In a letter titled "Ruh Jedida: A New Spirit for 2011," published on the Mideast web site 972mag.com, young Jewish descendants of the Arab and Islamic world living in Israel posted the following letter to their peers in the Middle East and North Africa on April 24, 2011.

We, as the descendents of the Jewish communities of the Arab and Muslim world, the Middle East and the Maghreb, and as the second and third generation of Mizrahi Jews in Israel, are watching with great excitement and curiosity the major role that the men and women of our generation are playing so courageously in the demonstrations for freedom and change across the Arab world. We identify with you and are extremely hopeful for the future of the revolutions that have already succeeded in Tunisia and Egypt. We are equally pained and worried at the great loss of life in Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and many other places in the region.

[Los Angeles, Apr 4]—Want satirical insights on the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East? Need a fresh and funny perspective on American and Middle Eastern life? Want to laugh about it all? The Sultans of Satire show features some of the best stand-up comedians today who happen to be of Arab, Iranian, Turkish, Greek, Armenian and Middle Eastern Jewish heritage. In "Sultans of Satire Celebrate the Egyptian Revolution," Sultans regulars Mike Batayeh, Noel Elgrably and Elham Jazab, plus Nadine Rajabi, Ara Basil and Sheno Khal will perform live on April 28, 2011, 8:00 pm, where they'll offer their own brand of outrageous comedy. Sultans will perform at the Madrid Theatre, 21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA, 91303.

By Jordan Elgrably

Ahmed in Mohammed Al-Daradji's "Son of Babylon"This year several Middle Eastern countries submitted feature films to compete for nominations in the category of Best Foreign Film Oscar, among them Algeria, Turkey, Iraq and Israel (a country that rarely misses a chance to compete in the annual Oscar lottery). Egypt had skin in the game with Daoud Abdel Sayed's Messages From the Sea, and there were films from Greece, Azerbaijan and Iran (Mehdi Naderi's Farewell Baghdad). Only one film has a chance on Sunday.

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Sep 10 2010 5:00pm - Sep 11 2010 10:00pm

Price: 

$5, $3

Where: 

St. Sophia Cathedral
1324 S. Normandie Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90006
Info 323.737.2424

LA Greek Fest



LCC Joins 12th Annual LA Greek Festival with Guest Hosts Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Sept 10, 11 & 12


The Levantine Cultural Center has always included the cultural arts of Greece as part of the Levantine-Middle Eastern region, and this year for the first time will have a presence at the annual LA Greek Festival. Hollywood's favorites Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson will once again serve as honorary chairs and celebrity guest hosts. The festival runs Sept. 10-12 on the Grand Plaza grounds of Saint Sophia Cathedral. This year's featured promotional theme is "Celebrating a Taste of Greece."

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Jun 20 2010 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Price: 

$15 in advance, $20 at the door

Where: 

World Famous Comedy Store
8433 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90069

At one time another most of these comedic characters have landed laughs as members of the Sultans of Satire, and Maz Jobrani headlined the world-famous "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour" with his buddies Ahmed Ahmed and Aron Kader (all three have been cultural ambassadors for the Levantine Center). Now Angela Tsarouchas, the great Greek comedian who moved to L.A. from Canada, headlines with Maz and Frank Spadone, while the show is hosted by the devilishly irreverent Ara Basil, with guest appearances by Noel Elgrably and Kira Soltanqvich.