Bulls, JAP's, nose doctor, Winona, Eitam, Purim

Saturday, 26 March

Sharp-eyed chief

A bull that escaped from a nearby kibbutz decided to pay a visit to the town of Rehovot on Purim. The local police chief, who happened to be at the scene and called in reinforcements, says he “quickly realized this was no Purim costume.”

What can we say, this is precisely the kind of sharpness of mind and keen eye we expect our police officials to possess. Obviously, one needs to be a true professional to realize the four-legged creature charging in his direction is in fact an animal and not a human being in disguise.

Way to go police chief. We feel reassured already.

Return of the JAP?

A writer for the Forward speculates in the Boston Globe that "JAP's" (Jewish American Princesses for those of you who don't remember) may be on their way back - and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Spoiled little rich Jewish girls in Israel? No, there aren't any. All the young girls and women in Israel are hard-working, shorts- and sandals-wearing, makeup free kibbutz types.

The pods are coming

(English) podcasting has made it to Israel. One of the first podcasters, Charley Warady, is doing a weekly show.

Tuesday, 22 March

Nose job

Sinus physician Dr. Mark Weinberger, who has been missing from his home and medical practice in Indiana since last fall after disappearing during a vacation in Greece, may be here, says an attorney who has filed a class-action lawsuit alleging Weinberger's medical negligence caused the death of a 50-year-old woman. Weinberger, who marketed himself as "The Nose Doctor," may be living on a yacht here, the lawyer says.

Weinberger's case may also be reclassified from a missing person search to a fugitive hunt. He has lost his medical license and his lucrative sinus clinic. Lawyers have also filed dozens of malpractice lawsuits against him. His USD 1.82 million mansion is being foreclosed upon, as well, leaving his family in the lurch. Weinberger may also be facing a criminal indictment by a federal grand jury, and arrest by Interpol.

It's an ignominious tradition here, American fugitives running to Israel. Gangster Meyer Lansky tried it in the 1970s, for example, lived here for a few years, and then was sent packing.

Monday, 21 March

O Jerusalem

Winona Ryder, (in)famous for petty theft offscreen and famous (but fading) for onscreen appearances in "Beetlejuice" and "Heathers," is set to star in a film version of the nonfiction classic, "O Jerusalem," about the 1948 battle for the city during the War of Independence. The film is being framed by Arab and Jewish friends divided by the conflict. But the film, being directed by French Jewish filmmaker Elie Chouraqi, who has worked with Jewish-themed content before - try a musical version of The Ten Commandments - is set to start filming in Greece next month. Greece??? Why not here??? O, Elie! Please tell us it's because of insurance problems and European backing, and not because the government gave you a hard time.

Sunday, 20 March

Here's a nice thing

Israel Venture Network is kicking off the second year of its social entrepreneurship program (with financial help from liberal do-gooder group New Israel Fund), which is designed to help so-called "social entrepreneurs" to develop programs to improve education and enhance job opportunities. The group is kicking off the second round of grants with a reception at a posh house in Ramat Aviv Gimel, the so-called "90210" of Israel. The first round of funds helped Israemploy, a job-line aimed at English speakers, get going.

Purim Sameach

New York writer Barbara Rushkoff's decidedly wacky look at Jewish holidays in her new book, "Jewish Holiday Fun...For You," includes a 1970s-style blaxploitation/rap sitcom look at Purim. Got that, genre-benders? Read her take on the holidays here.

Cancer probe

Ashkenazi Jews are at high risk for colorectal cancer - so says Familial Cancer, a quarterly Journal of Cancer Genetics, according to Medical News Today. The advice: get checked for it.

Another nice thing

One Voice, a group pushing for Palestinian-Israeli dialogue and reconciliation that has gathered numerous high-profile Hollywood supporters (including do-gooder actor Richard Gere and Jason "George Costanza from Seinfeld" Alexander), is sponsoring a meeting Monday with what they hope will be future Israeli and Palestinian leaders to strengthen what the group says is the "peace supporting majority" among both groups. The groups are made up of 25 people from each side and will meet for the first time in order to coordinate ways to support the peace process and "confront violent actions that are threatening the chance for regional stability and peace." Former U.S. Ambassador Dennis Ross is special guest.

Saturday, 19 March

Real estate options

Those of us who always dreamed of moving to Gaza one of these days are out of luck: The IDF has issued a decree barring Israelis from relocating to the Strip. Knesset member Effie Eitam seems to think the ban doesn't apply to him. The grandstanding, right-wing political maverick says he plans to move his family to Gaza after Pesach. What makes you so special, Mr. Eitam?

The good news, however, is that Israel still has plenty of attractive real estate opportunities throughout the country, at least according to the country’s former tax authority commissioner.