Jewish legends at White House reception

Obama honors Jewish Americans at unique reception to mark Jewish Heritage Month Yitzhak Benhorin Published:  05.28.10, 09:33 / Israel Jewish Scene WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama honored Jewish heritage in an unusual event at the White House on Thursday. The guest list was kept under wraps till the last moment, and in the afternoon hours many living legends of US Jewish culture began arriving to what was described as a unique event. This was one of the busiest days in Obama's busy schedule, with the ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico looming over the proceedings. But an hour was found for a reception, the first of its kind, to mark Jewish Heritage Month in the US. In the main hall on the eastern wing, the US president honored Jews who had contributed to arts, music, sport and science. Many guests were well-known personalities who are almost unknown in Israel. Ask any American and he'll tell you who Sandy Koufax is. This 75-year-old former baseball player entered the pantheon of famous Jews for something he didn't do. Koufax, who played for the Dodgers, was supposed to have been the pitcher in the World Series in 1965, but decided not to play because the game was set for Yom Kippur. Such a decision was unheard of in the days when successful Jews would hide their Jewish background. The US president joked that they had something in common, saying that Koufax couldn't pitch on Yom Kippur while Obama couldn't pitch at all – a reference to his less than sparkling performance on the mound when he had been asked to throw a ceremonial first pitch. A big surprise was Dara Torres, five-time Olympic swimmer famous since the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984, when she was just 17. Her last Olympic feat was in the latest Olympics in Beijing, when she won three silver medals at the age of 41. Today, at 43, she is still a striking figure, and the president and vice president enthusiastically had their photos taken with her. Other sports personalities were present. Obama, known for his love of basketball, quickly recognized Nancy Lieberman, one of the most famous basketball players, and exchanged a few words with her. had given birth to a son with a rare bone disease that sometimes affects Ashkenazi Jews. No bone marrow donor could be found, so she and her husband decided to bring another child into the world so that he could donate bone marrow to his elder brother. This was a controversial act, and unfortunately the second child was unsuitable as a bone marrow donor and his elder brother passed away at the age of seven. Strongin later wrote a book about her experiences. Mark Schneier, who concentrates on developing ties with the Muslim world, and with African Americans in the US, noted the uniqueness of the occasion, saying it was much more exotic than most White House events. William Daroff, Director of the Washington Office of United Jewish Communities, noted that anything new in Washington is a big deal. Also present were Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg, author Judy Blume, New York Times columnists Thomas Friedman and David Brooks, historian Professor Lauren Strauss, Nobel laureate Robert Pinsky, and Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug, who led the US team to a gold medal. Is this part of Obama's "charm offensive" on the Jews? A US Jew who was not invited said that while there is certainly such an "offensive", nonetheless "a cigar is a cigar" – and not everything Obama does is connected to the "charm offensive." Alysa Stanton was invited, however, and even gave a speech. Stanton, an African American, converted to Judaism and became a Reform rabbi. Musician Regina Spektor sang two songs for the guests.

Listen to me on The Black and the Jew Comedy Hour

Listen to the hilarious podcast interview of Boy Butter's Eyal Feldman on The Black and the Jew Comedy Hour. 

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Bar Rafaeli busted trying to smuggle iPad into Israel

Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli is smuggling more than raisins this time. She was caught trying to smuggle an iPad into the country.

Refaeli put her luggage through the nothing-to-declare line at customs, saying that all she had in her bags was clothing, but an X-ray of her bags showed a new Apple iPad.

The Israeli supermodel, who returned home to Israel to make a brief commercial appearance, will have to pay at least twice the amount of import tax that would have been charged on the device.

Israel recently lifted a ban allowing personal imports of the iPad into the country. Items brought into Israel worth more than about $200 are subject to duties.

In January, Refaeli asked the Israel Tax Authority to exempt her from paying taxes because she works mostly abroad and, as she put it, "The center of my life is no longer in Israel." Refaeli earned about $2 million over the past two years, according to reports, and paid about 46 percent in taxes in Israel.

World’s largest falafel ball created

(Israeli NBA Star Omri Casspi helps weigh world’s largest falafel ball in NYC)

              An Israeli chef at a New York restaurant created what is believed to be the world's largest falafel ball. The over 30-pound falafel ball, made up of chickpeas and spices, was fried in about 10 gallons of oil Friday at the Olympic Pita restaurant, according to NY1 radio. The ball was certified by former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau and an engineer for submission to the Guinness Book of World Records. The effort comes less than two weeks after Lebanese chefs created the largest recorded bowl of hummus, four tons, breaking an Israeli record set earlier in the year. The record-breaking falafel ball attempt was made as part of the festivities leading up to Sunday's Salute to Israel parade. 

My Super-Model Sister Donna Feldman's Exclusive 10 page spread in AC Luxury Magazine

What is it like being the most beautiful super-model to ever grace the pages of the world's most influential fashion magazines from Vogue, Cosmo, Maxim, FHM, GQ, etc etc etc? What is it like to be in movies, TV and even be the Visa Black Card Girl? What is it like to be so beautiful that it renders people into fits of paralytic seizures? 

Well kids, all you ever wanted to know plus kick ass photos of the personification of beauty herself, my baby sister Donna Feldman you need to read the most recent edition of AC Luxury Magazine, Atlantic City's ultimate luxury lifestyle magazine. 

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Bearpodcast: Interview with Boy Butter's Eyal Feldman

Listen to the Boy Butter, Interview with Eyal FeldmanMP3 Audio, Duration – 38:48, Size – 37.4MB

Hosts: Nard and Ray
Guest: Eyal Feldman

Eyal is the inventor of the personal lubricant, Boy Butter. Nard and Ray are preparing for BearWatch.

New Springtime Boy Butter window display in Chelsea area store

Check out our brand new springtime Boy Butter Lubricants window display at Happy Store DVD on 8th ave and 19th Street in NYC!

Next door to Gym Bar!