Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

LFJCC’s Astor Library unveils music collection

LA JOLLA, California (Press Release) –The Samuel and Rebecca Astor Judaica Library, located at the Lawrence Family JCC,  has unveiled two new collections sure to delight music lovers across the spectrum including students, historians, teachers, and, of course, musicians.  The collections were a labor of love for library volunteers, Eileen Wingard and Ted Parker, who have been […]

LFJCC’s Astor Library unveils music collection Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Jazz from Israel and elsewhere captivates

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–Mesmerizing strums of the oud opened the first number, a Kurdish melody, in a program at SDSU’s Smith Recital Hall entitled: Desert Caravan: New Jazz from Israel and Beyond. This concert, arranged by SDSU Judaic Studies Scholar-In-Residence, Yale Strom, featured, in addition to his band, Hot Pstromi, the prize-winning Israeli musician, Amos

Jazz from Israel and elsewhere captivates Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Music therapy for those with brain disorders

Musicophilia, Tales of Music and the Brain, by Oliver Sacks, Published by Picador, 2008 By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The author, who has written several books about various aspects of psychology, among them The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and Awakenings, has extensive experience of working with individuals who have

Music therapy for those with brain disorders Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

A new generation learns The Partisan Song

By Tali Feinberg Reprinted from the Cape Jewish Chronicle CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Every year on Yom Hashoah, Holocaust survivors and Jewish communities sing the song Zog Nit Keynmol (‘We are Still Here’), known as the Partisan Song. However, the Yiddish lyrics and decline of survivors means that the song is being lost to

A new generation learns The Partisan Song Read More »

International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

TICO concert ‘most satisfying in recent memory’

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — The Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra’s recent concert, featuring Dvorak’s Symphony #8 in G Major, was one of their most satisfying performances in recent memory. Dvorak’s engaging melodies sang forth with warmth. The entire ensemble, under David Amos’ capable direction, seemed to feel and understand the music. With the woodwinds

TICO concert ‘most satisfying in recent memory’ Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Artist Says ‘Fearless Girl’ Statue Breaches His Rights

The creator of the “charging bull” statue in Wall Street believes New York City has infringed his rights by installing a second statue next to the model without his permission. Italian-born sculptor Arturo Di Modica said the “fearless girl” statue of a young girl facing down the bull, put in place on March 7, changed

Artist Says ‘Fearless Girl’ Statue Breaches His Rights Read More »

Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Ardian Syaf, Marvel artist, promoted anti-Christian, anti-Semitic Koran verse in ‘X-Men Gold’ book

Marvel artist Ardian Syaf will face “disciplinary action” after it was revealed over the weekend that he promoted an anti-Christian and anti-Semitic verse from the Koran in one of its books. Superhero fans know the X-Men as a team of “mutants” that fights against intolerance. The newest issue of “X-Men Gold,” however, included a reference

Ardian Syaf, Marvel artist, promoted anti-Christian, anti-Semitic Koran verse in ‘X-Men Gold’ book Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in Hebrew

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — Over the years I have attended many performances of Handel’s Messiah, but no matter where it was performed (England, America, France, Israel) it was always sung in English. George Frederick Handel wrote the oratorio using the text devised by Charles Jennens, based on the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in Hebrew Read More »

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Jana, YAAANA, and preserving Yiddishkeit

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Erev Shabbat prayers, a vegetarian dinner, a ribbon cutting, and a klezmer jam session helped to inaugurate the Yiddish Arts and Academic Association of North America (YAAANA) on Friday night at a clubhouse in the Costa Verde Village.  About 30 people ranging from young adults to seniors attended

Jana, YAAANA, and preserving Yiddishkeit Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Yiddishists sponsor free Shabbat dinner, concert

SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — The Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America (YAAANA) will debut in San Diego with a free Shabbat dinner and concert and klezmer concert by Yale Strom beginning at 7 p.m., Friday, at the Costa Verde Village Clubhouse, 8720 Costa Verde Blvd., San Diego. According to its founder, Jana Mazurkiewicz,

Yiddishists sponsor free Shabbat dinner, concert Read More »

Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego Calendar

Danish musicians, Italian conductor, global appeal

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — The Italian, Grammy-Award Maestro, Fabio Luisi, newly appointed principal conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, led his forces in an engaging concert of works by Nielsen (1865-1931), Wagner (1772-1822) and Mahler (1869-1911). The program, at the Jacobs Music Center last Thursday evening, was sponsored by the La Jolla

Danish musicians, Italian conductor, global appeal Read More »

Eileen Wingard, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Sculptor’s work on refugees takes on increased resonance in new London exhibit

Drawing on the Old Testament as inspiration, the late Chaim Stephenson crafted compassionate scenes of familial pain and drama By Anne Joseph LONDON –Acclaimed Anglo-Israeli artist and self-taught sculptor Chaim Stephenson had a lifelong sympathy for people driven from their homes. In a career that spanned over 60 years, he produced a huge body of

Sculptor’s work on refugees takes on increased resonance in new London exhibit Read More »

International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts