Movies
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Purim: The Buddy Film
This was my D’var Torah for Shabbat morning, March 16, 2024, Parashat Pekudei. which fell this year about a week before Purim. It’s already after the Oscars, but I have a pitch for a new movie — it could even be a franchise! It’s about a pair of young friends who travel the world together.… Continue reading
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Don’t Strike the [R]ock — Reflections on the Oscars
Head over to my blog at the Times of Israel. Continue reading
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Tov! Podcast Chapter 5 Is Published!
That's Rabbi Sari Laufer, my partner for Chapter 5 of Tov! "To Measure or Not to Measure" — on “The Good Place” Eleanor is excited when she is polite for the first time without thinking, Tahani’s philanthropy doesn't score enough points with her parents or the algorithm, and Chidi doesn’t find pleasure in doing the… Continue reading
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Parashat Chukkat — Is Judaism More Red Heifer or #SelfCare?
This was my D’var Torah for Saturday, June 19, 2021, Parashat Chukkat. The article I reference at the start is really good, in ways that somewhat connect to my theme and also jump off in another important direction. I was in the middle of thinking about the parah adumah — the red heifer with its potpouri… Continue reading
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How About a Fun Elul Film This Saturday Night?
Looking for something to watch on a Saturday night in the month of Elul? At 7:43 PM find some grape juice/wine, a candle, and spices, say or listen to the Havdalah blessings, then settle in for a movie. Here are some of my favorites for the season, pure Hollywood. Suggest your own by posting in the comments… Continue reading
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Harry Potter and the Jewish Angle
This is fascinating — about metaphors in the movie and the Jewish lineage of many of the actors in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywoodjew/item/harry_potter_and_the_half-blood_jews_20090715/ Continue reading
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