The Arts

Nostalgic Memoir Paints Word Portrait of an Era

Her Uncle Abe, the younger brother of her father, played the trombone in the NBC Symphony Orchestra, so a family tradition was to sit quietly around the radio listening to the broadcast of the concerts conducted by Arturo Toscanini, whether or not Uncle Abe had an important solo. Her Bubbie told Abe that he should invite the maestro over to sample her blintzes, but somehow the conductor never realized that pleasure. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Hebrew Day 4th Graders Reenact Early California History

The young actors, adorned in period costumes and armed with enthusiastic performances, brought to life the excitement, challenges, and dreams of the Gold Rush era miners and settlers. From the jubilant discovery of gold nuggets to the struggles of frontier life, the play effectively captured the essence of this transformative period in American history. [Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School]

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California, Press Release, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Contest Will Provide Input for Jewish Movie’s Sequel

The movie explores the concepts of “freedom to” and “freedom from;” Passover customs; unplugging on Shabbat; why Orthodox Jewish men refrain from touching women who are not part of their families; Torah attitudes towards homosexuality; why Orthodox women cover their hair; and sexual practices within an Orthodox Jewish marriage. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

An Artist Who Repurposes

It’s a process of exploration; I never know what I’m going to make in advance.  The materials start guiding me as I arrange them. I have a sense of play and meditation as I invent. Then the technical challenge is how to attach things; because my materials are so varied and irregular, it’s often quite hard to figure out how to secure the parts of the design.  [Mimi Pollack]

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Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ Works to be Digitized, Disseminated for Free

Sefaria will add more than three dozen volumes by Rabbi Sacks to the library, released in stages over several years. The April 2024 release is the first batch of these works. The entire collection of Rabbi Sack’s writing that will be accessible on Sefaria is made possible through the support of the William Davidson Foundation. [Press Release]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish Religion, USA

Spain’s Influence on Jewish Music A Highlight of Upcoming Tour to be Led by Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz

After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and Portugal in 1495, the two largest migrations were to North Africa and to the Ottoman Empire. It was when I first traveled to Romania and Bulgaria (initially researching klezmer) that I met Jews who traced their heritage back to the Iberian Peninsula. Some of these Jews sang songs in Ladino and others played Sephardic music. [Yale Strom]

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International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Joseph Pulitzer

He traveled in a freight boxcar to St. Louis, where there was a large ethnic German population. He worked at a variety of entry level jobs, studied English at the St. Louis Mercantile Library, and eventually obtained a job as a reporter for the Westliche Post. His first bylined story concerned a scam in which promoters promised people jobs at a Louisiana sugar plantation, but after taking them about 30 miles downriver on a steamboat, the promoters forced the victims to disembark and then sailed away.

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Antisemitism, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday

Artists’ and Artisans’ Show Lures Her to a Synagogue

This past Sunday, Tifereth Israel Synagogue hosted its First Annual Artists’ Showcase. Many talented artists came out to proudly display their creations which ranged from art, books, music, photography, woodworking, other crafts and Israeli stamp collecting. The event was jointly sponsored by the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club and Sisterhood. [Mimi Pollack]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Israel, Jewish Religion, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA

A Very instructive Haggadah

Thirty-five Jewish men and women contributed short essays to stimulate participation. One points out that Moses tried to persuade God not to send him to Egypt by saying, “I am not a man of many words.” However, tonight, we read how he led the Israelites from slavery. Doesn’t this show that limited words can achieve great things? Can you think of examples? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Chen on Joachim’s Stradivarius Provided Visual Accompaniment to the Music

Chen is an excellent violinist and Elizalde contributed outstanding keyboard collaboration. They offered informal commentary before each selection, projecting a feeling of intimacy with the audience which set this apart from formal recitals. In addition, Chen faced the audience as he played, rather than standing in profile. His handsome countenance reflected the spirit of the music. [Eileen Wingard]

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California, Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

The Enduring Shadow of War: Herodotus, Celestial Omens, and the Quest for Peace

The story of the Battle of Halys River, while potentially embellished with the passage of time, offers valuable insights into the delicate interplay between war and peace. It highlights the potential for unforeseen events, in this case a celestial phenomenon, to disrupt the course of conflict and create an opening for diplomacy. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA