By Gigi Yellen-Kohn , JTNews Correspondent On the phone from her home in Ramat Eshkol, near Tel Aviv, Chava Alberstein says it’ll be a short interview: Her grandchildren are coming over for a hug before the legendary singer, now 64, flies off for her latest cross-planet tour. In Seattle, AlbersteinContinue Reading
By Charlotte Anthony, Special to JTNews Note: This article has been corrected to note that not all films are open to the general public. Students and community members who want to learn more about daily life in Israel now have a way to do so: Through film. Every other WednesdayContinue Reading
By Eric Herschthal, other NEW YORK (N.Y. Jewish Week)—That “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” the notorious anti-Semitic tract about a Jewish conspiracy to control the world, still has currency in parts of the world today was no deterrent for Umberto Eco. If there was anyone who could getContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews DVD Reviews Nora’s Will (2010, Mexico) Directed by Mariana Chenillo Menemsha Films Fourteen times Nora tried to kill herself. On the 15th, she succeeded, but not before preparing an intricate Passover feast that would bring her family together for one last seder. That’s the premiseContinue Reading
By Emily K. Alhadeff, Assistant Editor, JTNewsContinue Reading
By Emily K. Alhadeff, Assistant Editor, JTNews Celebrated Israeli writer David Grossman is on tour in the U.S. to talk about his latest novel, To the End of the Land, his first to deal with the matsav — the political and security situation — in Israel. After her son goesContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews ColumnistContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist The Holocaust provides powerful foreshadowing, albeit unintentional by the author, in White Picture: Poems by Jiri Orten, translated by prizewinning Seattle poet Lyn Coffin (Night, paper, $9.99). Orten was a Czech Jew from a middle class secular family, and a young man when the portentsContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Local Authors Bones Beneath Our Feet, by Michael Schein (B&H, paper, $16.95). This book is difficult to read, not because of its rich and dense language — which suits an historical novel — but its tragic 19th-century story. The crux of the tale is NisquallyContinue Reading
By Rita Berman Frischer, Special to JTNewsContinue Reading
By Rita Berman Frischer, Special to JTNews There is no better way to locate the best in Judaic children’s books for sharing and giving as gifts than to turn to the international Association of Jewish Libraries. AJL’s annual Sydney Taylor Book Awards are given in three categories — younger readers,Continue Reading
By Gigi Yellen-Kohn, JTNews Correspondent Music by Composer Meira Warshauer: Symphony No. 1, “Living, Breathing Earth” and “Tekeeyah” (A Call) Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Petr Vronsky, conductor Haim Avitsur, shofar and trombone soloist Navona Records NV5842. Enhanced format audio CD with additional features. Textures and rhythms found in nature — birdContinue Reading
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman, other Who owns a public memorial? How should a nation decide which symbol will express its grief? Should the families of the dead receive special consideration? Does the intent of the artist matter or the work alone? These are only a few of the questions raisedContinue Reading
By Edmon J. Rodman, JTA World News Service LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Have I got a secret agent for you! When Hamas is smuggling missiles, and Iranians are building A-bombs deep underground, to whom can Israel turn? 007? No way. He’s too busy playing baccarat or keeping the world fromContinue Reading
By Vicki Cabot, other It began with a story. A bit of family lore that lured a bright, young writer on a quest to find out more, and then, as can sometimes happen to very lucky, and very good, first-time authors, to find a story that begat a story andContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews usic our children listens to is good, safe and largely inoffensive. At the same time, we want to know that every time it gets popped into the CD player we won’t have the uncontrollable urge to wrap the minivan around an electric pole. If NewContinue Reading
