The Arts

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Philip Roth

Portnoy’s Complaint was Roth’s fourth novel and most controversial because of its frank treatment of sexual subjects, including masturbation.  Roth became more prolific thereafter, knocking out 26 additional works through 2010, the most notable of which was the 1997 novel American Pastoral, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.  It told of a star athlete whose daughter becomes a domestic terrorist during the late 1960s. [SDJW staff]

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Philip Roth Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Kvells Keep Ringing For Steven Skybell’s Tevye in All-Yiddish ‘Fiddler’

When he first got the part in the Yiddish “Fiddler,” Skybell had studied Yiddish but he “certainly wasn’t fluent.” And at the start, only three of the 26 members of the cast spoke Yiddish. So getting ready for the show was a mammoth task, with most of the actors learning the language phonetically from tapes. [Joel H. Cohen]

Kvells Keep Ringing For Steven Skybell’s Tevye in All-Yiddish ‘Fiddler’ Read More »

International, Joel H. Cohen, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Shakespeare with Some Contemporary Twists at Coronado Playhouse

A few things were different about this production, first the non-fairy actors wore modern dress, the part of Hermia’s father was turned into that of her mother, and the show we saw had swing actor Ruth Russel filling in for the role of Demitrius. [Sandi Masori]

Shakespeare with Some Contemporary Twists at Coronado Playhouse Read More »

San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Larry Kornit: Cantor in Shul, Social Justice Advocate Outside

Four areas of interest have shaped the life of Cantor Larry Kornit of Congregation Beth Tikvah: Religion, music, politics, and sports. In addition to serving as a spiritual leader of what he described as his Conservative/ Reform/ Eclectic congregation, he also has volunteered as a member of the City of Oceanside’s nine-member Housing Commission.  The commission meets in the City Council chambers the fourth Tuesday of each month. [Donald H. Harrison]

Larry Kornit: Cantor in Shul, Social Justice Advocate Outside Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jerry Lewis

In 1945, 19-year-old Lewis met Dean Martin, who was eight years his senior, and the two developed a comedy act,  in which Martin was a straight man and Lewis was a zany ad libber.  The duo started with a radio show, moved to television, then to Paramount Pictures where they starred together in 14 movies between 1960 and 1956.  DC Comics published The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis from 1952 to 1957.  The team ended the partnership in 1956. [SDJW staff]

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jerry Lewis Read More »

Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

‘King James’ Uses Sports Metaphor to Explore the Ups and Downs of a Friendship

The dialogue is fast-paced and funny, both because of  Rajiv Joseph’s writing and the animated faces of Foote and Echebiri.  San Diegans can especially appreciate how upset and betrayed Matt and Shawn feel when James moves to the Miami Heat and leaves his hometown.  I saw many in the audience nodding emphatically as Matt and Shawn lament the perceived betrayal, as memories of our own Chargers’ betrayal with their move to LA still feels fresh.  [Sandi Masori]

‘King James’ Uses Sports Metaphor to Explore the Ups and Downs of a Friendship Read More »

Sandi Masori, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

‘Tartuffe’ Pokes Fun at Our Frail and Base Tendencies

The satiric comedy was originally written and performed in French, but fortunately for English-speaking audiences, it was translated by Richard Wilbur, and later, by others. The play is written and performed in rhyme. The actors are nothing short of incredible in their ability to speak the lines with meaning, each delivered naturally and logically.  [Eva Trieger]

‘Tartuffe’ Pokes Fun at Our Frail and Base Tendencies Read More »

Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Lunch and Yiddish Songs Entertain 57 Holocaust Survivors at Congregation Beth El

“We were honored to be able to put together a program of primarily Yiddish music so that we could reach this special audience with songs in the language most of them grew up with.” [Steve Mishek]

Lunch and Yiddish Songs Entertain 57 Holocaust Survivors at Congregation Beth El Read More »

Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Scooter Braun Pledges $200k to Help Palestinians and Israelis in Honor of His Late Holocaust Survivor Grandmother

Published by OK Magazine (CA) Scooter Braun just wants to help others amid the Israel-Hamas war, which began in October 2023. “Ahead of the campaign launch for Care Together next week, Scooter Braun pledged $200,000 for both Palestine and Israel in memory of his late grandmother who was a Holocaust Survivor,” a representative for the

Scooter Braun Pledges $200k to Help Palestinians and Israelis in Honor of His Late Holocaust Survivor Grandmother Read More »

Holocaust, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nordot, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, USA

Chelmites, as Usual, are Foolish, But in This Tale, Their Children are Smarter

Stories of the “wise people of Chelm” abound in Jewish literature.  Chelmites always jump to the wrong conclusions and their attempts to solve perceived problems often compete in silliness. [Donald H. Harrison]

Chelmites, as Usual, are Foolish, But in This Tale, Their Children are Smarter Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Neil Sedaka

More Sedaka hits followed in the 1960s, among them “Stairway to Heaven,” “Calendar Girl,” “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” “Breaking Up is Hard to Do,” and “Next Door to an Angel.” In addition to his own songs, Sedaka and Greenfield wrote songs for other performers including Connie Francis, and Jimmy Clanton. Sedaka’s piano work is heard in Bobby Darin’s “Dream Lover.” [SDJW staff]

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Neil Sedaka Read More »

Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

R.I.P. Eric Carmen: Raspberries Frontman and ‘All by Myself’ Singer Dead at 74

Published by Q Magazine Singer-songwriter Eric Carmen, best known as the frontman for power pop band the Raspberries, as well as the singer of the 1975 hit “All by Myself,” died over the past weekend, his family revealed on March 11. He was 74 years old. Carmen’s family shared the news on the singer’s website,

R.I.P. Eric Carmen: Raspberries Frontman and ‘All by Myself’ Singer Dead at 74 Read More »

Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nordot, Obituaries & memorials, USA