An Orthodox Jewish woman is suing the Lancome cosmetics firm, claiming that its 24-hour makeup does not last as long as advertised and thus prevents her from looking good for the entirety of Shabbat. Rorie Weisberg of Monsey, NY, in her lawsuit said Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra 24H foundation does not last 24 hours and that the company is practicing false advertising, a violation of New York State business law, the New York Post reported Wednesday. Weisberg's lawsuit explains that her son is having a bar mitzvah …More

Robert Gluck, JNS.org Film historian Bob Birchard describes an anti-Jewish prejudice in American culture that existed well into the 20th century, not at the level of the Nazi desire to exterminate the Jews, but rather looking down upon Jews as inferior to the mainstream Protestant class that developed in the US. Famed actor Kirk Douglas was raised against that social backdrop. “This [anti-semitism] came about because of the large number of Jewish immigrants that came in the late 19th and early 20th …More

Welcome to the party! Pull up a chair, trade inappropriate jokes with your Uncle Shlomo, get the fish instead of the chicken you requested, and try to price the gaudy centerpieces. But don’t get comfortable, the gauntlet of every American Jewish celebration is approaching: “Hava Nagila.” This bar mitzvah and wedding staple has successfully crossed over from niche Jewish culture to mainstream kitsch in the decades it has held prominence. Linked with the hora, there is simply no more identifiable …More

Putin suggests a Jewish archive disputed with the US could go to a Moscow museum. [Fox] An Israeli scours a German lake for Jewish gold looted by Nazis. [Independent] France to launch search for more Jewish owners of Nazi plundered art. [Telegraph] Two Jews on film Oscar picks for 2013. [Jewish Journal] A Poland deal massively expands access to prewar Jewish records. [Times of Israel] The new American Jewish secularism. [Washington Post] With Obama's visit to Israel just around the corner, the Jewish …More

A teenager from Los Angeles proved his mensch status recently, donating his bar mitzvah money to purchase two ambulances for an Israeli city. Robert Leeds, 13, was inspired after the city of Sacramento became a “sister city” with Ashkelon in the Jewish state last year. In turn, Robert started a fundraising drive to coincide with his bar mitzvah, asking for donations instead of gifts. In total, Robert raised $200,000. The ambulances were donated during a ceremony earlier this month, with help from …More

Underprivileged children in Israel have a new basketball court to play on, thanks to one New York bar mitzvah boy. Daniel Klosk donated all of the money given to him for his bar mitzvah to build the court in the Yud Alef neighborhood, which is home to mostly immigrants from Ethiopia and the Former Soviet Union. “I thought it’s important to give the kids in the neighborhood not only a new basketball court, but also the opportunity to enjoy the experience of learning and playing competitively on a real …More

When 13-year-old Joshua Neidorf took to the bima for his bar mitzvah, he knew his first act as a man would be giving back to others. Joshua recently donated $13,000 in bar mitzvah money to Operation Mend, a program that offers reconstructive face surgery to US military veterans. "I just love knowing that it’s going somewhere … to help the people who save our lives and keep us safe everyday," the California-based teen told reporters. "It makes me feel like our world is going in a good direction with …More

A 99-year-old man became a bar mitzvah last week, with the help of a local Chabad house in Sydney. Isaac Volinsky, a former Soviet Union resident now living in Australia, was attending services at his Chabad when Rabbi Eli Schlanger realized the man had never completed the time honored Jewish rite. With the rabbi’s aid and supplies from the nearby Emanuel Synagogue, Volinksy was able to fulfill the ritual, 86 years later than the customary 13 years of age. "I can remember my grandfather putting …More

Orthodox-Jewish rapper Shyne took to Twitter to air his grievance with fellow musician Rick Ross. Ross recently released a new mix tape entitled “The Black Bar Mitzvah,” which includes guest appearances by Diddy, 2 Chainz, and Drake, who is Jewish himself. Firing off a slue of tweets in two days, Shyne, born Jamal Barrow and now named Moshe Levi, called out the Miami rapper on everything from his use of Jewish ideas and iconography to his former stint as a corrections officer. Shyne spent almost …More

Jews have been telling stories for as long as anyone can, or cares to, remember. Now, we’re finally getting some credit for it. Israeli Shachar Lavi, a 28-year-old music producer from Tel Aviv, won first place last week at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival’s 24-hour International Storytelling Marathon. Confused as to what goes into a storytelling contest? Let us explain: Once upon a time in a land called Scotland… We’re kidding. Basically, the contest pulled together finalists from all over …More

Three Israeli universities make the world’s top 100 list. [Arutz Sheva 7] For modern use of water in Israel to continue, the country needs to develop a deeper awareness for it. [The Jerusalem Post] Chron’s disease is on the rise in Ashekanzi Jewish children. [The Jewish Daily Forward] Israeli soccer players apologize for laughing during a Holocaust lecture. [The Times of Israel] Israel begins its EuroBasket 2013 qualifying campaign today. [The Jerusalem Post] Arab-Israeli arsonists are viewed by …More

A suburban New York congressman was accused of soliciting donations from a constituent who sought the lawmaker's help in gaining government permits for a bar mitzvah fireworks show. Eric Semier of Southampton, NY, was throwing the bash for his son and needed the help of Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) to get government permits to put the fireworks on display, according to Politico. Before Bishop and his aides completed their work on his behalf, Semier claims, he received a request from the Long Island congressman’s …More