In 1926, he married Gracie Allen, who was Catholic, and subsequently appeared with her in comic short films which had such stars as Bing Crosby, W.C. Fields, Jack Benny, Frest Astaire, Joan Fontaine, Bob Hope, Martha Raye, Eleanor Powell, and Robert Young. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: George Burns Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish Celebrities, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
The animated feature film Charlotte chronicles the unfolding of her personal and creative development in Berlin between 1933 and 1939 and her temporary haven in France thereafter. While its emphasis remains on her autobiography, the dangers posed by Nazi antisemitism loom in the background with a few paintings depicting a Nazi rally, her expulsion from the Academy of Arts on racial grounds, Kristallnacht, and her father’s return as a physically broken man from being interned at Sachsenhausen after the Nazi rampage in 1938. [Laurie Baron]
‘Charlotte’ and ‘My Father’s Secrets’ Animate the Holocaust Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Published by AFP United Nations (United States) (AFP) – US authorities announced Friday that two drawings worth $2.5 million stolen by the Nazi regime and eventually displayed in American museums will be returned to relatives of Fritz Grunbaum, an Austrian Jewish cabaret performer killed in the Holocaust. It follows the return last year of seven
US authorities to return artworks stolen by Nazis Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nordot, USA
The shoe will be on the other foot for San Diego State, UC San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, the University of San Diego and other 4-year colleges and universities throughout the nation. The Anti-Defamation League has announced it is “developing a new tool to evaluate the climate of antisemitism on individual campuses.” [SDJW staff]
Our Shtetl San Diego County: Turning the Grading Tables on Local Universities Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
The book’s strength lies in its combination of poetic moments and solid policy arguments, reflecting Golden’s diverse background as a professor and nonprofit director. These elements are woven together to form a narrative that is both magical and logical, showcasing Golden’s range as a writer. His varied experiences lend credibility and depth to his insights, making the book not just another spiritual guide, but a substantial piece of literature that offers real, implementable solutions. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
‘Reclaiming the Sacred’ Shuns Materialism in Favor of Love Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Most of Kaye’s films were light-hearted including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Inspector General, White Christmas, On the Riviera, The Court Jester, and the biographical Hans Christian Andersen and The Five Pennies about jazz musician Red Nichols. But he also had a serious side, playing a Holocaust survivor in the TV film Skokie. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Danny Kaye Read More »
Holocaust, Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Zuckerman’s last trip to Israel was in October. On that occasion, he visited an IDF reserve unit near the Lebanese border, which had no trucks to move around the reservists’ gear. He promptly contributed $2,000 for the unit to purchase a trailer for hauling its equipment. [SDJW staff]
Our Shtetl San Diego County: Israel-bound Rabbi ‘Zucky’ Returns to San Diego Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The Arts, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA
In 1960, the NBC network signed her for The Shari Lewis Show, which stayed on the air through September 1963. Among her many puppet friends were Lamb Chop, a sock with eyes; Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy. [SDJA Staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Shari Lewis Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
“Growing, learning, sharing kindness, and acceptance of others” are the watchwords of Sesame Place. The Sesame Street theme park’s employees say they practice these values whether in day-to-day activities or at special events like last December’s Chanukah celebration that featured playing dreidel with Elmo. [Donald H. Harrison]
Elmo’s Not Good at Dreidel and Other Tidbits from Sesame Place Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
Faulconer, now running for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors, commented, “It is a privilege today to ride with 100 others in strong solidarity with Israel and our Jewish community in San Diego.” Zimmerman said, “Today is the 100th day since the brutal Hamas attack and for the hostages still in captivity. They must be all be safely returned now. We pedal in solidarity with our sister city Sha’ar Hanegev and all of Israel.” Essakow pointed out that the riders were of all faiths, who pray for the safe return of approximately 130 hostages.[SDJW staff report]
A songwriter who couldn’t read music, Carlebach composed the popular “Am Yisrael Chai” (The People of Israel Live), which is now a Jewish standard, and thousands of other songs. He gained fame as “the singing rabbi” and he founded the Carlebach Shul in New York City’s Upper West Side. [SDJW staff report]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Shlomo Carlebach Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Actors will move the suitcases and trunks around the stage “rather than having anything coming from off-stage, so we are keeping the wings basically free and open, so the actors have space to enter and exit from,” Schein explained. With a chuckle, Schein said “I’m almost calling the production ‘Fiddler on the Luggage.’ [Donald H. Harrison]
A Creative Set for Upcoming ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Production Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Among his friends in Paris was Amedeo Modigliani, who became another famous Jewish artist. They painted portraits of each other. After art dealer Albert Barnes purchased 60 of Soutine’s paintings in 1923, Soutine celebrated by hiring a taxi to drive him from Paris to nice, more than 400 miles away. [SDJA staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Chaim Soutine Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday
Published by Chicago Tribune A singular affront, in ways more conventionally wrenching movie treatments of the Holocaust such as “Schindler’s List” never were, “The Zone of Interest” withholds as much as it reveals, reorienting the audience’s perspective on the 20th century’s defining atrocity. It is not for everyone, needless to say. Nothing is. But writer-director