By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — I’ve been doing research lately on the Oscars. Although I have my favorite films, I realize that my criteria differ from the members of the Academy who not only respond to the merits of the films themselves, but to publicity campaigns waged by the studios, sentimental sympathies for popular […]
Baron’s picks on the day of Oscar Night Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & BroadcastLife Along the Silk Road, by Susan Whitfield, 2nd edition, University Press, 2015 By Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — The book opens with several explanatory sections: a “Preface to the Second Edition,” a “Note of Transliteration and Names,” an “Introduction,” a “Prologue,” and a map spread across two pages. The map is arresting. It shows
From the Jewish library: ‘Life Along the Silk Road’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories
The Ghost Warriors: Inside Israel’s Undercover War Against Suicide Terrorism by Samuel Katz; Berkley (2016) ISBN: 1592409016; $18; Rated: 5* By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — There is hardly a day when we don’t read another story about a terrorist attack. For the most part, Radical Islam has demonstrated an almost uncanny ability to raise
Katz’s book on Israel’s war against terror is outstanding Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — The Old Globe used an innovative setting for the world premiere of Anna Ziegler’s The Last Match, which opened at Balboa Park’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theater February 18th. This superbly acted play centered on the US Open, but had little to do with tennis and everything to do with
When love is sought off the tennis court Read More »
Eva Trieger, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Before Holocaust Survivor Lou Dunst died last year, he and his wife Estelle commissioned art to enhance the Holy Ark at Ohr Shalom Synagogue at Third and Laurel Streets in San Diego. Four artists competed for the honor of designing the works, with architect Amy Reichert of Chicago,
Ohr Shalom dedicates Pillars of Cloud, Smoke Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsLA JOLLA, California (Press Release)– Ever wonder what happened to Annie the day after “Tomorrow”? Join the talented cast of the J* Company Youth Theatre group as they pick up where the musical Annie left off. Annie Warbucks, which begins later this month, tells the tale of what happens to everyone’s favorite red-headed orphan and
J*Company plans sequel to ‘Annie’ Read More »
San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastOr the Daughter of Not Without My Daughter By Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — One day in 1991, a huge “skyscraper” size portrait of Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini was draped on full display in Israel and as can be imagined caused quite a bit of consternation. Police arrived on the scene to find that it actually
From the Jewish library: ‘My Name is Mahtob’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short StoriesBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California–The works of two great Jewish poets, Leah Goldberg (1911-1970) and Zalman Shneour (1887-1959) will be featured at the Tuesday, February 23, 7 p.m. program of Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices in the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family JCC. All the poems will be read in their original language as
Large cast to read, sing Goldberg, Shneour works Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CalendarBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — There are numerous different schools of parenting to choose from. Tiger moms make demands by cracking a whip. Helicopters hover and make a fuss. Free Range parents allow their children to explore and take risks. Whatever your parenting style, if your goal is to bring up your child
Whirling and twirling like King David Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Jack Forman SAN DIEGO — Righteous Rebel: The Story of Rabbi Avi Weiss, a wide-ranging, celebratory feature-length documentary by filmmaker Phil Schneider honoring the life and the activism of the well-known and controversial Orthodox Rabbi who has been in the public limelight for almost a half a century screened before an attentive audience of
Jewish Film Festival Review: ‘Righteous Rebel’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & BroadcastLA JOLLA, California — San Diego Jewish Film Festival audiences were bestowed a gift of immeasurable delights as Flory’s Flame was shown on On Friday, February 12, in the JCC’s Garfield Auditorium. Before the airing of the hour-long documentary, we were treated to five live heart-rending pieces sung by Elizabeth Schwartz, accompanied by guitarist and professor, Fred Benedetti.
‘Flory’s Flame’: Jewish history through Ladino music Read More »
Eva Trieger, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & BroadcastFalse Facts and True Rumors: LaShon HaRa in Contemporary Culture by Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman, Maggid Books, Jerusalem; ISBN 978-1-59264-441-4 ©2015, $29.95, p. 261, plus bibliography and indexes By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–The Hebrew expression lashon hara, literally meaning “an evil tongue,” is often translated as slander, gossip, and malicious or disparaging speech. In contemporary
How Judaism views evil speech Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Jack Forman SAN DIEGO — An improbable plot in a film is not necessarily a liability, especially when a movie has other things going for it — great acting, a funny and touching script with a good heart and an uplifting message, sure-footed direction, excellent cinematography and appealing, and off-center characters. Dough, a British comedy-drama
‘Dough’ is worth spending your cash on Read More »
San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – A movie about an Israeli boy who drops a Torah in his Moroccan Jewish neighborhood prompted a discussion at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival on Wednesday, Feb. 10, about the time that the wooden roller of a Torah scroll rolled off the reader’s table and onto
Someone drops the Torah and then what? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast