NMTG & Jewtube Word from: David

Matthue Roth, who has been slammin' at Mima'amakim readings for some time, published 'Never Mind the Goldbergs' last January. That's right, a 360 page softcover book with Amazon reviews. Despite my respect for Matt, I didn't think I'd like his book. I have little patience for teenage girls, punk music, or sitcoms. An interest in any of these subjects will enhance the reading experience, as the protagonist is 18-year Hava Aaronson. A junior at a private school in Manhattan, Hava gets a sudden invitation to go to Hollywood and appear in a sitcom, starring a fictional Brooklyn family called the Goldbergs. Unlike another fictional Berg family that appeared on American television half a century ago, only Hava has first-hand experience with Orthodox life. Life will never be the same...

Writing about Orthodoxy is a challenge that too many authors spoil with incorrect research or the reverse-trying too hard to explain customs at the expense of the fundamentals that every story needs. These include a brisk plot with interesting charachters and the occasional mediation on human nature. Roth has explored the issues of gender and religion for a while and his decision to inhabit a young woman is (forgive me) a ballsy one to make. An entertaining, well-crafted novel with a busy plot 'Never Mind the Goldbergs' is a worthwhile read and I'm not just saying that because Matt & his lovely wife were my shabbos guests. Teenagers will love it, but older readers will also enjoy grappling with the questions of Jewish identity, publicity and perception.

Everyone is having their ten minutes of fame on YouTube and this includes many members of the tribe. YouTube's premise is very simple-letting anyone post their videos, whether they were taken at a concert, taken from a file-sharing site, videotaped straight from television or done in the privacy of their home. One to sift through a lot of dross to find quality stuff but that's part of the fun.

Matisyahu being interviewed for Portugese TV? Sim.
On CNN? On stage with Sting? Yes.
(Honestly, 'Yahoo sounds a bit incoherent off-stage in any language.)
That underground 'Lecha' video? Yup.
Idan Yaniv, a recently popular Israeli singer? Ken.
Lipa Shemelzter rollin' in a limo singing in Yiddish? Ja!
A Regina Spector music video? Da.

Be sure to recommend other videos in the comment section, and artists are encouraged to try YouTube or Google Videos for themselves.