The Arts

Thomas Mann’s ‘Joseph and His Brothers’ well worth the long time it takes to read

This weighty tome comprising almost 1,500 pages of closely-printed text, is in fact four novels combined, and took the author some 17 years to write before it was first published in German in 1944. The translation into English by John E. Woods, reads fluently and convincingly, presumably mirroring the original German. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Wisdom and resilience of Amy Thurman

Nearly a decade ago, Thurman endured an undiagnosed fracture of her neck and brain stem. Her body eventually collapsed, leaving her paralyzed. She had to relearn every basic skill—walking, reading, speaking, even eating. Each day required starting over. And yet, she persevered. [Michael Adam Cohen]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Lifestyles, Michael Adam Cohen, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish political briefing: Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Prominent Jewish individuals and organizations, including New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Republican, criticized on social media the first-day actions of Muslim Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who cancelled all the executive orders issued after September 2024 by his predecessor at City Hall, Eric Adams. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

What ‘Son of Saul’ can teach us about living at the edge of collapse

In an age like ours—saturated with images, data, and instant analysis—we often assume that clarity comes from seeing more. If only we had the full picture, the right dashboard, the right report, we could act wisely. Son of Saul dismantles that fantasy. The blur tells us something uncomfortable: total vision is not neutral. It can be a form of domination. To see everything is to risk turning the world into an object. [Sam Ben-Meir]

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘SIX,’ Broadway’s Best Musical in 2022, Back for Limited Run in San Diego

The six wives of Henry VIII with their commanding voices, humor and high-energy anthems are more than historical casualties. The beheadings, miscarriages, and death in childbirth are woven into each song. In era of struggle between Catholicism and emerging Protestantism in 16th-century England the divide is central to the lives of the queens. [Sherrie Rose]

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

Jewish Political Briefing: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025

David Bocarsly, executive director of the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC), hailed a ruling in federal court on Wednesday upholding the constitutionality of AB 715, California’s law attempting to end antisemitism in the public schools.  [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Political Briefing: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

At the request of the Los Angeles police department, the public will not see immediately the autopsy reports for actor/ director Rob Reiner and his photographer wife Michele Singer Reiner who allegedly were stabbed to death Dec. 14 by their son Nick Reiner. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, News Media, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA