By Manny Frishberg, JTNews Correspondent “I consider myself a music junkie. I’ve always loved music,” says Michael Tarlowe, the founder of Virt Records, a new independent label. “My first job in high school was at the local record store, and in college I was a DJ.” An East Coast native,Continue Reading

By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews The halls on the 12th floor of this downtown Seattle office building would look like any other except for a few notable differences: for instance, the walls covered with mugshots and surveillance photos of bank robbers, or the true-to-life shootout simulator. The invitation to visitContinue Reading

By Sara Lahyani, Special to JTNews Of the 18 students nationwide who left Feb. 4 to spend eight weeks studying in Israel, six are from the Pacific Northwest. The students two of whom come from Washington State, and four from the Portland area, are a part of the Alexander MussContinue Reading

By Jessica Davis, JTNews Correspondent Taking Sides investigates Wilhelm Furtwangler, the Nazi-era conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic in postwar Germany. South African/British playwright Ronald Harwood focuses on the conflict between Furtwangler and an overbearing U.S. Army major who interrogates him. The ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery is presenting the Seattle premiereContinue Reading

By Gabe Meyerson, Special to JTNews I once had a Jewish friend that lived in the projects. I remember I was 13 years old and was surprised that Jews actually live in the ‘hood. Boy, was I naïve. Jews in America today enjoy the highest quality of living, economic andContinue Reading

By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews Canadian-turned-Israeli Joel Bainerman calls economics the key to peace in the Middle East. He says Palestinians must take it upon themselves to create a viable economy and build a reliable Palestinian Authority. That, he said, must take a lot of time and patience. Bainerman cameContinue Reading

By Diana Brement, JTNews Correspondent Religion and Spirituality We ended our last reviews in Nov. 2002, with a mention of a new compilation of the Zohar by Rav P.S. Berg, director of the Kabbalah Centre. This international organization brings the wisdom of Kabbalah (Jewish mystical texts) to the general public,Continue Reading

By David Chesanow, JTNews Correspondent Hearings on new hate-crime legislation, initiated by the Seattle office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), were held in Olympia last week. House Bill 1128 and its companion measure, Senate Bill 5193, would prohibit insurance companies from canceling or refusing to renew coverage on property dueContinue Reading

By Gigi Yellen-Kohn, JTNews Correspondent I am talking music with Rabbi Aharon Brun-Kestler, Executive Director of the Va’ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle—the people who grant the seal of Kosher certification. He’s a traditionalist, of course. “I like the real solid standards of the early rock age — Chuck Berry, CrosbyContinue Reading