The Arts

Country music mourns the passing of this iconic songwriter

The country music community is mourning the loss of one of its most brilliant songwriters, Curly Putman Jr. According to a Facebook post from Curly’s friend and hit co-writer, Bobby Braddock, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer passed away in the morning of Oct. 30 after being ill. Watch the video RELATED: Watch this country

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

A mahzor for Sukkot

The Koren Sukkot Maḥzor; Introduction, Translation, and Commentary by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Koren Publishers, Jerusalem, © 2015, ISBN 978-965-301-659-0, p. 1465, $24.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California –  When a knowledgeable Jew hears the Hebrew word maḥzor, more than likely an image appears of a sanctuary filled with Jews praying during the High Holidays,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Tales of a Jewish lawman in the Old West

Devil Out of Texas by Roger Raffee, 2016; Amazon Publications; 456 pages; now on Kindle.   By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Author Roger Raffee, a fellow San Diegan, has written a novel—and I’ll repeat that word “novel”—purportedly about a great-great grandfather who was a sure-shooting, fast-drawing Texas Ranger who could snuff out a

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, USA

‘Supergirl’: A Film About Orthodox Jewish Powerlifter Naomi Kutin

“Supergirl” is an intriguing coming-of-age film about Naomi Kutin, an Orthodox Jewish girl who broke a world record in the sport of powerlifting. In many ways, Kutin’s story is just like everyone else’s: She’s trying to find her way as she transitions into adolescence. But what makes Kutin extraordinary is her dedication to the sport

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Here’s what happened during the National Anthem at the first World Series baseball game

Protesting the National Anthem has been a focus on this year’s football season, but at the first game of World Series baseball game Tuesday night, the scene was different. Singer Rachel Platten, famous for her song “Fight Song,” sang the opening National Anthem, and all players appeared to stand during the ceremony. RELATED: National anthem

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sports & Competitions, USA

Pussy Riot Vows to ‘Grab Back’ At Trump With New Song

Russia’s anti-Kremlin band Pussy Riot has released its latest song, a feminist riposte to Donald Trump’s boasts that he could “grab” women by the genitals because of his fame. The band’s new song “Straight Outta Vagina” takes on the U.S. presidential candidate, declaring that “pussy is the new dick.” “Don’t play stupid, don’t play dumb,

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

A history of the Soviet Union’s failed Jewish republic

Where the Jews Aren’t: The Sad and Absurd Story of Birobidzhan, Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Region by Masha Gessen, Nextbooks, Schocken, New York ©2016, ISBN 978-0-8052-4246-1, p. 147, plus notes, published sources, and index, $25.00 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California –  In 1908, about a decade after the first Zionist Congress, the British government offered territory

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History

Recital by Matathias and Stanislavsky enthuses S.D. audience

By Eileen Wingard ENCINITAS, California — The Israeli duo, violinist Asi Matathias and pianist Victor Stanislavsky, shone in their recent recital at the Encinitas Library, under the auspices of Virtuosi USA, a concert series sponsored by the Friends of Musical Arts, under the direction of Michael Tseitlin. Matathias and Stanislavsky have performed in San Diego

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

Scarlett Johansson opens popcorn chain in Paris

Pro-Israeli Jewish actress Scarlett Johansson, who aroused the wrath of the BDS organization in the past when she advertised Israeli company SodaStream, opened a popcorn chain last week in an upscale area of Paris. Johansson attended the opening of the first branch of the chain in the Marais quarter of Paris and even served popcorn

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International, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast