Moving targets

Jew-spotting used to be simple: You noticed a Jewish-sounding name on the cover of a book or in the credits of a movie, and shepped nachas from their careers for ever after. I like the way Nate Bloom demonstrates how things are no longer so simple:

GWYNETH PALTROW was more-or-less was raised in her father's Jewish faith. But which way is she moving? Well, she married a non-Jewish guy. She gave birth recently to a baby girl and named it Apple —— but the "Jew clue" is that one of the kid's middle names is "Blythe" —— her mother's name. (Not good —- since Jews of Northern or Eastern Europe ancestry rarely name after a living person. It's a strong custom, but not a religious prohibition) Finally, Dreamworks has just announced that Paltrow will star in a bio-pic on the legendary German actress Marlene Dietrich, who saved many Jewish friends and told Hitler to shove it when he offered her a blank check if she came back to Germany. (Not bad).

What about JAKE GYLLENHAAL, who is really hot now because of the global warming blockbuster, "The Day After Tomorrow?" Jake's mother is Jewish and a couple of years ago he said he considered himself "more Jewish than anything else." (Pretty good). Then last month a Malaysian paper profile said that Jake was brought up Jewish, but is now a Buddhist. (Not good). But in a London Times profile that came out almost the same day he said that he studied Buddhism in college under Uma Thurman's father, but "I'm not a card-carrying Buddhist, but I do try to practice mindfulness." (We are confused).

Actually, Gyllenhaal just split up with non-Jewish Kirsten Dunst. (Better!).