This novel for late elementary and junior high school students adds some special things to what otherwise might have been a familiar plot of a girl wanting too much to be part of her school’s in-crowd. [Donald H. Harrison]
Novel: All That Shimmers is Not … Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors
He introduces us to a game, “Where did I hear these words before? It shows us that by doing so, we can see Leviticus is not two but three-dimensional. He gives us a new, exciting, and deeper view of Leviticus. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Leviticus Made Easier to Understand by Rabbi David Fohrman Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
In 1941, Schulberg’s first novel, What Makes Sammy Run?, was an indictment of Hollywood’s studio system. Its cold-blooded, driven protagonist, Sammy Glick, was so obviously Jewish that Schulberg was accused of antisemitism. When a higher-up in the Communist Party of the USA demanded that Schulberg make changes in the novel to conform to Communist dogma, he quit the party. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Budd Schulberg Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Reflecting on the Dreyfus affair, on the aggression of the anti-Dreyfusards, Blum puzzledly asked: “What drove them to do this? What drove them? Even today, 35 years later, when I reflect on the past with a mature, cold rationality, it seems to me that I still do not have some of the elements of an answer to this question.” [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Leon Blum, Natural Socialist Read More »
Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Star Trek gained fame after it went into reruns, with fans of the show known as Trekkies organizing conventions at which they could meet like-minded enthusiasts, buy Star Trek merchandise, and meet members of the original cast. This development, along with the box office success of George Lukas’ Star Wars in 1977, prompted Paramount Pictures to reunite the cast in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, released in 1979. Five sequels followed, including one he directed: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: William Shatner Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
God expects people to use their intelligence, learn how the laws of nature work and help themselves, to improve themselves, society, and the world generally. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Secret of the Book of Esther Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Portnoy’s Complaint was Roth’s fourth novel and most controversial because of its frank treatment of sexual subjects, including masturbation. Roth became more prolific thereafter, knocking out 26 additional works through 2010, the most notable of which was the 1997 novel American Pastoral, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It told of a star athlete whose daughter becomes a domestic terrorist during the late 1960s. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Philip Roth Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Satire and Purim go together like peanut-butter and jelly. Purim Torah stands as a unique and vibrant facet of Jewish literary tradition, showcasing the playful side of rabbinic intellect. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Get Ready for Some Purim Torah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Stories of the “wise people of Chelm” abound in Jewish literature. Chelmites always jump to the wrong conclusions and their attempts to solve perceived problems often compete in silliness. [Donald H. Harrison]
Chelmites, as Usual, are Foolish, But in This Tale, Their Children are Smarter Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Gloria Gervitz, of blessed memory, the acclaimed Mexican-Jewish poet, had her poetry read, the first of three featured writers at the Tuesday, March 5, Jewish Poets–Jewish Voices program.[Eileen Wingard]
Jewish Voices/Jewish Poets Features Gervitz, Lewis and Schwartz Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, International, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
He had become an expert on the use of a Louma crane, which can twist and turn its long arm and get shots from angles otherwise unavailable to movie producers. Steven Spielberg utilized the Louma in the movie 1941, but as production was coming to an end, Spielberg learned that Romanoff was nicknamed “Captain Gas” because he liked to party with nitrous oxide. After a night of excess with similarly inclined crew and cast members, a wasted Romanoff nursed a hangover inside the Louma control booth. [Donald H. Harrison]
Anecdotes from an Unthoughtful Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
In 1930 Lessing published his major book Der jüdische Selbsthaß (Jewish Self-Hatred), a historical and psychological study of Jewry as a minority in the Diaspora. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Theodor Lessing Helped to Define Jewish Self-Hatred Read More »
Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
From Sept 1991 through September 2013, he served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. In 1995, he won the Jerusalem Prize for his contribution to diaspora Jewish life. In 2005 he was dubbed a Knight Bachelor for his work in interfaith relations. In 2009, the House of Lords announced that Sacks was recommended for life peerage with a seat in the House of Lords. He took the title of Baron Sacks. He was also the recipient of an honorary doctorate of divinity conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, to mark his first ten years as Chief Rabbi. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jonathan Sacks Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday
One tragedy befell another. It seemed for Mala, her family, and all of Tarnogrod’s Jews, there was no escaping the Germans’ might. As the family starved, Mala and her brother went out to barter what little they had. They were thrilled to have scored some bread and vegetables. On their stealthy return, they were discovered and shot at by the soldiers. Mala played dead and escaped with her life, her brother Yechiel, was not playing. He’d been killed. About this time Mala’s stray cat became her constant companion. It seemed to accompany Mala everywhere she went, or meet her whenever she returned from scavenging for food. Mala saw the little cat as her angel and named the cat Malach. It seemed regardless of where Mala found herself, an orchard, a barn, the river, the little cat was by her side, keeping her company. [Eva Trieger]
The Holocaust Through Eyes of a 12-Year-Old Girl Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors