Thanks to J.J. Surbeck, Charles Wax for spotting this. JJ Surbeck writes: Our good friend Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, whom we know for her exemplary work as activist and coordinator extraordinaire in her fight against anti-Semitism within the University of California system, is also, let’s not forget, first and foremost a scholar. And she reminded us of
Russian Army Choir sings ‘Jerusalem of Gold’ Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,” I believe this could be his mantra. The singer/songleader told me he believes that, “music has the power to bring people together and build interfaith, justice oriented, warm welcoming communities.” Recently appointed to a new commission, Voit is the
Marshall Voit, son of a rabbi, now a Jewish songleader Read More »
Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — As a teenager, growing up in Los Angeles, I was an active member of the Labor Zionist Youth Movement, Habonim. I was also a serious student of the violin. My dream was to unite those two passions by making aliya to the Jewish State and playing in the Israel
Israel Phil. Orchestra provided lifetime of memories Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Stanley Tiger SAN DIEGO — At the request of my brother, who had worked with filmmaker Tamás Wormser, I received via airmail a DVD of The Wandering Muse. All I knew is that it was a) about Jewish music, b) that I love Jewish music and c) beyond that, I knew little else. After
‘The Wandering Muse’ explores Jewish music Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Catching up with this guy was no mean feat, but when we finally connected by phone early this morning, I was able to learn who Matisyahu, the evolutionary artist, is, and why he’s so excited to bring his Akeda Tour to San Diego’s Balboa Theater. Matthew Paul Miller,
Matisyahu tells of his musical evolution Read More »
Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — No end of composers have been inspired by nature, and have gone on to inspire countless audiences in turn. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, and the French nineteenth century composers are just a few examples of this. But the composer whose music is above all the embodiment of
Mahler’s love of nature inspires Jerusalem Symphony Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– The Jewish Federation of San Diego County announced that OPTIONS ,The Women’s Event, will be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego, on November 1, from 11:30 am until 2 pm. OPTIONS will feature three trailblazing Jewish women – Lisa Loeb, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Janet Gurwitch, Founder and Former CEO of Laura
Lisa Loeb to sing at OPTIONS Nov. 1 Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CalendarBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Yale Strom, the multi-talented artist-in-residence at San Diego State University’s Judaic Studies Department, introduced his latest composition on the second half of the program last Tuesday evening at the Lyceum Theater. Thanks to the support of a generous grant, he wrote a string quartet based on motifs gathered from listening
Strom, Hausmanns debut Somalia – inspired music Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — “Non!” screamed the rather large and overdressed lady sitting in the row near me as the audience burst into spontaneous applause between two movements of the piece of baroque chamber music that had just been played. This happened last summer when we attended several concerts in the charming
The changing habits of concert audiences Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy David Amos SAN DIEGO –As we do every year, my wife and I sat at the synagogue in our preferred seat for the High Holidays services. As expected, we enjoyed the thought provoking words from our Rabbi, heard the pure and beautifully performed chants from our cantorial soloist, and greeted fellow congregants, many of
Inspiration and distraction at High Holy Day services Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy 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, USABy 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