By Erin Pike, Special to JTNews Editor’s Note: This article by writer Erin Pike is somewhat graphic, and may make you uncomfortable, but we feel those sections are important and necessary to stimulate the discussion Erin’s situation requires. For some reason I feel the need to say this first: IContinue Reading
Gigi Yellen-Kohn JTNews Correspondent Yaniv is not an uncommon name in Israel. Like all Hebrew names, it has a deeper meaning tucked inside. “It means to bear, as a tree bears fruit,” says Maestro Yaniv Attar from his new home in Bellingham. Now in his first season as music directorContinue Reading
By Michael Fox, Special to JTNews Wladyslaw Pasikowski’s extraordinary “Aftermath” is a rare, delicious example of a filmmaker fearlessly exposing a grievous chapter in his or her country’s history. You can well imagine that everyone prefers that the secret, and the amoral failings of a prior generation, remain buried, butContinue Reading
By Erin Pike, JTNews Correspondent “Brave Miss World” is an absolute must-see documentary about Linor Abargil, the winner of the 1998 Miss Israel and Miss World pageants, and her journey as she becomes a fearless activist for victims of rape. Abargil was raped six weeks prior to the 1998 MissContinue Reading
By Erin Pike, JTNews Correspondent Germany, 1933: Two performers, Siegfried Meyer and Hans Zeisig, star in a Hitler/Stalin comedy act. As Hitler gains power and control, Meyer joins the resistance and Zeisig is asked to portray increasingly offensive Jewish stereotypes. With conditions in Germany growing worse each day, Zeisig decidesContinue Reading
By Michael Fox, Special to JTNews Art challenges us with all manner of serrated edges, not least the paradox that beautiful and beloved works can be produced by loathsome — or at least deeply flawed — people. I find that it becomes easier over time to ignore the repugnant personalitiesContinue Reading
On Feb. 14 each year, many Americans watch “Casablanca” to celebrate Valentine’s Day. As time goes by, the Jewish influences on the Oscar-winning 1940s romantic film become more apparent. Jews involved in the production of “Casablanca” includec Murray Burnett, the author of the play on which the movie wasContinue Reading
By Robert Gluck, JNS.org On Feb. 14 each year, many Americans watch “Casablanca” to celebrate Valentine’s Day. As time goes by, the Jewish influences on the Oscar-winning 1940s romantic film become more apparent. Jews involved in the production of “Casablanca” includec Murray Burnett, the author of the play on whichContinue Reading
A family film whose most ardent admirers will be children, “The Zigzag Kid†is fueled by primal adolescent urges. Not the ones you’re thinking of, but the pressing need to comprehend the past, navigate the present, and manipulate the future.Continue Reading
Wisely shunning a staid narrator in favor of archival audio and TV interviews with the late impresario, augmented with passionate recollections by the likes of Roscoe Lee Browne, Christopher Walken, Mandy Patinkin and playwright David Hare, the filmmakers create a vivid impression of a man whose métier was in-person communication.Continue Reading
Wladyslaw Pasikowski’s extraordinary “Aftermath†is a rare, delicious example of a filmmaker fearlessly exposing a grievous chapter in his or her country’s history.Continue Reading
By Tom Tugend, JTA World News Service LOS ANGELES (JTA)—In her 110 years, Alice Herz-Sommer has been an accomplished concert pianist and teacher, a wife and mother—and a prisoner in Theresienstadt. Now she is the star of an Oscar-nominated documentary showing her indomitable optimism, cheerfulness and vitality despite all theContinue Reading
By Michael Fox, Special to JTNews When “The Monuments Men” was bumped from a prime December release date to this Friday, the company line was that co-writer-director-star George Clooney needed more time to properly finish the film. Now that I’ve seen the movie, another explanation presents itself: Lacking dynamic charactersContinue Reading
By Dikla Tuchman, JTNews Correspondent While most Seattle hip-hop fans have jumped on the Macklemore bandwagon, another local rapper has been creating music that’s just as powerful. Nissim, an African-American, Orthodox Jewish hip- hop artist is joining his familial roots with the roots of his adopted religion. Joined by RabbiContinue Reading
By Emily K. Alhadeff, Assistant Editor, JTNews When you think about the characters of Jewish arts and culture, they pretty much come down to heroes, hooligans, and comedians. This, at least, is the idea behind this year’s Seattle Jewish Film Festival theme: The good, the bad, and the funny. “InContinue Reading
By Emily K. Alhadeff , Associate Editor, JTNews How’s this for an idea in educating the greater community about Judaism: Put it in a storefront. That’s the thinking behind artist Joan Rudd’s J-Kick crowdfunding campaign, called the Pop-Up Cultural Heritage Exhibit. As one of two projects currently featured on theContinue Reading
By Andy Bachman, Special to JTNews “Folk song calls the native back to his roots and prepares him emotionally to dance, worship, work, fight, or make love in ways normal to his place.” Alan Lomax, Folk Songs of North America Over sushi in Brooklyn the other night, I was askedContinue Reading
By Deborah Gardner, Special to The Jewish Sound When Louise Steinman first faced the suggestion of writing about Poles and Jews, she was unequivocal: No. Growing up Jewish with a mother whose parents had immigrated from Poland in 1906, she inherited what she calls “received prejudices” about Poland. “IContinue Reading
By Janis Siegel, JTNews Correspondent The latest documentary from the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Moriah Films, “The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers,” opens in Seattle on Nov. 29 and gives viewers a rare and almost-never-before-seen insider’s look at three decades of Israeli history through the lens of an insider: Ambassador Yehuda Avner,Continue Reading
By Michael Fox , Special to JTNews Markus Zusak’s acclaimed novel, “The Book Thief,” could neither compare with nor replace the first-person reality of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” The success of the 2006 book does demonstrate, though, that younger generations will identify with and embrace a contemporary, accessible introductionContinue Reading
