Category Archives: Judaism

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on Chanukah, The Triumph of Monotheism

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

Families on Hanukkah gather together and celebrate around dreidels, chocolate coins, and presents. Yet the holiday’s most profound meaning is in its core symbol and ritual: the lighting of the menorah. Rabbi Meir Soloveichik takes us through Hanukkah’s two pivotal historical stages, the age of the Temple and the age of Diaspora, teaching us about […]

Also posted in Chanukah, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Torah | Tagged Chanukah, Judaism, Meir Soloveichik, Monotheism, Torah | 1 Response

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also posted in Ann Sothern, Anne Baxter, Art, Design, Gene Tierney, Gloria Swanson, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Judaica, Loretta Young, Louise Brooks, Photography, Quotes, Screenwriting, True Hollywood Confessions, Wrist Watches | Tagged Alfred Eisenstaedt, Ann Sothern, Anne Baxter, Chanukah, Constantine Manos, Eva Gonzales, Ezra Stoller, Fred Herzog, George Hoyningen-Huene, Gloria Swanson, Hiroshi Sugitomo, James Abbe, Jiyong Lee, Joseph Cornell, Loretta Young, Louise Brooks, Mark Rothko, Movie Poster, Ray K. Metzker, Robert Doisneau, Vertigo, Wrist Watches | 7 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also posted in Alfred Hitchcock, Art, Dovima, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Judaica, Movie Posters, Movies, Painting, RIP, Screenwriting, Spencer Tracy, True Hollywood Confessions, William Goldman | Tagged Alessi, Alexey Titarenko, Alphonse Mucha, Ancient Judaica, Art Nouveau, David Hockney, Double Indemnity, Dovima, Duane Michals, Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, Harry S. Truman, Ina Balke, Jeanloup Sieff, Judaica, Lauren Bacall, Lielle Meital, Martin Munkacsi, Richard Avedon, Spencer Tracy, The Princess Bride, Timex, Tina Louise, Vintage Cars, Walde Huth, William Goldman, Wrist Watches | 3 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: November 16, 2018

Also posted in Art, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Israel, Joanne Woodward, Movie Posters, Movies, Myrna Loy, Painting, Paul Newman, Photography, Quotes, True Hollywood Confessions, Vintage Cars, Vivien Leigh | Tagged Andrea Mantegna, David Seymour, Elizabeth Montgomery, Errol Flynn, Joanne Woodward, Lauren Bacall, Motorcycles, Myrna Loy, Nickolas Murray, Pantages Theater, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Vintage Cars, Vivien Leigh | 3 Responses

God and Guns in Synagogue

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

There is a problem in American Judaism. It is a problem of basic theology. Those of us who believe in Torah Judaism recognize that evil exists, and to combat evil requires common sense and weapons. Secular American Jews—Democrats almost exclusively—believe in utopian solutions to, well, everything. Which means they advocate for gun free zones, an […]

Also posted in Gun Control, Jew-haters, Jew-hatred, Jews & Guns, Second Amendment | Tagged Daniel Greenfield, Guns, synagogue | 2 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also posted in Barbara Stanwyck, Baseball, Design, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Joan Crawford, Judaica, María Félix, Movie Posters, Movies | Tagged Barbara Stanwyck, Ed Ruscha, Edward Weston, Erwin Blumenfeld, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gilmore Drive-In Theater, Henry Clarke, Jean Renoir, John Singer Sargent, Marc Chagall, María Félix, Merle Oberon, Norma Shearer, Pasquale de Antonis, Paul Strand, Pierre-August Renoir, R.B. Kitaj, Waldemar Swierzy, William Morris | 4 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: November 2, 2018

Also posted in Art, Art Deco, Edward Hopper, Fashion, Friday Fotos, Judaica, Lana Turner, Margaret Sullavan, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Movie Posters, Movies, Painting, Photography, Quotes, True Hollywood Confessions | Tagged Adolph Menzel, Art Deco, Berenice Abbott, Brooke Hayward, Edward Hopper, Harry Callahan, Haywire, Henry Clarke, Horst P. Horst, Jerzy Flisak, Lana Turner, Margaret Sullavan, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, movie posters, Nico Jesse, Norma Jean, Norman Parkinson, Paul Huf, Piergiorgio Branzi, Vivian Maier, Wristwatches | 7 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also posted in Ansel Adams, Art, Art Deco, Automobiles, Design, Dovima, Elvis Presley, Fashion, Friday Fotos, Gary Cooper, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Judaica, 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

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 […]

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

Succot 2018

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

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 […]

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

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also posted in Art, Art Deco, Brigitte Bardot, Design, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Jean Seberg, Joan Bennett, Judaica, 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

Yom Kippur 2018

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

…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

Also posted in Jewish Holidays, Judaica, Yom Kippur | Tagged Little Western Wall, Yom Kippur | Leave a comment

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also 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, 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

Rosh Hashanah 2018

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

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

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also 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, 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

Hidden Hollywood: David O. Selznick and the Goy

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

The most commonly used Hebrew or Yiddish word for a non-Jew is goy. The word “goy” means nation, and refers to the fact that goyim are members of other nations, that is, nations other than the Children of Israel. There is nothing inherently insulting about the word “goy”. In fact, the Bible occasionally refers to […]

Also posted in David O. Selznick, Hidden Hollywood, Hollywood, Judaica, Language | Tagged David O. Selznick, David Thomson, Goy, Ivan Moffat, Jennifer Jones, Yiddish | 3 Responses

Ofra Haza: Israel’s Greatest and Most Tragic Star

By Robert J. Avrech | Published: August 29, 2018

By Jake Novak Scene 1: Munich, Germany July 1983 Music has always been an integral part of the State of Israel. It seems like every year, every war, and every major event in the tiny nation’s history has produced its own special song. That’s one reason why the annual Eurovision song contest has meant so […]

Also posted in Israel, Jake Novak, Ofra Haza, Yemen | Tagged AIDS, Eurovision, Israel, Jake Novak, Jews of Yemen, Montreaux Jazz Festival, Music, Ofra Haza, Schunat Hatikva, Sephardim | 3 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also posted in Alfred Hitchcock, Art, Barbara Stanwyck, Baseball, Brigitte Bardot, Carole Lombard, Design, Fashion, Glamour, Henry Fonda, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Humphrey Bogart, Israel, Jean Harlow, Jewish Photography, Judaica, Katherine Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, Livia Yarden, Movie Posters, Movies, Painting, Photography, Rick McGinnis, Rock Hudson, Silent Movies, True Hollywood Confessions, William Powell | Tagged Alfred Hitchcock, Art Deco Radios, Barbara Stanwyck, Baseball Hall of Fame, Brigitte Bardot, Carole Lombard, Dashiel Hammett, Edouard Boubat, Erwin Blumenfeld, Fred Herzog, Gerald Murphy, Hell's Angels, Henry Fonda, Howard Hughes, Jean Harlow, Joes McCrea, John Thomas Peele, Livia, Norma Talmadge, Photography, Photoplay Magazine, Polish Posters, Rick McGinnis, Rock Hudson, Ruth Orkin, William Powell | 12 Responses

Hidden Hollywood: Casting Call for Tzar Nicholas

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

David O. Selznick, producer of Gone With the Wind, probably the most profitable movie ever made, was the son of industry pioneer Lewis J. Selznick. The elder Selznick had been an independent producer in the early days of Hollywood who pioneered a new age of Wall Street investment in the motion picture business.

Also posted in David O. Selznick, Hidden Hollywood, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Movie Posters, Movies | Tagged David O. Selznick, Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent, Howard Selznick, Josef von Sternberg, Lewis J. Selznick, Myron Selznick, Nicholas Romanoff, Russia, The Last Command | 4 Responses

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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

Also posted in Art, Brigitte Bardot, Design, Dovima, Gloria Grahame, Hollywood, Hollywood Stars, Hollywood Still Photography, Ida Lupino, Judaica, María Félix, Movie Posters, Movies, Painting, Photography, Quotes, Screenwriting, True Hollywood Confessions | Tagged Aldous Huxley, Andrew Wyeth, Cecil Beaton, David Bailly, Dovima, Fashion Photography, Gerald Murphy, Gloria Grahame, Ida Lupino, Irene Dunne, Irving Penn, María Félix, Nikolai Muth, North by Northwest, Pablo Picasso, Richard Avedon, Swedish Posters, The 39 Steps, Vintage Cars, Wilhelm Wagenfeld, William Gedney | 6 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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