What emerged was not a neatly packaged narrative about resilience, but something far more truthful. A portrait of resilience as it actually lives in the body, in grief, and in responsibility. [Michael Adam Cohen]
Blair Kaplan Venables: Resilience as Inheritance Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Adam Cohen, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Trump identified one area still awaiting resolution as whether Russia or Ukraine would keep the land in the Donbas region in Eastern Ukraine that Russia now occupies. Another is the fate of a Ukrainian nuclear power reactor, which Russian troops captured and now occupy. [Donald H. Harrison]
Marty Mauser, the protagonist of Marty Supreme, is a plucky ping pong imp and shoe salesman, in addition to being a nimble and loquacious malarkey artist. He is also a shockingly-gawdawful, verbal bastard person to his mother, played by Fran Drescher, who left her specific, discount Phyllis Diller voice in the dustbin of screen history where it belongs, much to the contentment of my sensitive ears. [John E. Finley-Weaver]
Film Review: ‘Marty Supreme’ is Supreme Cinema Read More »
Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
In the fictional film ending, the Israelites hear of David and Batsheva’s adultery and murder of her husband, and huge crowds gather to stone Batsheva. David tells God he is entirely to blame (as if he could fool God) and tries to commit suicide to save the woman he loves. God accepts his plea, and he is forgiven. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Beware of Movies about the Bible Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
Yehoram Gaon (December 28, 1939) is an Israeli singer, actor, director, comedian, producer, television and radio host, and public figure. He has also authored and edited works books on the culture of Israel. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Yehoram Gaon Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
We stand at the threshold of a new year
with open hands and unsteady hearts. … [Betzy Lynch]
Poetry: On the Threshold of a New Year Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Tovah Feldshuh (December 27, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and playwright. She has been a Broadway star for fifty years, earning four Tony Award nominations. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Tovah Feldshuh Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
I was curious about how the show came about and especially about Ari’s and Maya’s creative contributions. The Gimbels and Cherlin-Baird graciously spent some time with me on zoom and told me all about their process. [Sandi Masori]
A Hanukkah Musical Composed and Performed by Jewish Youth Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
His opinions about Australia’s leadership should be given due weight in the wake of the Dec. 14 massacre of 15 celebrants at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on the first night of Chanukah and the Dec. 25 bombing in Melbourne of an unoccupied car toting a mobile billboard that said, “Happy Chanukah.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Collaborations with Tara Kemp and Niki Haris arrived not through strategy, but alignment. In Jewish mysticism, souls recognize each other across lifetimes. These partnerships feel like that. Voices that carry history, strength, and survival. Together, they are not chasing relevance. They are restoring lineage. [Michael Adam Cohen]
The Perry Twins: Rhythm, Resonance, and the Revolution of Joy Read More »
California, Jewish Religion, Michael Adam Cohen, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
A notable shift has emerged among progressive, reformist, and moderate Muslim leaders worldwide. From 2023 onward, these voices have more openly condemned political Islam (or Islamism)—the ideology seeking coercive theocratic governance, supremacism, and authoritarian control—while distinguishing it from Islam as a personal faith. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Global Pushback Against Radical Islamists Read More »
International, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed, “We are blessed to share a nation and a Savior.” Similarly, Defense Secretary Hegseth asserted, “Today, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” The inherent problem with these messages is that they use a collective “we” to describe religious views and beliefs, as if these are views and beliefs that all Americans share. [Halie Soifer]
Trump’s Cabinet Secretaries Send Christian Messages on Federal Websites Read More »
Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-California) and Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) have introduced legislation that, except under extraordinary circumstances, would confine Border Patrol law enforcement activities to 25 miles north of the international border with Mexico. [Donald H. Harrison]
I appreciate you stating clearly in a recent interview that antisemitism has no place in your political movement. However, the notion that our concerns about this bigotry on the right are “overstated by people who want to avoid having a foreign policy conversation about Israel” does not align with facts. [Roz Rothstein, StandWithUs]
StandWithUs CEO Roz Rothstein Sends ‘Open Letter’ to Vice President JD Vance Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA