By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Sam Perlin, a sports guy by his own admission, has leapt into a new position as director of Camp Solomon Schechter while wrapping up his job as athletic director at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, a position he’s held for 10 years. PerlinContinue Reading
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy: I love Pesach — once I’m sitting at the seder, that is. Until that point, the rush and the panic are so difficult to handle. Is it just me? Why does our tradition have such stressful ritual as part of its modusContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist It’s sometimes hard for me to ignore the bad news about young people — often involving drinking and drugs, or bullying and other abuse — reported in the media. However, life is neither all bad nor all good. (I’m sure there are Jewish teachings onContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Most people don’t grow up saying, “I want to be mayor of Newcastle,” but Ben Varon is delighted to have the position, which caps five years serving on that town-within-a-town’s city council. “Technically, it’s a ceremonial position,” Ben says, but he does help “make decisionsContinue Reading
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, In preparation for the upcoming holiday of Purim, I decided to really read the Book of Esther. I feel like I’ve been jolted into reality — I thought Purim was a fun-filled, joyous holiday, but now the mask has been taken offContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Most of us, I think it’s reasonable to assume, don’t know any milliners (that’s a hat maker to you). Unless, of course, you know Tanya Benzaquen, who is busy bringing this moribund art back to life with her unique designs and creations that are must-havesContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Debbie Sopher and Daniel Markowitz were still delighted about being honored by the Seattle Jewish Community School when I spoke to them a few days after the school’s annual gala dinner, at which their contributions were celebrated. “We are both very moved that they wouldContinue Reading
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, When I was growing up, “Hava Nagila” was the typical, clichéd Jewish must-be-played song — now suddenly it’s “in” for real. I am being sent e-mail after e-mail with a link to a YouTube video of “Hava Nagila” that shatters its uncool standing. It got meContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Retired Starbucks president Howard Behar has just published his first book. It’s Not About the Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks details the philosophies Behar developed during his 17 years at the now-international coffee retailer. (The Penguin hardcover is $19.95, and was co-writtenContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist I am not a food writer, but I know an authentic, amazing and rare cannoli when I taste one (actually, I ate two!). I got such a treat recently when I visited David Baron at his new retail store, Dolce Europa, in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood.Continue Reading
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, Dear Rivy, Is it my imagination or has Tu B’Shevat taken on a significance beyond its original intent? When I was growing up we bought a few JNF trees — a quarter each; put the quarters in the cute little slots, ate some bokser and weContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews ColumnistContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist When I said to Steve Lawson: “Tell me about Jews and Christmas music,” he said exactly what I hoped: “I have two words for you: Irving Berlin.” Berlin, of course, was the composer of the iconic popular Christmas song, “White Christmas.” Lawson and his wife,Continue Reading
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, I have come to the conclusion that Jews have a hang-up with hair. Think about it: first there’s Samson, then there’s women’s head coverings, and there’s the Hassidic men with beards and side curls. What is up with all of this attentionContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist What gives us inspiration? Moonlight on water? Flowers in bloom? In Carol Schiller’s case, it would be the copious drool of her son Jacob, 18 months. “The inspiration was definitely my son,” says Carol, who has launched a line of drool-busting bibs for the teethingContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Lifelong Seattle resident Saul Rivkin, M.D. received Bank of America’s Local Hero award in a ceremony at the Seattle Art Museum in October. With his 36 years as an oncologist at Swedish Medical Center and his 14 years dedicated to ovarian cancer research, Rivkin fitsContinue Reading
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, I don’t know where else to turn. I am very down — my father is a Hasmonean Maccabee and has been hiding out in the Judean hills for the entire winter. Before he left, I let him know I had little sympathyContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist The brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the only Jewish fraternity at the University of Washington, will build a giant hanukkiah (Hanukkah menorah) made of food cans this Hanukkah, which begins Dec. 4. The project is being created with the campus Chabad, and the cans, asContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist ire appointed Bruce Heller of Seattle to a newly-created 52nd judge position in the King County Superior Court. He started work on October 1 with a round of orientations. “I’ve been going around meeting people in the courthouse, sitting in on various proceedings,” Bruce toldContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist David Bishins is a temporary Seattleite, playing the role of Atticus Finch in the Intiman Theater’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird, which has been extended through November 10. The New York-based actor came to Seattle just for this part. Bishins felt he could learnContinue Reading
