The Arts

Theater unites Israeli women in the face of terror

By Toby Klein Greenwald EFRAT, Israel — Raise Your Spirits Theatre, a multi-generational women’s theater company in Gush Etzion, an area that has suffered many terror attacks in recent weeks, is now in production on its 9th biblical musical, SISTERS! The Daughters of Tzelofchad, based on the story in Numbers, Chapter 27. The story of the

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Toby Klein Greenwald

Yeol Eum Son wows Jerusalem audience

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — Set apart from the usual concerts in the framework of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra’s subscription series was one entitled ‘First Prize,’ and dedicated to young musicians ‘from east and west’ who had succeeded in various international competitions. So we bought tickets for a concert with Yeol Eum Son, a young pianist

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

San Diego Men’s Choir scores a hit with ‘Kochi’

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Recently, I encountered four members of the San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir, David G’mach, Steven Markowitz, Albert Shafer and David Zilberberg. They were all beaming with pride because of the many plaudits received by the choir’s second CD, “Kochi.” SoundProfileMagazine gave it a rave review. Wouter Kellerman offered high praise

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

How to interpret, understand the mitzvot

The Weekly Mitzva by Binyamin Tabory, Maggid Books, Jerusalem; ISBN 978-1-59264-435-24 ©2015, $24.95, p. 228 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–A mitzva is a religious commandment. Traditional Judaism expects that each person will, to the best of his or her ability, fulfill in letter and spirit the 613 commandments identified in the Torah, the Five Books of

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Helping Portuguese, Brazilians, others find Jewish roots

By Ryan M. Greiss NEW YORK — The Jerusalem-based nonprofit Shavei Israel has launched a Portuguese-language e-book called “Do You Have Jewish Roots?” offering a practical guide to uncovering one’s Jewish ancestry. The unprecedented 109-page guide is aimed at assisting the millions of people in Brazil, Portugal and elsewhere who may have a long-lost Jewish lineage.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Torah teaches about leadership

Lessons in Leadership: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Maggid Books, Jerusalem;  ISBN 978-1-59264-432-2 ©2015, $18.00, p. 311 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D.   WINCHESTER, California — Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in a 1964 ruling on a pornographic film, said, “I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

TICO features clarinet, dancers in novel concert

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Conductor David Amos, fresh from his recent recording sessions with the London Philharmonic, opened the Nov. 17th TICO concert with a rollicking rendition of Kabalevsky’s Colas Breugnon Overture. This was followed by TICO’s principal clarinet, Joseph Stein, taking center stage, performing the Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra by Bernhard Crusell,

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Filling in the blanks in the Book of Ruth

Ruth: Woman of Valor by Jim Baumgardner; Baumgardner Press, Wichita, Kansas (c) 2015; ISBN 978-0-98841-075-6; 371 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Two years ago on these pages, we reviewed Jim Baumgardner’s fictional biography of Queen Esther. Now comes another novel based on the Bible: Ruth: Woman of Valor. Most of the time

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

‘Oldest Boy’ is emotional story of separation

By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO —  The San Diego REPertory Theater has the perfect recipe for success in its current show, The Oldest Boy. Little could improve upon the synergistic combination of playwright Sarah Ruhl, director Sam Woodhouse, and actor Amanda Sitton.  The play recalls Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1994 film, Little Buddha, which starred Bridget Fonda, Keanu

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Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Adam Sandler debuts new Chanukah song

By Ken Stone SAN DIEGO (SDONA)– A week ago at the San Diego Civic Theatre, Adam Sandler unveiled his fourth version of the “Hanukkah Song” in all its Jewish-name-dropping glory. The downtown show Nov. 18 also featured David Spade, Nick Swardson and Rob Schneider. The video was posted Wednesday to his “Happy Madison” YouTube channel, where

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Ken Stone, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA