McCartney threatened over Israel concert
Suicide bombers will target Paul McCartney unless he cancels his Thursday, Sept. 25 concert in Tel Aviv, a Muslim cleric said.
Omar Bakri said the ex-Beatle’s decision to perform in Israel “is creating more enemies than friends,” London’s Sunday Express reported.
“If he values his life, Mr. McCartney must not come to Israel. He will not be safe there,” Bakri said. “The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him.”
Bakri made the comments on his weekly Internet broadcast from his home-in-exile in Lebanon. He has been banned from returning to Britain, according to the Express.
McCartney is scheduled to perform for thousands of Israelis in Hayarkon Park as part of a world tour. Several pro-Palestinian and political groups have asked McCartney to cancel his show, but he has refused. — jta
Love stories and chicken farmers at film fest
What do a rebellious Israeli teen, Jewish chicken ranchers from Petaluma and Uma Thurman have in common? They’re all stars of films in the Jewish Film Festival at Alameda’s Temple Israel.
The first film, “Two Minutes From Faradis” follows a young Israel’s girl’s romance with the son of her family’s Arab maid and will be shown at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. Short documentary films “My Nose” and “A Home on the Range: The Jewish Chicken Ranchers of Petaluma” will be shown at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 and 7.
In “Prime,” shown at 7 p.m. Nov. 15, Uma Thurman stars as a non-Jew who falls for a young Jewish painter. The last film in the series, “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” will be shown 7 p.m. Dec. 13. It stars Tom Hanks as a World War II fighter pilot on extended stay in Jerusalem.
The four-part series is $35 or $10 per movie at the door. Movie snacks are included. The series will take place at Temple Israel, 3183 Mecartney Road, Alameda. For more information, visit www.templeisraelalameda.org.
Jewish folktale goes hip-hop in new S.F. show
Playwright-musician Tim Barsky, who enjoyed a local hit in 2005 with his musical fantasia “Bright River,” is back with a new theatrical work. “7 Beggars” is a hip-hop adaptation of a 19th century folktale, first told by Reb Nachman of Bratslav in 1809. The show is now running at the Climate Theater, 285 Ninth St., San Francisco.
Combining hip-hop and beatboxing, “7 Beggars” features Barsky with musical accompaniment by Brandi Brandes on vibraphone, drums, electronics and loops.
“7 Beggars” plays 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through Oct. 18. Tickets: $15-$20. Information: (415) 263-0830 or online at www.climatetheater.com.