The Arts

‘The Dybbuk’ Meets Schizophrenia in ‘The Book of Izzy’

Playing Khanan and also stepping into the role of director, Izzy falls in love with Sue-Ann, who portrays Leah.  At times brilliant and at times in la-la land, Izzy leads readers on a  adventure through S. An-sky’s well-known, memorable play, and through his own disordered mind. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Lion’s Trail in Golan Recalls 749 Earthquake-Destroyed Synagogue

The Golan Heights had been a significant area of Jewish life. After the earthquake of 749, Jews could not and were not permitted to return to live in the Golan by the occupying Muslim powers and later the Ottoman Turks. Jews could not return to live in the Golan until after the Israeli victory over the Syrians in the 1967 war. [Jerry Klinger]

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Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jack Klugman

In 1965, Klugman replaced Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison in the Broadway play The Odd Couple. Five years later, he reprised that role in the television adaptation of The Odd Couple opposite Tony Randall. The series aired from 1970 to 1975. Klugman won his second and third Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his work on the series. From 1976 to 1983, he starred in the title role in Quincy, M.E., for which he earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. [Wikipedia]

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA, Wikipedia

Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after having 2020 rape conviction overturned

Published by BANG Showbiz English Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalised after having his 2020 rape conviction overturned. The fallen Hollywood mogul, 72, was returned to New York City jail Rikers Island on Friday (26.04.24), a day after the New York Court of Appeals ruled he didn’t receive a fair trial when he was convicted four

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Nordot, Shanda File, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

OpEd: Sara Jacobs, Please Explain Your Political Philosophy and Mideast Outlook

I have asked Lauren McIlvaine, the press secretary in Rep. Sara Jacobs’ Capitol office, for an explanation from the congresswoman about her voting record, specifically about what her guiding principles may be as she considers legislation affecting Israel and the Middle East. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

His ‘Life as a Jew’ is an Introspective Search for Definition

In lengthy, brilliant, and painfully introspective essays, he examines not only conflicts between Jews and their non-Jewish detractors, but also delves deeply into the sometimes- internecine divisions among Jews themselves. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Customs Surrounding Food Told Entertainingly

Ways of Eating does not contain recipes. Instead it is packed with “takeaways” that illuminate food culture. For instance, “restaurant” derives from the “restoratives” of broth served at inns to travelers. The chapter “Medieval Tastes,” aka middle ages, presents a spirited discussion of periodization and geography. [Olivere B. Pollak]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Oliver Pollak, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Barbra Streisand

Barbara Joan “Barbra” Streisand (born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, film and television producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment and is among the few performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). [Wikipedia]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Two Whose Memories are Blessings: Joel Cohen, Ellen Fox Lorang

One of our beloved humor columnists, Joel Cohen, has died in New York City, his children have informed me. The news came just two days after I had attended the funeral in San Diego of Ellen Fox Lorang. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Joel H. Cohen, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Love Competes with Jealousy in YA ‘Summer Nights and Meteorites’

There are passing mentions of b’nai mitzvah, Shabbat, and studying Hebrew but these are not essential to the plot, and I wonder sometimes whether such Jewish content is there simply to be placed on Jewish reading lists.  You won’t learn anything about Judaism or Jewish culture, but interesting information abounds about the space and the sea. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Holocaust Rescuer Nicholas Winton Profiled in ‘One Life’

One Life is a film about the selfless heroism of Nicholas “Nicky” Winton (1909-2015), a self-effacing humanitarian. He directed the rescue of 669 Jewish children in Prague in 1938. The story moves soul searchingly back and forth between the events of 1938 and 1988 when Winton was honored by a BBC television special that brought together, a reunion of sorts, of several hundred rescued children, their children and grandchildren. [Oliver Pollak]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Nordot, Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

The Lion’s Trail Through Biblical Israel: First in a Series

  By Jerry Klinger BOYNTON BEACH, Florida — Benny Kashriel, the mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, a bedroom community of 30,000 just over the Green Line from Jerusalem, shared with me in November 2022 that Ma’ale Adumim is mentioned in the book of Joshua 18:17. The mayor presented me with a special recognition.  Judy and I

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Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Estelle Liebling

From 1902 to 1904 she was committed to the Metropolitan Opera, and from 1902 to 1905 she toured internationally in more than 1,600 concerts with John Philip Sousa and his band. After her marriage in 1906, she performed only occasionally in the succeeding two decades. Liebling began her teaching career in the 1910s, not stopping until her death more than 50 years later. [Wikipedia]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia