New friends – UAE de facto ruler, Israel’s Bennett in “historic” meeting

Published by Reuters ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan hosted Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday in the first-ever public meeting between the United Arab Emirates’ de facto ruler and an Israeli leader. Israel’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi, speaking ahead of the meeting, said the issue of […]

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Middle East

Yale Strom’s Search for Jewish Music throughout Eastern Europe

In retrospect, ethnomusicologist Yale Strom probably owes a thank you to the local klezmer band members who turned down his request to play violin with them.  That rejection prompted him to decide to form his own band.  However, he resolved that before doing that, he ought to search for material that other klezmer musicians weren’t playing. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Travel and Food

A Feel-Good Black Family Christmas Story

With Chanukah just in the rearview mirror and Christmas and Kwanzaa on the horizon, New Village Arts has gifted us with one beautiful story about family, connection, and love. 1222 Oceanfront  A Black Family Christmas proves that regardless of ethnicity or faith we are all part of a family and all of the plusses and minuses that attend that structure. This sensitively written and supremely acted show is one of New Village Arts finest offerings to date.  [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

A Trip to Tiberias on the Kinneret’s Western Shore

With about 45,000 residents, Tiberias is a relatively small town located on the western side of Lake Kinneret. The lake is one of Israel’s most popular holiday destinations, for tourists and Israelis alike. Named for the Roman Emperor Tiberius, the city is famed for the legendary rabbis who resided there, for its hot springs, and for Tiberias’ colorful lakeside promenade. [Steve Kramer]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food

Second Ancient Synagogue Found at Migdal, Israel

A 2000-year-old synagogue from the Second Temple period was recently discovered in Migdal, a large Jewish settlement from this period. Migdal served as the main base for Yosef Ben Matityahu (Flavius Josephus) in his war against the Romans in the Galilee during the Great Revolt. This is the first time that two synagogues have been found in a single settlement from the Second Temple period, the time when Jesus of Nazareth was active. [University of Haifa]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

String Quartet of Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Impressive at the Prebys

Celebrating the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s 85th anniversary, the IPO String Quartet gave an impressive concert last Wednesday evening in the Baker-Baum Concert Hall of the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla.  The four outstanding IPO musicians, David Radzynski, Polina Yehudi, violins, Yoni Gertner, viola, Haran Meltzer, cello, were on their next-to-last leg of a six-city tour, which included performances in New York, Miami, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Sunday, they will conclude their tour in San Francisco. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

San Diego Rep’s Next Play Explores the World of a Neuro-Atypical Teen

In anticipation of San Diego Rep’s next mainstage production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I spoke by phone with Artistic Director, Todd Salovey. I had the magnificent opportunity to speak with him after the first reading as a company, and his insights and observations served as the basis for our call. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Memoir: The Soviet Man’s American Dream

My grandmother brought up her sons, my father and his brother, in the spirit of loyalty to Communism. She herself could not have been a Bolshevik, for in her youth she had been tainted by her membership in the Menshevik Party. She did not hide her biography and taught her children to be honest and frank with their motherland and the Bolshevik party. In the upbringing of my uncle, her eldest son, my grandmother had tremendous success. [Alex Gordon]

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Debunking the Jewish Faculty Network

The Jewish Faculty Network (JFN), is comprised of some 140 Canadian academics who last March published a statement in which they decried the IRHA definition, suggesting at that time that, “as Jews,” they wished to “add our voices to a growing international movement of Jewish scholars to insist that university policies to combat antisemitism are not used to stifle legitimate criticisms of the Israeli state, or the right to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.” [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

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Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Trump in foul-mouthed tirade on old ally Netanyahu: report

Published by AFP Washington (AFP) – Former US president Donald Trump spat an expletive about his old ally, Israel’s ex-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for congratulating Joe Biden on his victory in last year’s election, according to a new book. Trump lashed out in an interview for a book on US-Israel relations during his presidency, author

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Middle East

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint Reunite For ‘Harry Potter’ 20th Anniversary Special: PHOTO

Published by PopCrush Potterheads were treated with the first photo from the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts set. On Wednesday (Dec. 8), HBO Max unveiled a photo of the three main stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who were sitting in what appears to be the Gryffindor common room. According to

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Jewish Celebrities