Arts
‘Kiss Me Kosher’ Offers Laughter, Romance and Clashing Cultures Kiss Me Kosher is a screwball rom-com in the 1940s Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn-Judy Holliday sense—only better, because, in addition to being funny, it provides Jewish food for thought. The film stars Moran Rosenblatt as Shira. The Ophir-winning actress is best known in North America for her role in Fauda and, more recently, in Hulu’s We Were the Lucky Ones . Shira is a lesbian who, says her Grandma Berta (Rivka Michaeli), replaces “girlfriends as often as I lose my dentures.” But her latest romance, with Maria (Luise Wolfram), seems to have a longer life expectancy. Maria is on a long-term visit to Israel from her homeland. There lies one of the movie’s conflicts: home is Germany. Shira’s beloved Grandma Berta, a Holocaust survivor haunted by the past, looks at Maria with suspicion. And there are other conflicts and hijinks aplenty. First, Maria accidentally proposes to Shira. Then, there is Grandma Berta’s secret dalliance with widowed Palestinian Ibrahim, with whom she refuses to be seen in public. And Shira’s parents have their own issues with their daughter’s potential nuptials. Her American-born dad, Ron (John Caroll Lynch), is fine with his daughter being gay but wants any potential daughter-in-law to be Jewish. “If she’s not Jewish,” he insists, “she can’t carry my grandchild.” Meanwhile, Shira’s mom, Ora (Irit Kaplan), is just upset that her daughter wants a private ceremony. “I’ve been going to weddings for years and paying good money,” she says. “So when my children get married, it’s my turn to collect.” And of course there is Shira’s younger brother, Liam, who is filming a documentary on Shira and Maria for a school project, causing even more chaos. This explanation of all the different threads in the film is more complicated—and far drier—than the experience of watching them. Kiss Me Kosher, a debut outing from Shirel Peleg, is a delight. The writer-director displays remarkable maturity and significant comic chops in her exploration of post-Holocaust trauma and German guilt as well as intermarriage and the subtleties of Israeli culture. For example, Maria, who does not speak Hebrew, asks Shira’s brother to teach her how to say “I am not Jewish” in Hebrew. Instead, she’s taught to say, “I eat pork on Yom Kippur,” which to Shira’s family is almost the same thing. Maria doesn’t understand the argumentative nature of discussions at Shabbat dinner, or the way Shira’s family is trying subtly to ascertain what Maria’s parents and grandparents did during World War II. “It’s not fighting,” Shira tells her about the weekend’s debates and arguments. “It’s foreplay.” “I can do foreplay,” Maia assures Shira. But can she? Well, it’s a rom-com, so I’d bet on her. Kiss Me Kosher opened in Israel in 2020 and had been set to come out in the United States in fall 2023, but the premiere was rescheduled after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7. Before the film’s original United States premiere, Rosenblatt discussed her connection to the film in a Zoom interview. The Israeli actress is herself gay and was 18 when she first came out to her parents. “They were accepting the way the family in the film is,” she said. “My mother—it took her a little bit. In the beginning, she thought it was a phase that would pass. And she wasn’t crazy about my first girlfriend. But time passed, and I had good girlfriends. Now she’s accepting as if I were straight.” The film is “my first lesbian romantic comedy,” Rosenblatt said. “It’s a comedy with a serious side, and I love that.” She also related to the movie’s exploration of interfaith relationships, explaining that she herself is the product of an Israeli version of a mixed marriage—“half Ashkenazi, half Mizrahi.” “My mother’s family is Iranian and a little more religiously traditional,” she said. “My father’s family is from Poland and Belgium, and they have nothing to do with religion at all.” Part of the film’s appeal is the way it sympathetically explores diverse points of view about love, religion and interfaith relationships at its center. According to Rosenblatt, that’s because the film had a female director. “It’s a little different when movies are made by women,” she said, noting that the director sought to create understanding between the different characters. Kiss Me Kosher is slated to be released theatrically in select cities in April and shortly after will be available on streaming platforms (see Menemsha Films for details). In the days after October 7, “we all decided that it was definitely not the time to release a romantic comedy,” said Rosenblatt in a followup email. But now feels like the right moment for the movie. “The film humorously tells a story of a liberation,” she explained, from our past and the differences that divide us to a present filled with hope and love. Curt Schleier , a freelance writer, teaches business writing to corporate executives.
It is ignorant to say you’ll rather cr¥ in a Rolls Royce than laugh in a Keke — Skitmaker Layi Wasabi
Skitmaker Layi Wasabi has revealed that it is ignorant to say you’ll rather cr¥ in a Rolls Royce than laugh in a Keke . He said “I’d rather cry in a rolls royce than laugh in a keke” is such an ignorant statement. Skitmaker Layi Wasabi has revealed that it is ignorant to say you’ll rather cr¥ in a Rolls Royce than laugh in a Keke . He said “I’d rather cry in a rolls royce than laugh in a keke” is such an ignorant statement. Curvaceous Nollywood Actress, Destiny Etiko, has revealed what has helped her stay relevant in the competitive industry. “Having a… CCTV has captured the moment a man tactically pilfered a phone from a store in Ozoro, Delta state. The… Governor Siminalayi Fubara of River State has declared one Gift David Okpara Okpolowu aka 2Baba and all members of… A man has employed his father to manage his piggery business few years after he got disowned by the…
Baltimore paramedic who died in I-95 motorcycle crash was ‘always with a smile,’ family says
Baltimore paramedic who died in I-95 motorcycle crash was ‘always with a smile,’ family says BALTIMORE — A Baltimore City Fire paramedic died from a motorcycle crash Friday morning on I-95. Erica Harrison, 39, had been with the Baltimore City Fire Department for 2 1/2 years. She would have celebrated her second anniversary of being assigned to Medic 27 on Thursday. She is remembered for having a “kind and compassionate spirit.” Members of the Baltimore City Fire Department and Harrison’s motorcycle club escorted her body on Tuesday from Shock Trauma to Wylie Funeral Home in Randallstown. “Erica’s dedication and service to our department and community are a testament to her kind and compassionate spirit,” the Baltimore Fire Department said in a statement. “Her impact will be deeply felt and remembered by all who had the honor of working alongside her. Erica’s contributions to our community and the lives she touched will always be remembered and cherished.” Harrison was a mother, a sister and a friend who loved her job as a first responder, her family told WJZ. “Life of the party, amazing, bubbly, energetic, always with a smile,” said Alesha Parker, Harrison’s cousin. Harrison’s family said they are devastated by the crash. They have no information as to what happened or if anyone else was involved. “We love her and we’re going to miss the hell out of her,” Parker said. Maryland State Police said Harrison was riding her motorcycle during rush hour Friday morning on I-95 South, near the Welcome Center, when she lost control. Troopers said a Dodge, trying to avoid Harrison, crashed into her. The scene was captured on highway cameras showing the motorcycle on its side as police shut down two lanes. Harrison was flown to Shock Trauma where she died. “If anybody knows anything, or has any details, or knows exactly what happened, we’re asking you to reach out to us and let us know,” Parker said Family members said Harrison was a student at the Community College of Baltimore County and a member of Iconyx Motorcycle Club. “That is what she stood for,” Parker said. “She stood for family, and not just the family she was born into, but the family she adopted along the way.” Investigators do not believe that alcohol was a factor in the crash and charges are not being filed at this time. The investigation is still ongoing.
Teacher advice: why you should encourage laughter in the classroom – Peters
For help, advice and telephone ordering call our team on 0121 666 6646 This action cannot be undone. Please report the problem here. April 11th 2024 Research into laughter and learning has found multiple benefits for different aspects of school life, from classroom culture to academic advantages . Did you know that laughter enhances memory retention? When humour is incorporated into lessons, students are more likely to remember the material. Well-placed humour can also simplify complex topics and act as a bridge between challenging content and pupil understanding. Humour has social and emotional benefits for your pupils, too. Light relief can reduce stress and help pupils cope during serious academic challenges, like tests. Laughing together can also foster a connection amongst your pupils, promoting a sense of camaraderie. These funny moments humanise the learning environment. It reminds us that we’re not just learners – or teachers! – but also individuals with emotions and vulnerabilities. Introducing humour into the classroom is not just about telling jokes. By embracing laughter in our classrooms, we create an inclusive, joyful, and effective learning environment. Creating laughter in the primary classroom is not only enjoyable but also beneficial for students’ engagement and well-being. Here are ten delightful ideas to infuse humour into your teaching: Choose picture books or short stories with humorous elements. Check out our top 10 laugh-out-loud reads to share with your class. Read them aloud using expressive voices and animated gestures. Encourage pupils to giggle along! Introduce puns, tongue twisters and riddles to your pupils. For example: ‘Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!” or “What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear!” Start each day with a light-hearted joke. Invite pupils to share their own jokes too. It sets a positive tone for the day. During transitions, incorporate quick brain breaks with silly movements. For example, “flap your arms like a chicken for 10 seconds!” or “wiggle your toes while making funny faces!” Designate a classroom corner as a “comedy corner”. Hang up pupil-drawn cartoons, jokes or funny quotes. Rotate the content regularly. Give pupils humorous writing prompts. For example, “write a story about a talking pencil that escapes from a classroom” or “describe the funniest dream you’ve ever had”. Create maths problems with whimsical scenarios, such as, “if a giraffe has 4 legs and a kangaroo has 2 legs, how many legs does an unicorn have?” Appoint pupils as classroom clowns for the day. Their job is to share jokes or funny anecdotes during appropriate moments. Play improvisation games like “Hello Kitty”. Hello Kitty is a short game that simply asks the group to try and make one another smile. Start by separating the group into puppies and kittens. Puppies must say hello in a way that makes the kittens laugh or smile, while kittens must try and keep a straight face. When a kitten laughs or smiles, they become a puppy! Keep going until all the kittens have laughed and the whole class are puppies. Surprise students with unexpected actions. Wear a silly hat, use funny voices, or pretend to mix up words. Their laughter will be contagious!
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Footage emerges of ‘crazy’ moment Arsenal should have conceded pen vs Bayern
ARSENAL should have conceded a second penalty against Bayern Munich after the referee “admitted” to seeing a clear handball in the box. Boss Thomas Tuchel was left frustrated after claiming that whistler Glenn Nyberg admitted to seeing the bizarre incident. During the second-half, goalkeeper David Raya took a goal-kick short to Gabriel. Bafflingly, the Brazilian opted to pick the ball up to take the goal-kick again. Harry Kane immediately appealed to Nyberg, who was taking charge of his first Champions League knockout game, but the 35-year-old refused to give a spot-kick. After the game, Tuchel told TNT Sports: “The referee did not have the courage today to give us a deserved penalty, in a bit of a crazy and awkward situation. READ MORE ON ARSENAL “He admitted on the pitch that he saw the situation and that in a quarter-final it’s not enough for him to give a penalty for a kids’ mistake. “So he admitted that he knows about the mistake the player made. That is a bit frustrating.” In his post-match press conference, Tuchel, 50, later added: “I felt a lot of little decisions go against us… and a huge mistake in not giving us a penalty. “What makes us really angry is the explanation on the pitch. He said it’s a kid’s mistake and isn’t giving a penalty for that. Most read in Champions League “That means he’s judging handballs.” After seeing footage of the incident, TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand was left in disbelief. The former Manchester United star had been convinced that Arsenal should have had a penalty in the last minute when Bukayo Saka collided with Manuel Neuer in the box. But he was left even more incredulous after seeing footage of Bayern’s penalty shout. He said: “It’s a pen. Oh my gosh, how can that not be given? “I was so adamant that the Saka one was… I’m even more for this, it’s unbelievable! “How can he blow the whistle like that and not give it?” ‘INDEFENSIBLE’ Ferdinand, 45, then asked former Arsenal defender Martin Keown to try to defend the decision. But Keown, 57, replied: “You can’t defend the indefensible. The referee is maybe a little out of his depth. “Because we thought he had a decent game, but there’s key moments of the game, both you can look at and say they should have had a penalty.” Why would he pick it up? It HAS to be a penalty, says Halsey By Mark Halsey Arsenal could have absolutely no complaints if a penalty was awarded to Bayern Munich. The referee signalled for David Raya to take the goal kick. He did… and Gabriel picked the ball up. Why would he do that? The whistle had been blown. The only person who has made a mistake is Gabriel. Why would he pick the ball up? Once the referee has blown his whistle and Gabriel has picked it up, he has to give a penalty. Bayern were also unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty for a further incident, when Kane was wrestled to the ground by Martin Odegaard as a corner was whipped in. Arsenal had gotten their first Champions League quarter-final since 2010 off to a perfect start, when Saka fired them into the lead in the 12th minute. They were quickly pegged back, however, when former Gunner Serge Gnabry profited on a defensive mix-up to level just six minutes later. Kane came back to haunt Arsenal just after the half-hour mark, converting the penalty that Bayern did get. Mikel Arteta threw on super-sub Leandro Trossard, and the Belgian was able to rescue the situation by levelling in the 76th minute. After the match, Arteta refused to be drawn on his side’s late penalty appeal. READ MORE SUN STORIES He said: “(The referee) didn’t say anything. They said they checked it and they decided it wasn’t a penalty.” The two sides will meet again in Germany next Wednesday with the tie hanging in the balance. Surprised it wasn’t a penalty, says Halsey By Mark Halsey SOME will say that Bukayo Saka initiated the contact, but Manuel Neuer stuck out his leg. I was surprised Glenn Nyberg did not award Arsenal a penalty in real time at the end. Bayern Munich could have no complaints if it was given, they got away with one. Munich were very lucky. It is subjective, so maybe that is why VAR did not get involved. Had it been given, the decision would not have changed.