AIPAC Leads Other Jewish Groups, Lawmakers Condemning Israel Banning Tlaib + Omar

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, said Reps. Rashida Tlaib, center, and Ilhan Omar, right, provided an itinerary that "revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.” (Laura E. Adkins for JTA/Getty Images)

Loud voices — both Democrats and Republicans — living in America and in Israel expressed condemnation and in some cases outrage over Israel’s decision on Thursdayto ban Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering Israel and the Palestinian territories this weekend.

Prominent pro-Israel group AIPAC was joined by other establishment Jewish groups to criticize Omar and Tlaib’s support for the movement to boycott Israel. But like others who have their differences with the two House reps, AIPAC said that Israel should nonetheless allow sitting members of the United States Congress to enter the country and see it for themselves, writes JTA ( Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

“We disagree with Reps. Omar and Tlaib’s support for the anti-Israel and anti-peace BDS movement, along with Rep. Tlaib’s calls for a one-state solution,” the organization tweeted, referring to the boycott Israel movement. “We also believe every member of Congress should be able to visit and experience our democratic ally Israel firsthand.”

Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, had previously said Israel would not bar any members of Congress. But it appears that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flip-flopped minutes after President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that Israel “would show great weakness” if it let in the two congresswomen.

Tlaib, D-Mich, and Omar, D-Minn., are supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. Under Israeli law, BDS supporters can be prevented from entering the country. They have also at times invoked what critics call anti-Semitic tropes in criticizing the Jewish state.

The New York Times breaks down the specifics of the two-year-old Israeli law used to bar Tlaib aned Omar.

JTA shares specifics on individuals and groups supporting Netanyahu’s decision and those opposing it, as well as newly posted Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren criticize Israel’s decision to bar Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib

Israeli Model Yoshevah Jones Black Hebrews As Tablet's Armin Rosen Expands Convo

Israeli Model Yoshevah Jones Black Hebrews As Tablet's Armin Rosen Expands Convo

Vogue’s Liana Satenstein sits down with Tel Aviv model Yoshevah Jones, described as Israel’s most in-demand face. Jones identifies as a Black Hebrew.

For background, the Black Hebrew movement was founded in Chicago by Ben Ammi Ben-Israel (born Ben Carter). who considered it a radical exit from America during the height of the civil rights movement. Mr. Ben-Israel was a prophet-like figure who claimed that he had a visitation from the angel Gabriel in 1966, in which he was encouraged to lead an exodus of black Americans to Israel. Mr. Ben-Israel led a group of about 400 black, mostly Chicagoans first to Liberia for two years, and then the 100 or so followers, who wanted to continue, on to the small Israeli town of Dimona, about two nours north of Tel Aviv.

As Modern Orthodox Jews, Jared Kushner & Ivanka Trump Share Deep Connection To Israel & Chabad

As Modern Orthodox Jews, Jared Kushner & Ivanka Trump Share Deep Connection To Israel & Chabad

The Trump-Kushner family have said they practice Modern Orthodox Judaism and Jared Kushner graduated from The Frisch School, the prestigious New Jersey yeshiva. In Washington the family has joined the Chabad synagogue attached to Washington's Kalorama neighborhood.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, heads the small membership synagogue, which is a seven-minute walk from their home. Throughout the years, many Jewish politicians have attended TheSHUL, including former senator Joe Lieberman and current Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, several Jewish ambassadors posted in Washington, and Israeli Cabinet ministers from the Orthodox parties. If Trump and Kushner attend the synagogue on a regular basis, it is likely to gain a lot of public attention, writes The Forward.

In a separate article The Forward poses the very question that captured my attention, writing "It might seem odd for a Modern Orthodox Jewish family to join a Chabad synagogue.  The relationship of Jared and Ivanka to the Chabad movement, also known as Lubavitch and Chabad-Lubavitch, was explored in one of the two Zembla videos exploring Donald Trump's relationship with the Russians. Chabad is the largest Hasidic movement in the world. 

This evening, Thursday May 25, all US media confirms that Jared Kushner is under scrutiny by the FBI for his involvement with the Trump campaign and the Trump White House. Trump's lawyer, Democrat and Hillary Clinton supporter, Jamie Gorelick, has said that Jared Kushner will be fully cooperative with investigators. 

RelatedThe Media Goes Deeper and Deeper Into Ivanka Trump: Zembla Looks At Jared, Ivanka & Lev Leviev.  (Zembla videos embedded). AOC Redtracker Daily

Eye | Feminine Delights From Emily Baker, Ladurée, DKNY, Eve Ensler & Lebanon

Emily Baker Goes ‘Soft Serve’

Emily Baker Goes ‘Soft Serve’ By Stephen Ward For Marie Claire Australia February 2015

‘Soft Serve’ celebrates a feminine style — one that doesn’t always empower women, frankly. Yet a ‘Soft Serve’ is always my personal preference in dealing with life and especially when savoring the sublime pleasures of Laduree macaroons.

As for the global Boys Club, a ‘soft serve’ often leaves us with our pantaloons down. Read on.

If Not Paris, Try Ladurée in New York

One of the consummate pleasures in life is enjoying macaroons (macarons) from  Ladurée in Paris. Luckily for the entire world, Ladurée spread their sublime, culinary delights far and wide — to Switzerland, London, Dublin, Sweden, Luxembourg, Milan and even Japan and Singapore.

It was only in 2012 that Ladurée opened its shop on Madison Avenue and 2014 that a Ladurée Tea Salon finally opened in Soho, a boutique in Miami. São Paulo, Brazil is also blessed with a Ladurée presence. Read more at Vanity Fair.

A Sensual Blush in Paris

Les Merveilleuses De Ladurée Adds Sensual Blush To Paris Landscape Anne 10/15/2013

For any readers who won’t know about my life passions — I adore Paris. In the decade I was a key executive with Victoria’s Secret Stores, lastly as the brand’s first Fashion Director, Paris was my home monthly.

There are many facets of Paris life that I enjoy — and especially in a city where older women are considered full of vitality and sexy at every age.

Top of the list was a Parisien appreciation for beauty and sensuality — two essential characteristics in the Ladurée brand.

From the article:

The French understand that eating an occasional macaron does not make a woman fat. And thinking about food doesn’t cause us to eat more of it. In fact, scientific research indicates that Imagining Food Pleasures Decreases Actual Consumption.

I’ve long believed that America’s obsession with sin, sex and guilt is a major factor in our obesity epidemic. Granted, the French are more vigilante in monitoring food consumption than Americans. But they also enjoy pleasure and their bodies, too. Food is not a substitute for the denial of life’s other pleasures.

Within this mindset, blushing and bathing with Les Merveilleuses De Ladurée products makes perfect sense and a divine personal treat, like wearing that splendid French lingerie that only its owner may see. Facing herself in the mirror, she sees a real treat, a feast better than food — a woman at peace with herself. ~ Anne

RelatedLadurée’s Most Sensual Macarons Nurture Fantasy & Pleasure Worldwide with its reminder that American women can be scandalous when in France.

Marloes Horst For DKNY’s ‘Delicious Delights’ Spring 2015

Donna Karan is the quintessential Smart Sensuality designer for Anne of Carversville women. Her DKNY brand (all now owned by LVMH, along with all DK) is launching a new range of fragrances that remind me of macarons. Called Delicious Delights’, the scents are a subbrand in its ‘Delicious’ fragrance and beauty category.

Dutch model Marloes Horst licks the proverbial two-scoops ice cream cone, savouring bright pastel colors much like the scents’ bottles. The fragrance range includes three enticing flavors—Fruity Rooty, Cool Swirl and Dreamsicle — all looking for your ‘Delicious Delights’ body in March 2015.

Macaroons for Peace

In Praise of Macaroons, Peace Treaties & Women Breaking Bread Together Anne 10/17/2010

Perhaps only a dumb blonde would associate this beautiful picture of women in India with global peace. I couldn’t resist this next, equally-inspiring and even more macaroon-like image of Pakistani women in Pushkar province with the notion that only women can join hands and put a stop to this global violence and madness.

Yes, I was trying to express feminine wit but also a fundamental world truth about female empowerment. This moral view about women’s empowerment has taken its share of hard knocks since I wrote this piece in 2009.

On our side is the noble voice of Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai and the women Kurdish soldiers. On the opposition’s side is a small but significant and growing number of female terrorists.

Just last night a major international incident broke out at the Miss Universe contest. Presumably, mostly men are driving the wedge between Israel and Lebanon. But watching the smallest spark ignite major protests over a selfie consumes me with sadness. Read on.

Feminine Truth Serum in the Middle East

Just last night I binge-watched the last five of eight episodes of the BBC’s ‘The Honourable Woman’ for which star Maggie Gyllenhall won a best actress award at The Golden Globes in her role as Israeli tycoon Nessa Stein. Nessa’s relationship with Palestinian Atika Halibi, played by Lubna Azabal, is fundamental to the thriller’s plot line. Macaroons and blood, both, are in abundance in this exceptional, complex drama.

Events played out in more straight-forward, Boys Club fashion for Miss Lebanon when Miss Israel Doron Matalon took a selfie with Miss Lebanon Saly Greige (left and center left in photo), accompanied by Miss Slovenia and Miss Japan. Miss Israel uploaded the photo to her Instagram account.

Lebanon’s TV station Al Jadeed ‘ribbed’ writes NBC News Greige for appearing with Matalon, given the hostile relationship between Israel and Lebanon.

“Since the first day of my arrival to participate to Miss Universe, I was very cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel (that tried several times to have a photo with me).” Greige continued, “I was having a photo with Miss Japan, Miss Slovenia and myself; suddenly Miss Israel jumped in, took a selfie, and put it on her social media.”

Matalon was unapologetic for the selfie, addressing the issue on her own Facebook page: “It doesn’t surprise me,” Miss Israel wrote, “but it still makes me sad. Too bad you can not put the hostility out of the game, only for three weeks of an experience of a lifetime that we can meet girls from around the world and also from the neighboring country.”

The Miss Universe Organization has released a statement regarding the controversy, calling the incident “unfortunate.”

It’s illegal for a Lebanese person to have any contact with Israel or an Israeli. Foes are calling on Miss Lebanon Saly Greige to step down. So much for sharing a plate of macaroons at the Miss Universe Pageant 2015 in Miami.

Eye | Lifetime's Whitney Houston Biopic | Hollywood & Gaza | Cindy Crawford On Why Supermodels Happened

Angela Bassett Directs Whitney Houston Biopic

Lifetime TV premiered on Saturday January 17 ‘Whitney’ with ‘The Butler’ alum Yaya DeCosta as Houston, directed by Houston’s ‘Waiting to Exhale’ costar Angela Bassett in her directorial debut.

Elle.com interviews Angela Bassett about her relationship with Whitney Houston and the pressures on her to deliver a film true to Whitney’s life and spirit, while maintaining the truth about the superstar’s demise and death.

Cindy Crawford On Why The Supermodels Happened

‘I feel like I lived through the heyday of modelling,’ true supermodel Cindy Crawford told London’s Evening Standard in ‘It’s not so super for models now … magazines want stars on their covers’.

Crawford explains: The reason supermodels could come into being was because Hollywood actresses wanted to be taken seriously. They didn’t want the red carpet to be a catwalk, which it has now become.

Crawford and husband Randy Gerber are good friends with George and Amal Clooney, being in the tightest circle around the couple at their Venice wedding last September. The supermom of two explained:

 “I think George decided — and Amal, too — which I thought was smart of them, typically, that either you spend all this time and energy trying to make it secret or you go, ‘You know what? We’re getting married in Venice and we’re going to have this great party and we’re going to do exactly what we want.’

“So that’s what they did and I really respect them for it.”

NY Post Andrea Peyser Jabs At Amal Clooney

It wasn’t only the row over Amal Clooney’s Golden Globes white gloves that made headlines this week. Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser moved against the influential human rights lawyer over her proposed role on a three-person commission investigating rules of war violations in the Gaza Strip.

It wasn’t enough that — for whatever reason — Amal Clooney cited a too busy schedule to allow her participation — a point not clarified at the Golden Globes podium.

Could the reason be the possibility of her future husband running for political office? Whatever the reason, declining was not enough for Peyser, who criticized Amal for the following statement:

“I am horrified by the situation in the occupied Gaza Strip, particularly the civilian casualties that have been caused, and strongly believe that there should be an independent investigation and accountability for crimes that have been committed.”

AOC hates to tell Peyser that many Americans are concerned about what happened in Gaza in the summer of 2014. Israeli actions in Gaza produced a significant split in Hollywood, with actors and industry notables expressing the same concerns as highlighted by Amal Clooney.

Hollywood’s Concerns for Gaza

Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz have been heavily criticised by some Hollywood industry figures after speaking out against the summer 2014 Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Read More

Israeli Newspapers Photoshop Out Women Leaders From Paris March

Israeli Newspapers Photoshop Out Women Leaders From Paris March

The actual photo from Sunday that included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and EU foreign affairs, security chief Frederica Mogherini and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

Eye | Angelina Jolie | Apostle Paul | Daniel Pearl | Daisy Khan | David Brooks | Hillary Clinton | Chris Matthews

Living | Angelina Jolie on Family, Film & Philanthropy | Vicki Woods & Mario Testino | Vogue US December 2010

Writer Vicki Woods did a superb job of creating a multi-dimensional Angelina Jolie in the Vogue interview. Did you know that Jolie has a “seriously filty laught”. Her piece is great writing about a woman much admired a AOC.

It was Angelina Jolie’s Esquire interview that launched Anne of Carversville in June 2007. The themes of that essay, including our collective global responsibility not only for dialogue, but understanding of global issues that promote warring points of view, remain richly embedded in our editorial policy.

A humanist, Anne wept over the beheading of Wall Street reporter Daniel Pearl, who was taken hostage in Karachi, Pakistan, following a story.

Jolie became friends with Daniel Pearl’s wife Mariane Van Neyenhoff, who channeled her grief into a positive dialogue with Muslims through the Daniel Pearl Foundation. The two bonded when Angelina played Mariane in “The Mighty Heart”.

Ironically, it seems that Mariane Pearl also read the Esquire 2007 interview, because Pearl contacted the actress about playing her in the movie.

Angelina Jolie and Mariane Pearl

Angelina Jolie & Mariane Pearl Talk with Charlie Rose about “The Mighty Heart”. This short clip is taken from Angelina’s longer interview with Charlie Rose on June 19, 2007.

Short Clip of Angelina Jolie and Mariane Pearl on Charlie Rose, June 2007

Read More

"Women of the Wall" Protest Exclusion from Praying at Jerusalem's Western Wall

Supporters of a group of religious activists called Women of the Wall gathered at the holy site in Jerusalem for prayers on Friday. Conservative Jew Nofrat Frenkel, 28 and a fifth year medical student, was the first woman to be arrested last month on Nov. 18th, during prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Her crime was wrapping herself in a tallit or fringed prayer shawl, a ritual garment traditionally worn only by men.

The Women of the Wall, who meet for prayers at the Kotel at the start of every Hebrew month, are at the vanguard of a feminist struggle in Orthodox Judaism. via NYTimes

The group prayed in large numbers last Friday, the first day of the Hebrew month of Tevet. “We are pushing the envelope. History is made of moments like this,” said Nat Hoffman, chairwoman of Women of the Wall, which was founded in 1988.