The audience at the Jewish Community Center who attended Breaking Silence: The Story of Janis Ian truly got a special treat, with the singer/ songwriter herself in attendance to answer questions from the crowd. [Sandy Scheller]
Halévy’s seminal work is the opera The Jewess (La Juive), which became one of the cornerstones of the French repertoire for a century. It was a grand opera in five acts, including ballet, choruses, spectacular processions and festivities. The premiere of the opera, based on a libretto by the famous French playwright Eugène Scribe, was a colossal success at the Grand Opera House in Paris on February 23, 1835. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Fromental Halévy, Composer of Operas and Jewish Sacred Music Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Bayer is a pet photographer who comes to you and travels the country. Although San Diego is her home base, she and her husband spend a better part of the year traveling the country in their Airstream, taking photos for both private and commercial clients. [Mimi Pollack]
San Diego-Based Photographer Specializes in Dog Portraits Read More »
Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Times of San Diego, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Amos explained his choice of piece, noting that the symphony played a significant role during World War II, with the first four notes famously symbolizing the Morse code for “V” — the letter for “Victory.” This symbolic connection made it a particularly poignant selection on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. (Sandy Scheller)
TICO Concert at LFJCC Captivates with Beethoven’s 5th and Romero Read More »
Holocaust, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors
We all breathed a sigh of relief with the little bit of rain that came in over the weekend to help extinguish the fires in Los Angeles and around San Diego County. As I checked my alerts on my phone, these fires are still not 100% contained. They are still active. [Cailin Acosta]
Rain, Human Kindness Give Hope Amid Wildfires Read More »
Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Meyerbeer’s vast fortune and the great success of his operas, as well as his observance of the laws of the Jewish religion, set him apart from many musicians. He was a sponsor of many young composers, including Wagner, who “thanked” him with an antisemitic article, “Jewry in Music.” [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Giacomo Meyerbeer, Opera Impresario Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Paul Stanley (January 20, 1952) is an American musician who was the co-founder, frontman, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss from the band’s inception in 1973 to their retirement in 2023. He was the writer or co-writer of many of the band’s most popular songs. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Paul Stanley Read More »
Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir, under the direction of Pastor Ken Anderson, performed Saturday night, Jan. 18, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Gospel rhythms prompted the Jewish audience to join through singing, dancing, and clapping. [Robin Dishman]
MLK Community Choir Performs for a Jewish Audience Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Katey Sagal (January 19, 1954) is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing Peggy Bundy on Married… with Children (1987–1997), Leela on Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–present), Cate Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules (2002–2005), Gemma Teller Morrow on the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014), for which she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2011, and Louise Goldufski-Conner on The Conners (2018–present). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Katey Sagal Read More »
Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Something ignited when Debbie Mishek, M.D., traveled to Congregation Beth Am in Los Angeles to attend a presentation about Kol Tefillah (The Voice of Prayer) a few years ago. The program was about “reimagining Jewish prayer and making it more relevant and more inspiring,” the developmental pediatrician recalled. “There is something about music and prayer that is so spiritual. I access my spirituality through music.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Kol Tefillah Band Specializes in Music for Praying and Reflecting Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined ContributorsWhat can’t be replaced are pictures and any family heirlooms like a menorah or Shabbat candle holders that have been passed down from generation to generation. [Cailin Acosta]
What Would You Grab If You Had Minutes to Evacuate? Read More »
Cailin Acosta, California, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The driving force behind DrumatiX is founder, artistic director, and choreographer Noa Barankin, a native of Tel Aviv who has dedicated her life to the art of rhythm and movement. Barankin began tap dancing at 12 and transitioned to professional performances in her 20s. Her journey took her from Israel to Boston and ultimately to San Diego, where she established herself as a prominent figure in the rhythmic arts. [Miriam Gershenson]
Israeli Choreographer Develops New Rhythmic Dances Read More »
Israel, Miriam Gershenson, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Jim Croce (January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he released five studio albums and numerous singles. During this period, Croce took a series of odd jobs to pay bills while he continued to write, record and perform concerts. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jim Croce Read More »
Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
When Jews were expelled from Portugal, many moved East to form the Sephardic community we all know, but as many Jews, perhaps 100,000, moved West to the Americas in the 16th century. Today it is estimated that a quarter of Hispanic Catholics in the Americas derive from Jewish stock, with many now awakening to their heritage. [Mark A. Schneegurt, Ph.D.]
Sephardic Prayer Songs Found in Church Records of Mexican Inquisition Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors