Zentai appeals to the HRC
February 23, 2010 by J-Wire
Lawyers acting for Charles Zentai, the Perth man facing extradition to Hungary to face questioning about the 1944 death of a Jewish youth in Budapest, have appealed to the Human Rights Commission to “safeguard their client’s rights”. Read more
Holly Torah
February 21, 2010 by J-Wire
Reader Marc Schneider points to a somewhat tenuous result in the snow-boarding event at the Winter Olympics. Read more
Short+Sweet to present controversial play
February 21, 2010 by J-Wire
7 Jewish Children, the British play produced in Melbourne last year under a cloud of controversy, will be performed at Sydney’s NIDA’s theatre this week. Read more
Shutter Island ***
February 19, 2010 by J-Wire
Spoiler Alert: Although every effort has been made to limit the revelations in this review, it’s difficult to provide a coherent discussion of Shutter Island without giving away something, so readers are hereby placed on alert. If you’re familiar with the book, however, there’s no reason to stop here…
What’s wrong with Shutter Island? This has been the question ever since Paramount Pictures elected to move the Martin Scorsese-directed thriller from its comfortable pre-Oscar position to the wastelands of February. It turns out that there’s nothing wrong with Shutter Island – except perhaps that it’s not Oscar worthy material. An atmospheric mind-twister of a thriller, this movie delights in playing games with the audience’s perceptions and has been crafted with such competence that it rises above the somewhat generic storyline that forms the basis of Dennis Lehane’s novel. The strength of the film, like the book, is that it never allows the viewer to feel comfortable with what he is watching. That’s because Shutter Island is presented from the perspective of an unreliable narrator and, as such, the lines between fantasy and reality sometimes blur so strongly that it’s easy to become unanchored in trying to distinguish between what’s real and what isn’t. A case can be made that the movie is so enamored with this aspect of its approach that it fails to connect on an emotional level. Shutter Island addresses some powerful, disturbing concepts but, despite effective performances by the leads, the movie’s psychological impact is minimal. It doesn’t pack the powerhouse punch one has come to expect from Scorsese. Still, the director’s consummate skill has lifted what might otherwise be a middling endeavor into something compellingly watchable. It’s another Cape Fear.
Crazy Heart ***
February 18, 2010 by J-Wire
Crazy Heart is the country music version of The Wrestler: a grizzled veteran whose days in the spotlight are behind him struggles to keep going while seeing the world through a haze of regret and booze. The story is unremarkable; the alcoholic coming to terms with an addiction and striving to overcome it has provided the framework for everything from compelling cinema to maudlin made-for-TV movies. What elevates Crazy Heartis the remarkable performance of Jeff Bridges. The Oscar buzz about Bridges, which began to build slowly before reaching a critical mass when Fox Searchlight decided to go to bat for him, is driving this production. Not to take anything away from Bridges’ co-star, Maggie Gyllenhaal, or supporting performers Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell, but everything that is compelling about Crazy Heart is filtered through Bridges. He, more than the story or the direction of first-time filmmaker Scott Cooper or T-Bone Burnett’s country/western songs, is the reason to set aside two hours to watch this.
Woman charged following the death of Ian Gray
February 17, 2010 by J-Wire
A 22-yr-old woman has been charged with manslaughter, supplying a prohibited drug and stealing. Read more
Happy anniversary, North Shore!
February 16, 2010 by J-Wire
Sydney’s North Shore Synagogue has celebrated its 70th anniversary…and New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir was guest of honour. Read more
Sydney Valentine’s Day match needed!
February 14, 2010 by J-Wire
Find your Perfect match on Valentine’s Day ! The Gift of Life needs a DNA match to save three lives. Read more
Marathon Granny strikes again
February 12, 2010 by J-Wire
Anne Besser earned the name “Marathon Granny” at last year’s Maccabiah. She competed in the recent Coles Classic Ocean swim. Read more
Aborigines told to learn from the Jewish people
February 9, 2010 by J-Wire
Noel Pearson has sent a message to Australia’s Aborigines….learn from the experiences of the Jewish people. Read more
Cry from the heart
February 2, 2010 by J-Wire
Shula Endrey-Walder is once again searching within the community to help save a life. Read more
UIA shaliach’s daughter reports from Haiti
February 1, 2010 by J-Wire
Ronny Bar-Tur was a popular UIA shaliach in Sydney…his daughter Yael was with the Israeli army hospital in Haiti. J-Wire does not usually publish blogs, but in this case…… Read more
Sir Zelman Cowen at Australia Day function
January 29, 2010 by J-Wire
Former Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen attended an Australia Foundation function in Melbourne. Read more
Sean through to the semis
January 28, 2010 by J-Wire
Sean Berman is the last Aussie standing in the Australian Open Tennis Boys’ Championship at Melbourne Park. Read more
Stop Press Sean wins
January 27, 2010 by J-Wire
Sean Berman beat the number three seed at Melbourne Park this morning. Read more
Gay Shabbat
January 17, 2010 by J-Wire
Friday, Feb-26
Dayenu
Shabbat service/dinner for Sydney’s gay and lesbian Mardi Gras festival. The theme for this year’s parade is Mardi Gras’ history of the world and Dayenu’s float will be celebrating our 10th anniversary since first participating in the parade back in 2000. The parade will be taking place on Saturday 27th Feb from 7:45pm and Dayenu’s Mardi Gras Shabbat Service and Dinner will be held on Friday 26th Feb at Emanuel Synagogue, Woollahra. The service (free of charge) begins at 6:30pm and the dinner ($30 per person) at 7:30pm. Tickets are available directly from the synagogue on +61 (0)2 9328 7833.
Rabbi denies Melbourne group is ex-communicated
January 12, 2010 by J-Wire
Reports that a breakaway group from Melbourne Yeshiva had been ex-communicated have been denied by the Yeshiva’s Rabbi.
Read more
Shahar Peer – more arrests
January 7, 2010 by J-Wire
Five more protesters were arrested in Auckland this morning as Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer fought her way into the semi finals of the ASB Classic tournament. Read more
Answer to Australian Jewish Voices attacks on Israel
January 7, 2010 by J-Wire
Independent Australian Jewish Voices has unleashed a torrent of anti-Israel and anti-Zionist feeling despite its protestations of balance. Read more
Condolences for Indonesia
January 6, 2010 by J-Wire
Following the death of former Indonesian President Abdurraham Wahid last week, the Australia/Israel&Jewish Affairs Council Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein conveyed sincere condolences to his family and the Indonesian people. Read more
Israeli tennis star gives Kiwi protestors a serve
Pro-Palestinian protestors demonstrated in New Zealand Tuesday against Israel’s top-ranked tennis star. Read more
Israeli academic says 25% of Australian Jews marry out
New figures released by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveal an increase in inter-marriage throughout the world. Read more
Reprieve for Adelaide’s Massada
December 29, 2009 by J-Wire
The South Australian Government has reprieved Adelaide’s only Jewish day school from closure. Read more
Military enthusiasts slammed for wearing Nazi uniforms
The Military Re-enactment Society held a dinner in a New Zealand restaurant with some members wearing full German uniforms, inluding swastika armbands. Read more
Barnaby Joyce smear dispelled by community leader
December 13, 2009 by J-Wire
Media reports suggest that the new Shadow Finance Minister partially follows the platform of the Citizens’ Electoral Council. Read more
October News at the JTFAFV
November 30, 2009 by J-Wire
Latest report received from JTFAFV Read more
New councillors at the JCCV
November 24, 2009 by J-Wire
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria has announced its councillors for the coming year. Read more
New Campaign Chairman for NSW UIA
November 24, 2009 by J-Wire
Danny Taibel has been elected Campaign Chairman for New South Wales United Israel Appeal. Read more
Multi-faith meeting in Auckland
November 14, 2009 by J-Wire
Jews, Christians and Muslims will join together at the Ponsonby Mosque on Sunday to celebrate the international launch of the Charter for Compassion. Read more
New Israeli ambassador to New Zealand
November 9, 2009 by J-Wire
Israel is to re-open its embassy in New Zealand following the appointment of Shemi Tzur as the new envoy in Wellington. Read more
