Dec. 3, 2008 Steven Emerson: Yes, the terrorists are winning Don Terry: Lifetime, no see Dec. 2, 2008 Melanie Phillips: The Mumbai atrocity is a wake-up call for a frighteningly unprepared world Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report: Strategic Motivations for the Mumbai Attack Dec. 1, 2008 Max Freidlander, as told to Jacklyn C. Wadler: India Inkings Mark Steyn: Whodunit!? Nov. 28, 2008 Rabbi Ahron Rapps: An evil seed that didn't have to be Melanie Phillips: Carpe diem --- or can we all relax now? Nov. 26, 2008 Michael Feldberg: Meet the Orthodox Jew who laid groundwork for scientific development of ordnance that undergirds America's current world leadership Andrea Simantov: Shades of life Nov. 25, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Getting Emotional For Influence The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman : Thanksiving feast! Nov. 24, 2008 Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg: 'I just Became a grandchild!' Barry Rubin: Don't flatter your enemies, protect your friends Nov. 21, 2008 Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Money matters? Caroline B. Glick: Civilization walks the plank Nov. 20, 2008 Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bronfman's blindness The Kosher Gourmet By Linda Gassenheimer: Portobellos add a hearty flavor to pasta with pesto Nov, 19, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Spread the wealth? Jewish tradition and income equality Elliot B. Gertel: 'Mad Men': Tackling prejudices or reinforcing them? Nov, 18, 2008 Dr. Debby Schwarz Hirschhorn: The End of the Age of Reason Jonathan Tobin: Does Barack + Bibi = Disaster? Nov, 17, 2008 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The End of the Age of Reason Diana West: Gulling Americans into making terror legit? Nov, 14, 2008 Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: The Power of Spiritual Inertia Caroline B. Glick: The perils ahead Nov, 13, 2008 Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: How Bush and Obama together could change the Middle East dynamic The Kosher Gourmet by JeanMarie Brownson: Sweet and savory, crispy and meltingly tender bestilla Nov, 12, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Tyrannical Co-Workers Michael Doyle: High Court to consider today donated monuments that may have religious messages in public parks Nov, 11, 2008 Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Will Obama stop government officials considering institutionalizing financial jihad? Jonathan Tobin: They Will Decide Their Own Fate Nov, 10, 2008 Rabbi Avi Shafran: $8 billion, modern-day Tower of Babel being built? Barry Rubin: A letter to the president-elect from a Middle East realist Nov, 7, 2008 Rabbi Francis Nataf: Of Children and Immortality Caroline B. Glick: Livni's Obama strategy Nov, 6, 2008 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism The Kosher Gourmet By Gina Kim: Tips for making the perfect soup --- includes recipes Nov, 5, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Destitute Debtors Bruce Weinstein: 'Religulos': Bad title,even worse movie Nov, 4, 2008 Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Treasury Dept. submits to Shariah law Frida Ghitis: A surprise for Obama in the Middle East Nov, 3, 2008 Jonathan Rosenblum: Who says Jews are Smart? Jonathan Tobin: Was He Wrong About Everything? March 22, 2007 J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !) Oct. 29, 2003 Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review Demure is in demand: More brides seek ‘modest’ gowns By Joan Verdon Tova Marc, owner and designer for Couture De Bride in Teaneck, standing near the entrance to her store http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | The next major trend for the bridal fashion industry could be a "modest" one — brides seeking "modest" bridal attire — dresses that cover arms, chest and back and that are suitable for weddings in churches, synagogues and mosques. Wedding trends experts say they are seeing a growing demand for a fashion category called "modest bride" as the number of Orthodox Jewish, conservative and evangelical Christian, and Islamic brides-to-be increases. "I know there's a niche here, and I'm going after it," said Tova Marc, an Englewood, N.J., resident who has designed a clothing line for brides who want modest, yet glamorous dresses. Next month, Marc will hold the grand opening for Couture de Bride, a Teaneck, N.J., boutique that may be the first bridal salon in northern New Jersey devoted exclusively to modest fashions. Marc said Orthodox Jewish brides are an obvious target customer, but added that she expects the gowns to attract customers from several religious groups, as well as "any woman who does not want to be fully exposed" on her wedding day. Mainstream bridal fashions featuring strapless or backless designs have created demand for more modest alternatives. Secaucus, N.J.-based bridal, evening and women's sportswear seller Group USA has also seen a growing demand for modest versions of bridal gowns. "There's a niche customer for that and we do have that customer come into our stores frequently, so we do cater to her," said Maria Sarra, bridal buyer for Group USA, which operates 26 stores under the Camille La Vie and Group USA names. "We have a few styles that we offer in long sleeves for that customer," Sarra said. The chain, she said, also has matching fabrics and seamstresses available for customers who want to customize a gown by adding "modesty pieces" such as sleeves, or a higher neckline. "Customers will say, 'I'm having a religious wedding, what can you do to these dresses to fit my standards?' -- usually arms covered, neckline covered, no cleavage, very little skin," Sarra said. Much of the country has seen an increase in conservative branches of mainstream religions. The Camille La Vie store at Palisades Center in West Nyack, N.Y., tends to get more Orthodox Jewish brides, while the California stores have many Islamic customers, and an Arizona shop gets requests from Mormon customers. These brides, Sarra said, don't want plain when they ask for "modest." "They still want the look that's hot. That's why we offer more options to add a sleeve, add a neckline," she said. Marc, in designing dresses with the modest bride in mind, wanted to create gowns that were as fashionable, and as sexy, as the mainstream designs, except with more coverage. "These brides want to look very sexy, but modest too," she said. Her gowns are priced between $1,250 and $3,400. Marc's sister, Flora Shepelsky, owns a wig store on Teaneck's Cedar Lane that serves many Orthodox Jewish brides to be, and Marc was aware of the difficulty those women had finding elegant yet modest gowns. She did some market research on the Internet and found that cyberspace is filled with brides typing "modest bridal gowns" into search engines. "In the New York metro area, 250 to 300 people a day search for 'modest wedding gowns' on Google," Marc said. So her prime marketing strategy will be to pay for search-engine ads that make her Web site, couturedebride.com, appear first in "modest bridal" listings. She also plans target ads in religious publications. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. To comment, please click here. © 2008, North Jersey Media Group Inc.. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.