Mystics, Jews and non-Jews around the world are praying for his recovery…There ARE those that are praying for the worst (does the name “Ahmadinejad ring any bells?)…Also…The blame game begins…Who is responsible for Sharon’s medical problems?…We Israeli-Jews just LOVE to blame ourselves…Plus…Advice from Kofi Annan…All this and MORE…

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Judaism Has A Prayer for WHAT???…You’ve Got to be Kidding!!!

Also…Some Jewish and not-so-Jewish Star Watching…Even more!!!…Crazy, Hot Winds Blowing in Israel..(and We’re NOT talking about Israeli Politicians, either!!)

Noa

Richard Gere

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Could lead to some pretty weird airport checks in the future, no?…
As if the health authorities don’t ALREADY have enough on their plate (figuratively speaking, of course) with the current outbreak of bird flu in the country…Which, by the way, we are handling superbly!…

Plus…Another happy Jewish marriage…
All this and MORE…

Illegal Organ Sales Abroad

How will the Israeli health authorities check for THESE at the airport? (especially when they are already installed!)

Jerusalem Biblical Zoo

A great place to visit in Israel…

Nah, didn’t think so…

Romantic Giraffes in Jerusalem

The overly amorous giraffes in Jerusalem have been doing a bit too much necking…

What do the Rabbis have to say about this?

Karni Border Crossing

Israel has closed it because of terror-attack warnings…

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A local kibbutz was the scene of a brutal battle…A unique, NOT-politically correct Bar Mitzvah celebration in Israel…

Plus…Kibbutz life then and now, Israeli Beduin…
All this and MORE…

A good old-fashioned Bar Mitzvah party…

Great fun, right?

Bar Mitzvah battle…

Paintball rules!

Camels…

But keep your eyes on the road!

That’s the way it used to be on an Israeli kibbutz-farming collective…

Just like everywhere else, I guess…

Especially with some serious clouds of war hanging over the Middle East…

New Show/Podcast!!!

Jon Voight

Massive efforts to bring Barbara Streisand to Israel, but Elton John delivers the goods…BIG time…

Then there’s Jon Voight…supporter of Israel extraordinaire…

Plus…The Prophet Ezekiel foretells massive oil spills in the oceans preceding the Messiah…First, America’s East Coast…Now, Egypt is being “slimed out” by oil spills”…

And…The threat of war looms over Israel from all sides…North, South, East and West…Reports of Israeli military in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan ..American, Israeli and German warships move through the Suez Canal on their way to the Persian Gulf, as Iran declares “state of war” on its northwestern border…

All this and more on “The Marty Roberts Show”…

Listen to the show…

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Elton John

We all know Elton John is a fabulous musician..his performances are legendary…his songs are part of the classic history of music…

I saw him perform in the 1970′s and he blew me away…

I have been listening to his music since the ’70s…I have been playing his music for almost 40 years…

I have been hearing about his sexual proclivities for 30+ years…

I just learned something new about Elton John…THE MAN HAS B-LLS!!!

Bravo on your performance in Israel…Thank you, Elton John…

Elton John Performs in Tel Aviv Amid Gaza Conflict

Elton John showed his support for the people of Israel during a performance in Tel Aviv on Thursday, June 17 when he took aim at artists who had pulled shows in the country in protest of the government’s alleged treatment of Palestinians

Reprinted from Peace FM Online

The “Rocket Man” star refused to bow to pressure and follow in the footsteps of musicians like Pixies and Elvis Costello and scrap his concert in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine over the Gaza strip.

In May, rocker Costello canceled two planned gigs in Tel Aviv on June 30 and July 1, insisting it was “a matter of instinct and conscience” to axe the shows following an Israeli military raid on a flotilla of ships attempting to carry aid supplies to Palestine. But John pressed ahead with his concert at the Ramat Gan stadium on Thursday, defiantly telling the 50,000-strong crowd, “Shalom, we are so happy to be back here! Ain’t nothing (sic) gonna stop us from coming, baby!”

And he briefly addressed the canceled concert controversy by calling on his fellow singers to put aside their political allegiances to unite fans of all cultures. He said, “Musicians spread love and peace, and bring people together. That’s what we do. We don’t cherry-pick our conscience.

Israel is becoming a popular stop on the concert tour of most major pop-music acts.

If you’re going to be in Israel this July, you might want to catch Seals’ show.

If you STILL need an excuse to get on that plane to Israel…

Seal...On His Way to Israel?

Seal to perform in Israel

Soul and R&B singer announces concert in Raanana on July 21st

Reprinted from YnetNews.com Or Barnea

British singer Seal will arrive in Israel and hold a single concert in the Raanana Amphitheatre on July 21st, his official website reported Sunday.

No confirmation has yet been received from Israeli producers.

The singer will arrive in the Jewish state after visiting Turkey as part of his July European Tour. It has not yet been reported whether he will be accompanied in Israel by his wife, German supermodel and TV presenter Heidi Klum.

Seal, 47, is best known for two chart-topping hits from the 1990s: “Crazy” and “Kiss from a Rose”. He has won multiple Grammy awards over the years for his achievements in music.

The singer has three children with Klum and has also adopted her daughter from a previous marriage.

His latest album, “Soul,” a collection of renditions of famous soul classics, was released two years ago. Last year he released a hits compilation as well as a DVD documenting one of his live shows in New York.

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New Show/Podcast!!!

Auschwitz...Popular Tourist Destination

Is the Next Step a Commercial Sponsor for the Nazi Death Camp Memorial?

Who paid how much to whom to have an individual memorialized at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Death Camp Memorial?

Also…Tel-Aviv…Now one of the world’s top ten party destinations

And…The Russians are replacing Americans as top tourists to Israel

Russian Circus Monkeys as Jews..Not Anti-Semitic?

Plus…Monkeys playing Jews in the Russian circus…and the local Jews don’t seem to care……All this and more on “The Marty Roberts Show”…Listen to the show below…

Once again, the Jewish People are fulfilling our mandate, given by the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai, to be a “Light unto the nations”. The Israeli parliament (knesset) will be leading the rally around the world to bring the price of popcorn in movie theaters to realistic levels. As a kid, I never COULD buy popcorn when I went to the movies…just too expensive. Now, maybe impoverished youth worldwide will be able to enjoy their favorite flic while happily crunching on exploded corn kernels. We can only hope and pray that the dire prophecies of doom being chanted by the movie theater companies. THEY claim that their entire business is supported by sales of the white manna at puffed-up prices.
Lead on, Israeli lawmakers…

Popcorn

Israeli politician moves to limit the soaring price of popcorn


Israel may curb the high price of popcorn and soft drinks – which global cinema chains claim keeps them in business

Reprinted from The Guardian Ben Childs

It is the source of angst for cinemagoers worldwide – why is the price of popcorn so high? Now an Israeli politician is threatening to introduce legislation that would ban cinemas in the country from overcharging for snacks and soft drinks.

Carmel Shama of the governing Likud party will attempt to introduce the measure when Israeli MPs return from their Passover break next week. He claims to have cross-party support for the move, which is fiercely opposed by cinema chains and other public entertainment venues where it would apply, such as sports stadiums and concert venues.

“We have to put an end to this. The public should not have to mortgage their houses for a soft drink and a snack,” Shama tells today’s Yediot Aharonot newspaper.

A large box of popcorn costs about $5 in Israeli cinemas, more than double what it would be in a supermarket and 10 times what it would cost to make at home. Yet Yaacov Cohen, owner of one of Israel’s largest chains, said cinema owners made virtually no profit from ticket sales and would struggle to survive if food sales were limited. “It would destroy the entire industry,” he told Yediot.

Two years ago, researchers from Stanford and the University of California in Santa Cruz found that members of the public were not being ripped off over the cost of popcorn and other confectionery – because profits were used to subsidise cinema tickets. While they accounted for only about 20% of gross revenues, food and drink sales represented some 40% of cinema profits, the researchers found. This was because 100% of proceeds went straight into an exhibitor’s coffers, while ticket revenues were shared with movie distributors.

Some countries would call this treason, like, for instance, any Arab country in the Middle East that Mr. Copti might choose to live in.(but he doesn’t…he chooses Israel) He is, in fact, a citizen of the State of Israel. Israel, by the way, helped fund this film which is giving Copti his 15 minutes of fame. He had no problem accepting the money and all the benefits of Israeli citizenship. He chooses to live in Israel, not anywhere else, as do all of the Arab citizens of the Jewish State. No one is keeping them here against their will.
How about a little grace? How about a little thankfulness for all the good you have received from your country?
You seem to be taking your freedom and human rights in Israel a bit for granted…
Copti says he doesn’t represent his home country,,the country that facilitated his advance in the movie industry and helped finance his film. I wonder just exactly who he DOES represent?…I guess just old selfish himself…

‘Ajami’ director: I don’t represent Israel


‘I cannot represent a state that does not represent me,’ Scandar Copti says just hours before Academy Awards ceremony

Reprinted from YNet News

“Ajami” co-director Scandar Copti said Sunday that he is not representing Israel at the Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, just hours before his film competes in the best foreign film category.

“I am not the Israeli team and I am not representing Israel,” Copti told Channel 2. “It’s a very technical thing. This is how it works at the Oscars. It says Israel because the money comes from Israel. You have an Israeli director, you have a Palestinian director, you have Palestinian actors and Israeli actors.

International Success
‘Ajami’ gets real, aims for Oscar / Reuters
None of Israeli film’s actors imagined low-budget drama would earn nomination for best foreign language film at Academy Awards. Directors’ strategy was to find first-time actors who shared similar backgrounds with characters and who would infuse roles with real-life experience
Full story

“The film represents Israel technically, but I don’t represent Israel. I cannot represent a country that does not represent me.”

Yaron Shani, the film’s other co-director, does not agree with Copti. “It’s an Israeli film. It represents Israel, it speaks in the Israeli language and it deals with Israeli problems. The representation question refers to problems of perspectives and political problems which need to be solved,” Shani said in the same interview.

Following the remarks, Science and Technology Minister Daniel Herkowitz (Habayit Hayehudi) called on Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat to launch an inquiry into the film’s funding by the State of Israel.

“The person who directed the film with Israeli funding may cover himself with Hamas flags tonight. If the film wins an Oscar, this may be a Pyrrhic victory for the State of Israel,” the minister said.

In response to Copti’s remairs, Minister Livnat said, “The film ‘Ajami’ was produced and received an Oscar nomination thanks to funds from the State of Israel, which Scandar Copti now tries to renounce. Without the State’s support, Copti would not be walking on the red carpet tonight.”

She added, “It’s sad that a director who was supported by the State is renouncing those that made it possible for him to create and express himself. Fortunately, all the others who had a part in the film’s creation consider themselves part of the State of Israel and are proud to represent it.”

The film’s directors and stars attended several Hollywood events over the weekend ahead of Sunday night’s ceremony. Copti told Ynet earlier that winning was not the most important thing for him.

“It would be nice to get the prize, but we don’t need it. It’s not a must,” he said.

“Ajami” will be competing in the best foreign-language film category against “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” from Argentina, “The Milk of Sorrow” from Peru, “Un Prophete” from France, and “The White Ribbon” from Germany. It is the ninth Israeli movie to be nominated for an Oscar in this category.

I can’t wait to get another dose of one of my favorite comedy shows on TV, here, in Israel…I wonder how the flavor of the show will change?…The workplace here, in Israel, is nothing like that in America.

Waiting with baited breath…


Original cast of The Office: Ricky Gervais, Lucy Davis, and Martin Freeman.

Israeli version of hit TV sitcom The Office in the works

An Israeli version of hit TV show The Office is in the works and will feature both Arab and Ethiopian characters, according to reports in the British media.

By Haaretz Service

The show, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, will be named Super Office and will be set in central Israel, near Tel Aviv. Actor Avi Meshulam will be stepping into the shoes of character David Brent, originally portrayed by Gervais.

The Office has been remade in France, Russia and the United States, where it has turned into a hit, starring Steve Carell.

According to reports, in the Israeli version Gareth becomes Yariv, and Tim and Dawn become Yossi and Dana.

The show also includes a character named Abed, described as “an intellectual Arab with a gentle soul,” and Abba, who is Ethiopian.

“I am thrilled and amazed that Israel is making The Office with local writers, directors and actors,” Gervais was quoted as saying. “I mean, who ever heard of Jewish entertainers?”