Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Jews in the News: A gold for Aly

Aly Raisman led the US to its first team gold in women's gymnastics since 1996. She'll have chances for individual glory in the all-around and on the apparatuses.

Profile: Anthony Ervin

http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1383

I was wrong. The worst part are the tape delays. What century is this?

Oh, and Ryan Seacrest. WHY?????????????

August 2, 8:17 PM: Anthony Ervin montage! Called it!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Profile: Aly Raisman

http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1381

Olympic Week begins! And Aly turned heads last night, finishing second overall in qualifying.

And we're mentioned on Deadspin:

Jewish sports fans have a long history of living vicariously through prominent Jewish athletes, and prior to the era in which a little Googling could turn up a site which claims authority on the subject, it was a popular pastime to debate the all-around Jewishness of athletes whose religious affilitations were ambiguous (David Cone, anybody?).

Suggestions by Bruce from Cambridge, IL, Megan from Milwaukee, Jeffrey from Needham, MA, Don from Arizona, JeriAnn from Connecticut, and John from New Hampshire.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Jews in the News: Another medal for Lezak

Jason Lezak earned the first Jewish medal of the Olympics, and his eighth, by swimming for the US in the 4x100m relay. It was a silver, as the US finished second to France.

Lezak did not swim in the finals, only taking part in the semifinals. Nevertheless, he gets his second career silver, to go with four golds and two bronzes. Seven of the eight came in relays.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Profile: Ilona Elek

http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1379

Hooray, the Olympics are here! Next week will be Olympics Week, where every day we will profile a 2012 Jewish (or Not Jewish?) Olympian. But here is a Jewish great to kick us off.

Thanks to Gabriella from Hungary for the suggestion.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Profile: Covetous Shen

http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1380

Yakov's quest for video game Jews continues...

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Profile: Ali MacGraw

http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1378

Suggestions by Mark from NY and Cyg from Toronto.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Profile: Gabriel Lippmann

http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1377

As I mentioned before, one of my little projects is to find a profile for as many countries as possible. I believe that's out first Luxembourg.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Jews in the News: Olympic Jews

The Olympics are coming up, so, just like four years ago, we will be doing Olympic Week, where we profile five Olympic Jews. The five in 2008 were:

  • Dara Torres, USA, swimming
  • Jason Lezak, USA, swimming
  • David Zalcberg, Australia, table tennis
  • Nicolas Massu, Chile, Tennis
  • Alexander Averbukh, Israel, pole vault

    So who will the five chosen athletes in 2012 be? We already profiled Lezak, who is returning, as well as Sue Bird, USA, basketball, but here are some options:

  • Jo Aleh, New Zealand, sailing
  • David Banks, USA, rowing
  • Josh Binstock, Canada, beach volleyball
  • Anthony Ervin, USA, swimming
  • Jessica Fox, Australia, canoe
  • Steve Gluckstein, USA, trampoline (¼ Jewish)
  • Vasyl Fedoryshyn, Ukraine, wrestling
  • Mark Mendelblatt, USA, sailing
  • Tim Morehouse, USA, fencing (¼ Jewish)
  • Merrill Moses, USA, water polo
  • Sarah Poewe, Germany, swimming
  • Alexandra Raisman, USA, gymnastics
  • Steve Solomon, Australia, track
  • Rebecca Soni, USA, swimming (¼ Jewish)
  • Soren Thompson, USA, fencing
  • Julie Zetlin, USA, rythmic gymnastics

    As well as obviously pretty much the entire Israeli team. Three of the five have already been selected... Who knows, we might even do more!

  • Profile: Willy Loman

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1376

    Suggested by the NY Times, nacht.

    Friday, July 20, 2012

    Profile: Mr. Potato Head

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1375

    For some reason, I always gave Mr. Potato Head an Italian accent...

    Suggestion by Anders from Denmark.

    Thursday, July 19, 2012

    Wednesday, July 18, 2012

    Profile: Benny Leonard

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1373

    Suggestions by Wicholas from Portland and Paul from Aventura, FL.

    Tuesday, July 17, 2012

    Profile: Lizzy Caplan

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1372

    Suggestions by Bob from NY and Penny from NY. We also had a suggestion to profile Lacey Chabert's character, Gretchen, but... nah.

    Monday, July 16, 2012

    Profile: Brad Garrett

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1371

    Year one, two, three of the Jewies...

    Suggestions by Jeff from New York, Tina from Russia, Don from LA, Neal from Sarasota, and Salomon from the Netherlands.

    Friday, July 13, 2012

    Profile: Fat Cat

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1370

    Yes, I realize we haven't profiled Zero Mostel yet. One day...

    Thursday, July 12, 2012

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012

    Profile: Joel Rifkin

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1368

    We had a lengthy discussion about this, but Yakov insists that since Rifkin was only adopted by Jews and doesn't self-identify... Not a Jew.

    Another suggestion by Don from Arizona.

    Tuesday, July 10, 2012

    Profile: Joe Greenstein

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1367

    Thanks to M.J. from Houston for the fascinating suggestion.

    Monday, July 9, 2012

    Friday, July 6, 2012

    Profile: David Suchet

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1364

    Suggestions by Vadim from India and Ben from London. Now, Peter Sellers suggestions, on the other hand...

    Thursday, July 5, 2012

    Profile: Ed Miliband

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1365

    Ed's brother David is also a Labour Party honcho.

    Suggestions by Joel from London, Mats from Norway, Leon from UK, Daniel from London, Jonathan from Sweden, Ben from Albany, Adrian from Birmingham, UK, and Chris from London.

    Wednesday, July 4, 2012

    Profile: Alexander Gomelsky

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1363

    Who better to profile on America's Independence Day than a Soviet basketball coach?

    Suggestions by Slava from Baltimore, David from Chicago, and Aleks from Brooklyn.

    Tuesday, July 3, 2012

    Profile: Claudia Christian

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1362

    David from Long Island REALLY wanted us to profile Susan Ivanova... Sorry, David.

    Edit: Not a Jew. And she has a direct quote about a Jewish father and everything. Thanks again, Michael from Hartford.

    Monday, July 2, 2012

    Profile: Mario Balotelli

    http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=1361

    Here's an article with the details.

    Suggestion by Danielle from Boston and Ethan from Ottawa.