could I wear “a little black dress and jeans and a t-shirt”? How would I visually manifest “working hard and playing hard”? Should I get a fake arm, throw it around my shoulder, and label with a sign that says “my ex – but don’t worry, he’s out of the picture”? I opted for simplicity and resonance: starting with the little black dress, and adding a whiteboard of sorts – then I’d let people add their own clichés via stickers. I wrote out a bunch of them ahead of time, and stuck them to a sign I’d created using the JDate logo. JDate’s catchphrase is “Where It Happens.” I changed that to “Where Clichés Happen.” And then the public art/commenting phase began. 

The results were fascinating. Not only was this a brilliant conversation piece, but I had become a walking blog post, a work created by a community of the fed-up, a family of collaborators all too happy to contribute their frustrations to my rapidly growing list of clichés. My yeshiva education piped up, silently noting that the “public wall” was a 2.0 version of the somewhat mysterious priestly breastplate, the urim v’tummim, which was associated with oracles, divination and truth-telling; instead of the questions coming via the High Priest, these inquiries were coming directly from the people. Some people - also correctly - noted that they thought I was dressed as "refrigerator poetry." (I guess you know what next year's costume will be. :))

Oscars and Not-Oscars: Predictions and Video

Today is Oscars Day in Hollywood. For the 2nd straight year, no one has invited me to the red carpet or to the awards. This is obviously a huge oversight. In protest, I've not seen any of the nominated films, except "A Serious Man," which was required of all Jews.

However, I was recently invited to the Movieguide Awards (OK, so I invited myself, but are we really going to quibble about semantics?) I created one video post for Beliefnet's Idol Chatter (the official reason I was there), and just uploaded the "scenes that didn't quite make it" (see link at left or embed below) - and yes, the Melora Hardin interview appears in both because I love Jan Levinson. 

But I thought that beyond the Movieguide Awards, I might take a few moments to make some Oscar predictions. These premonitions, these insights into the inner workings of Hollywood have been gleaned through careful analysis of contemporary trends, delving into celebrity psyches, and general observations of the non-blue human species. And might make an excellent drinking game. (Drink responsibly, kids.)

Esther's 2010 Oscars Predictions/Drinking Game

1. Mo'nique will a) thank God/Jesus, b) cry, c) hyperventilate. (This is not a multiple choice quiz - she may do all of these.)

2. Quentin Tarantino - through a manic, energy-infused frenzy of disbelief - will a) dedicate his award to justice or the triumph of good over evil, b) possibly mention Jews, and c) (although this is an outside possibility) mention Hitler.

3. Some otherwise attractive actress will wear something awful to the red carpet. Another actress - potentially one who doesn't fit the typical Hollywood size - will be lauded for her fashion bravery or maligned for trying to wear something nice in her size. And young actresses (under 20) will be dressed up to look like they're 30.

4. The Coens will sport some strange facial hair.

5. Jeff Bridges will invoke the memory of his late father and perhaps mention Beau/the Fabulous Baker Boys. Also, keep your ears ready for the name "T-Bone."

6. Jokes will center on the following themes: blue skin, James Cameron making a lot of money, Quentin Tarantino, revenge on Hitler, the fact that there are 10 Best Picture nominees, the awkward "battle of the exes" (James Cameron v. Catherine Bigelow), with perhaps a riff on the Yiddish opening segment of "A Serious Man."  

7. Colin Firth will be overlooked tonight. But he'll win someday.

8. There will be moments of imposed sadness, as nominees mention Haiti and other disasters around the world. Then they will all donate their gift bags and the proceeds of their next films to disaster relief. (Just kidding about that second part. Although I'd be delighted if they proved me wrong.)

9. Peter Jackson will go home without an Oscar. But he already has enough of the Precious, right?

10. George Clooney will look awesome, and flash that smile at anyone who talks to him. That smile, by the way, is like that magic light in "Men in Black," except instead of making people forget they've seen aliens, it makes people forget Clooney's "Facts of Life" mullet.

11. Helen Mirren will look awesome and someone will make a GILF joke. Meryl Streep may make a strange fashion choice, but is so awesome that no one will care.

12. Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will engage in witty banter and show us why Oscars-hosting is tough, even for pros. Although I also think they might totally rock. Potentially, jokes about: Alec in Beetlejuice, Steve's arrow-through-the-head beginnings, the scene in "It's Complicated" where Steve catches a view of Alec's business, some reference to Meryl Streep, 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live.

13. Israel vs. Germany in the Best Foreign Film category. If I took my Delorean back to 1945, no one would believe it. And if Germany wins, Quentin might use his "Basterds" Oscar to bash Germany over the head.

14. Big tears and applause during this year's Death Montage. I mean, "In Memoriam" segment.

15. Someone will make a joke about Facebook or Twitter.

16. You will not win your Oscars pool.

17. You will find the musical numbers pointless.

18. You will eat too much (and possibly drink too much, even without this drinking game) at your Oscars party.

19. Someone will get "played off" way before they've thanked everyone because they spent the first minute at the podium "OhMyGod'ing." I'm looking at you, Mo'nique and Sandra Bullock.

20. No one will ask George Clooney, "Hey, where's @EstherK?

And now, that footage I promised, featuring Melora Hardin, some kid from Wizards of Waverly Place (What's that? Exactly...), and Heroes.