Seraphic Secret | Robert J. Avrech: Emmy Award winning screenwriter. Religious Zionist. Republican. Movie fanatic. Gun owner. Helplessly and hopelessly in love with my wife since age nine.

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: October 19, 2018

“Having to work hard never had any real appeal for me, and that may have some connection with me being in the movies.“
—Gary Cooper

Posted in Ansel Adams, Art, Art Deco, Automobiles, Design, Dovima, Elvis Presley, Fashion, Friday Fotos, Gary Cooper, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Judaica, Judaism, Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, Photography, Quotes, True Hollywood Confessions | Tagged Albrecht Durer, Alfred Wertheimer, Art Deco, Ben Hur, Berthe Morisot, Clyfford Still, Dovima, Elvis Presley, Gary Cooper, George Hoyningen-Huene, German-Jewish Soldiers, Horst P. Horst, Jerzy Flisak, Jessica Tandy, Judy garland, Karen Singer Avrech, Marlene Dietrich, Norman Parkinson, Richard Avedon, Rick McGinnis, Vintage Cars, World War I | 5 Responses

Hidden Hollywood: Jorjett Strumme, Ten Years With Elizabeth Taylor

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: October 17, 2018

Jorjett and Elizabeth Taylor, Italy, 1991

Jorjett Strumme had a fascinating life and career in Hollywood. I first met Jorjett when I discovered that she worked as an assistant to the great costume designer Helen Rose from 1981-1985, which I wrote about here.

Jorjett went on to work with costume designer Nolan Miller from 1982-1985. And then, Jorjett was Personal Assistant and Stylist to Elizabeth Taylor for ten years.

Over the past few months Jorjett has kindly responded to my questions about her years working for Elizabeth Taylor.

Midway through the interview Jorjett made it clear that she would not reveal any details of Taylor’s multiple marriages. So, if you’re looking for juicy Elizabeth Taylor gossip, this is not the place to find it.

We admire Jorjett’s insistence on respecting Elizabeth Taylor’s life and memory. In a world in which privacy is almost completely unknown, Jorjett’s loyalty is a rare and enviable quality.

This interview was conducted via email.

Posted in Costume Design, Elizabeth Taylor, Glamour, Helen Rose, Hidden Hollywood, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Jorjett Strumme | Tagged Aaron Spelling, Elizabeth Taylor, Hollywood, Jorjett Strumme, Jose Eber, Nolan Miller, Seaside Oregon, Sydney Guilaroff | 3 Responses

What’s Wrong with Government-Run Healthcare?

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: October 15, 2018

If you get sick or suffer a serious injury, you not only want medical care, you want quality medical care. What’s the best way to get it? Through a government-run program like Medicare for All or through our current free market system? Stanford policy expert Lanhee Chen has the answer in this video from Prager University.

Posted in America, Big Government, Health Care | Tagged Big Government, Biomedical Research, Bureacrats, Canada, Emergency Rooms, Freedom, health care, Illness, Innovation, Medicare, National Health Care, National Health Service, Prager University, Private Sector, Quality Health Care, Single Payer, taxes, United Kingdom, Utopia | 2 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: October 12, 2018

“The Method school [Brando, Clift, Dean] thinks the emotion is the art. It isn’t. All emotion isn’t sublime. The theater isn’t reality. If you want reality, go to the morgue. The theater is human behavior that is effective and interesting.“
—Agnes Moorehead

Posted in Agnes Moorehead, Anna May Wong, Art, Art Deco, Brigitte Bardot, Constance Bennett, Costume Design, Dorothy McGuire, Edith Head, Edward Steichen, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Ingrid Bergman, Irving Penn, Israel, Jerusalem, Kees Van Dongen, Movie Posters, Movies, Norman Parkinson, Photography, Picasso, Quotes, Richard Avedon, Rick McGinnis, Shirley MacLaine | Tagged Agnes Moorehead, Anna May Wong, Brice Marden, Brigitte Bardot, Constance Bennett, Dorothy McGuire, Edith Head, Elmer Fryer, Irving Penn, Kees Van Dongen, Myrna Loy, Norman Parkinson, Pablo Picasso, Reckless, Richard Avedon, Rick McGinnis, Shirley MacLaine | 3 Responses

Barack Obama Flashback

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: October 10, 2018

It seems that the Democrat Socialists need a reality check from their Dear Leader.

“Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I won.” – President Obama to House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, January 23, 2009.

Posted in America, Donald Trump | Tagged Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Elections, Eric Cantor | Leave a comment

Goodbye, Columbus Day

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: October 8, 2018

Even though it remains a national holiday, many cities no longer celebrate Columbus Day. They celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead. What’s behind the switch? Contrary to what you might think, it’s not about paying homage to America’s original inhabitants. Steven Crowder, host of Louder with Crowder, explains.

Posted in America, Columbus Day, Prager University | Tagged 1492, America, Columbus Day, Prager University, Steven Crowder, Western Civilization | Leave a comment

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: October 5, 2018

“Famous people feel that they must perpetually be on the crest of the wave, not realizing that it is against all the rules of life. You can’t be on top all the time; it isn’t natural.“
—Olivia de Havilland

Posted in Art, Greta Garbo, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Lauren Bacall, Movie Posters, Movies, Myrna Loy, Olivia De Havilland, Painting, Photography, Quotes, True Hollywood Confessions | Tagged Adrienne Ames, Agnes Martin, Charles Boyer, Erwin Blumenfeld, Fashion Photography, Frederic Brenner, George Shaw, Greta Garbo, Irving Penn, Jews of Yemen, King Vidor, Lauren Bacall, Marvin Sokolsky, Myrna Loy, Navajo Blankets, Olivia de Havilland, Ralph Richardson, Robert Donat, Ronald Coleman, Winslow Homer, Wristwatches | 4 Responses

Why Do Wages Rise?

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: October 3, 2018

Many people believe the only path to higher wages is to put in more work hours, but there are actually many economic factors that go into deciding the number on each worker’s paycheck. Watch this short video to learn more!

Posted in Economy, Free Market, Prager University | Tagged Business, Competition, Economics, Free Market, GDP, Labor Market, Money, Prager University, Wage Growth, Wages | 1 Response

Succot 2018: Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 30, 2018

…On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Sukkot, seven days for the L-RD… on the eighth day, there shall be a holy convocation for you. -Leviticus 23:34

Tonight begins the last days of the Succot holiday, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. We will be offline until Wednesday. We wish all our friends and relatives a joyous holiday.

The painting depicts a number of well known Rabbis from previous generations dancing with Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah — the day of rejoicing with the Torah.

Pictured are:
Rabbi Yakov Yisrael Kanievski (known as the Steipler Gaon)
Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri
Chacham Yosef Chaim (known as the Ben Ish Chai)
Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira (known as the Baba Sali)

Posted in Art, Jewish Holidays, Judaism, Painting, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Succos, Torah | Tagged Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Succot, Torah | Leave a comment

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 28, 2018

“Acting is like sex: you either do it and don’t talk about it, or you talk about it and don’t do it. That’s why I’m always suspicious of people who talk too much about either.“
—Humphrey Bogart

Posted in Alfred Hitchcock, Art, Automobiles, Brigitte Bardot, Cary Grant, Charles Laughton, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, Movie Posters, Movies, Myrna Loy, Painting, Photography, Quotes, True Hollywood Confessions, Tuesday Weld, Vintage Cars | Tagged Alfred Hitchcock, art, Brice Marden, Brigitte Bardot, Cary Grant, Charles Laughton, Humphrey Bogart, Kirk Dou, Lana Turner, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Myrna Loy, Ormond Gigli, Raphaelle Peale, Tuesday Weld, Vintage Cars, William Powell, Winslow Homer | 9 Responses

Who Is Karl Marx?

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 26, 2018

When writing The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx thought he was providing a road to utopia, but everywhere his ideas were tried, they resulted in catastrophe and mass murder. In this video, Paul Kengor, Professor of Political Science at Grove City College, illuminates the life of the mild-mannered 19th Century German whose ideas led to the rise of some of the most brutal dictators in world history

Posted in Big Government, Marxism, Paul Kengor, Politics, Prager University | Tagged Brute Force, China, Communism, Communist Manifesto, Das Kapital, Democracy, Engels, Famine, Freedom, Karl Marx, Lenin, Mao, Mass Murder, North Korea, Pol Pot, Prager University, private property, Soviet Union, Stalin, Terror | 1 Response

Succot 2018

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 23, 2018

A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species— in a succah, Jerusalem, 1939.

A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species—in a Sukkah, Jerusalem, 1939.

As Jews all over the world make last minute preparations for the holiday of Sukkot, which begins this evening, here are a few wonderfully evocative pictures of Jews celebrating this joyous holiday in Israel — and a rare photo of Jews in Samarkand.

You will dwell in booths for seven days; all natives of Israel shall dwell in booths.

—Leviticus 23:42

On the first day, you will take for yourselves a fruit of a beautiful tree, palm branches, twigs of a braided tree and brook willows, and you will rejoice before the L-RD your G-d for seven days.

—Leviticus 23:40

Posted in Jerusalem, Jewish Holidays, Jewish Photography, Judaism, Succos | Tagged Judaism, Succah, Succot, Torah Judaism | 3 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 20, 2018

“I turned my hair dark and have received much better parts ever since… I was sometimes greeted as Miss Lamarr in dimly lit restaurants. Personally, I liked the idea of escaping from all that bland, blonde innocence and thought the whole thing was very funny, but I don’t think Hedy found the comparisons very amusing.“
—Joan Bennett

Posted in Art, Art Deco, Brigitte Bardot, Design, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Jean Seberg, Joan Bennett, Judaica, Judaism, María Félix, Movie Posters, Movies, Painting, Tippi Hedren, True Hollywood Confessions | Tagged art, Brice Marden, Edward Steichen, Georges Dambier, Gordon Parks, Hans Holbein the Younger, Irving Penn, Jean Seberg, Jerzy Flisak, Joan Bennett, Ma'ayan Ariel, María Félix, Painting, Rick McGinnis, Succos, Suzy Parker, Tippi Hedren, Verner Panton, Wristwatches | 4 Responses

What is Hezbollah?

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 20, 2018

When listing the world’s most notorious terrorist organizations, why is it that Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram so quickly spring to mind, while Hezbollah is frequently forgotten? In this video, Tony Badran, Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explains how the backing of Iran has served to legitimize Hezbollah on the world stage, while simultaneously making the group all the more dangerous.

Posted in Hizbullah, Iran, Islamic Terror, IslamoNazi Kidnappings, IslamoNazis, Israel, Jew-haters, Jew-hatred, Lebanon, Prager University, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism | Tagged Beirut, Drug Dealers, Hezbollah, Islam, IslamoNazis, Lebanon, Prager University, Tony Badran | Leave a comment

Yom Kippur 2018

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 18, 2018

“Kotel” by Robert J. Avrech

…In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and you shall not do any work … For on that day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins before the L-RD.

—Leviticus 16:29-30

Posted in Jewish Holidays, Judaica, Judaism, Yom Kippur | Tagged Little Western Wall, Yom Kippur | Leave a comment

Friend Ari Fuld Z’L Murdered by IslamoNazi

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 17, 2018

Ari Fuld z’l smiles for Karen at Rachel’s Tomb, 2018.

Yesterday, Ari Fuld, 45, beloved husband and father to four children, was murdered by an IslamoNazi.

Though stabbed in the back, Ari courageously drew his weapon, pursued his attacker, and managed to shoot and wound the cowardly IslamoNazi before collapsing from his wounds. (CCTV of the incident here)

Ari was rushed to Shaarei Tzedek hospital where tragically he passed away.

Ari Fuld was an amazing man.

My wife Karen spent time with him on her last visit to Israel.

Posted in Ari Fuld, Efrat, Islamic Terror, IslamoNazis, Israel, Israel Defense Forces | Tagged Ari Fuld, Efrat, IDF, Israel, Karen Singer Avrech, Kever Rochel, Miriam Fuld, MiriamFuld, Rachel's Tomb, Standing Together, Tamar Fuld | 3 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 14, 2018

“The trouble with Hollywood is that the producers and agents are the aristocrats… which made actors who make their living in Hollywood usually feel they are some sort of scum. They looked for other means of showing off and were great on rallies for political candidates.”
—James Mason

Posted in Art, Brigitte Bardot, Burt Reynolds, Costume Design, Design, Dovima, Greta Garbo, Hollywood, Humphrey Bogart, Ida Lupino, Irving Penn, James Mason, Jean Seberg, Judaica, Judaism, Kim Novak, Movie Posters, Movies, Painting, Photography, True Hollywood Confessions, Vintage Cars | Tagged Adrian, Art Deco, Babe Paley, Boris Grinsson, Brenda Marshall, Brigitte Bardot, Burt Reynolds, Dovima, Greta Garbo, Hamilton Watches, Henryk Ross, Irving Penn, James Mason, Jean Seberg, Kim Novak, Lodz Ghetto, Richard Avedon, Robert Delaunay, Vintage Cars | 4 Responses

What is Net Neutrality?

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 12, 2018

For months, it seemed nearly every media figure was in hysterics over the impending repeal of net neutrality. Then, net neutrality was repealed… and nothing much changed. So what exactly is net neutrality, and why do so many people have such strong opinions about something they don’t understand? Jon Gabriel, editor-in-chief of Ricochet.com cuts through the hysteria to bring you the facts.

Posted in Big Government, Net Neutrality, Prager University | Tagged Jon Gabriel, Net Neutrality, Prager University | Leave a comment

Rosh Hashanah 2018

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 9, 2018

Tonight the holiday of Rosh Hashanah begins. Seraphic Secret will be offline until Wednesday. Lielle, Maayan and Livia hope that all our friends and relatives be inscribed and sealed for a good year. שנה טובה.

Posted in Jewish Holidays, Judaism, Rosh Hashanah | Tagged Jewish Holidays, Judaism, Rosh Hashanah | Leave a comment

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: September 7, 2018

“There’s a fine line between acting and not acting at all. And not acting is what a lot of actors are guilty of. It amazes me how some of these little numbers with dreamy looks and dead pan are getting by with it. I’ve seen a couple of them – I won’t mention names – with Oscars in their hands. I’d hate to see them on stage with a dog act.”
– Joan Blondell (1906-1979)

Posted in Art, Audrey Hepburn, Automobiles, Capucine, Carole Lombard, Design, Dovima, Fashion, Friday Fashion, Friday Fotos, Glamour, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Irving Penn, Jean Seberg, Joan Blondell, Judaica, Judaism, Maayan Ariel, Montgomery Clift, Movies, Myrna Loy, Painting, Quotes, Screenwriting, True Hollywood Confessions, Vintage Cars | Tagged Bettina, Bugatti, Capucine, Carole Lombard, Ernest Lehman, Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn, Jacques Fath, Jean Philippe Charbonnier, Jean Seberg, Jean Simmons, Joan Blondell, Montgomery Clift, Myrna Loy, North by Northwest, Richard Avedon, Sorella Fontana, William Merritt Chase | 5 Responses

How I Married Karen

The new book
by Robert J. Avrech

Available in All Major Book Stores

Adobe Digital Edition's version is available through the Lulu store!
About Me
Robert J. Avrech
Los Angeles, California
I'm an Emmy Award winning screenwriter. I'm also an observant Jew, a religious Zionist, a conservative Republican, and a member of the NRA. I've been writing and producing in Hollywood for over twenty-five years. But the focus of my life is my family: my radiant wife, Karen—with whom I have been in love with since I was nine years-old—and my two daughters, who, thankfully, look like Karen. Not too long ago, we had three children. But our son, Ariel, died at the age of twenty-two from cancer. We miss him terribly. We think about him practically every minute of every day. People tell us that time heals, but Karen and I know this is not true. Time grinds away doing its terrible work. Ariel is gone. Yet absence becomes presence.

Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
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Annual Ariel Avrech
Memorial Lectures
Young Israel of Century City
NOTE: Click on video titles inside the thumbnail images, below, to open that video in YouTube

Fifteenth: June 10, 2018
Jackie Danicki: “Confessions of a Convert: A Humbling, Joyful Journey to Judaism.”

Blog Post | Audio: (94 MB)

Fourteenth: June 11, 2017
Daniel Greenfield: “Fighting Anti-Semitism and Defending Israel in the Age of BDS.”

Blog Post | Audio: (100 MB)

Thirteenth: May 22, 2016Ben Shapiro: “How You Can Save Israel”

Blog Post | Audio: (70 MB)

Twelfth: June 7, 2015
Larry Elder: “The New Black Anti-Semitism”

Blog Post | Audio: (100 MB)

Eleventh: June 8, 2014
Michael Medved: “Shifting Alliances: Why Liberals No Longer Reliably Support Israel — And Conservatives Do.”

Blog Post | Audio: (97MB)

Tenth: June 9, 2013
David Horowitz: “The War Against Judaism on the University Campus.”

Blog Post | Audio: (16MB)

Ninth: June 3, 2012
Joel B. Pollak: “The Mainstream Media’s Betrayal of Israel.”

Blog Post | Audio: (15MB)

Eighth: June 5, 2011
Yossi Klein Halevi: “What is Expected of a Survivor People: Lessons My Father Taught Me.”

Blog Post | Audio: (18MB)

Seventh: June 13, 2010
Dennis Prager: “Happiness is a Mitzvah, Not an Emotion.”

Blog Post | Audio: (80MB)

Sixth: June 21, 2009
Rabbi Steven Pruzansky: “Conformity in Jewish Life: Vice, Virtue or Affectation?”

Blog Post | Audio: (64MB)

Fifth: June 15, 2008
Rabbi Dr. Gil S. Perl: “What Was the Rosh Yeshiva Reading: Intellectual Openness in 19th Century Lithuania.”

Blog Post | Audio: (70MB)
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