The Arts

‘Self and Sound’ Theme for La Jolla Music Society’s Summer Programs

Exploring the theme, Self and Sound, this year’s Summerfest once again bears the stamp of the creative vision of Inon Barnatan, the music director of the La Jolla Music Society.   The concert pianist/head organizer has put together a 16-concert festival, with many ancillary free events, that promises to be pleasurable and challenging for its listeners. [Eileen Wingard]

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

Harvey Weinstein loses bid to dismiss three LA sex crime charges

Published by Reuters LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A Los Angeles judge on Thursday rejected an attempt to throw out three sexual assault charges against former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein ahead of his second trial later this year, the City News Service reported. Weinstein, 69, who was convicted of rape at a trial last year in

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over ‘Black Widow’ streaming release

Published by AFP Los Angeles (AFP) – Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over its decision to release superhero movie “Black Widow” on streaming at the same time as in theaters, alleging a breach of contract which cost the star millions of dollars. Johansson, one of Hollywood’s biggest and top-paid stars, was entitled to a percentage

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Former Israel ‘Hawk’ Tells of His Transformation to a ‘Dove’

It’s a well-worn political observation that “it took a Nixon to go to China,” meaning because President Richard M. Nixon was identified as a staunch conservative, he was trusted to go to mainland China and open a dialogue with that nation’s communist rulers, a dialogue that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two adversary countries. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East

Frankenthaler Foundation Aids Timken Art Gallery’s Environmental Upgrade

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, named for the late Jewish abstract expressionist artist, has granted $100,000 to the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park to upgrade its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system as part of the Foundation’s $5.1 million program to address climate change in behalf of the visual arts. [Timken Art Museum news release]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Is JFest’s Programming Really ‘Jewish’?

This year’s JFest had many unusual highlights. Some events seemed more fitting than others to be part of a Jewish Arts Festival. Although I savored the Hershey Felder offering, Nicholas, Anna, and Sergei –I love Rachmaninoff’s music–( reviewed in the May 19th San Diego Jewish World), I did not understand its place in a Jewish Festival, given that the subjects were all authentic or pretending Russian aristocrats, the class that often helped perpetrate pogroms. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Judd Hirsch and Jeannie Berlin added to Spielberg film

Published by BANG Showbiz English Judd Hirsch and Jeannie Berlin have joined the cast of Steven Spielberg’s new semi-autobiographical film. The Oscar-nominated stars have boarded the new movie with Robin Bartlett and Jonathan Hadary and they will play the older relatives of a young aspiring filmmaker (Gabriel LaBelle), who is loosely based on the ‘Jaws’

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Epsteins to Donate $10 Million for Amphitheater at UC San Diego

Daniel and Phyllis Epstein have committed to provide a $10 million gift to the University of California San Diego in support of a new state-of-the-art amphitheater, signaling a major step in the university’s plan to become a top cultural destination. In recognition of the gift, the 2,850-seat venue will be named the Epstein Family Amphitheater. [UC San Diego news release]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

An Explanation of the Famous Book ‘Tanya’

Maggid Books in association with Steinsaltz Center has published part of the text of one of the two famous books by the founder of Chabad Hasidim, also called Lubavitcher Hasidim, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812). Rabbi Zalman’s other famous book is Shulchan Arukh Harav, a book that only partially survived, which deals with Jewish law. This book, a translation and commentary of part of the Tanya, originally published in Hebrew in 1797, is by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (1937-2020) a Chabad Hasid, the author of over 60 books and more than 100 articles. Not all of Steinsaltz’s writings focus on Chabad mysticism, but this book is about Rabbi Shneur Zalman’s view of mysticism. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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

Jackie Mason, who kept Borscht-Belt comedy alive, dies at age 93

Published by New York Daily News New York funnyman Jackie Mason — a comedy great who rose to fame in the 1960s and kept Borscht Belt-style gags alive for decades — has died at age 93, reports said Saturday. Mason’s friend and sometimes collaborator, divorce lawyer Raoul Felder, confirmed the death to The New York

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Good News from Israel (July 25, 2021)

In the July 25, 2001 1 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Very Good news for 4 Israeli Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.
I–srael signs major cybersecurity agreement with Morocco.
–An Israeli startup converts food waste into useful bioplastics.
–Netflix buys a new Israeli series and Iranians will be able to watch Fauda.
–Five more gold medals for top Israeli gymnast.
–Israeli parachutists mark centenary of the birth of Hanna Szenes.
[Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to sex crime charges in Los Angeles

Published by BANG Showbiz English Harvey Weinstein has plead not guilty to sex crime charges in Los Angeles. The disgraced producer is currently serving 23 years in prison in New York for third degree rape and first degree criminal sex act, and he appeared in court in Los Angeles on Wednesday (21.07.21) for a hearing

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast