Jun 09, 2009 – When author Lisa Alcalay Klug wrote Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe, a 2008 National Jewish Book Award finalist, her father -- a concentration camp survivor -- offered inspiration. "My dad is the proudest Jew I know. He has had a huge impact on me and my writing," says Klug, whose book catalogs Jewish pop culture and celebrates Jewish identity, culture and kitsch with a "reverent irreverence."

With Father's Day on the horizon, Klug has teamed up with Jennie Rivlin Roberts, owner and creator of http://ModernTribe.com, a website that shares this approach to celebrating Jewish culture. Together, these two Jewish mamalahs have invited seven Jewish mensches -- friends and colleagues, artists, writers, performers and entrepreneurs -- to join them in creating their biggest giveaway ever: the Cool Jew Papa's Day Giveaway in honor of "Papa's Day," aka Father's Day, June 21st.

"We are independent Jewish artists and entrepreneurs keeping Jewish traditions alive and meaningful and we are coming together to celebrate contributions of all Jewish men in honor of Father's Day," says Rivlin Roberts, who previously teamed up with Klug for Purim, Passover and Mamalah's (Mother's) Day. Klug agrees: "We want to celebrate mensches everywhere by acknowledging their unique contributions to Jewish tradition, culture and identity."

The Cool Jew Papa's Day Giveaway contains five books, four placemats, three music CDs, three t-shirts, one set of stickers, one DVD, and a game donated by nine "Cool Jews." This gift package is valued at approximately $240. One lucky mensch will receive

* Author Sam Apple's book American Parent: My Strange and Surprising Adventures in Modern Babyland ($25)

* Author Ron Arons' Jews of Sing Sing book ($22.95) and t-shirt ($18)

* Stand-up comedian Yisrael Campbell's "Circumcise Me" DVD ($20)

* Comedy writer Seth Front's set of four Jewish Zodiac placemats ($20)

* Author Lisa Alcalay Klug's book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe ($12.99)

* Author Matthue Roth’s novels, Never Mind the Goldbergs ($7.99) and Losers ($8.99)

* Entrepreneur Jennie Rivlin Roberts' ModernTribe.com products "Can!!Can" CD and Punk Torah t-shirt ($10) and “No Limit Texas Dreidel” Game ($19.95)

* Artist Ben Schachter's "Treif" stickers ($8)

A note from Cool Jew's "FYIs: For the Yiddish Impaired" -- These "Treif" stickers translate to “not kosher” and parody traditional kosher labels for "fleishig/meat" and "milchig/dairy."

* Singer/Songwriter Rav Shmuel's "Protocols" and "B'yameinu" music CDs ($17.98 each) and two t-shirts ($15 each)

To enter to win the Cool Jew Papa's Day Giveaway, visit the ModernTribe.com blog (blog.moderntribe.com) at http://tinyurl.com/cooldad and submit your answer to this question: "What makes your dad, brother, cousin, friend or husband a Cool Jew?'" You can also click through to purchase elements of the Giveaway. (No purchase is required to win. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.)

The Cool Jew Papa's Day Giveaway begins June 9th. The winner will be chosen from all submissions and announced on Father's Day, Sunday June 21st at the ModernTribe.com blog, websites listed below and other sites.

"COOL JEWS" BIOS and WEBSITES (in alphabetical order):

Sam Apple is the author of the new book, American Parent: My Strange and Surprising Adventures in Modern Babyland, and the memoir, Shlepping Through the Alps: My Search for Austria's Jewish Past with Its Last Wandering Shepherd. samapple.com

Ron Arons and Bugs Bunny both spent time, albeit briefly, inside Sing Sing Prison. Born and reared as a “goodie-two-shoes”, when Ron learned his great-grandfather served time at the federal penitentiary, he devoted ten years to writing Jews of Sing Sing, a book about New York's Jewish criminals. jewsofsingsing.com

American-born Yisrael Campbell performs stand-up comedy throughout the English-speaking world and Israel, his adopted home. Yisrael is currently creating a production of his one-man show, "Circumcise Me," to open off-Broadway in November, 2009. He trained for the stage at Circle in the Square. yisraelcampbell.com

Comedy writer and rabbi's son Seth Front is the creator of "The Jewish Zodiac," a parody of its Chinese cousin. As Seth explains, “G-d spoke to Moses at Mt. Sinai; he spoke to me at a Chinese restaurant." The Jewish Zodiac adorns placemats, mugs, magnets and more at jewzo.com.

Award-winning journalist Lisa Alcalay Klug is the author of Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe, a 2008 National Jewish Book Awards Finalist. A contributor to the New York Times, Forward and many other publications, Lisa also edits the multicultural blog, Tolerant Nation. cooljewbook.com tolerantnation.wordpress.com

Jennie Rivlin Roberts is the founder of ModernTribe.com, an online Judaica and Jewish gifts store for progressive minds, spirits, and style, and the co-inventor of No Limit Texas Dreidel (NLTD), which crosses dreidel with Texas Hold'em poker. NLTD has received national recognition in media outlets such as NPR and Newsweek. ModernTribe.com TexasDreidel.com

Matthue Roth is the author of three novels, Losers, Never Mind the Goldbergs, Candy in Action, as well as a memoir, Yom Kippur a Go-Go. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter, and he keeps a secret diary at matthue.com.

Artist Ben Schachter explores Jewish law in his work. His "eruv paintings" have exhibited at the Hebrew Union College and The American Jewish Museum in Pittsburgh. He is currently curating “Tzit Tzit: Fiber Art and Jewish Identity,” opening Spring 2010 at St. Vincent College. benschachter.com

Rav Shmuel is a hasidic rabbi who hangs out in Greenwich Village and plays original compositions on his guitar. Billboard described his acclaimed debut CD as "immediately likeable... good humored anti-folk." Views of his animated video, "Protocols," have surpassed 125,000 on YouTube. ravshmuel.com

For more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with any of the "Cool Jews" -- Sam Apple, Ron Arons, Yisrael Campbell, Seth Front, Lisa Alcalay Klug, Jennie Rivlin Roberts, Matthue Roth, Ben Schachter and Rav Shmuel -- please call Rivlin Roberts at (404) 372-6418 or e-mail her at Jennie@ModernTribe.com.

Honor the mensch in your life! Enter to win the Cool Jew Papa's Day Giveaway at
http://tinyurl.com/cooldad

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About ModernTribe.com

ModernTribe.com offers design-conscious Judaica gifts and artwork that celebrate age-old traditions with modern style. From mezuzahs to menorahs, we find products made in Israel, Europe, and America with a contemporary design aesthetic. After you see the unique, clever, and beautiful pieces at ModernTribe.com, you will never again keep your Judaism tucked away in the closet.