Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘We Are the Tree of Life’ debuts in San Diego

To commemorate Yom Hashoah, Ohr Shalom Synagogue screened the premiere of the documentary, We Are the Tree of Life: Carry On. The Zoom screening was introduced by former Ohr Shalom president, Susie Meltzer. Many participants in the film were in the Zoom audience, including Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Good News from Israel (April 18, 2021)

In the April 18, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–3 Israeli research breakthroughs into cancer, aging and obesity.
–NASA names two asteroids after their Israeli-Arab student discoverer.
–Japan praises Israel for its help on the 10th anniversary of the tsunami.
–A hi-tech Israeli competitor to zoom.
–Investment in Israeli startups breaks three all-time records.
–Israelis once again were able to properly celebrate the nation’s birthday. (Michael Ordman)

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Balancing Act: Hank Azaria’s apology for voicing Indian character Apu on ‘The Simpsons’ should lead to an honest reckoning on our bias against accents

Hank Azaria’s recent apology for voicing the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian-born convenience store clerk on “The Simpsons,” has launched some fascinating discussions that touch on, but also transcend, the role of pop culture in shaping the world we all share. Azaria’s Apu has long come under fire for its stereotypical portrayal of Indian Americans.

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Winston Churchill, Kermit & Janet Jackson’s Recordings Added To The Library Of Congress

The U.S. Library of Congress admits only 25 recordings to its Recording Registry, which are works that added have to have a historical and cultural significance to be preserved for posterity. This year’s list includes Janet Jackson, Winston Churchill and Kermit the Frog. Churchill’s 1941 Christmas Eve speech will be added to the Library after it was

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Teen Wolf’ star Arden Cho says man threatened to kill her, screamed racial slurs

Arden Cho says she experienced a racist attack in which a man threatened to kill her. The “Teen Wolf” star was walking her dog Wednesday night when the man screamed “I’m going to motherf—g kill you c— and your f—g dog,” she said in an emotional Instagram post. Cho, 35, said the man shouted other

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

‘Shiva Baby’ tackles Jewish mourning, comedy and female empowerment

The new film “Shiva Baby” combines the traditional, weeklong Jewish mourning period with a meshugenah love rectangle and overbearing family members. Hilarious and anxiety-inducing, the movie, written and directed by Emma Seligman is now out in select theaters and on demand, during Passover. “It’s like a sort of Jewish wake that lasts a week and

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Yiddish writer’s play finally to be performed in Yiddish

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF) kicks off its Yiddish Women Playwrights Festival with a virtual reading of Chava Rosenfarb’s play The Bird of the Ghetto (Der Foygl fun Geto), the first time the play will be presented in the language in which it was written, Yiddish. Audiences can stream the event at 11 a.m. (Pacific Time),  Sunday, April 18 through 11 a.m. Thursday  April 22 at 2:00 PM ET. [National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF) press release]

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Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Good News from Israel (March 30, 2021)

In the March 30, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–Israelis were able to celebrate Passover again with their families and friends.
–On World Water Day a JNF video shows desert city Beersheva is now a water city.
–Three Israeli nanosatellites have been launched into a synchronized orbit.
–Israel is developing the world’s smartest microprocessors.
–Two more Israeli companies have become worth more than $1 billion.
–Israel’s Linoy Ashram won two world medals in rhythmic gymnastics.
–Israel broke two matzah world records without breaking a single matzah. [Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Ancient Greek Play Raises Some Still-Modern Questions

The late Dr. Howard Rubenstein’s Prometheus Bound was scheduled to open off-Broadway at The Tank in September of 2020, but alas: Covid. So, the publisher sent me a copy of the script for review. Rubenstein’s play is not a translation of Aeschylus but a free adaptation, which is a good thing. Translations of ancient texts often require long winded explanations of why certain references were funny or topical at the time, which audiences don’t have time for. [Eric George Tauber]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Hershey Felder’s Intimate Portrait of Puccini

Lovers of opera know Giacomo Puccini as the composer of La Boheme, Tosca, Madame Butterfly and Turandot. Maestro Hershey Felder inhabits this persona in his latest film project: Hershey Felder Presents Puccini. Felder is world famous for his biographical portrayals of famous composers, sometimes drawing upon his own Jewish heritage for figures like George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Leonard Bernstein. [Eric George Tauber]

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Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & Broadcast