Esther Kustanowitz: July 2008 Archives

First a bit of Jewish education:

Shabbat Nachamu, the "Sabbath of Consolation," comes the weekend after the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av, a day of mourning and fasting commemorating the destruction of the Temple. There's a special synagogue service that includes songs of mourning and the reading of the book of Eichah, which describes the wreckage resulting from the destruction of the Holy Temple.

Tisha B'Av (the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av) itself is preceded by three weeks of limited mourning--while it's not a period of fasting, religious Jews may refrain from seeking out live entertainment, and during the last nine days before the fast day, will likely not eat meat as a sign of the restriction of happiness. For traditional single Jews, the Shabbat after Tisha B'Av often brings summer singles retreats weekend, as after mourning, there's a drive to find things to celebrate. Got it? Good...

And now, the celebrity angle: As vegetarians, Madonna and Guy Ritchie aren't going to miss the meat of the three weeks. And since they're practitioners of Kabbalah, which isn't to say that they're Jewish, they're likely not fasting on Tisha B'Av either. (In fact, model Naomi Campbell recently said that Kabbalah is more of a rehab-style program, like Alcoholics Anonymous, than it is a religion.) But the celebrity supercouple is taking consolation in the fact that they'll reportedly be renewing their marriage vows over Shabbat Nachamu (according to Marie Claire UK, among other places):

All those hoping that Britney would trade in her Federline for a Gibson are likely to be disappointed, but that category probably only holds Gibson paterfamilias Mel, who tried to set up the troubled pop star with his son who was just out of rehab (for alcohol and cocaine addiction).

What? You didn't know? Mel was hoping that his son Edward might be able to help Britney through her rough patch. Some sources reported suspicion that perhaps Mel wasn't just tinkering in Brit's health and love life, that he was actually interested in converting her to his "unique brand of Catholicism." Mel, Britney, and Britney's dad recently vacationed together at Mel's home in Costa Rica, which is apparently where the attempts at matchmaking took place.

Comedian turned "The View" host Sherri Shepherd has had some darkness in her past, including family involvement in drug addiction, and her experience having had casual sex and the resultant "more abortions than I would like to count." She also mentioned her divorce, which itself was due to her husband's cheating on her. (Reported by USmagazine.com.)

These aren't notes from a therapy session: they're instead excerpts from a new interview with Precious Times magazine, in which Shepherd describes her pre-Christian life's great contrast from the faith-based approach that she currently takes. She used to have such huge self-esteem problems, she says, that she felt that "if someone killed me, it wouldn't even make a difference."

But after converting to Christianity, she said, "God showed me that it would make a difference."

Since joining "The View," Shepherd has become known for her faith. But, as the article in USMagazine.com reports, it's still "tough talking religion" on the show:

"Oh, sometimes I say, 'Lord, Juanita Bynum or Joyce Meyer would be so good at this table. They could lay hands on Barbara Walters and get her saved,'" she said.

True, the wedding had been planned for this summer. But this week a London tabloid reported that actor/comedian/rabble-rouser Sacha Baron Cohen and "Wedding Crashers" actress Isla Fisher are postponing their nuptials until Fisher has had a chance to learn more about the Jewish faith:

The source added: 'Right now there's no wedding date set because Isla hasn't fully converted yet, and even though she's working at it part-time, she's far from being close to completing her studies.'

As one might predict, this is leading to a bit of tension between Isla and her prospective in-laws. How does the artist formerly known as Borat cope with the stress? He throws himself into filming for his new "Bruno" movie. And as for la Isla bonita? She's finishing up "Confessions of a Shopaholic," and according to reports, is committed to the relationship, even if there are challenging moments, the source observes:

"Shakespeare in Love" director John Madden, is now chasing Nazis--or at least planning to helm a remake (or reinterpretation) of an Israeli film about Nazi hunting, called "The Debt."

The Miramax Films project is based on the 2007 Israeli feature "HaHov," which follows a trio of 1960s Israeli intelligence agents who pursue an elusive Nazi war criminal. More than 30 years later, their target re-emerges. As with the original, the remake is expected to feature two actresses playing the female protagonist in the '60s and '90s.

Any nominations to play the protagonist, who could age thirty years believably on-screen?