The Arts

Film on Holocaust Survivor ‘Ruthie’ Sax premieres

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – A 25-minute documentary on the life of Holocaust Survivor Ruth Goldshmiedova Sax, who recently died at age 90, had its premiere Sunday night at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on a doubly sad occasion.  It was Yom HaShoah, which is the annual date for memorializing victims of the Holocaust, and

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Bravo series focuses on Mexican Jewish family

By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — The Bravo TV channel, owned by NBC, is known for its over the top reality shows. These shows include, The Real Wives of Beverly Hills, etc. The shows portray the everyday trials and tribulations of wealthy women and their families. Now, Bravo has decided to expand that repertoire

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International, Mimi Pollack, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Those of mixed ethnicities often asked ‘What Are You?’

By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO –What are you? For people of mixed ethnicity, this is a common question. That’s why it’s the title of a new work by Asian Story Theater along with Teatro Máscara Mágica and San Diego Black Ensemble Theatre. I first saw Asian Story Theater back in ’98 at Kids Night

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Eric George Tauber, International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Poets Alper, Givon and Jacobs on tap at JCC

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The Gotthelf Gallery, with its current exhibit, The Art of Aging, will be the setting for the Thursday, May 2, 7:00 p.m. Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices evening. Three senior Jewish Poets will be featured, Janice Alper, Chana Givon (read by Ellen Zyroff) and Dr. Irvin Jacobs. Following the hour

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Irv Jacobs, MD, San Diego Calendar

Whither goest students of the bard?

  By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — On the first Seder night, I hung in there through the Fourth Cup and Chad Gadya.  Then I was up bright and early the next morning for the 2019 Student Shakespeare Festival compliments of the San Diego Shakespeare Society. Both the society and the festival were the brainchild

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Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Niece reprises Shelley Winters’ role in ‘Anne Frank’

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – In the American History Theater’s current production of The Diary of Anne Frank, some American theater history is being reprised.  Back in 1959, Shelley Winters won an Oscar as best supporting actress for her performance as Mrs. Van Daan in the movie version of that play, which dramatized

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

PJ Library helps families seeking more Jewish context

By H. Applebaum SAN DIEGO — What do parents do if they are raising a Jewish child, yet have no resources at hand?  The cause could be intermarriage, or living far from family or other Jews, or all of the above.  When Jews leave traditional Jewish enclaves, and children come along, it presents a challenge.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Gerald Robbins’ piano recital a holiday gift

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Gerald Robbins is a pianist I have watched during his musical development, from prize winner of both the Young Musicians Foundation in Los Angeles and the Van Cliburn Competition in Texas, to his successful career as soloist with major symphony orchestras, and as chamber music collaborator with some of

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

DVD Review: ‘Streit’s Matzo and the American Dream’

Streit’s Matzo and the American Dream by Michael Levine, © 2017 Menemsha Films, 83 minutes; available via Amazon. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Those of us with Eastern European origins could visit Ellis Island where immigrants were processed, then go to New York’s Lower East Side to tour the Tenement Museum, which recreates

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Book Review: ‘The Dog Lady of Mexico’

The Dog Lady of Mexico by Alison Sawyer Current; self-published; © 2018, ISBN 9780578-413808; 388 pages; available via Amazon. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The Isla Mujeres is off the northeast tip of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.  It boasts warm beaches, tropical weather, a quiet, lay-back lifestyle, and more dogs than residents can shake

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, The World We Share

Jerusalem Quartet provides a musical treat

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Experiencing music in the Conrad, the new home of the La Jolla Music Society, was a rare treat. At the April 9 concert, featuring the Jerusalem Quartet, the audience basked in the sunshine of sound projected by the Israeli musicians. The music floated gloriously in the fine acoustics

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Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

Junior high girl prepares for Anne Frank role

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – A line formed after Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, spoke recently at Chabad of Poway.  When it was the turn of 15-year-old Bryn Williams to kneel next to the chair of the 90-year-old Schloss, they had a particularly animated discussion.  Williams, a veteran of the Pickwick Players

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego Calendar, Theatre, Film & Broadcast