By Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — Peter Gould has lived in Vermont for over 45 years and his new novel Marly is about Vermonters, climate issues and wind turbines, among other things. Growing up Jewish, Gould — who calls himself a “non-observant Goddess-worshipping American Jew — said it was his parents who were “intellectual, […]
He does the talking; she dominates the discussion Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short StoriesThe Theft of Memory by Jonathan Kozol; Crown Publishers, New York, 2015, 302pp By David Strom SAN DIEGO–My oldest sister died at the age of ninety-three. She couldn’t recognize or communicate with her children or her two living brothers. Gertie, my sister, grew up in a home where singing and music were a joyful part
A prize- winning author looks at dementia Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short StoriesBy David Amos SAN DIEGO — When you hear about an upcoming concert with the music of Kabalevsky, Crusell, and Grofé, you may ask, “Where is the music of the great masters we all know and love?”, referring to Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and so on. But, trust me, the former names will provide you with
TICO to offer unusual music, dance program Nov. 15, 17 Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan –When it comes to translating science fiction novels from France, Japan or other non-English speaking nations, the U.S. publishing industry has a rather dismal track record. Yes, Tor Books published in 2014 a popular sci-fi novel from communist China by Cixin Liu, titled The Three-Body Problem and not only did
Non- English language novels find U.S. challenging Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short StoriesBy Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES –Hi everybody! I’m back!You might have noticed that my column of theater reviews hasn’t appeared for a few months. It’s because I’ve had a couple of serious falls: one that broke my leg and another that demolished my shoulder. But, happily, I’ve recovered enough to wobble off to the theater again, and so
Director Simon Levy brings S. African story to life Read More »
Cynthia Citron, Theatre, Film & BroadcastThanks to J.J. Surbeck, Charles Wax for spotting this. JJ Surbeck writes: Our good friend Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, whom we know for her exemplary work as activist and coordinator extraordinaire in her fight against anti-Semitism within the University of California system, is also, let’s not forget, first and foremost a scholar. And she reminded us of
Russian Army Choir sings ‘Jerusalem of Gold’ Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsThe Nightingale by Kristin Hannah; St. Martin’s Press, 2015 By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I picked this book up in the local bookshop thinking it would make good holiday reading. It did, but it’s not exactly the sort of light reading one takes along to read on the beach. The tale it tells of France under German
World War II from a French girl’s perspective Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,” I believe this could be his mantra. The singer/songleader told me he believes that, “music has the power to bring people together and build interfaith, justice oriented, warm welcoming communities.” Recently appointed to a new commission, Voit is the
Marshall Voit, son of a rabbi, now a Jewish songleader Read More »
Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyAfter the Survivors perish, who will tell their stories? By Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan–Some time in the near future, the last known Holocaust survivor will pass away, and there will be no more people to tell the first-hand story of what happened in those dark days in Europe. When I asked two people recently
Never Again: Holocaust news for November 7, 2015 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, USABy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — As a teenager, growing up in Los Angeles, I was an active member of the Labor Zionist Youth Movement, Habonim. I was also a serious student of the violin. My dream was to unite those two passions by making aliya to the Jewish State and playing in the Israel
Israel Phil. Orchestra provided lifetime of memories Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Stanley Tiger SAN DIEGO — At the request of my brother, who had worked with filmmaker Tamás Wormser, I received via airmail a DVD of The Wandering Muse. All I knew is that it was a) about Jewish music, b) that I love Jewish music and c) beyond that, I knew little else. After
‘The Wandering Muse’ explores Jewish music Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Sportswriter Ron Kaplan of Montclair, New Jersey, maintains a popular blog on Jews and sports so it was not surprising that he was approached by fans of the international Maccabiahs to write a book on the world’s greatest gathering of Jewish athletes. He was surprised, however, by the
Book details the greatest gatherings of Jewish athletes Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Sports & Competitions
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Catching up with this guy was no mean feat, but when we finally connected by phone early this morning, I was able to learn who Matisyahu, the evolutionary artist, is, and why he’s so excited to bring his Akeda Tour to San Diego’s Balboa Theater. Matthew Paul Miller,
Matisyahu tells of his musical evolution Read More »
Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsJudaism Alive: Using the Torah to Unlock Your Life’s Potential by Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn, Gefen Publishing House, New York; ISBN 978-965-229-652-8 ©2015, $18.00, p. 154, including an Appendix By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Judaism Alive, written by Shlomo Einhorn, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, is a self-help book guided by the personal qualities of three
A rabbi’s advice for achieving true success Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion