The Arts

Holiday pumpkins have been well appreciated by Sephardic Jews

Pumpkin has a rich and often overlooked history in Sephardic Jewish cuisine. Introduced to Europe from the Americas in the 16th century, it was quickly embraced by Jews, who incorporated the versatile vegetable into dishes across the Mediterranean and beyond. (Cailin Acosta)

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Violinist Katchatryan performs Katchaturian’s Violin Concerto admirably

Katchaturian’s Violin Concerto overflows with Armenian folk influence. After the first movement’s brief orchestral introduction, Katchatryan entered with the percussive excitement of the opening theme, then brought out the lyrical beauty of the second theme. The development included a lovely cadenza, written by the great Soviet-Jewish violinist, David Oistrakh, to whom the concerto was dedicated. After the return of the original themes in the recapitulation, the movement culminated in a virtuosic climax. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Gershwin and the LA Jewish Symphony shine at The Soraya

“So much of what we call the Great American Songbook—and even the sound of Broadway and Hollywood—was shaped by Jewish composers and lyricists whose families had come to this country looking for opportunity and belonging,” Green observed. [Karen Klein]

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California, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Apatow interviews other comedians about their craft

Apatow, known for films such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, interviews a range of performers, including Jerry Seinfeld, Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, Harold Ramis, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer and Seth Rogen. The conversations span generations and different styles of comedy, from stand-up and television to film and screenwriting. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

The mystery of an old statuette

“I recently discovered that I am about twenty-five percent Sephardic Jewish,” she said. “During World War II, that could have been enough to send me to a ghetto or a death camp. Today, it could make me eligible to apply for Israeli citizenship.” {Yakov Nayerman}

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Jewish fiction so improbable it’s likely to have a counterpart in real life

It’s not strange in the “look how clever we are” way. It just keeps sliding between things , a little mystery, a little romance, a synagogue power struggle, a scene that’s straight-up funny, and about a third of the way in I gave up trying to guess where it was going. (Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.)

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The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: Oct. 11, 2026

President Donald Trump may be backing off Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the Dec. 3 firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who has been paralyzed in a wheelchair since the 2009 Fort Hood, Texas, shooting for which he was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others. [SDJW staff report]

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Israel, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘The Children’s Train’ probes displacement in post-WWII Italy

In the aftermath of World War II, a train carries children away from the poverty of southern Italy toward the possibility of a better life. For one young boy, the journey brings opportunity, but it also forces him to confront difficult questions about family, love and where he belongs. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Do Jews believe in angels?

Do Jews believe in angels? The Hebrew word for angel, mal’ach, means “messenger,” and in biblical sources, angels deliver specific information or carry out particular functions. In the Torah, an angel prevents Abraham from slaughtering his son Isaac. An angel appears to Moses in the burning bush and gives direction to the Israelites during the desert sojourn following the liberation from Egypt. Angels are associated with visions and prophecies. [Cailin Acosta]

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