By Jack Forman LA JOLLA, California — Above and Beyond, produced by Nancy Spielberg (the youngest sister of her famous brother Steven) and deftly directed by Roberta Grossman whose film Hava Nagila screened at the 2014 San Diego Jewish Film Festival, dramatically tells the miraculous story of how Israel’s ragtag Air Force was created and […]
‘Above and Beyond’ tells of nascent Israel Air Force Read More »
Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Jack Forman LA JOLLA, California — Two of the most appealing and expressive pre-teen Israeli girls you will ever meet are the focus of this film portrait screened on February 8 as part of the 2015 Jewish Film Festival. Almost Friends highlights the pitfalls and the promises of trying to break down cultural and
‘Almost Friends’ almost objective about Arabs and Jews Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Cynthia Citron SANTA MONICA–If you wanted to write a play to honor your father, it might be a bit inappropriate to portray him as a scoundrel. But that’s what Henry Jaglom has done in his new play Train to Zakopane, now having its World Premiere at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in
Seducing a hater on ‘Train to Zakopane’ Read More »
Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Jack Forman LA JOLLA, California — King David’s rich and full life is meticulously detailed in Samuel I and II and Chronicles, and his last years are described at the beginning of Kings I. He is a larger-than-life figure who plays a central role in Judaism because it is from King David’s lineage, according
Rabbi Wolpe delves into King David’s lives Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History
By Jack Forman ENCINITAS, California — Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger captivated an audience of about 250 people at Temple Solel on Sunday, November 9 with an honest, moving, and provocative 45-minute talk at the Jewish Book Fair about his stranger-than-fiction life growing up in post-World War II Germany, converting to Judaism, raising a family in Israel, and
A Nazi’s son tells Book Fair how he became a Jew Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Middle East
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The J Company’s production of Peter Pan is playing for two more weekends at the David and Dorthea Garfield Theatre at the Lawrence Family JCC. As grandmother of Adira Rosen, in the title role, I, of course am interested in encouraging all to see this musical. But,
Adira in title role prompts plenty of kvelling Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Marcia Tatz Wollner, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Joe Gandelman TORONTO, Canada– Is Mel Brooks smiling? Brooks’ 1968 comedy The Producers dealt with an outrageous, fictitious Broadway musical called Springtime for Hitler that trivialized Nazism and became a surprise hit. The New York Metropolitan Opera is now presenting The Death of Klinghoffer, which tries to explain the point of view of PLF members
‘Death of Klinghoffer’ like ‘The Producers’ come true Read More »
International, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Susan Vreeland, Lisette’s List, 2014, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6817-3, $27 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Have you ever watched an artist at his or her canvas? While you might be impatient to see how the painting will turn out, the artist may spend what you feel is an inordinate amount of time making sure
‘Lisette’s List’ teaches as it entertains Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonBy Michael Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO–Remember that old Bob Dylan song, “Forever Young,” which now is used as the theme on television’s Parenthood? May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift, May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift, May your heart always be joyful And may
Actualizing Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’ Read More »
Michael Mantell, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–During the past three weeks, four outstanding young Israel-born artists performed in La Jolla. Three of the young men call themselves Israelis and had their early training in the music schools of Israel. The fourth, an Arab, born in Nazereth, calls himself Palestinian, and received his early training with private teachers
Stream of Israeli musicians flows into San Diego Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Loren Kantor STUDIO CITY, California –My paternal grandfather was a Torah scribe. He spent his days carefully drawing the Hebrew letters that made up the Torah, the most sacred of Jewish texts. Writing on thin parchment paper made from the skin of a kosher animal, he began by carefully marking thin pencil lines that
Tales of the Woodcutter: The Torah Scribe Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Tamar Caspi, How to Woo a Jew: The Modern Jewish Guide to Dating and Mating, Seal Press, ©2014, 274 pages, 978-1-58005-500-0; $17. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—This book officially is scheduled for a February publication date, the same month that Nancy and I will celebrate 46 years of marriage, parenthood, and grand-parenthood. So what
Book review: ‘How to Woo a Jew’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
By Loren Kantor STUDIO CITY, California — Simon Wiesenthal was an Austrian Jewish Holocaust survivor who came to prominence after World War II as a Nazi hunter. With the aid of the Israeli, Austrian and West German governments he helped capture nearly 1,100 Nazi war criminals. Wiesenthal was born in 1908 in Lvov (in
Tales of the Woodcutter: Simon Wiesenthal Read More »
Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts