Jewish Wedding Network has reported that Ivanka Trump is engaged to be married to her NY Observer owner Jared Kushner. Ivanka announced her engagement on Twitter yesterday. Kushner comes from an Observant Jewish family, and rumor has it that Ivanka has been going through the conversion process and studying with a Rabbi from Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
Last week I went to see the movie Bruno, starring Jewish comedic superstar Sasha Barron Cohen. Before the film started a trailer for the movie Funny People came on…and I nearly plotzed. There on the big screen was Seth Rogen wearing the Super Jew T-Shirt that we carry at Pop Judaica. It seems like it wasn’t too long ago that Jews in Hollywood (and elsewhere) were changing their Jewish last names, whereas the Jewish stars of today are wearing their Judaism proudly on their sleeves, or should I say tees?
Actor Jeremy Piven is often seen sporting a Star of David necklace (he even wore it in a Gap ad campaign) Even the non-Jews are getting in on the act. Madonna and Demi’s interest in kabbalah is old news already, but word has it that Britney Spears, who was spotted wearing a Star of David last week, is considering converting to Judaism – and not the kabbalah kind. (I’m not sure I’m falling for this rumor though–the same thing happened when Lindsay Lohan wore a Star of David necklace when dating Samantha Ronson) Publicity ploy or the real thing? What do you think of the Hollywood’s embrace of all things Jewish and Jewish Star?
You probably remember Mayim Bialik for her lead role in the early-1990s NBC television sitcom Blossom. Wonder what she’s been up to since? After starring in Blossom she earned a BS from UCLA in 2000 in Neuroscience and in Hebrew and Jewish Studies, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, also from UCLA. Bialik was a dedicated student leader at UCLA Hillel, leading and starting a women’s Rosh Chodesh group, chanting for High Holiday services, and conducting UCLA’s Jewish a cappella group. She is currently a board member, co-founder, and chair of Jewish Free Loan Association’s Genesis branch, and as an avid student of all things Jewish, she studies Torah on a weekly basis with a study mentor through Partners In Torah.
Lately, Mayim has been making what can best be described as a “Kosher Comeback.” It seemed to have started with an innocent appearance of her Blossom doll in Pop Judaica’s Passover segment on the Modern Jewish Mom show. Then there was this post on Jewcy, where she was interviewed about her growing level of religious observance. Today, her Jewish wedding is profiled on Jewish Wedding Network, and this Friday she’ll be made over by the folks at What Not to Wear. (Shabbos observant Jews: Be sure to set your DVRs!) Word has it that they make sure to dress her modestly on the show. She’ll also be playing a frum woman in an upcoming episode of Saving Grace, so stay tuned!
Mayim’s interest in Judaism does not seem to be anything new though. We dug up this clip from 1989’s Chabad Telethon which proves that even in her Blossom days, she was into mitzvot!
Mayim Bialik is schlepping the schlep tote from PopJudaica.com