The Arts

Felder’s ‘Before Fiddler’ Highlights Music of Sholem Aleichem Era

Hershey Felder continues to stream one-man shows from his current residence in Florence, Italy. Among his many portrayals of famous composers such as Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikowsky and Debussy, he also featured three great Jewish composers, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. For his current offering, Before Fiddler,  he once again dips into his Jewish heritage for inspiration, this time, portraying the great Yiddish novelist, playwright and story teller, Sholem Aleichem, on whose stories the libretto of Fiddler On The Roof was based. [Eileen Wingard]

Felder’s ‘Before Fiddler’ Highlights Music of Sholem Aleichem Era Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Lady Gaga to perform US anthem at Joe Biden’s inauguration

Lady Gaga will sing the US national anthem at Joe Biden’s inauguration. The 34-year-old pop star is set to perform ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ when Biden and Kamala Harris are sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States respectively on January 20. Gaga will join the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Demi Lovato,

Lady Gaga to perform US anthem at Joe Biden’s inauguration Read More »

Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Art as Liberation: The Mexican Muralists at the Whitney Museum

Vida Americana is an exhilarating, expansive and immensely satisfying exhibition at New York’s Whitney Museum. Like a great and varied feast, this is a show that one must take one’s time to fully appreciate and digest; an exhibition that includes photography, film, sculpture, charcoal sketches, colored pencil and graphite, watercolors, lithographs and oil paintings, from the easel to the epic in scale. Not only are the greatest Mexican artists of the twentieth century represented here – including Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros (‘Los Tres Grandes’) – but also many of the notable American artists who they had a profound influence on, such as Jackson Pollock, Jacob Lawrence, Marion Greenwood and Charles White, among others. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

Art as Liberation: The Mexican Muralists at the Whitney Museum Read More »

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

Book Review: ‘Inflitration’ by Joshua Kenaz

The death a few months ago of Israeli author, Joshua Kenaz, led to renewed interest in his work, and impelled me to read this book (published by Am Oved in 1986). For me, reading a novel in Hebrew involves embarking on an enterprise that I know in advance will tax my patience and ability to persevere, especially as in this case the book comprises some six hundred pages of closely-printed Hebrew text. However, I decided to stick the course and acquaint myself with the writing of someone who is considered to be a bulwark of contemporary Israeli literature. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

Book Review: ‘Inflitration’ by Joshua Kenaz Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

Streaming Jewish Programs (January 17-23, 2021) 

SAN DIEGO – Following are Jewish-interest programs intended for academic and lay audiences that may be accessed via the Internet All times are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

Streaming Jewish Programs (January 17-23, 2021)  Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Book Review: Esther in America

The biblical book Esther made a significant impact upon Americans, Jews and non-Jews, as seen in the new book Esther in America.

As I described in detail in my book Ruth, Esther, and Judith, the biblical book Esther is in no way similar to what many think the book contains. Most noteworthy is that it contains no mention of God and no indication that the Judeans observed any biblical command. Even when the Judeans fasted when prompted by Esther’s request, no mention is made that they prayed for divine aid. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Book Review: Esther in America Read More »

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

Can a Robot be Jewish-Jewish-Jewish?

Beginning in 2005, Nadine Epstein, current editor of Moment Magazine, a well-respected Jewish publication since its founding in 1975 by the late Elie Wiesel and Leonard Fein, initiated an “Ask the Rabbi” column, distinguishing itself from other similar columns by asking not one, but many rabbis to respond. “Ask the Rabbi” column seeks advice from rabbis across the full spectrum of Jewish thought and theology – including, Humanist and Independent Judaism on the left, through Reform and Conservative, and on to Orthodox, Sephardic, and Chabad on the right. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]

Can a Robot be Jewish-Jewish-Jewish? Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD

U.S. Attorney in San Diego investigating local connections to Capitol riot

U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer has announced his office in San Diego “will work closely with our law enforcement partners, including the U.S. Attorney’s office in the District of Columbia, to ensue that any individuals from San Diego or Imperial Counties who were involved in criminal activity at the U.S. Capitol are brought to justice.  If we determine that federal charges should be brought in this District, we will aggressively prosecute all such matters.” [Donald H. Harrison]

U.S. Attorney in San Diego investigating local connections to Capitol riot Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

Good News from Israel (January 10, 2021)

NETANYA, Israel — In the January 10, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

Groundbreaking Israeli hi-tech innovations for brain, lung and knee surgery.
Israeli air purifiers protect UK bus passengers from the coronavirus.
An Israeli company recycles disposable personal protection equipment.
Israeli companies are helping reduce pollution and car accidents in Japan.
Beer making has returned to the Golan Heights after a 6,000-year absence.
Some remarkable coincidences helped an Israeli paramedic save a man’s life. [Michael Ordman, San Diego Jewish World]

Good News from Israel (January 10, 2021) Read More »

International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

An Ancient Still-Relevant Play about War’s Ravages

The Trojan Women is a superb translation and adaptation of a splendid play by Euripides (about 480 to about 406 BCE) who wrote tragedies in ancient Athens. Scholars estimate that he wrote over 90 plays, most of which have been lost during the past 2,500 years. Only about a dozen and a half survived. The Trojan Women was first performed in 415 BCE. It is based in large part upon the classic Iliad by Homer which describes the war between the Greeks and Trojans. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

An Ancient Still-Relevant Play about War’s Ravages Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Streaming Jewish Programs (January 10-16, 2021)

Following are streaming Jewish programs of academic and lay interest that may be accessed via the Internet.  All times Are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

Streaming Jewish Programs (January 10-16, 2021) Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA