Presented in a staged reading at New Village Arts, the show tells the stories of Hannah Senesh and Rudolf Kastner, two Hungarian Jews remembered very differently by history. [Sandi Masori]
Ali Viterbi brings a complicated history to life in ‘Budapest, Budapest’ Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Asked which Roddenberry principle should be carried into the franchise’s next 60 years, Takei chose IDIC, Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. He explained that diversity includes the histories people carry, the ways they respond, and what they learn from one another. (Shor M. Masori)
Words in Jewish tradition are never merely sounds. They have weight, texture, and a kind of soul of their own. Once released, they do not simply vanish into the air; they disclose what is hidden in the human heart and then take on a life of their own. This week’s parsha returns to that truth with particular force. (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel)
Parsha Eikev: In Jewish tradition, words have a life of their own Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors
B. J. Novak (July 31, 1979) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, author, and producer. He gained traction as a comedian during the early 2000s before becoming an actor for the MTV reality prank show Punk’d (2003). Novak had his breakout with a main role as Ryan Howard on seasons 1–8 of the NBC mockumentary sitcom The Office (2005–2013). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: B. J. Novak Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Michael Braun shines as Cyrano, though I thought it was an interesting choice on the part of director Annie Tippe to cast someone with a tiny little button nose and then choose not to use prosthetics. [Sandi Masori]
Old Globe stages ‘Cyrano’ without the titular character’s big nose Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Despite my paucity of understanding gaming, I did understand the director’s message about the “weird, nerdy, overly imaginative” teens who found comfort in the fantasy game, and along the way, discovered a peer group. I also gleaned how Agnes Evans (Dr. Heather Warren) entered her deceased sister’s world to better understand who Tilly was. [Eva Trieger]
PowPac slays monsters in memory of a sister Read More »
Eva Trieger, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Jewish horror writer Max Brooks told the audience at a Comic-Con panel titled “Creature Feature Reboot: Monsters of Horror” that the present is a scary time, though not necessarily a dark one. It is a time of change, and human beings hate the unknown. (Shor M. Masori)
Comic-Con weighs this era’s impact on fiction writers Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Our relationship with Hashem isn’t built only during Yom Kippur, moments of deep inspiration, or extraordinary acts of sacrifice. It’s built in the ordinary rhythms of everyday living. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
Parsha Eikev: What Hashem really asks of us Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Lisa Kudrow (July 30, 1963) is an American actress and writer. She is best known for her roles as Phoebe Buffay in the television sitcom Friends (1994–2004) and Valerie Cherish in the HBO mockumentary series The Comeback (2005–2026). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Lisa Kudrow Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania proved this week that an advocate for Israel can confront an Israel-basher, shake him up and still stand firm and unyielding. Or stand tall, as John Wayne or Ronald Reagan might word it. [Bruce S. Ticker]
El-Sayed shouldn’t have threatened Fetterman metaphorically or in reality Read More »
Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Israel, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Leonard Maltin was 14 years old when he opened the Manhattan telephone directory and searched for Reuben “Rube” Goldberg. (Shor M. Masori)
Opening the fourth wall: From Rube Goldberg to Stuart Bloom Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t getting someone on stage. It’s getting them to leave it. [Joe Gandelman]
Torah and America’s founding fathers anticipated grandiose leaders Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joe Gandelman, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The panel discussed how they combined the many stereotypes and personalities found at concerts into memorable characters. [Cailin Acosta]
‘Concert Heroes’ audiences will question what kind of fans they are Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Not for the first time, Israel is the favorite punching bag for left-wingers and the far right. We remember how good it was to be Jewish in the aftermath of WW2. It turns out that it was an aberration. [Steve Kramer]
Historic Jew-hatred reasserting itself in U.S. Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, USA