The Arts

The Neuroses of Sigmund Freud

By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — Ernst Jones, one of Sigmund Freud’s few non-Jewish students, wrote in an obituary that his teacher’s achievements would not have been possible without his national characteristics, among them “a special national insight” and “a skeptical attitude toward illusions and deception.” Psychoanalysis shaped a new way of thinking that made […]

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Opinion

Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra Successfully Tackles Tchaikowsky

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — It was pretty remarkable that Tchaikowsky’s monumental Symphony #4, with its opening horn fanfare of Fate and its finale, often taken at break-neck speed, was successfully tackled by TICO, the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra. Sure, there were a few places that barely held together, but the beautiful solo

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

‘Mockingbird’ Delivers an Emotional Gut Punch

The show is similar to the original 1960 novel and 1962 movie, with a few differences.  Whereas Atticus Finch was the big hero in the original book and movie, in the play he has some flaws.  His big one is his belief that everyone deserves respect, even if, as his housekeeper Calpurnia (played by Jacqueline Williams) says, respecting them disrespects someone else.   [Sandi Masori]

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Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Local Performances Spotlight Holocaust-Era Composers

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Canadian-born pianist, Daniel Wnukowski, performed at two venues during his recent visit to San Diego County. On Sunday afternoon, November 13, he gave a recital of works by Mozart, Chopin and Schumann in the Solana Salons series at the home of pianist and series host, Monique Kunewalder. His

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

‘King Pleasure’ Lives Up to Its Name

By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure, on view at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea, features more than 200 artworks and artifacts from the artist’s estate – 177 of which have never been exhibited before. This highly unusual and intimate exhibition was assembled not by a curator or art historian, but by Basquiat’s

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir, USA

The Sassoons: The Rothschilds of the East

This family biography traces the Sassoon family from its 19th century roots in Baghdad and its migration to Bombay, where it developed into an important merchant family specializing in such commodities as opium, textiles, and oil.  The family also had banking operations in various cities, real estate holdings in China and other parts of Asia, and an international customer base centered on England. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East

Novel Built upon Delicate Sexual Issues

Here is a novel by a Jewish author that is built upon a male and female character who each suffer from a form of sexual dysfunction.  Rebecca had been unable to achieve orgasm in lovemaking, and Kyle was forced, against his will, into a long-term sexual relationship by Jane, a powerful publisher of a popular fashion magazine who controlled his and many other people’s livelihoods. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

When Did Jews Begin to Observe Biblical Laws?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The question of when did Jews begin to observe the practices and prohibitions of biblical laws is one of the most important yet thorniest questions that has bothered scholars for centuries. While traditional Jews believe their ancestors accepted and practiced Torah laws since the time of

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

How Does God Want People to Behave?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — In Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed, book 3, chapter 51, in the easy-to-read translation by Michael Friedlander, Maimonides tells readers: “The present chapter does not contain any additional matter that has not been treated in the (previous) chapters of this treatise. It is a kind of

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion