Idina Menzel (May 30, 1971) is an American actress and singer. Particularly known for her work in musicals on Broadway, she has been nicknamed the “Queen of Broadway” for her commanding stage presence, powerful mezzo-soprano voice, and reputation as one of the most influential stage actors of her generation. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Idina Menzel Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Arendt: “Propaganda provided the foundations for building totalitarian power. The Nazis translated the propaganda lies of the movement into a functioning reality. Totalitarianism replaces all first-rate talents with crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty. The Nazis act as though the world were dominated by the Jews and needed a counter-conspiracy to defend itself.” [Eric George Tauber]
Hannah Arendt Documentary Warns of Totalitarianism Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
“All Holocaust survivors’ stories are extraordinary and precious because of the improbable odds of outwitting Hitler and escaping the Nazis’ meticulous and murderous rampages,” states Karen A. Frenkel at the beginning of her family’s stories of survival before, during, and after the Nazi invasion of present-day Ukraine. [Cailin Acosta]
Holocaust Memoir Tells of Family’s Strength to Survive Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Those who had never seen Neil Diamond perform live must have felt for the first time the excitement of actor Nick Fradiani’s charm and vocal skills doing a dead-on characterization. This wasn’t an interpretation…you closed your eyes and could swear it was Neil Diamond. [Douglas Friedman]
‘A Beautiful Noise’ is a Gem of a Production Portraying Neil Diamond Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Mahler’s Third Symphony, An Ode to Nature, opened with a cloudburst of sound as eight horns intoned the opening theme in faultless unison. This longest of symphonies,100 minutes in duration, with six movements, never lost momentum under the energetic conducting of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director, Rafael Payare. [Eileen Wingard]
Soloists, Chorus, and Choir Shine in Mahler’s ‘Ode to Nature’ Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Ted Levine (May 29, 1957) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill) in the film The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Leland Stottlemeyer in the television series Monk (2002–2009). [Wikipedia]
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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Cameron Boyce (May 28, 1999 – July 6, 2019) was an American actor. He began his career as a child actor, appearing in the 2008 films Mirrors and Eagle Eye, along with the comedy film Grown Ups (2010) and its 2013 sequel. His first starring role was on the Disney Channel comedy series Jessie (2011–2015). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Cameron Boyce Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
For the Treasures from the Music Collection: Shavuot Music program Thursday afternoon, June 5, 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family JCC, I will have as my special guest, Rabbi/Cantor Hanan Leberman, the newly appointed spiritual leader of Congregation Tifereth Israel Synagogue. He will not only help introduce the program, but will add a few additional songs of Shavuot. The recorded selections will reflect all aspects of this important holiday. [Eileen Wingard]
Shavuot Program at JCC Features Rabbi/ Cantor Hanan Leberman Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The communication theory of environmental comfortability discusses how specific environments and architectural styles can make a person comfortable or uncomfortable and, based on that comfort, determine how much a person will engage with that environment. [Rowanne Reifman]
How the Nazis Communicated Through Their Architecture Read More »
International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors
He tells us that the “idea of ending one’s profession or work due to old age seems to be antithetical to Jewish thought.” The Talmud Kinim 25a states that Torah scholars’ minds hold firm as they age, and the Talmud Shabbat 152a states that the brains of Jewish scholars grow stronger as they grow older. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Jewish Values in the Torah Portion Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Her latest venture is a Mitzvah Power Academy series written for 5- to 10-year-old-readers in which children known as the Haverim Heroes perform good deeds at home, in school, in their community, in space, and during time-travel adventures in which they interact with Jews of the past. [Donald H. Harrison]
Mitzvah Power Academy Books, Website, Encourage Children to Do Good Deeds Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors
As in every good farce, there are double entendres, slamming doors, odd and reshuffled pairings and lots of miscommunication. In Unnecessary Farce, these qualities are all ramped up to the highest degree. [Eva Trieger]
‘Unnecessary Farce’ Provides Constant Laughs at Scripps Ranch Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
In We are Black Jews: Ethiopian Jewry and the Journey to Equality in Israel, Roni Fantanesh Malkai provides eye-opening, need-to-know information about the history and difficulties of Ethiopian Jews. We should read it and do our best to get people to treat others as they want others to treat them. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Author Chronicles Israeli Discrimination against Ethiopian Jews Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Matt Stone (born May 26, 1971) is an American actor, animator, writer, producer, and musician. He is best known for co-creating South Park (since 1997) and The Book of Mormon (2011) with his creative partner Trey Parker. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Matt Stone Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia