When filmmaker Eric Daniel Metzgar set out to follow Kristof on his stories, he realized this film is as much about the art of journalism as it is about compassion, and suffering. He let the story tell itself which led the audience to meet people in the greatest suffering, in the deepest anger, and with the saddest stories. And that is what Kristof wanted, because one person’s story can provoke compassion and maybe bring the issues alive.

Today, it is unbelievable to think how we got here. There are 5.4 million dead in Africa’s genocide over the past five years, and 1.4 currently misplaced in Eastern Congo alone. Twenty two militias are in battle in the region, in a place with absolute no law and order. Rape is not a crime, in fact it is what militia do during battle. In this case, it’s a battle that never ends or clocks out. Kristof has written 60 columns addressing the genocide alone.

"If it’s happening every day, it should be written about every day," said one journalist in Reporter. "Imagine, during the Holocaust, saying ‘Oh, there was 20 stories written about the extermination of the Jews. It’s redundant.’"

One way to fight the genocide is with militia and guns, said Kristof. Another is with notebooks and pens. "And that’s what I do," he said, bringing two students with him – Leona Won and Will Okun – to travel as eyewitnesses in the Congo.

The Congo

The Congo is a land where 22 militias are at constant battle especially among the most fierce, the Hutus and Tutsis. After fleeing the Rwandan genocide, the Hutus fled to the Congo reliving a same kind of fate there.

Kristof and the crew spent, at one point, time with Nkunda – a warlord on the side of the Tutsis – where they got to see their church and even stayed for dinner. "We love G-d too much," said one militia.

After attempts to fight peacefully, Nkunda formed a rebel militia. "In Africa, we have no human rights. Only strong rights," Nkunda said. "I’m not a warlord. I’m a liberator."

They all believe they are liberators, as told in the film. All trying to create order, and justice, in their own way through murdering and raping others.

"It was unbelievably eerie to eat with people who caused so much suffering in the Congo. But it was the best meal we had since we got there," Metzgar said.

The Writing Process

It was said that if it were not for Nicholas Kristof, the world would not know of Darfur. Kristof was the first to put it on the map, and continues to push the agenda. He has covered women’s issues including sex trafficking for almost a decade now. His work has been acclaimed with two Pulitzer awards. How does Kristof get us to care?

Kristof has a habit of reading the psychology of compassion. He has learned that people are far more compassionate when they see one girl in need on a television screen, or hear of one death, than when they see or hear of even two people. Then it becomes a statistic; then our minds lack the ability to comprehend.

Kristof’s art is in telling the story of one person to bring systemic change for all. That one person is who Kristof calls his "Rokia," the person whose story can illuminate the massive conflict. Everyone warranted a column, Kristof said. But he was still seeking the saddest story, even though saddest stories exist whether he writes them or not, Metzgar said while capturing the hunt for Kristof’s Rokia.

Take that one person’s story and multiply it by 4 million – and then you have a fuller story of what’s really taking place. Kristoff is famed for his piece "Save the Darfur Puppy." If people are unmoved by the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of humans, maybe they will care about a puppy, he decided.

The film incorporated beautiful still snapshots taken by student Will Okun to coincide with the stories, and luckily, student Leona Won knew medicine enough to help a 40 year old woman, under 80 pounds, get to a hospital to find out her infections were incurable. Kristof interviewed that woman who could barely speak on the way there.

How Do We Help?

Actress Mia Farrow, now involved with UNICEF, said Kristof’s column on Darfur "Tore me apart and rearranged me." Hearing about what is going on, seeing it, reading it rearranges most of us, for deep down we are unbearably human. Some issues are too great to deal with. What is it that we can possibly do? Building a school, as said in the film, isn’t helpful when militia return and burn it down. Giving instructions to the people isn’t helpful. But, Kristof says, we can listen more and speak up more.

Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service who hosted the film premiere at HBO Studios, sat on panel after the premiere alongside Eric Metzgar and Nicholas Kristof. What can we do? She said we can read newspapers more and keep journalism alive. We can start and continue to talk about these issues. We can get involved in organizations that help keep this agenda front and center and continue to write to our leaders that we want to see action.

As a journalist who is most passionate of all about the 60 to 100 million young girls and women missing to the sex trade — girls who die in their early 20s to AIDS or get their eyes gauzed for being resistant — Kristof tends to break his journalistic boundaries and even "buys" girls in order to return them to their homes. This model of what we can do says we can do anything; that we should do anything in our power.

"I think this is true compassion," Metzgar said in the conclusion of the film referring to Kristof’s desire to create change by telling these stories. "If Nick didn’t think he could do this, he’d probably given up by now."

During the Q&A session that concluded the premiere, Kristof said he likes traveling light. He prefers not to make plans and instead maneuvers around in as much secrecy as possible to prevent any likeliness for kidnap. Not only did he bring two students with him this time, but a camera crew is "really not my style," he said. With all the gear that was brought, Kristoff joked he was tempted to hand over the crew to General Nkunda. But ultimately, Kristoff said, "I care about the story. If Eric can do that [bring alive this story], then I’m willing to have on an extra twenty boxes of supplies."

The event was sponsored by American Jewish World Service Global Circle. For more information about the Global Circle, please visit http://www.ajws.org/get_involved/global_circle.html. For more information about Reporter, please visit www.Reporterfilm.com.

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Niles Goldstein is famous for taking Judaism back to its roots: tradition, rebellion, mysticism and G-d. His last book Gonzo Judaism showed us the exciting, provocative and exhilarating parts of being Jewish and living Jewish lives. Now Niles get’s a littler more personal in his new book, "The Challenge of the Soul," where his part memoir, part soul-help book proves that G-d really does give kudos to the badass.

All about using adversity as opportunity, Niles mastered a black belt in karate, founded the New Shul in Tribeca, and is about to move in on one of many new, exciting directions. We sat down with Niles to hear more about his life, soul search and yetzer hara, evil inclinations. Read what he had to say here.

Press has called you the "Bad Boy Rabbi." I don’t know you well enough to say if that‘s true. Does the label resonate with you? Why, why not?

If that means, I’m unethical, then I’m not comfortable with that label. But if by "bad boy" – and this is what I think they meant in the article – that I didn’t play by other people’s rules, I was willing to push the boundaries, I broke a lot of people’s presumptuous stereotypes, I was hard drinking, womanizing, and liked to push the envelopes in ways that most ordained members of the clergy wouldn’t — in that sense, I don’t mind being called a "Bad Boy Rabbi."

Your new book, The Challenge of the Soul, is entirely immersed in G-d, spirituality, self-work. How much do you think these concepts will resonate with people in today’s world? And was this a fear of yours in writing it?

If they’re opened, they’re going to get it. What I’m offering is a challenge. I would challenge even your assumption. I think you’re 100 percent right, in the area of religion, that people don’t want to do the heavy lifting, they don’t want to do the work. But in other areas, going to the gym or starting up a business, people are willing to put long hours in those areas. So I would challenge the assumption that we live in an era that people don’t want to do the heavy lifting. I would challenge a culture, and the men and women lazy in this area, and I would say Why the hell are you not willing to invest the same kind of time into working on your soul? And if you’re not, I would say you are really missing the boat.

The first line in the book is from Hobbes: Human life is nasty, brutish, and short. The second line is, so the f*ck what? The real question is, if that’s true, what do we do next? Starting with that assumption and acknowledging that difficult reality, what do we do next? That is what the book is about.

In this book, you talk about your path through martial arts and rabbinical ordination which appeared to be an obvious path for you. Not all people are so certain about their direction. How were you?

To remain confident in my decisions, and in my passions and pursuits, was accepting the fact that I was surrounded by uncertain ambiguity, and at times, moments of very, very serious doubt and questioning. I had to make that leap — in a spiritual and physical sense. Some people spend their life at best taking baby steps. Then they are at their 80s and 90s and about to die, looking back in regret. That is one thing I resolved never to do. All the pervasive fear of my own mortality was the galvanizing force behind all of this. While I think I am a pretty confident person, and the book is about how to become confident and be bold in the face of adversity, I am very much in fear. How do you embrace fear without letting it paralyze you? That is the core of the whole book.

What is one teaching you encourage readers to take from your book?

One teaching, common to every thing I have written and sermon I’ve given, is that despite life’s uncertain ambiguity and moments of real terror and challenge, there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is possibly to mime courage and strength from within even in face of all that adversity if we have the right mindset and if we have developed the right skills. That takes patience, humility, study. I think that’s really the key.

If we accept as a given that life is uncertain, rather than sitting paralyzed at that awareness, through patience, belief and faith, learning from others and humility, we can still develop the strength and the skills we need to continue to grow. None of those things are going to go away. Growth ends when we succumb to fear. Or to sense of hopelessness. When you lost hope, you really lost it all.

What is one Jewish teaching or teacher you take with you wherever you go?

I think you could guess, if I had to reduce it to one, the Kotzker Rebbe. He understands the darkness so well. His teachings are on the mark. His incites are short, aphoristic, so powerful. HE would be the guy. He was so aware of how damaging our ego could be with our ability to move forward and grow and how it could serve as basically a wall to prevent G-d from entering our lives.

His teaching: Where is G-d? Wherever we allow G-d to enter.

G-d is everywhere. The burden is really on us, not on G-d. It’s about opening up, allowing ourselves, scary as hell, to become vulnerable and opened. And then transformable things can happen to us. Not just in spirituality but other areas of our lives as well.

How does it feel to have testimonials from Rabbi Zalman calling you an "insightful guide," or the editor-in-chief of ESPN saying, "When Jacob wrestled with the angel, he could have used Niles Goldstein his corner…?"

After nine books, like a lot of other authors, you learn not to take praise too seriously and not to take criticism too seriously.

To know I could touch the life of someone who is a secular sports writer as well as someone who is a modern day kabbbalist is a very cool thing. To know that someone, who makes it his business to write about sports, really resonated with what you wrote and respected what you wrote about religion meant a lot. These are two different kinds of people, two different stages of life, two different backgrounds, and both found meaning in this book. Obviously as an author I’d like to reach as broad an audience as possible. That meant a great deal.

What’s next? After fighting off bears, and Mormons, and starting up Shuls?

As I transition away from the congregational world, I am working on several projects right now looking to strive and have national impact on religious and spiritual life on America and the world. I’m continuing to write. In December, heading to Peru with my brother and father. One of my dreams before I die is to visit Iran.

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On sites like Craigslist and AshleyMadison.com (which carries the motto “Life is short. Have an affair.”) people who self-proclaim as “religious” can be found seeking out others of their faith tradition to be unfaithful with. In the past, philandering religious men went to strip clubs and so-called “kosher” brothels to retreat from their wives in secret. But there appears to be a trend of religious men and women seeking out affairs online; and one man has founded a website tailored specifically to his community’s needs.

“Every day I would see ads on Craigslist from the “frum” [religious Jewish] community. My wife and I started talking to them and realized there was a big need for this,” said Jerry (who does not wish to disclose his last name for safety), founder of Shaindy.com. Shaindy.com is tailored mainly to the religious and Jewish seeking extramarital affairs. Though the site is only two months old, Shaindy.com — with the tag line, “Jews Can Have Fun Too” — already has 2,500 members paying $99 annually for the right to log on and seek out other married people interested in having an affair.

“People always like to think that we are holier than thou,” Jerry said, who himself is a member of the Orthodox community. “Our community has the same needs as any other community — dating, drugs, cheating or whatever, and it’s silly to think we are ‘different.’”Continue reading at www.BustedHalo.com.

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But before you jump to conclusions, Jerry (the founder’s pseudonym for safety purposes) said he was simply addressing a need – and the numbers prove it. Only a two month site and there are nearly 2,000 members, 12 of which signed up while we were chatting. All he had to do was go on Craigslist to see the religious Jewish community putting personals up for affairs to understand there is a market for this. And it doesn’t hurt that his wife is all about it, too.

So what happens on this site and why has it become so popular in the religious community? Read our interview with Jerry here. Thanks for taking the interview. Can you tell us who Shaindy.com is made for? Well Shaindy is basically for married people who want an affair or just a listening ear from other people "to vent" or "distress." The idea was there is NO such venue in the Jewish community.

Every day I would see on Craigslist ads from the "frum" community. We [wife and I] started talking to them and realized there was a big need for it. We have all kind of people in here – Chassidic, Modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reform. It’s fair to say it’s for Jewish people. What surprises me is that especially for the Orthodox community, they are very tight knit. There must be a fear in meeting someone who they already know.. or know their rabbi? How is that addressed? Over here you can chat with someone for a while before you open up and you make sure you chat with someone who has the same beliefs as you have. Why do you feel that people who are looking to have an affair want someone with the same beliefs, especially same religious beliefs for those more religious on the site? When people have the same issues and problems it is much more comfortable to connect with those kind of people. It’s more of a challenge to get a girl or guy from your background. They will UNDERSTAND you way more because they are in the same situation. Obviously there is a need for it. I am checking the stats on my site as we speak and there are over 3000 chat/messages between members on a daily basis.

What is it (marriage structure, religious structure, etc.) that you feel causes those logging onto your site to seek out an affair? Well I am obviously not the professional to answer that but I would just believe that we are in the same boat as any other religion or race and people always like to think that we are holier than thou and it [affairs] does not happen here. But that’s not the case!! Our community has the same needs as any other community let it be dating, drugs, cheating or whatever and it’s silly to think we are "different." Yes, in deed, there are lots of miserable people here. LOL. As someone who is religious yourself, do you feel at all this is going "against" your religion? Well, that’s a whole separate interview but here goes it. I was "brought" up religious but I believe in SHIT basically. So, I have no GUILT in me whatsoever. I find many, many, many people sharing the same beliefs as myself. Do you feel that Shaindy and other online resources could be a push for people to leave the religious community? I don’t think so! People are stuck in a situation and they just "sweat it out," so to say!! They have kids, they have family pressures. It’s a viscous cycle. I am a little bit lucky I have a wife who sort of is on the same page like myself. MOST people don’t have and that’s a major problem. Are either of you worried that the two of you will be using it to have an affair? NO!! We are into the swinger lifestyle. We go to swinger clubs and we do it ONLY together. We have a great marriage. And we have already met a nice Chassidic couple from Shaindy. [Yes, this guy is totally opened.] So I have to ask about hate mail. I’m sure you get tons. People send us quotes from Torah how we are gonna pay for this and we will die and my family will get cancer and they will find me and kill me — shit like that. I am already immune to this crap. Interesting story I have though…… One guy sent us email of hate. My wife opened it and asked him to call her (we have a special unpublished number untraceable). He called and start yelling at her… yada yada yada. Half hour later he broke down about his marriage and asked my wife for a date, haha. So there!! I’m not sure if that’s funny or sad. As you can see, I am enjoying this way much more than I should. Are you into couples? …And with that we close this interview. Thanks Jerry. By the way, if anyone is looking for a job, Shaindy is hiring for a secretary position. Just thought I’d mention it. What are your thoughts?? Email me at FindMyJewSpot@gmail.com.

Originally posted @ The Jew Spot

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Interested in getting half-naked with French, Australian and Greek Jews?? Sign up at http://www.absolut-events.com/miami09/. The vaca is from June 28 – July 5 (I think).Monica from The Jew Spot (i.e. Me) will be there!

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“The reason [I got tattoos] is not because I am not religious, it is not because I do not believe in G-d, or even because I am not a devout Jew,” Alamar said. “It is simply because it is my body and I don’t need anyone to make decisions for me.”

Alamar, who connects especially with his arm piece inscription l’dor v’dor, meaning “From Generation to Generation,” ironically hides his tattoos from his grandparents — the generations before him. While some would see the words as an honor, the older generation of Jews associates tattoos with breaking Jewish law, idolatry, improper burial procedure, and the infliction of tattoos on Jews during the Holocaust. Despite its eerie past, many Jews of the new generation are fighting back with ink, expressing themselves with connection and pride.

Read the entire article at BustedHalo.com. 

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Stars of David and other Jewish symbols like the Hamsa (known as the protecting hand of G-d that wards off the evil eye) are no longer only strictly worn by the ultra-Orthodox. Now Jews across the country are slipping them on, if merely for fashion purposes.

Now celebrities, Jewish and not, are in on the trend, too. Israeli rapper Subliminal has been seen wearing a rhinestone-studded Star of David necklace in the same way other rappers hang gold chains hanging from their necks to show off their bling. Actor Jeremy Piven clenched a handmade .925 sterling silver Jewish Star of David Magen chain and pendant made by Ari Soffer in a recent Gap T-shirt ad.

Back in February, Britney Spears was photographed wearing a large Star of David chain, a gift from Isaac Cohen, a male model who was said to be romantically involved with her at the time.

Then there’s Agyness Deyn, a popular model known for her sultry runway walk, popular fashion campaign ads, and independent hipster style. One night she noticed a guy wearing an interesting Hamsa amulet on the end of a rosary chain and asked him where he got it. When he told her, she requested one was made for her and a new wave of Jewish symbol followers were born.

Carlen Altman, the creator of the Jewish Rosaries line that gave Agyness that pendant, says that was the moment the line really took off, but believes perhaps it was because Jews were looking for a new, unique, and innovative way to proclaim their pride.

Jewish Rosaries does just that, taking on the trend the way the Christian faith has made wearing a cross on your chest the trendy thing to do. In fact, Carlen says she used the prayer beads worn by devout Catholics like Madonna to add Chais (the Hebrew letter and Jewish symbol for life), Hamsas (protection against the evil eye), matzahs, Torahs, and of course, the quintessential Star of David.

Carlen’s brand Jewish Rosaries, operates out of her Brighton Beach, Brooklyn home, where she dwells with a stand-up comedian father and a theatrical agent mother and where she taught herself how to make her own jewelry.

Hey Carlen! How did you come up with the idea for your brand?

I came up with the idea for a Jewish Rosary when I saw how beautiful that Catholic rosaries looked on such celebrities as Pete Doherty and Madonna – and wished I could wear one myself. Because there was no necklace of this style available, I decided to take things into my own hands and make one, and the rest is history!

How did you get your start?

I made a Jewish Rosary for myself and then friends of mine asked me to make them one. One night, my good friend Ian wore a Filigree Hamsa Rosary with black beads from my collection to a concert and model Agyness Deyn asked him where he got his necklace – Agyness then requested I make her one – and once she started wearing hers, my line really seemed to take off and I was getting emails left and right asking me to make more!

How do you come up with your designs?

I come up with jewelry that I would wear myself, which is actually very hard to do as I don’t wear very much jewelry! I only like to wear one statement piece of jewelry at a time! My favorite piece from Jewish Rosaries is the Olympic Rosary in Distressed Gold, which is based off of my Grandma Rose’s antique pendant that she said brought her good luck.

I also have a necklace in the Jewish Rosaries line called Everybody Doven Now, which involves a charm of a Dancing Hasidic Man and a Kiddush Cup. I thought this would be a really fun, special necklace for people to wear who want to make a bolder, more humorous fashion statement than some of my more classic styled necklaces.

In terms of style influences, I am a big fan of Chanel’s classic aesthetic use of pearls, as well as Juicy Couture’s use of bright colors, gothic text, and tongue-and-chic iconography. I think both these fashion houses have influenced my designs. Ironically, when I think about it, I do not actually own any clothing from either of these two companies! How ungrateful of me!

What do you hope your brand will bring to the Jewish community?

It’s funny, since I’ve been running Jewish Rosaries, I get so many nice letters from my customers saying how much they’ve been wanting jewelry like this for so long. I think there is a big demographic of Jewish people who (like myself) are really proud to be Jewish, appreciate their Jewish culture and where they’ve come from, but have a modern fashion sensibility and don’t want to buy jewelry from their local synagogue gift shop (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).

I hope my jewelry fills that void for the stylish Jewish community – to show that you can still express your Jewish pride, but still maintain a cool and fun fashion sense that doesn’t take itself too seriously!

It seems like it’s more youth-oriented, are you going for a certain type of age or audience?

Being 25 years old has definitely affected my angle and approach to my brand, mainly because I know this demographic more than any other. Despite my youth focus, I have many elderly friends here in Brooklyn and to reflect this, there are a few 70+ models on the site.

Although my website and brand has a youthful style, Jewish Rosaries main audience and customer is not someone who is necessarily young in numerical age – but someone who is young at heart! A true Jewish Rosaries customer is someone who is stylish and has a sense of humor, at any age!!! I have customers as young as 11 and as old as 92! I don’t think anyone who doesn’t have a sense of humor or open mind will appreciate my jewelry (or should I say, "jew-elry") line’s charm.

As of now, Jewish Rosaries is mainly run as a E-Commerce business, (i.e. most of my jewelry is sold through my website and not in a store). Having an online business accidentally alienates a lot of people who don’t feel comfortable shopping online (such as elderly folks with slow computer modems, etc.) However, I am selling Jewish Rosaries in a few stores (and hopefully more on the way)! Currently they are sold at the Urban Outfitters’ Pop-Up Store hosted by designer Samantha Pleet, in Los Angeles, and I recently sold Jewish Rosaries at the Off Off Bowery Pop-Up Store hosted by Aaron Bondaroff, at a store called Colette in Paris, France.

Do you feel under pressure to be someone great because you’re the daughter of comedian Uncle Dirty?

This is a funny question because (sadly!) not very many people my age know who Uncle Dirty is. But it’s interesting because success is something I think about all the time. I do feel a lot of pressure to be someone great though I don’t know if this is specifically because of my father’s comedic career. Instead, I think my desire to be "someone great" is partially genetic, partially because of my family’s encouragement, but mainly because of the realization that there is only one chance to be alive and you might as well take advantage of it and become the greatest person you can be, as there will never be another person as special and unique as you. (I am thankful for my parents helping to remind me of this sad but beautiful fact.)

Not to sound overly dramatic, but I remember standing in front of an American Apparel store window last year, where a mannequin had a neon blue plastic Catholic rosary around its neck and thinking to myself – No matter what it takes, I have to make a plastic Jewish Rosary! Well, 11 months later, I had them made in China all by myself, with my own money – and now I am so happy to be able to share my realized dream with you!

I encourage anyone who is thinking about doing something artistic or risky to take steps to make your dreams come true. If not you, then who?

You call your company Jewish Rosaries. You create them in the fashion of a rosary because crosses are so popular and worn frequently throughout the world. What do you feel about the comparison of your jewelry to the Christian symbol? Are you looking to compare Christians to Jews? What is the message you hope your jewelry will send to Jews?

Hmm…I am not looking to make people compare the Magen David to the Cross. I hope it sends the message that we can wear Judaic jewelry that’s as cool, beautiful, and stylish as what is available to Christians.

The Star of David is a Jewish symbol but it was never thought of as cool jewelry (in the same way that the cross was). Are you hoping to change its status with your brand? Why? How do you hope to do that?

Yes! For example, I always wanted a Christmas tree but my mom would never let us get one! No offense, but the Hanukkah Bush has NOTHING on the Christmas Tree. I hope that the Jewish Rosary becomes as iconic as the Catholic Rosary. I am not sure how I hope to do this – perhaps starting a Jewish Rosaries cult! Just kidding! I think the Star of David is one of the most beautiful shapes in the world and hope to share this with others through my jewelry.

Subliminal wears the Star of David, Jeremy Piven wore one in a Gap ad…are you hoping that your jewelry will be the next step in making this symbol more hip?

Kind of, yes! But like I said, I don’t ever want my jewelry to be so "hip" that it alienates elderly people from wanting to buy it. I love elderly people so much. I live in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, where most of my friends are over 75 years old. I would never want them to feel like they can’t sit in the cafeteria with me and the other "Jewish Rosaries cool kids."

What kind of feedback has your label received? What about negative feedback?

I would say 80% is positive and 20% negative. I received a lot of negative feedback after my jewelry was featured on the television show the TODAY show, as I am pretty sure the people who watch the TODAY show are not the demographic of people who would be into owning a Jewish Rosary.

You say you’re not looking to insult Judaism or Christianity, but some people think otherwise. What do you say to the critics?

I say that my jewelry is not meant to offend or mock. I am making this jewelry to instill a sense of Jewish pride – and if anything, bring people of both Christian and Judaic faith together in their love of the rosary necklace. I am genuinely sorry if anyone is offended – but I have to remind myself that people are often scared by anything new or unusual. Just look at what happened to Jesus!

What do you love about being Jewish? Do you hope your jewelry will convey that?

I love the perseverance to succeed that Jews have exhibited through history. And I love the Jewish brand of self-deprecatory neurotic sense of humor (ie. exhibited by comedy writers Larry David and Woody Allen) as well as the Jewish drive to do good deeds (perform "mitzvahs"). Because of this, a portion of all Jewish Rosaries proceeds will go towards helping various charities.

It would be a dream come true if one day, comedy writer Larry David, or Madonna would wear a Jewish Rosary. All Jewish Rosaries bring their owners good luck!

Stay tuned as I will have all new styles and soon unveil my newest design, a Moses ring whose mouth actually opens and closes with a lever!

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While associate producer of the film Alisa Katz and I joked about how it’s like James Bond fighting the Nazis, our interview got pretty intense as she shared with The Jew Spot some chilling stories from on and off the set. Alisa, who has worked on films such as Miami Vice and The Clearing, said this was a bit of an unusual project for her – one that deepened her connection to her already strong Jewish identity and heritage. This is a different kind of Holocaust movie, says Alisa. Not one about death and dying, and Jews as victims. But as fighters and survivors; ‘flawed superheroes,’ as film director Edward Zwick has come to describe the Bielski brothers. Read more about the film (in theaters everywhere January 16) here. Thanks Alisa for taking the interview. Can you quickly tell us what Defiance is about? Defiance is based on the true story of the Bielski brothers, three Jewish brothers, who unfortunately experienced the murder of their parents and their family by death squads that were rounding up people prior to the Nazi invasion in 1941. They escaped death by hiding in the forest. There, their group slowly began to grow. These were tough guys, these were fighters, ex-soldiers, guys who were shunned by the bourgeois society their whole lives as ne’er-do-wells, but in the forest they really proved themselves to be strong leaders. During their three years in the forest they created a community which included a school, a hospital an arsenal, a mill and even a synagogue. By the end of the war, 1200 Jews were saved by living in the forest under the Bielski leadership. The film itself presents a huge question – What are people truly capable of in times of extreme challenge? It’s interesting to see Daniel Craig in this role, as he often plays the tough guy, but now in a different sort of way. I think Daniel Craig was really drawn to the complexity of Tuvia Bielski’s character. There was no flat-out command for Tuvia to become a superhero. This man, who wasn’t a leader in the community in which he lived in society, actually possessed all the required skills for leadership in the forest community which he created. He did what he had to do, and had to suppress anything in his personal self that kept him from wanting to fulfill his duties. Tuvia Bielski moved out to New York after the war and became a taxi driver. He never sought recognition for anything that he did. I think Daniel Craig brings that sense of humility with him into this role. What appeared to draw him to this role was the humanistic side of the character he played.

I heard that Daniel Craig’s father was part of the army regiment that liberated camps, so he has a special affinity to these types of stories. I’ve noticed there are quite a lot of movies coming out at this time based on stories from the Holocaust. Perhaps you have some insight into why this is. Personally, I think it’s because we’re in that 11th hour of witnessing the stories firsthand. Those who have direct experience with this period of history will unfortunately not be with us much longer. Defiance is a story most are not aware of. And it’s a testament to the fact that there are a plethora of stories that need to be shared. It’s important to keep going, to keep telling these stories because all of them, every single story I have heard in my experience, all have relevance today.

For every Holocaust film I see, there’s always the question that goes through my mind of what would I have done if I was there?

I am fortunate that my family, by immigrating to America, was able to get through history to make me exist. Is there a scene that really struck you? A line from the movie that got to your core?
There are so many powerful lines and scenes of action and faith that fill me with a deep pride. As well as several moments of quiet and silence where all you hear is just this beautiful violin music and you are punctured, deep into the soul. For me, each time I see the film, I view it from a different character’s perspective or from a different point of view within my own self. I’m looking at this film, and I know the participants. These actors appeared to me as spirits of my ancestors. It seems that this project was a true labor of love. Did you find yourself putting in more hours, more effort, because of your connection to it? On every film, my work ethics take me to overtime. On this film in particular, I really did try to put myself in a position where I would be a resource, for anyone in any department.

For me, it wasn’t like clocking in and clocking out at all. It was a full experience. The essence of the film, the location and the people from Lithuania are all part of life as it exists today. There are issues in this story that face many of us today, decisions we have to make and ethical dilemmas that frame our decisions. It was a very organic experience and it all trickled down into the community we existed in, in real life. You really speak about this movie and your experience filming in Lithuania with such passion. What was unique about being on this set? In the film industry, it’s really rare you have an opportunity that one’s own family heritage is acknowledged during the process of film production. When a film goes into production, it’s like a train that’s rolling and it can’t be stopped. During this process there is little room for personal spiritual/religious practice. I’ve been on films before where there were major production meetings on Yom Kippur. The first week of shooting, I was down on the other side of set when I hear echoing through the forest, people singing. And as I got closer to the sound, I recognized that people were singing in Hebrew. It was the Sabbath Kiddush. It was the first Friday of the shoot and the local extras had brought Kiddush cups and wine and candles. I have chills right now speaking to you about this. This is a unique experience to hear Hebrew echoed through the forest, to see these groups of people standing in a circle and feel their arms around each other, and the candles being lit and the wine being drunk. Not everybody spoke the same language by any means, but everybody understood its meaning.

Coming back to the very spot where people were forced to live for three years in hiding, and saying we are here now and we’re carrying on our tradition and we’re being Jewish and we’re having a connection and we’re living. It rang out through the entire forest. It really permeated the souls of everyone on that set. There was not a single issue of negativity that I dealt with the whole time on this production because everybody truly felt the importance of the story. And with that said…

I really felt I helped to do something for the Jewish community as a whole; to put a story out there that people could actually be proud of. It’s not about death and dying. It’s about respect for human life, survival and the will to live. It’s a story that really needs to have awareness out there, especially now that we’re in the 11th hour. Offset, I definitely feel I have a deeper understanding of my own Jewish place in this world, and my own place in the Jewish world. The film itself, gave me a stronger sense of my roots – of our history, of our traditions and our ancestry.

X-posted on My Jew Spot

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Now the founder of Girlie Girl Army, and event planner for Farm Sanctuary, Chloé Jo has only begun to put a mark on the globe. Chloé was kind enough to interrupt her Tony Awards watching to tell me about her causes, and how others can be inspired to go on and rule the world while looking good too.

Your newsletter (soon to be website) The Girlie Girl Army has reached more than 200,000 people. What is the idea behind the newsletter? The whole gist of the newsletter is you can be fashionable and passionate. You can find out what to do with frizzy hair and what’s going on in Darfur. You can live a fascinating, exciting life but also care about the earth. That’s what’s being fabulous. Girlie Girl Army – We’re badasses that wear prom dresses. We’re multi-purposed girls. I see that you’re quite the tzedakess with your causes, specifically animal rights. How did you get involved in that? I was always, always, always very very outspoken of things that didn’t seem fair to me or not right. My grandfather Solomon Trau, a brilliant rabbi, is friends with amazing Elie Weisel who said "Neutrality only helps the oppressor". I think, as Jews, it’s our responsibility to act with an especially high rate of compassion for those oppressed – having gone through what we have as a people. We all have a responsibility to really make a difference, and when confronted with wrongdoing, to act tirelessly to create change. There are on average 800 dogs and cats per state that get put down a day. That’s just the average. I feel like it’s my mission to educate people. It’s a violent industry. I didn’t know you should adopt. I fell in love with this dog, and became more opened to learning about animal rights. When my eyes were awakened, I could never turn back. I find it interesting that you grew up in an orthodox family but later stepped away from that lifestyle. Why the transition? I grew up orthodox, which is modern in NYC. My family is religious. But I didn’t feel it from a spiritual place. I felt very Jewish culturally. I felt like a Jew and I felt like a Zionist. I felt it in my gut. I admire those who are really involved in their religion; It’s such a beautiful tradition to have family day on Saturday – shut off your computer, can’t get in a cab and be a busy bee. It can be a really great thing if it’s not implemented in a stifling way. I felt like I was always really stifled by Orthodoxy. I wasn’t happy in yeshiva, and wanted to be in a rock band. I was always a rebel. Always getting in trouble. I didn’t like all the rules. I’m not a rule girl. I’m a rock-and-roll girl! But I am so culturally and emotionally tied to being Jewish. The first word people would use to describe me is Jewish. Do you hold onto any of the observant traditions today? I feel most spiritual and in tune with G-d when I’m working with the animals, or doing something really just; when I’m doing yoga, and thinking of all the ways I want to change the world. I feel more spiritual now than I ever have in my entire life. My house of worship is where I bring it internally. I see G-d more than anything in nature – the pure and obvious existence of higher power. So I have to ask how you were able to get a dream job at the age of 15, planning elaborate parties in NYC? I was very motivated, busy busy busy doing things. A wannabe entrepreneur. I wanted to bring together everybody, which I loved doing. I loved booking bands, and go-go dancers, and planning drink specials. I left yeshiva for Columbia Prep, a school full of barely behaved New York rich kids. I became culture shocked. I wore skirts down to my ankles and these girls were making out in the bathrooms, doing coke. That’s the time I started doing parties and didn’t stop till I was 27. Had a good run of it; had great great press. I kind of do what I did then now, but on a much greater level. Can you tell us what you do now, at Farm Sanctuary? Farm Sanctuary is a national, nonprofit animal rescue and protection organization, operating coast-to-coast shelters for abused and neglected farm animals (from Goats to Horses and beyond) and working to enact laws and policies to end factory farming abuses in the U.S. Over the past two decades, Farm Sanctuary has worked to pass the first laws passed in the U.S. to ban cruel factory farming practices, established the country’s first shelters for farm animals, and opened the hearts and minds of Americans to their plight. Visiting Farm Sanctuary totally changed my life and perception on the world and everything. Doing these events, when you have a roomful of 500 thoughtful individuals who really care about farm animals, is a really incredible. Watching people celebrate a radical notion, which is not quite so radical anymore. I don’t feel I do enough, but I do what I’m good at and use my skill set to try and raise awareness for causes I’m deeply concerned with. If my being a spokesperson for animals and environmentalism makes people want to learn more, and if I can make learning and caring about activism sexy or exciting sounding, then so be it..

You really rock a confidence of being yourself and going for what you believe in – What would be your advice for other girls to better themselves and the world? I used to be really, really shy. I was an acting major. I forced myself because I was so scared, so shy. Really, really self conscious. I forced myself to be silly, to construe myself to be really silly or weird. Now I have the confidence to walk into a room and talk to everyone and have them want my card. Being a strong Jewish woman, I have an immense sense of pride. Something about the Jewish women I know just reek of confidence, and sense of know-it-all mamishe in a really good way. Every young Jewish woman needs to find that. Needs to speak up, do too much. Speak to everyone. Talk to every guy that talks to you. Stay open and talk to everyone; everyone has something really beautiful to share with you. Look for the beauty in each person who comes your way. What can you do to change the world? Do everything! That’s the best advice. What are you possibly losing? Coming into yourself, making yourself really confident.If you feel you will be super confident being beautiful, then make yourself beautiful. There is no such thing as ugly women, just lazy ones, Helen Gurly Brown said. If you are soul searching; read everything you can get your hands on. Don’t stay home too much. Go out and try new things. I’ve tried everything – twice. I want to try everything in this world. I don’t think women should be afraid to use their sexuality. The kind of sexuality that you own by batting your eyelashes, a smile that can change the world. I am an incredible fan of young women. I was lucky enough in my 20s to have these amazing women in their 30s guide me. Anything they said to me was gold. Befriend women in their 30s who have the kind of life you want. In the past, I think I chose friends badly. I chose friends because I thought they were cool, or beautiful. Now I choose friends because they challenge me, because they wow me intellectually, because they are deeply kind. At 31, I feel like I’m 100 because I’ve lived so many lives, and yet my journey has really only just begun. So what’s next for Chloé Jo? With her on-air spot on the Booker show in Q102 Philly coming to an end, with more than 500,000 listeners, Chloé is taking her expertise on combining fun with need to the television screen. Her new show called Hot Green Girl is the same concept as the radio show and newsletter, with humor, tongue and cheek. I think inappropriate humor is fantastic. Compared to the average actor on TV, I know my shit and this is what I care about. Being veg, or being green, or caring about the earth or being philanthropic doesn’t mean you’re a weirdo. It means you are EXTRA cool. There are teeny things you can do; recycling your tea bags, buying organic, or using a lipstick that hasn’t been tested on animals. (Check out this link for companies that do not test on animals.) A lot of the problems with people getting really involved in the eco movement is it feels off the grid and too extreme for the average Joe. I’m not perfect. I have the lights on and the TV going right now. But there’s a happy medium. Small, simple things we all can do. Tell me what you’re really great at and there will be 50 ways you can help the cause you care about without major effort. I wake up in the morning and I ask myself what I can do to help the world. Living in line with our ethics is all we have. Wow, OK. If that didn’t inspire you to go be a superhero, then there is no hope for you. (Hah, I’m just kidding of course). Thanks Chloé! We will definitely take some of your advice. And before you go, here are some recommendations from Chloé to check out: Earthlings: The Film Skinny Bitch Cunt: A Decleration of Independance To learn more about Chloé, visit her on Myspace here.  And follow all the beauty trends, events, and global causes by subscribing to Girlie Girl Army. If you have more questions for Chloé on veganism, animal rights, being sexy, or what Judaism says about all this, write me — FindMyJewSpot@gmail.com.

[Cross-posted from The Jew Spot]

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