The Arts

A Looming War With Russia?

The first female president of the United States faces her first major international conflict: Seeking to consolidate the Slavic nations of Eastern Europe, Russia has seized the three Baltic states—Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia—all members of NATO. That requires a response beyond just a caustic tweet or sharply worded press release. For the first time since the […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, USA

If some of the great art masters painted Jewish scenes

Converted Masters: World Famous Masterpieces with a Jewish Twist Artwork by Esty Frankel-Fersel and edited by Barbara Bensoussan. Menorah Books Ltd., West Hills, CA, ©2016, ISBN 978-1-940516-45-5, p. 150, plus artists credits, $44.95   By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California –  What would happen if we took some of the world’s greatest Christian artists, gave them

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Winners of Jewish Culture Prize for literature announced

Minister of Education Naftali Bennet announced on Sunday this year’s winners of the Education Minister’s Prize for Jewish Culture in the field of literature: Haim Sabato and Sarah Friedland. The committee responsible for electing the winners wrote of Sabato: “His work […] reveals the world of the Sephardic traditions of Torah – in which sharpness

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Amid fraught election rhetoric, Smithsonian to open first major Quran exhibition

The sacred work of Islam and the signature museum of Washington, DC will combine for an unprecedented exhibit this fall. “The Art of the Quran,” the first major exhibition of Qurans in the US, will open at the Smithsonian Institution on October 15, less than a month before the presidential election that will close a

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

Film Festival to whet donors’ appetites Aug. 21

</iframe LA JOLLA, California (Press Release) – The San Diego Jewish Film Festival presented by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus, will launch the 27th season Underwriter kickoff party and the San Diego premiere screening of In Search of Israeli Cuisine directed by Roger Sherman

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San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Human- interest writer plumbs real lives of athletes

The Game Isn’t Everything: The reality beyond the arena by Bruce Lowitt; Barstad Communications; © 2015; ISBN 978153-4981126;  285 pages, $14.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Bruce Lowitt is an all-around sportswriter who covered the big NFL games for the Associated Press, and, later in his career, regaled readers with stories about sports

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Bruce F. Lowitt, Donald H. Harrison, Sports & Competitions

Hillary Clinton’s ‘Fight Song’ Dragged By Twitter

The reviews are in: The 2016 Democratic National Convention was a rousing success, with even many conservatives acknowledging the powerful display of optimism and unity. But “Fight Song,” the DNC’s unofficial anthem, was not as well received. On night two of the DNC, actress Elizabeth Banks introduced a video she produced of dozens of celebrities

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

The Top Punditry Moments From Both the RNC and DNC

The two weeks of political conventions were a midsummer night’s dream for political pundits and late-night comics. While Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were steamroll-calling their way to the Republican and Democratic (sorry, Bernie Bros) nominations, a plethora of cable news hosts and analysts, as well as well-known entertainers, appeared on camera with renewed vigor.

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Watch: Katy Perry Roars for Hillary Clinton at DNC

Thursday night saw Hillary Clinton make history as the first female candidate to clinch a presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention—and pop star Katy Perry was there to help her celebrate. The singer roused Democatic delegates with two songs suited for such an occasion: the anthemic 2013 hit “Roar,” and the first live performance

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

9 Latina Celebrities Who Want To See Hillary Clinton In The White House

Since Hillary Clinton launched her presidential campaign in April 2015, many Latino celebrities have come out in support of the Democratic presidential nominee. From America Ferrera to Gina Rodriguez, Latina celebrities are declaring #ImWithHer, hoping to see the first female president of The United States. On the first night of the 2016 Democratic National Convention

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech ratings will fall below Donald Trump’s

NEW YORK — Early ratings for Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech Thursday at the Democratic National Convention show that it will fall short of Donald Trump’s audience from July 22. The 10 p.m. ET slot that featured Hillary Clinton’s speech, a biographical video and an introduction by Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, averaged around 28 million viewers on

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Bill O’Reilly courts controversy with comments on slavery; Hollywood hits back

Fox News host Bill O’Reilly has been under fire all week for his comments on slavery made in response to Michelle Obama’s Monday night speech at the Democratic National Convention. At one point during her speech in support of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Obama spoke about the generations, some who lived in bondage, that

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA