Happy 60th

Star-studded Hallelujah finale at the Radio City Music Hall

Last night I attended the Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel's 60th Anniversary Celebration at the Radio City Music Hall with my friends (thanks, Lindsay!). It was my first time in Radio City, and the show was really spectacular. An impressive lineup of Jewish and Israeli musicians, including Matisyahu, Idan Raichel, David Broza, Rami Kleinstein, John Zorn, and my favorite acts of the evening, Habanot Nechama and Yael Naim who performed her hit, "New Soul", made popular in the Apple MacBook Air commercials, as well as her cover of Brittany Spears' "Toxic". In addition to these wonderful musical acts, we were treated to special appearances by guest hosts Natalie Portman, Governor (and genetically Jewish!) of New York David Paterson, Paul Schaffer and Richard Belzer.

Alicia Post and Lindsay Litowitz share post-show shots

Esther K. and Doree Lewak descend at Radio City Music Hall

Steven I. Weiss finds his audience for The Jewish Channel in front of Radio City Music Hall

After the show, which ran past midnight, many of us ended up at Tavern on the Green for the Dor Chadash Yom Ha'atzmaut bash. I think every young Jew in New York was there, it was an impressive party!

Jewish Robot flanked by his Israel Girls, Lindsay and Sydney

More photos on Facebook

Heebonism 2007

Heebonism New York will take place at the Knitting Factory and start with an hour-long open bar from 9:00-10 p.m. The 21+ blowout will feature live sets by Original Hamster, Terry Diabolik (Finger on the Pulse), June D (White Dove) and DJ Krowd Pleezr, Christmas Carol Karaoke, "Strip Dreidel" led by Kinkyjews.com and all sorts of other Semitic salaciousness.

The event runs from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (open bar courtesy of LinLin Vodka for the first hour) and will be held at the Knitting Factory (74 Leonard Street, New York, NY). Tickets are $20 in advance ( Knittingfactory.com) or $25 at the door. (The event is 21+)

Mega Mini Mega

Israeli singer Einat Sarouf leads us in round of "Salaam", the unofficial birthright israel bus trip anthem
Yesterday I attended the birthright israel Mini Mega Event, a reunion for birthright alumni and friends hosted on the vast Bedford estate of Michael and Judy Steinhardt. And when I say vast, I'm talking Neverland Ranch proportions, complete with apple orchards, a Japanese garden, a zoo with exotic animals, catered food in a tent for hundreds of alumni, and more. Michael Steinhardt introduced his friends, Senator Joe Lieberman, and honorary Jew, Newark NJ Mayor Cory Booker, who gave a most memorable, rousing speech about, oddly enough, the privilege of being Jewish.

A baby fennec fox, just one of the exotic animals in Steinhardt's zoo
birthright staffer Melissa Frank calls her boyfriend in Israel to brag that she is hanging out with the Jewish Robot
Shira Shimoni of Taglit-birthright NY and Aaron Bisman of JDub Records
"Sure, Mrs. Steinhardt and Mrs. Schusterman, I'd be happy to pose for a photo and sign my autograph for you!"
Michael Steinhardt, Newark NJ Mayor Cory Booker, singer, and Senator Joe Lieberman singing "Oseh Shalom" ... "We Are The World style!"
Photographer Michael "Crouching Tiger" Findling captures it all on film
Esther K. and JTA's Jacob Berkman, whose goal is to make his head and hair grow to resemble a fist holding a black tambourine
Mini Mega Coordinator/Terminator Lindsay Litowitz
Filmmaker Alan Dorfman with Moshav singer Duvid
Jewish Robot freestyle rapping against Wu-Tang Clan member Remedy

Watch Wu-Tang Clan member Remedy perform at the Mini Mega

While I'm not a birthright israel alumnus, I've participated in several events funded by the Steinhardt Foundation and the Schusterman Foundation, and I can see how these mega events will help former participants maintain a sense of pride and responsibility, even though they are miles away from Israel.

See more photos from the birthright israel Mini Mega event on Facebook:
Photo Album 1, Photo Album 2, Photo Album 3

Hookah in the Sukkah

Dope beats courtesy of Harel Schachal & Anistar
PresenTense Magazine celebrated the launch of their third issue (in which I have a full-page Shabot 6000 special "Shabot Spot" comic) with Sukkot in the PresenTense: A Feast from the Middle East, celebrated in perfect weather and under the sukkah at the Sixth Street Community Synagogue in Manhattan. With live Middle Eastern music, more hookahs than you could shake a bong at, and food and wine flowing, I believe everyone who attended had a fantastic time, and this party marked the best PresenTense event yet!

PresenTense editor Esther K. and graphic designer Sari Lisch
Educator and former PresenTense contributor Beth Pollack and voiceover artist Jessica Wachsman
Heeb contributor David Kelsey and Basya Schechter of Pharaoh's Daughter
New Jewcy contributor Maya Wainhaus, world traveler Raven Brown, and Alicia "The Postmaster" Post
The shwarma and pita simply wasn't Jewish enough for Eli Valley's strict standards, so he moved shop to the kitchen for some real Jewish food ... Matzo Farfel
Jewish Robot with bedazzled admirer Alicia Post
Success! Party organizers Ariel Beery of PresenTense and Maven Haven, Dara Lehon, and the Good Rabbi Charlie Buckholtz

OneVoice is One Word

OneVoice President Daniel Lubetzky
Last night I attended the OneVoice Blogger Meet-Up at Think Tank 3 in Manhattan. From their website,

On October 18, 2007, the Israeli and Palestinian peoples will say "enough!" - enough stalemated negotiations, enough violence and chaos, enough setbacks and excuses.
Through unprecedented, massive parallel summits in Tel Aviv and Jericho satellite-linked to locations worldwide, and supportive events in London , Washington , D.C., and Ottawa , the moderate majority will take a stand.

After an introduction by Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, and Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post, OneVoice President Daniel Lubetzky explained that, while traditional media has failed in spreading the word in their stand for peace in the Middle East, there is still hope with the new media reporters, like us bloggers. So far, over half a million Israelis and Palestinians have pledged their support in the One Million Voices campaign to end the conflict. We bloggers were invited to help spread their word.

Jewschool.com founder Daniel Sieradski compares notes with Craigslist founder Craig Newmark
Aryeh Goldsmith of the Jewish blog aggregator Jrants.com, Leah Jones of Accidentally Jewish, and ever present Esther K.
Heeb's Adam Baruchowitz and Etty Beke for NuYorker
Etty told me that if we took this photo, she would be the envy of all her friends in Venezuela, who happen to be Shabot 6000 fans. As opposed as I am to befriending tall, young Venezuelan Jewish girls, I reluctantly agreed to pose with her.

See more photos by Dan Sieradski

Barely Political Party

Team Obama Girl (creator Ben Relles and vocalist Leah Kauffman) with Team Rosh Hashanah Girl (me and Michelle)
Having been inspired by BarelyPolitical's Obama Girl, we were flattered to learn that the Obama Girl team are mutually fans of our own Rosh Hashanah Girl production. So last night, Rosh Hashanah Girl a.k.a. Michelle Citrin and I attended Barely Political's launch party for their new music video, I Like A Boy ..., featuring Leah Kauffman, the voice behind Obama Girl.

Flanked by two of three Romney Girl Triplets
Unfortunately we didn't get to meet Amber Lee Ettinger a.k.a. Obama Girl as she was a bit under the weather (and seemingly preoccupied with a very lucky boyfriend), but I did get to meet many of the talented folks behind BarelyPolitical.com's videos, including two of three Romney Girl Triplets.

Huffington Post reporter Rachel Sklar, vocalist Leah Kauffman, and Michelle Citrin
New BFFs, the voices of Obama Girl and Rosh Hashanah Girl
Many business cards were exchanged that night, and as we were all promptly ushered out of the Canal Room at 9pm so they could get ready for the next event, we all wished each other an easy fast, because, as it turns out, almost everyone involved in these projects was Jewish.

September Timbre

Meir, me, Esther, and Aryeh at Jewzapalooza
As the new year approaches, thankfully the shofar isn't the only music you'll hear this month. Last Sunday was the Oyhoo! Jewzapalooza festival at Riverside Park on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, featuring musical acts including Dan Zanes, Pharaoh’s Daughter and more. Check out the schedule for more Jewish music events in NYC, all part of the Oyhoo! 2007 venue.


And yesterday, between curtains of rain, I went to see our very own Michelle Citrin, a.k.a. Rosh Hashanah Girl, perform a set in the 9/11 September Concert series at Union Square.


Check out this video of Michelle performing her catchy tune, "I Believe in Music"!

Jewish Alliance Colony, 125 Years Later

My niece Lola represents a new generation of Jewish Alliance descendants
Last week I returned home to Vineland, NJ ... and I mean HOME home, back to our farmland where my family lived when I was born, for the 125 year anniversary of the Jewish Alliance Colony. For a little background, Joel Landau of The Courier Post explains in his article, "Town honors anniversary of Jewish colony":

In 1882, 43 Jewish families fled the Soviet Union to come to South Jersey and do something they were never allowed to do before.

The refugees, from what is now Odessa, Ukraine, started the Alliance Colony, which became the first Jewish agricultural colony in the country. Now, descendants of those first families and hundreds more that came shortly afterward reflected on and honored their history at Alliance Cemetery on Gershal Avenue.

My father's side of the family were amongst the original 43, and I have many fond memories of growing up in Vineland with fellow descendants, who are like a big extended family to me.

Rabbi Murray Kohn, who performed our bar and bat mitzvahs, and officiated my sister Sandy's wedding
The songs I write for my cartoons? I have Barbara Kornbluh, my childhood piano instructor, to thank for making learning music so fun!
Celia Pretter, with her daughters Talia and Alana, was our favorite babysitter when we were little. She lived down the street where her parents raised chickens, and we would ask our parents to leave just so Celia would come to sit for us. I was just a wee lad, but you can see why she is still my favorite!

Behind the Scene

Tuesday August 7 was National Underwear Day, an event launched by Freshpair, based on the simple belief that underwear deserves a lot more recognition than it gets. What does this have to do with Jewish and/or robots? Other than my sneaking suspicion that many of the models were actually androids, the event was founded by Freshpair president Michael Kleinmann, and the video production was coordinated by Alex Lirtsman, with on-the-fly editing by buddy Dave Marcus, who got the Jewish Robot in on the job of preparing the videos for YouTube for The Underwear Observer blog.

Alex smiles because, well, we're blogging about National Underwear Day!
Seen the behind? Behind the scene in Hard Rock Café at Times Square
"Must ... concentrate ... on ... editing ... Ignore ... girls ... in underwear!"
Jewish Robot, Dave Marcus, and Freshpair president Michael Kleinmann, (who bears an uncanny resemblance to ROI120 leader and friend, Elias Parker!)

Newish Media

Point/Counterpoint with Mobius and Rebecca
This week I attended The Evolving Landscape in "New" Jewish Media discussion at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. On the panel were Tahl Raz of Jewcy.com, Sara Ivry of Nextbook, Rebecca Wiener of Heeb Magazine, Esther Kustanowitz of PresenTense Magazine, Daniel Sieradski of Jewschool.com and moderator Ami Eden of JTA. Eden played the devil's advocate with his questions, asking the panel if blogs really have an impact in the world of legitimate Jewish journalism. He expressed a common sentiment: he could read about the same topic in a hundred blogs, but he won't take it seriously until he reads it in a reputable printed publication like the Jewish Daily Forward (where he used to work). Tal argued that blogs must be having an impact, because now all these reputable print publications are rushing to create their own blogs. Dan "Mobius" Sieradski, founder of Jewschool.com, knows first hand about these Old School publications looking to start some serious blogging, as he hinted to the audience, and finally announced on his Orthodox Anarchist blog:

Next Monday, I assume the role of Director of New Media for JTA, the global Jewish newswire. Mostly, I will be responsible for JTA’s website, video, podcasts, etc.. I will not be writing for them. Not yet, anyway. And unless I’m showing off something I made, I also will not be writing about JTA here or anywhere else. I do not want to blow this gig. So, this is “the last time I am phoning and the first time. Goodbye.”

Good luck to all my fellow New Jewish Media bloggers, though I have a feeling it's the Old Media folks who need the luck.

"Sorry for making fun of Heeb in my comics, Rebecca."
Persuasive and manly speaker Tahl Raz flanked by swooning Sara Ivry and Esther K.
Self-professed Brooklyn hater, alcoholic and author of Generation S.L.U.T., Jewcy contributor Marty Beckerman finally meets his idol: me.

Is Dan Zanes Jewish?

I suspect he might be, as this local musician is a featured artist in the upcoming September Jewzapalooza concert at Riverside Park in Manhattan. Regardless, Dan Zanes and Friends is also the attraction that got my sister Sandy and her husband Todd to travel up to Brooklyn with my 17 month old niece, Lola!

Lola really digs the music!
It was Lola's first trip to Brooklyn, which was already a special occasion. The Celebrate Brooklyn music series just made the day even more memorable.

Picking up the babes by picking up the babe
Lola and my sister Michelle, back together
Dan Zanes shines as he signs Lola's DVD
More photos on Facebook

Brooklyn Pride

Proud Brooklynite dances with flair
Last night I was proud for 15 minutes. That's about how long the 10th Annual Brooklyn Pride parade lasted, as the local gay and lesbian community and supporters gathered along 7th Avenue here in Park Slope to share in the festivities for Brooklyn Pride Week.

It was nice to see the churches and synagogues participating, as well as a special appearance by borough President Marty Markowitz in his Martymobile!

The Metropolitan Community Church of New York
Park Slope Jewish Center
Congregation Beth Elohim of Brooklyn New York
I am proud to be a part of such a welcoming and diverse community here in Brooklyn!

Salute to Israel Parade

Last week was the Salute to Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The event was well attended, and offered a chance to meet up randomly with all the people I've gotten to know in the active Jewish community over the last year.

Newly engaged Seth Galena of BangItOut.com and Hindy "sister of ROI120's Existential Rabbi Avi" Poupko pass out "Kiss Me if You Love Israel" stickers
Leading Up North participants Melissa Frank, Esther K., and National Alumni Coordinator for birthright israel Sydney Henning reunite.
JTA staff writer Jacbo Berkman and Nice Jewish Girl Gone Bad musician Michelle Citrin, exhibit a sign of change: "COME TO ISRAEL ... NO ONE BELONGS HERE"

Dor Chadash Yom Ha'atzmaut in NYC

Berger Boy and I will see you at the Dor Chadash Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration in NYC.

Yom Ha'atzmaut - April 23, 2007

Where: Capitale - 130 Bowery

When:
6:00 Doors Open
6:30 One Hour Open Wine/Vodka Bar; Light Passed Hors D'oeuvres
7:30 Yom HaZikaron/Memorial Ceremony Begins - No Admittance During Ceremony
8:15 Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration Begins!

Price:
Regular Ticket - $30 in advance; 40 at the door
VIP* Ticket: $75 in advance; $100 at the door

Festival of Chametz

Prepare yourself for the Four Questions with the creative flavors of four Israeli artists making it in New York City: Sephardi-infused jazz by Ayelet Rose Gottlieb ; Beats by Modular Moods' DJ Handler backed by chanteuse Smadar Levi ; Short films by Aylam Orian ; Performance poetry by Eran Tzelgov.

Co-sponsored by Ben Gurion University of the Negev--where you can immerse yourself in Israel --and Jewlicious.

When: Saturday, March 31, 10:30pm till the Exodus
Where: The Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard Street, New York, NY 10013
Cost: $8 at the door, $5 presale or with donation of bread or grain at the door.
How: You can take the 1 or 9 train to Franklin Street, walk one block south to Leonard, turn left and walk a block & a half to the club
Contact: MiriamHaier -at- presentensemagazine.org

Come for art, pre-Passover partying and the official launch of PresenTense Magazine's third issue! (which is, well, Issue Two)

More information at PresenTense Magazine

Best of All, the Festival

Misha the Frum Mouse meets the Jewish Robot
I arrived home in Brooklyn on Tuesday after spending a fun filled weekend participating in the Jewlicious at the Beach 3.0 festival, co-hosted by Beach Hillel in Long Beach, CA. The festival was well attended, with about 400 Jewish students all converging in the Alpert JCC for shabbat meals, wine tasting, music, arts and crafts, concerts, seminars, and open music jams.

I was honored to have been invited to conduct a "JewTube" seminar, about Jewish influence in online marketing and viral videos. Joining me in the discussion was fellow Jew-world song writer and comedic entertainer Eric Schwartz, a.k.a. Smooth E, who had given a hilarious live performance in the music festival the night before. We talked about our involvement in the niche Jewish online market, and even got into deeper philosophical issues, asking questions like "Is Judaism becoming too trendy?" and "Do these funny Jewish viral videos negatively affect the way people view Judaism?" (I hope not, because I'm trying to make a business out of it.)

Rabbi Yonah calls everyone into the concert
Comedian and fellow songwriter Eric Schwartz, a.k.a. Smooth E, honors the Jewish Robot with his own robot impression
Straight outta' Brooklyn, Rav Shmuel performs his hit song, Protocols
Sweet young Festival goers, Andrea and Flora, flanked by two guys whose names I can't remember if I ever knew
The haunting music of Israeli Grammy award-winning musician, my second surprise
After four days of festival, Heeb Magazine contributor and hardcore New Yorker David Kelsey was not nearly as enthusiastic as I was about finally getting to the beach in Santa Monica, for fear he might spontaneously combust in the sunlight (his clothes are SPF 1,000).
It was nice to see so many young Jewish adults come together and become friends, and I'm looking forward to participating in future events. Thanks again to the Jewlicious crew and especially Rabbi Yonah!

Jewish Robot at the Beach

Yesterday I arrived in Long Beach, California for the Jewlicious at the Beach Festivals, where I, along with many of my colleagues, will be speaking in salons and panels about being Jews in new media (I think ... I'm still not sure what I'll be talking about). As with my trips to Israel, once again I am traveling and rooming with fellow J-blogger and friend, Aryeh G. The good Rabbi Yonah Bookstein of Beach Hillel, founder and organizer for the event, arranged our flight and lodging and food and local transportation, and we are already indebted to his generosity. That's why Aryeh and I were more than willing to help decorate the JCC into the night.

Aryeh at the airport
Jewish Robot, having a ball
Aryeh helps make the JCC look nice, just by standing there
Blogging from the Alpert Jewish Community Center of Long Beach, where I got to blow the dust off my old Macboy skills and set up the Macintosh iMacs for the registration center.

More news and photos after the weekend, ShaBot Shalom!

Manic Monday

L to R: Aryeh Goldsmith, Ariel Beery, Sara Schwimmer, Paul Berger, and Eli "No Website" Valley
Last night I gathered with the usual suspects at Mo Pitkins for Manic Monday, a joint event hosted by PresenTense Magazine and Save the Assistants. The after-work program, conceived by Lilit and Ariel, intends to combine the audiences of Jewish readers and overworked assistants for a monthly unwinding. I found it ironic that ninty percent of the folks who showed up were, like me, self-employed, and therefore could not relate to the daily strife of those Assistants who need Saving. Still, it's always good to get together with my unemployed friends.

DJ Wolinsky and Dave Schwimmer Marcus
Lilit, Assistant Saved
EV, New York blogger event king Andrew Krucoff, and Berger Boy

Sweet Purim Jam, Brooklyn Style

IYUUN Chabad of Carroll Gardens Annual Purim Jam!
With no concrete Purim plans, I wandered over to the BAM Café with my buddy Berger Boy, only to discover that the Hip-Hop Hafla Purim Party, part of the 2007 Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Festival, was already winding down. We waited for Ariel Beery to show up before jetting, and going with the flow, we followed a group of nomadic Jews over to the Chabad of Carroll Gardens a few blocks away.

When we arrived, I was surprised to find an oasis of music, food, and celebration in a part of Brooklyn that I've only passed through, never stopping to smell the roses. And to make things even more special, Hasidic hip-hop artist Matisyahu made a surprise appearance, and put on an impromptu performance. Even though I've poked fun at him in my Shabot comics, I had never seen Matisyahu perform before, so I lucked out when I just happened to be sitting right up front, about two feet away from him as he busted out with the beats.

Impromptu Matisyahu
Berger Boy caught the whole thing on film

Watch a clip of Matisyahu perform live at Chabad of Carroll Gardens

After his performance, I had an opportunity to introduce myself and talk with Matisyahu briefly, before the swarm of admiring frum gals flocked around him, maintaining a respectable distance, wishing they could jump his shomer negiyah bones.

Matisyahu and the Jewish Robot
Resident Engergy Conservationist Ami "Greener" Greener and sidekick Adam
Who let Super Mario in the house? Ariel Beery wears his Leading Up North work clothes so he can get down and dirty.
Jamming out the Chabad Melodies, Purim style
Hasidic Crown Heights native and fashion designer Levi Okunov and publicist Berel made it to the party
By the time this photo was taken, Paul could not tell the difference between "Cursed be Haman" and "Blessed be Mordecai". Though the next day, Berger Boy confessed he didn't know the difference before he got drunk, either

Grateful Yid Purim Bash

If you happen to be Brooklyn-bound this Purim weekend, come to Southpaw for the 3rd Annual Grateful Yid Purim Bash:

Sun. 3/4
Chabad of Prospect Heights presents the 3rd Annual Purim Bash
Join us for an incredible evening of celebration, music & L'Chiam!
4:00pm Megillah Reading
5:00pm Funk & Festivities! featuring
MATISYAHU
Rahanim
Asefa
Y-Love feat. DJ Handler & Yoshie
with special guest Heedoosh
$15 adv./$15 d.o.s
3 pm doors
best Purim Costume takes grand prize -info. call 718-362-9213
Southpaw @ 125 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY
Buy Tickets here

Artists Appreciated

Canonist Steven I. Weiss and wife Rachel
On Sunday I attended the Second Annual 14th Street Y Artist Appreciation Soiree at Mo Pitkin's in Manhattan. Having placed last (first loser) in the Mr. and Ms. Jew-S-A Pageant, as well as contributing artwork in the Tikun Olam benefit, I apparently qualified as an artist deserving of appreciation. Among other artists in attendance who are more deserving of appreciation were the loveable Canonist Mr. and Mrs. Steven I. Weiss, Heeb Magazine Editor Josh Neuman, 14th Street Y Director of Arts, Jewish Culture, & Adult Education Alyssa Abrahamson, the Goddess Perlman (star of the Channel 102 series Raduate School), and fashion designer and self-proclaimed superstar Apollo Braun, who stunned participants with his sexually charged Jew-ish dance and song routine, "Party in My Pants" (warning: adult language).

Neuman, Alyssa A, and the Goddess Perlman
Apollo Braun says, "Buy my music!"

Whuzza Mezuzah?

Sara Marcus of ChosenCouture.com
Last week I attended the release party and benefit for Mezuzah, the first book in The Jewish Life Series at the Downtown Chabbad Loft in Manhattan. Gary Sternberg (left), who has been working on the project and foundation for several years, explains,

The Jewish Life Series is dedicated to making Jewish living and knowledge accessible to Jews worldwide through cutting-edge, graphically excellent websites, books, and advertising. Topics include Jewish beliefs, observances, holidays, and kabbalah.

The book is of extraordinary quality, with colorful illustrations and glossy raised print, and the topic is explained in a way that is easy for everyone to understand. You can support The Jewish Life Series Foundation by visiting their web site.

(right) Jewish Robot and The Shansta always seem to be at these events, hmm ...

Dave Goldstein and Howard Reichman show their support for The Jewish Life Series

Festival B'Shekel

Pro stilt walker and juggler rides his baby elephant
January 3, 2007: After a day of celebration and seed sowing, we stopped back at the school where we had learned our street performance skills to entertain the children. I dressed as a gypsy snake charmer (pictured left) and played my recorder flute as Citrin popped out of her Basket of Mystery, catching passers-by off guard to give the kids a thrill. Instead of a snake, we improvised with a plush puppy doll. You'd think that wouldn't be scary, but you'd be surprised to see how many kids crapped their pants when Michelle jumped out and shouted, "Boker Tov!"

If more clowns were like JCS's Sarah G., I'd surely overcome my coulrophobia
After enough kids had crapped their pants, we headed over to the hanger for the Festival B'Shekel. The empty hanger offered the perfect venue, accommodating a few thousand audience members, street performers (including my roommie Aryeh, who I've nicknamed "Boycan" ... as in "Boycan Juggle", see photo left), food vendors, merchants, and a large stage for the musical performances. Participating in the festival was a wonderful way to end our ten-day Leading Up North experience.

Michelle Citrin takes to the stage like a [insert witty analogy here ... I'm too tired to think right now]
Either the band was singing about shoes, or this is the Israeli equivalent of concert-goers holding up lighters aflame

GAG me with a toon

Dad, getting ready to go to minyan, in Dad vs. AOL
A few years ago, before all this Jewish Robot business, when I was known simply as Macboy, I figured a good way to promote my Macintosh consulting business would be to post cartoons about Macintosh computers on my web site, macboy.com®.

Now, several years later, with all the attention on ShaBot, and my MacToons all but forgotten, I am pleased to announce that two of my old cartoons have resurfaced and will be featured in The Graphic Artists Guild's New York Chapter "Wanna See Our Shorts?" 2006 Animation Festival.

Dad vs. AOL, my personal favorite, is a cartoon animation featuring a an actual, desperate phone message from my dad, asking for tech support. And NYMUG, which stands for New York Macintosh Users Group, is a true story and interview with my friend, Heath Gill, who was mugged for his Macintosh computer. Both of these cartoons were produced when I was just learning to animate, and they each took several weeks to produce. Nowadays I could knock them out in less than a week, so these old works are truly a labor of love.

If you are in NYC and would like to check out the show, here's the info:

The Graphic Artists Guild's 2006 New York Animation Festival

December 21, 2006, from 7-9 PM --reception with the filmmakers to follow.
Pratt Manhattan Campus
144 West 14th St., Room 213

$15 members
$20 non-members
$10 seniors (65+)
$5 Student member*
$10 Student non-member*
*Students must show current school ID
Free to Pratt students, faculty and staff. You must bring your Pratt ID.

If you can't make the show, don't worry, you can still see my old Macboy MacToons online.

Sacred Drift

My photographer friend, Joshua Kristal, shot a series on cultural decay in the Orthodox Jewish community on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Josh was selected as one of ten photographers to be featured in the first issue of STORY Magazine. His work, titled Sacred Drift, can be viewed on exhibition through this Saturday night, with artists' reception and closing party to follow. Details below.

Exhibition through December 16, 2006

Artist Reception and Closing Party
Saturday, December 16, 2006, 7-11pm

The Gallery at 3rd Ward
195 Morgan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY (Williamsburg)
L to Morgan Ave. station

Jewish Blog night with a Chinese Shabbat dinner: December 8

Join us at a Synaplex Shabbat Downtown where you will meet JEWISH BLOGGERS ... including the Jewish Robot.

Jewlicious, Jewschool, Kesher Talk, Blogs of Zion, My Urban Kvetch, JDaters Anonymous, Shabot6000 – these blogs are all part of a vibrant virtual community that is reinvigorating the conversations and connections among Jews. Come hear and meet "famous" Jewish bloggers as they share some of their favorite posts and talk about the impact of the Internet on Judaism.

Services at 6pm, dinner at 7, roundtable at 8...
RSVP required to TVSynaplex@yahoo.com or 212-677-8090 x26, by Monday, December 4, with advance payment of $20/adults, $15/young adults & students, $10/children under 13.

At Town and Village Synagogue – 334 East 14 th Street

PresenTense Issue One Launch

Last night I attended the PresenTense Magazine Issue One Launch at the Edgar M. Bronfman Center for Jewish Life at New York University, featuring "Forgotten Heritage: Uncovering New York's Hidden Jewish Past," the work of photographer and PresenTense photoessayist Julian Voloj. Plenty of people turned up, including the usual suspects (see photos below). If you can pick up a copy of the magazine, you'll find my full-page cartoon "Marine Ecology of the Middle East" on the back page.

PresenTense Editor-in-Chief Ariel Beery and Heeb contributor David Kelsey
The Robot and Executive Editor Beth Pollak
New Jewlicious contributor Phoebe
The real reason Beery started a magazine: GROUPIES

A Night of Whores and Borats

Does your Magen David hang low, does it dangle Jew and fro? (I was really trying to snap the flight attendant in the background.)
Last night was Halloween, or the Pagan Purim if it pleases you. I went to the HavaLight Halloween Party at Cielo in the West Village of Manhattan, the city where, for one night, hundreds of women dressed as whores were matched by an equally strong army of men dressed as Borat.

I decided to go as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran. Look at the photo to the left, can you tell who is Ahmadinejad and who is the Robot? Most folks at the party knew who I was supposed to be, especially since I had printed a name tag on the colors of the flag of Iran. But some people didn't quite get it, and when they read the name "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad", they said knowingly, "Ah, I get it, you're a terrorist!"

Among the other anti-Semitic characters self-hatingly portrayed by Jews that night was Borat. I ran into a few of them, but the Borat in this photo was the friendliest. He warmed up to me when he saw my name tag, and broke character to ask me something in Farsi. Embarrassed by the mixup, I confessed that I didn't speak Iranian.

"In my country there is problem, and that problem is the Jew."
The Shansta was da' Bomb of Iran
A vanilla Flavor Flav and, I don't know, maybe the road manager from Rock Star?
He had moves like the Hebrew Hammer, but Alan Z. claimed to be someone else

An Issue with Food

Whaddup, Shansta?
Heeb Magazine celebrated their eleventh issue, The Food Issue, with another kick-ass party last night. Held at Fat Baby on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the usual suspects made their appearance and posed for the ShaBlog.

Beth Pollak of PresenTense thinks PINK
Heeb's David Kelsey and Sarah Lefton of Jewish Fashion Conspiracy
Avi, David, and Adam Baruchowitz
Fellow ROI120ers Sarah Lefton and Rebecca Wiener, Senior Editor for Heeb
PresenTense Editor-in-Chief Ariel Beery obscured by powerful pre-party host E.V. of Jewschool
West coast's Sarah, and Yoseph of Cannabis Chassidis
Storahtelling David Wolkin and bright-eyed Lindsay of PresenTense and ROI120
Esther K., the Bot, and an encore appearance by Sarah Lefton

Jewzapalooza Newza

JR greeted by ubiquitous UWS Heeb contributor, David Kelsey
The Oyhoo Jewish Music Festival concluded yesterday with Jewzapalooza, a free outdoor concert at Riverside Park on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I got there in the evening, just in time to catch JMA "Best Middle Eastern Blend" and "Best World Music" winners Pharoah's Daughter, followed by the Pink Floyd-esque sounds of Yosi Piamenta's Heavenly Jam Band, and finally a hip-hopping performance by Israeli group, Hadag Nahash. The music was great, but I had the most fun running into all my friends and fellow Jewish bloggers!

Aryeh Goldsmith juggles balls like he juggles his websites ... five at a time!
JR and Jewschool co-contributor Ruby K
When not in Rome ... Lilit and David
Ariel Beery of PresenTense Magazine does the robot, with the robot

Jew-S-A! Jew-S-A!

JR has his nipples molested by Jew-S-A host, Scotty the Blue Bunny
I kept this a secret, because I didn't want my friends to come. But as a favor to my dear friend, Alyssa Abrahamson, Director of Arts, Jewish Culture, and Adult Education for the 14th Street Y, I participated as a contestant in the first annual Mr. & Mrs. Jew-S-A Pageant, part of the Oyhoo Festival.

I came in last place.

I suspect this is because my talent consisted of merely showing some of my cartoon animations, while my talented co-contestants busted their asses with live performances, like Rick Barinbaum playing an original composition on the piano, or Shoshi stripping to the tune of Holla Back Girl. Or maybe it was the fact that my answer to the question "What is your favorite mitzvah" was "Shatnez".

Despite coming in as last runner-up, it was a fun event, and I am happy to make a fool of myself for your entertainment! As long as it brings you closer to God.

Mr. Jew-S-A Titleholder and gourmet chef, Noam Dolgin!
The new Ms. Jew-S-A, half-naked bagel boa-wearing tap dancer, Ariel Woah!

JMA JAM

BennyBwoy, the original Jewmaican
I'm finally catching up on the ShaBlog after a week of Jewish music events here in Manhattan, organized by Oyhoo in the New York Jewish Music and Heritage Festival. On Monday, September 11, I attended the Jewish Music Awards at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. I was also a member of the board of journalists who nominated and voted for the finalists in each category.

The show was hosted by actress and comedienne, Jackie Hoffman, whose musical interludes, such as "You're Not Buddhist, You're Jewish!", kept the audience entertained after somewhat awkward moments in the show.

JR meets Jackie Hoffman. I was flattered to learn she is a fan of my work!
Admittedly, while the venue was fantastic, and the live performances were superb, the event was poorly attended, which often resulted in embarrassingly weak audience reaction and applause. This reserved audience phenomenon became apparent when the talented DJ rap artist BennyBwoy and his highly energized crew of Jamaican jammers put their groove on the stage, only to be met with befuddlement from the audience, who were not hip enough to translate the Jamaican dialectic requests to join in with clapping or echoing "ho, ho!" I'm not sure why so few people attended the show ... It could have been the price, or a lack of promotion, or not enough interest being generated in these upcoming Jewish artists. But for some reason I was reminded of a scene from This Is Spinal Tap, when their band manager lamented, "I’ve told them a hundred times: put ‘Spinal Tap’ first and ‘Puppet Show’ last!"


Ahron of Blanket StatementStein back from the UK feels the groove at the after party
Best Hip Hop Winner Y-Love poses with fans, the Shansta and my Hungarian ROI120 travel companion, Brigitta
After the show, I took a moment to walk by the September 11 light memorial nearby. As I gazed skyward, my eyes following the vertical path of these beams of light, I could see highly luminescent objects fluttering about. They looked like spirits trapped in an ethereal cage. I'm not sure what I was seeing, but I suspect it was moths, attracted by the light. It reminded me of all the office papers that blew around in the sky after the towers fell five years ago.

September 11, 2001 memorial at the site of the World Trade Center
Friend and fellow blogger Esther Kustanowitz was there, too. She writes,

We have had our pillars of smoke and fire, which led us into chaos and despair; now we have our pillars of light, our luminescent hope that extends forever into the heavens, melting together at the top and seeming to form rungs. We climb, unsure of where we'll end up, but we use the ladder because it is our legacy.

Kidshabot

French graffiti artist MIST paints a phat FatCap
Last Thursday I went to the Paint Ball, a toy show benefit for the Save the Children Federation at Kidrobot in Soho. Graffiti artists, fashion designers, and underground comic artists from around the world were invited to paint and reconstruct big Dunny and FatCap dolls, which will be auctioned for charity.

Wall of FatCaps and Dunnies
Famed fashion designer Richie Rich of the Heatherette lingerie line signs a Dunny box for us
Dunny by illustrator Andrew Rae
I particularly liked this Dunny painted by illustrator Andrew Rae, whose robot creations I find very appealing. Taking a closer look at Rae's montage on this cartoon doodled Dunny, I think I may have found Shabot's long lost secular twin!

Here are more photos from the Kidrobot Paint Ball.

Jewbilation! 2006

I'll be at the Mr. and Ms. Jew-S-A Pageant, maybe others, maybe see you there ...

Downtown Entertainment of the Hebrew Persuasion

The Big Jewish Quiz Thing
Wednesday, September 13 at 8PM
The Big Quiz Thing, NYC's live-trivia spectacular, presents a special-edition game-show smackdown, pitting New York’s savviest Jewish bigwigs against each other in a trivia contest of all things Hebraic. Joanna Angel (Burningangel.com), Adam Feldman (Time Out New York, New York Drama Critics’ Circle), Jesse Oxfeld (New York Magazine), Bex Schwartz (VH1), Michael Showalter (Stella, Comedy Central) and Tammy Faye Starlight (Evangelical Country Singer) test their Talmudic talent for a chance to win prizes and glory. Hosted by Ashkenazic quizmaster Noah Tarnow, Sephardic sidekick EDP, and gentile DJ GB.

"Mr. and Ms. Jew-S-A" Pageant
Thursday, September 14 at 8PM
You've heard of Miss USA, now we’re crowning “Mr. & Ms. Jew-S-A!” Watch and gasp as the contestants flaunt their talent, smarts and style in this pageant where looks are not everything. Hosted by Scotty the Blue Bunny and judged by Apollo Braun (Israeli Gashion designer), Jenny Romaine (Yiddish spectacle artist) and Danielle Abrams (Black Jewish ballroom dancing butch performance artist).

Kosher ChiXXX
Saturday, September 16 at 9PM
The Big Apple's juiciest Jewesses strut their ample tuchuses in a bawdy burlesque revue for folks who like to keep their fantasies kosher. Downtown diva Raven Snook and bawdy broad Allison Tilsen preside over the festivities, which include titillating stripteases and sketches by the curvaceous Dottie Lux, the irreverent Little Brooklyn, ravishing Rose Wood, the very nubile Old Ma Femme, and almost wholesome Minnie Tonka. These aren't the girls you'd bring home to mother… although you'd definitely bring them home.

$10/ticket
Advance tickets: (212) 780-0800 ext 221.
For more information, please contact Alyssa Abrahamson at ext 245 or Alyssa_Abrahamson@14StreetY.org

Bunch of FLAGS

NYC Pride Week concluded today with The MARCH down 5th Avenue in Manhattan. It was nice to see support from Jewish organizations, including Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, NYC's synagogue for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender Jews, their families and friends; and The Union for Reform Judaism Greater New York Council.


Elijah and Tobey would approve!