Hollywood

Adam Sandler | Celebrities | Conversion | Drew Barrymore | Hollywood | Jewish | Jewish Celebrities | Weddings

Is Drew Barrymore Jewish? No, But She’s Converting to Judaism with Adam Sandler’s Help
ByRabbi Jason Miller January 26, 2012

Cross-posted to the Community Next blog Is Drew Barrymore Jewish? The answer is that she currently is not, but she appears to be interested in converting to the Jewish faith. She is engaged to marry Will Kopelman this year. While many non-Jews preparing for conversion to Judaism reach out to rabbis or Jewish friends for…

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Antisemitism | Celebrities | Hollywood | Mel Gibson | Robert Downey | Yom Kippur

Robert Downey Jr. Appeals For Mel Gibson’s Forgiveness
ByRabbi Jason Miller October 18, 2011

As anyone who was paying attention during the recent Yom Kippur services will tell you, one must seek repentance on their own. In Judaism, there are three ways to atone for sins: asking for forgiveness, praying, and giving charity. Nowhere in Jewish law does it say that a friend can ask for forgiveness on your…

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Celebrities | Hollywood | Humor | Jewish | Patrilineal | Weddings

Ben Stiller is Not a Patrilineal Jew
ByRabbi Jason Miller October 11, 2011

My friend and co-blogger for The Jewish Week, Julie Wiener, writes about Ben Stiller’s opening monologue on Saturday Night Live this past week. Julie’s “In the Mix” blog focuses on issues facing the intermarried. I also tuned in to Saturday Night Live following a 25-hour fast and then watching my Detroit Tigers lose in their…

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Antisemitism | Apple | Celebrities | Controversy | Hollywood | Jewish | Judaism and Technology | Technology

Apple Removes Jewish App in France
ByRabbi Jason Miller September 15, 2011

Cross-posted to the Jewish Techs blog at The NY Jewish Week It’s the age old question: Is so-and-so Jewish or not? I’m not talking about the controversial “Who is a Jew” question that gets into matters of lineage. Rather, the dinner party question of whether a celebrity is Jewish or not. Occasionally I blog about…

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Celebrities | Hanukkah | Hollywood | JTS | Movies

Happy Birthday Adam Sandler
ByRabbi Jason Miller September 9, 2011

Happy Birthday to Adam Sandler, who turns 45 today. Sandler doesn’t always get the respect he should as a comedian, actor and writer but I’ve always been a fan. I recently watched “Funny People” for the second time and was left impressed with Sandler’s range as an actor. Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Waterboy and Big…

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Black-Jewish Relations | Holidays | Hollywood | Rabbis | Yom Kippur

Al Sharpton’s Apology As a Lesson in Repentance for the Jewish High Holidays
ByRabbi Jason Miller August 26, 2011

Last week about 20 rabbis from the Los Angeles area participated in a High Holiday sermon writing workshop called “Punching Up Your Holiday Sermons.” These pre-Rosh Hashanah sermon workshops for rabbis are nothing new, but this workshop had a twist. It paired the rabbis with Hollywood screenwriters who helped them come up with more engaging…

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Celebrities | Hebrew | Hollywood | Jewish | Shabbat

Jennifer Aniston Says Shabbat Shalom
ByRabbi Jason Miller July 10, 2011

In what is certainly a first, a big name celebrity says “Shabbat Shalom” in a movie. “Horrible Bosses” starring Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, and Donald Sutherland has a scene in which Jennifer Aniston exclaims, “Shabbat Shalom!” Here’s a clip: (c) Rabbi Jason Miller | http://blog.rabbijason.com | Twitter: @RabbiJason | facebook.com/rabbijasonmiller

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Babies | Celebrities | Hollywood | Israel | Jewish | Names

Natalie Portman Names Son Alef
ByRabbi Jason Miller July 6, 2011

I first read the reports last month that Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied had named their newborn son Alef. There was no confirmation of the name from Portman so I didn’t blog about it. Now, it appears that more news sources are picking up on this rumor. Israel Hayom first raised the possibility that Natalie…

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Babies | Benjamin Millepied | Bris | Celebrities | children | Hollywood | Jewish | Jewish Future | Natalie Portman | Ritual | Ritual Circumcision

Natalie Portman Gives Birth to a Baby Boy
ByRabbi Jason Miller June 15, 2011

Since I launched this blog in March 2003, no post has attracted as much attention as the one I titled simply: “Is Benjamin Millepied Jewish?” That post has received dozens more comments than this blog normally receives. And that simple question: “Is Benjamin Millepied Jewish?” has driven traffic to this blog in record numbers. So, now…

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Celebrities | Hollywood | Humor | Jewish | Rabbi | Rabbis

Isla Fisher Wants to Be a Rabbi
ByRabbi Jason Miller March 11, 2011

Music Rooms reports that the actress Isla Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”), the wife of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, joked that after converting to Judaism she now wants to become a rabbi. Isla became engaged to the comedian in 2004, and studied for three years before completing her conversion in early 2007. The 35-year-old star took on…

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