If you look at the menorah on the cover of Hanukkah Nights, you’ll see that each candle flame is of a different color. What you can’t see—until you read the actual book—is that each flame was created with a different artistic technique. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Primer on Hanukkah and Art Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — My friend recently texted me from Tel Aviv: “What are the chances that I would be on Imber Street in the morning and at the Hatikvah Market on Hatikvah Street in the afternoon? Unbelievable!” After I pleaded ignorance, my friend helped me connect the dots and gain an appreciation of
Hatikvah: The Bohemian’s Rhapsody Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — When life seems bleak, music, literature, and art provide us with consolation. Thus, it came about that we were able to attend two musical events in one week. What a feast! And what a difference. The first was an intimate evening provided by our friends and neighbours
If you are into schmoozing and picking up fascinating little factoids as conversations progress, try going to an artisans’ festival as I did on Sunday, Nov. 6, at Temple Emanu-El in the Del Cerro neighborhood of San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]
Schmoozing at the Artisans Festival Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The concert season in Jerusalem resumed this past week, and it was like meeting old friends, In fact, we did actually meet old friends. The first concert of the season of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra found us sitting in the packed Henry Crown auditorium of the Jerusalem Theatre.
The Sound of Music Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — Tragedies often have a comic origin. This affair started out as being amusing and pleasurable, as well as uplifting, life-affirming and optimistic. It is August 25, 1917 Berlin. The premier of the operetta, The Black Forest Girl (Schwarzwaldmädel) is performed at the Komische Oper theatre. It has been a
(JNS) On Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. at the beautiful, lakeside Shamir Park located in Ma’ale Adumim, a growing city outside of nearby Jerusalem, the district’s newest tourist and interpretive cultural attraction, the “Tree of Life,” will be dedicated by Mayor Benny Kashriel. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and share in the
Largest-of-its-Kind ‘Tree of Life’ to be Dedicated in Ma’ale Adumim Read More »
Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Yoni Avi Battat’s debut album, Fragments, explores his Arab-Jewish identity through nine selections. He composed the music for seven of them, delving into the Arabic melodies of his grandparent’s native Iraq for inspiration and including native instruments such as the oud (Arabic lute), qanun (chordaphone with many strings), nay (reed flute), riq (tambourine), frame drum, karakeb (large iron castenets), darbuka (goblet shaped drum) and joza (coconut shell fiddle held on knee). [Eileen Wingard]
Arab-Jewish Musician Releases CD Exploring His Heritages Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — We Are the Tree of Life (WATTOL) founder and director, Jackie Gmach, is adept at recognizing talent and recruiting them to participate in her initiative. In Israeli-born dancer and circus performer, Tammuz Dubnov, Gmach struck gold. Dubnov is not only young, handsome and talented, but he is committed to
Bringing to Life, Through the Arts, the Victims of the Holocaust Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyMost of the production was comedic, poking fun at the challenges of seniority, with no holds barred, from prescription drugs to diapers. There were romances, one unrequited, facing the problems of a demented spouse; and one with a happy ending. [Eileen Wingard]
‘Something in Preserve,’ a Musical about Seniors’ Lives, Wins Plaudits Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food
I discovered the music of Ryan Cassata via YouTube. Ryan is a singer-songwriter and activist. Ryan sings about his life as a transgender man, issues with substance abuse, suicide and hate crimes. He began socially transitioning (living as a young man) at the age of fourteen and his activism for the trans community got him on Larry King Live at fifteen. Now 28, Ryan is also a grad student at the Pacific School of Religion working on a Master’s in Divinity and Social Transformation. I spoke with Ryan recently via Zoom. [Eric George Tauber]
Every Song a Protest: Interview with Ryan Cassata Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsComposer, conductor, pianist and teacher, Friedrich Gernsheim, (1839-1916), is little known today. Yet, during his lifetime, he was spoken of in the same breath as Brahms, Bruch and Reger. In fact, his works were published by the same publishers who published their compositions. [Eileen Wingard]
After a century, Gernsheim’s music makes a comeback Read More »
Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — As we are entering into the High Holy Days, in which music plays a major role, let’s focus on one of Israel’s most beloved musicians. Poet, songwriter, composer, and singer Naomi Shemer has streets named after her in almost twenty cities across Israel. And for good reason, as she was
The Power of Music Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
During his 50 years as a painter, Canadian American artist Philip Guston created a body of work that stands out as among the most significant and daring of the 20th century. His development as an artist involved several phases, and culminated with images notable for their dark, biting humor, distinct palette, unmistakable lexicon of objects, and concern with themes when taken together seem designed to heighten our uneasiness and have us question everything we thought we knew about painting. [Sam Ben-Meir]
‘Philip Guston Now’ at Boston Museum of Fine Art Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir