The Arts

Taylor Swift To Donate $1M For Louisiana Flood Relief

Taylor Swift is donating $1 million to help the people affected by the Louisiana floods, a natural disaster that has killed at least 11 people and affected thousands of others. The massive flooding has caused widespread destruction in Louisiana — the state where the 26-year-old singer kicked off her “1989 World Tour” last year. “We

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Remembering Elvis

Tuesday will be the 39th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, the boy from Mississippi credited with popularizing rock ‘n’ roll. Presley passed away on Aug. 16, 1977 of heart failure. He was 42. Presley’s career was an illustrious one. The iconic singer was famously suggestive but also prolific, lending his baritone voice to

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Director springs to defend ‘Wonder Woman’

Even Wonder Woman can do with a little extra protection sometimes. The upcoming movie depicting the DC comic heroine got some defense this week from director Patty Jenkins after a letter published online claimed that, inside the production studio, the film is seen as “a mess.” “Woah, just saw this press about WW having problems,”

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

In this memoir, pork is a gateway to assimilation

Treyf: My Quest for Identity in a Forbidden World by Elissa Altman; New American Library; 2016; ISBN 9780425-277812; 283 pages; $26. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – What is not kosher is treyf, literally meaning “torn” but generally meaning “forbidden” and one might anticipate that in Elissa Altman’s memoir, subtitled “My Quest for Identity

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

Amigos Del REP showcases Latino talent

By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — It is not always easy being a Latino or Hispanic performer in the entertainment community. Many times the roles that are offered to actors are limited, as are jobs for directors, producers, stagehands, and technicians. Amigos Del REP founding members Herbert Siguenza, John Padilla, and Dave Rivas wanted to

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Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Kenny Baker, ‘Star Wars’ actor, dies at 83; portrayed R2-D2 in movie franchise

Editor’s note: San Diego Jewish World’s eulogy series is sponsored by Marc and Margaret Cohen in memory of Molly Cohen, and by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.  Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Donald Trump’s spokeswoman says (incorrectly) that it was Obama who ‘went into Afghanistan’

Donald Trump’s spokeswoman leveled false accusations against President Barack Obama on Saturday, saying he started the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. When asked on CNN about Trump saying Obama was the “founder” of Islamic State, spokeswoman Katrina Pierson delivered a lengthy response in which she proclaimed it was Obama who “went into Afghanistan,” where U.S. troops

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International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Israeli cuisine? It includes foods of many immigrants

By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — Isn’t Israeli food characterized by falafel, hummus and tehina?  If you are drooling, licking your lips and nodding in eager anticipation of spicy, fried chickpeas with heady spices, think again!  Film Director Roger Sherman has created a mind-blowing, gut busting culinary travelogue for the 27th San Diego Jewish Film

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Eva Trieger, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Sydney’s iconic Opera House set for 150-million-dollar makeover

Sydney (dpa) – The Sydney Opera House, Australia’s top tourist attraction, is set to receive a 150-million-dollar renovation over the next six years, the state government said Thursday. Changes will be made to the concert hall, the foyer and the entrance, said New South Wales state deputy premier Troy Grant, who unveiled the new working

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Travel and Food

Art detective tracks down works of great grandfather

Chasing Portraits by Elizabeth Rynecki; New American Library, © 2016; ISBN 978110-1987667; 387 pages; $27. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Coming this September is an art history book that fans of detective stories also may enjoy.  Elizabeth Rynecki’s great-grandfather, Moshe Rynecki, was a well-known artist, although not on the order of a Chagall

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Israeli artist helps Sudanese refugees

  By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — I walked into the exhibit at the New Americans Museum at Liberty Station with no intention of writing a story. I was just there as a guest at the opening reception of Project Vision. However, the exhibit moved me so much that I changed my mind. As an ESL teacher

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International, Middle East, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Christopher Biggins To Visit Camps After ‘Nazi Joke’

British actor Christopher Biggins has announced he will visit Nazi concentration camps, after he was removed from reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother for making a “joke” about the Holocaust. Last week, the 67-year-old told singer and former X Factor contestant Katie Waissel, who is Jewish: “You better be careful or they’ll be putting you

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International, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Celebrities gift an ambucycle to United Hatzalah

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Recently retired NBA all-star Amare Stoudemire and current NBA star Omri Casspi on Friday afternoon, Aug. 5, gifted their friend, Entourage TV actor Jeremy Piven, with a life-saving ambucycle. The ambucycle immediately became part of Israel’s national emergency medical services (EMS) organization, United Hatzalah’s, response team. “Just the idea that we can use

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast