Friday, March 27, 2009

NY Post Blind Items

WHICH sexy movie actress angered paying members of a trendy downtown synagogue by showing up with her bodyguard, who informed the women at the door, "Ms. [Blank] wishes to enter as a [non paying] guest"? Complained one member of the congregation, "I think it is BS that rich celebs can walk around this city asking for a free pass."

66 comments:

AphraelDanae said...

...you have to pay to go to synagogue?

Moosefan said...

why do you have to pay to go to Temple?

GladysKravitz said...

You don't have to pay to attend services at a synagogue. However, during High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), tickets are required, and only dues paying members of the synagogue can attend. Or at least that's how it works on the West Coast.

This has to be Madonna. Although I do wonder whether the bodyguard called her "Ms. Madonna" or what.

Melissa said...

I think it's BS that a synagogue can be considered trendy and that you have to pay to be a member. Because, you know, I'm sure God only wants rich people going to services.

the.princess.leia said...

Since it's NY, I'll say Angelina Jolie. The blind say Ms. [Blank] and not Miss or Mrs.

Also, I'm with AphraelDanae, I didn't realize synagogues were the new country clubs.

thisoldbroad said...

Is this a Kabalah (sp) temple? Do they charge?

GladysKravitz said...

Clarification: Only dues paying members can get tickets to services. However, you can purchase single service tickets (not at the door, but ahead of time) if you're not a member of a synagogue. But there is a charge for those single tickets.

Dianne P said...

Madonna is neither sexy nor a movie actress. Just saying.

the.princess.leia said...

Gladys, I thought about Madonna as well, but as much as she's in Kaballallah (please forgive my sarcasm on that) I don't think this is her.

GladysKravitz said...

I have many Christian friends who give thousands of dollars to their church. Others tithe 10% of their paycheck to their church. Synagogues are no different: they also have to support themselves. They do so by asking members to pay dues. Some synagogues have a set dues policy (i.e. $2,000/year per family) and others have a sliding fee policy (pay a certain amount per month, based on your income).

Dee said...

Wasn't LiLo rumored to be converting to Judaism for Samantha? Though I don't know if she is really considered sexy anymore

the.princess.leia said...

So, I'm sticking with my Angelina guess.

Hilary said...

I think this was already all but confirmed to be Gina Gershon over on Gawker-

Sarah said...

What about Scarlett? Isn't she Jewish?

GladysKravitz said...

@Dianne P: LOL! You are so right. She is neither an actress nor sexy. Who else is a Jewish wannabe?

Elizabeth T. said...

Angela Lansbury. Actually, I have no idea, I just like that quote from that person. It is truly ridiculous that celebrities would ask to not pay for things like tickets for events or whatever, when they spend 10x the amount on ugly giant purses.

the.princess.leia said...

Gladys, thank you for explaining. I had never heard of it called dues before, so that was throwing me off.

I'm of the Christian faith. I tithe, but my church doesn't set a minimum dollar amount for me. We're on the 10% scale. We are supposed to tithe 10%. Sometimes, I give a little more, sometimes I'm unable to give the full ten percent. But I always try to give. So, if my understanding is correct tithing is equal to dues.

Okay, back to Gossip Land!

the.princess.leia said...

Hilary,

Yes, according to what I've found someone over at Gawker claims that his father attends this synagogue. He says that the item is months old and the celeb is Gina Gershon.

Good job, Hilary.

whole lotto luv said...

What about Demi Moore? Wasn't she into kaballah?

the.princess.leia said...

@Gladys

It says that she showed up on the "High Holy Days".

Anonymous said...

Gwyneth also celebrates the Jewish holiday, right?

lutefisk said...

The rabbi, cantor, custodians, & the rest of the staff have to get paid, there is a mortgage on the building, utilities, insurance, pensions, etc. It is a house of worship, but operates just as every other business does.
And as someone who pays thousands a year in dues & contributions, I resent a celebrity eanring a celebritie's salary thinking they are entitled to come in for free.
The least they can do is make a contribution.

thisoldbroad said...

I'll guess Roseanne Barr. I just like the visual of her standing at the door with a beefy Chipendale body-guard trying to get her in for free.

(Think I've had too much coffee. Sorry.)

lutefisk said...

*celebrity's*

jax said...

not to offend, but one more reason i'm agnostic. at the very least you shouldn't be denied for not paying. as a reformed Catholic, we had donations when passing the pot, but this is totally new to me.

what's next..buying tickets for church on ticketmaster? lol.

does Jesus get the service charge??

MISCH said...

YOU USUALLY ARE A MEMBER, AND THUS A MEMBERSHIP FEE. ALSO JEWS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY MONEY ON THE SABBATH,ON THE HIGH HOLY DAYS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TICKETS FOR SEATS ARE ISSUED..FOR THIS IS WHEN EVERYONE TENDS TO COME....OTHERWISE NON-MEMBERS NEED TO PURCHASE TICKETS AS SEATS ARE LIMITED...JUST WALKING IN ON A HIGH HOLY DAY SIMPLY ISN'T DONE...IT'S IN EXTREMELY BAD TASTE.

Katie said...

umm hello, tithe?

all religions charge to some extent.

Julie said...

Gwyneth Paltrow.

Julie said...

gina gershon has a bodyguard?

kanonymous said...

It's not Madonna. "sexy movie actress" does not describe Madonna.


My first thought was also Gwyneth, but I don't think sexy really describes her.

Demi Moore is a good guess. She is known for playing sexy roles and she has done mostly movies.

Anonymous said...

I knew about the dues for synagogue and tithing. What I don't know, and I'm asking this very seriously, is whether they pass a collection plate in synagogue like they do in church. If not, the dues make perfect sense to me. I have been to synagogue for Holocaust memorials and there was no offering taken. Is that also so on ordinary service days?

PotPourri said...

WTF? Those bastards charge? WTF? I'm not getting this in my thick skull! Religion is FREE! So much for that shit. No wonder why Jesus kicked the hell out of the Temple Money-Changers.

Unknown said...

I think this says less about the actress than it does about the synagogue.

I remember Joan Rivers got locked out of her own husband's funeral services and they would not open the door for her -- it was even part of the autobiographical movie she and Melissa filmed about that time in their lives (and they starred in it, too).

Anonymous said...

No collection plate is passed in a synagogue at any time. Jewish people are not supposed to even touch money on the Sabbath or on high holidays. People support their synagogue with membership dues based on ability to pay and voluntary donations.

Anonymous said...

Joan Rivers was not locked out of her husband's funeral. She and Melissa were trying to get into high holiday services without tickets. They were not members of the synagogue.

Anonymous said...

Julie..my thoughts exactly! Gina Gershon needs a bodyguard why?

Momster said...

My first thought was Natalie Portman--isn't she Jewish? And I was thinking that she lived in NYC.

A Pimp Named DaveR said...

Nat Po. Very serious about her religion.

Cheryl said...

My best friend is Jewish as is her husband, but his family is more observant than hers. She doesn't want to join his synagogue because she won't pay the dues. She always says, "I don't know THOSE Jews" and never attends with him. Her mother even goes to synagogue with his family.

I may be wrong about this, but Madonna and the Kabbalaists don't attend a regular synagogue. Kabbalah (sp.?) is based on Jewish spiritualism but what the celebs practice is an off-shoot.

Unknown said...

So... based on Cheryl's comments, you HAVE to pay dues in order to attend?

lutefisk said...

you have to pay dues to be a member.
you can attend any service without being a member, except for the high holidays.
non-members are encouraged to show up, with the hopes they will eventually join.
our synagogue has a separate service for yartzeit--that is the prayer for deceased parents where the community is invited.
no one is ever turned away, unless it is a high holiday, where seats are at a premium.

Anonymous said...

My G-d you all sound so ignorant. And if you're through being disrespectful to the Temples of the world....the answer is Natalie Portman.

surfer said...

My first (and only) thought was Ellen Barkin. Lives in New York, has always been know for her sexy roles.

warmislandsun said...

I read on another site that this was Gina Gershon.

Anonymous said...

There is another possibility that this happened more than once with two different actresses.

Is it tacky? Of course, but my goodness it isn't like they had a heart transplant worth a minimum of six figures and then expected the bill to be written off.

I read somewhere that Jada Pinkett bugs Will all the time because he isn't asking for free stuff. She tells him it's supposed to be free because he's a star.

farmgirl said...

It is remarkable to me, as always, how one religion is deemed to be somehow more "right" than another.
I have never been in a Christian church where they did not ask for ca$h - plain and simple.

Gina Gershon is definitely the flat out sexiest actress mentioned so far.

Anonymous said...

@the people talking about tithes

Most Christian churches don't require tithes and don't keep track of them and certainly wouldn't deny you the chance to sit in a church service if you had not tithed. A set price per year and sliding fee scale is shocking and offensive to me, and I grew up being fed and clothed by tithe dollars.

Mormons make sure you tithe, that much I know. And Scientology takes you for all you're worth until you're dead. I had no idea about synagogues.

Judi said...

Going with Gershon. Moving on.

B626 said...

YUP
Natalie Portman

Queen Tidbit said...

I'm with Sarah; my first guess was ScarJo.

Anonymous said...

I had to look up the word "tithe" maybe cuz I'm French but I never heard it before!

Unknown said...

Yikes!
I come for some juicy gossip and end up in flame wars over religion.

Synagogues, as well as churches, are buildings and organizations that have bills to cover their overhead (heat, lights, salaries)..
AND, in the best possible scenario,
much of the income goes to help the poor, the hungry, the homeless.
Helping others should be the point of any faith. That's why it's an affront to hear of a prominant person expecting 'perks' at the temple door; she should know better.

Of course, in most cases, any one can come and worship, and not be 'hit up' for a contribution, although it certainly is a gracious thing to contribute to the worthy cause.

In regards to synagogues, most have a 'membership plan' whereby interested parties can pay the fee, and help the expenses and the benevolences. This isn't a shock to most folks affiliated with the system.

Christian churches often have a plan of stewardship, but usually no one gets 'kicked out' if they can't or won't contribute.
Very few congregations use a heavy hand to pressure people to 'pay up.'

Yes, religion is 'free,' but building expenses and salaries are not. If people want an educated staff, professional salaries are a must. When organizations don't set high standards for their relgious organization, they end up with 'fly by night' creeps who embezzle all the cash, and predators who take advantage of the women and the kids.

Gentle note to jamie's girl: Jesus didn't kick out the money changers because they were dealing in cash. Rather that the costs of purchasing sacrifices was so high that the poor couldn't afford to buy their way in, and thus were left out of forgiveness. Jesus was angry at the lack of justice for the poor. Something we need to keep in mind... Jesus wasn't about wealth but justice.

Raina Cox said...

Jax, I found your comments offensive even if prefaced with the passive-aggressive "not to offend." Your ignorance of a religion's ways doesn't invalidate any particular practice.

The holiest period of the Jewish calender is the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). The Jewish religion does not place an emphasis on weekly temple attendance. Many Jews attend only for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and High Holy Days. As other here have said, if synagogues (which do not collect weekly tithes) did not charge for High Holy Days services they could not support their staff.

Christianity has no comparable holiday - not even Christmas - in terms of compelling its adherents to attend services.

MISCH said...

NO COLLECTION PLATES PASSED IN TEMPLE EVER.........NO ONE IS SUPPOSED TO CARRY MONEY ON THE SABBATH...AND YES ALL ARE WELCOME...BUT THE HIGH HOLY DAYS HAVE LIMITED SPACE...AND SO TICKETS FOR SEATS ARE THE 'PERK OF MEMBERSHIP'...NON MEMBERS CAN PURCHASE THESE IF THEY'D LIKE TO ATTEND, BUT IN TRUTH THERE REALLY ARE NOT MANY SEATS LEFT.

Anonymous said...

Who freaking CARES who charges what for their beliefs. If you believe what a church or religious organization tells you, then believe they have a bottom line. If you don't go, then don't worry about it! SHEESH!

Robyn said...

How about Sarah Jessica Parker? The 'Sexy' part could mean Sex and the City... ??

Little Miss Smoke and Mirrors said...

Portman.

mooshki said...

"they spend 10x the amount on ugly giant purses."

Amen! (No pun intended.)

Thanks for the explanations about Jewish practices, gals, I didn't know any of that.

princessj1987 said...

Scarlett Johansson

EgosRested said...

"Christianity has no comparable holiday - not even Christmas - in terms of compelling its adherents to attend services."

Actually, Easter is comparable...many people that are raised Christian only go to church on Easter. Churches are packed to the gills; highest attendance of the year.

Anonymous said...

I don't think it's Natalie Portman because I read she doesn't really practice. My first thought was Scarlett J., but Gwyneth Paltrow sounds like a better guess. Rachel Weisz is another possibility.

Katja said...

And don't forget that 'once a jew=always a jew'. There is no going back.

Who else is a near Seattle Jew?

'dude Jesus is a jew'

Anonymous said...

I actually don't think its that big of a deal that she didn't want to pay. I would think any religion should welcome new members on a trial basis. I agree that if you attend regularly you should tithe as you are part of the congregation and church. For a one off visit, I don't necessarily think paying should be required. I speak of all religions here (not just Jewish). I don't attend church at all, but if I did want to attend a Jewish service, I would feel terrible to be turned away because I didn't know the custom. No wonder church attendance is dropping regularly.

K said...

Knowing the standing-room-only condition of my cavernous Catholic church on "major" religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas, (the only time a lot of the tribe members show up for mass)I can completely understand why a synagogue would insist on advance ticketing for dues-paying members or an admission fee for walk-ins. No big deal. As other posters have pointed out, temples don't run on magic and sanctifying grace alone. I just wish the bouncer lady at the door would have stood her ground and not succumbed to hypnosis-by-celebrity.

Oh, and re:
"It is truly ridiculous that celebrities would ask to not pay for things like tickets for events or whatever, when they spend 10x the amount on ugly giant purses."

Hee. I just assumed they score those hideous purses (and omnipresent 20-ounce Starbucks takeout cups) free, too.

MISCH said...

BEING A MEMBER OF KABBALAH AND BEING JEWISH ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS...I JUST BET GWYNETH DOES NOT CONSIDER HERSELF JEWISH....KABBALAH WELL IT'S A CROCK....
I WAS RAISED TO BELIEVE THE KABBALAH WAS A MYSTICAL BOOK ONLY READ BY THE MOST LEARNED AND OF COURSE ONLY BY MEN.....WELL MADONNA AND GWYNETH JUST DON'T CUT IT....THIS HAS BECOME A MONEY GRABBING CULT NO DIFFERENT THAN SCIENTOLOGY ...

shakey said...

If Ms. Sexy Thang showed up at synagogue during a high holy day, she should have had someone either get her a ticket in advance, or ponied up the dough.

A Jewish co-worker and I once joked about how Judaism and Anglicanism is basically the same - we all show up during the big important days, and everyone dresses like they're in a fashion show.

Sage1, thanks for the mini lesson there. I thought Jesus was angry simply because there was a money exchange going on. Caused me to curse in church once when the treasurer stood up in front of everyone to complain "SOME OF YOU have not contributed according to your income." I swore never to go back to church again.

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