BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — A quote from the late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel will be the centerpiece of a mural painted in a public square in Buenos Aires. The city government and the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary held a contest to design the mural to honor human rights… Read more »
Arts and Culture
Shlicha’s view: After 24 years, Israel still grappling with Rabin assassination
Next week, on Nov. 4, Israel will mark 24 years since the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Rabin, a leader, politician, and army commander, was killed by a Jewish assassin as he was walking down the stairs from the stage at what is now called Rabin Square… Read more »
There’s a long history of Jews playing Nazis on screen
This story originally appeared on Kveller. Taika Waititi’s satirical film “Jojo Rabbit” is finally out! It is set in Nazi Germany, and the Jewish MaoLior Zaltzmanri director famously plays Adolf Hitler. “What better way to insult Hitler than having him played by a Polynesian Jew,” Waititi himself tweeted. When… Read more »
A new book takes readers on a journey through Jewish Latin America
MEXICO CITY (JTA) —More than 10 years ago, Ilan Stavans scandalized language purists of the Spanish-speaking world by translating a chapter of “Don Quixote” — into Spanglish. Since then, the so-called czar of Latino culture has become one of the most important interlocutors for Hispanics in the United States. In… Read more »
5 female Jewish superheroes everyone should know
This story originally appeared on Alma. Over the past decade, comic books and superheroes have become a staple for mainstream pop culture. But did you know that they are super Jewish? The industry was created by Jews who were prevented from working at American newspapers in the 1930s by… Read more »
Gal Gadot to star in film about Polish heroine Irena Sendler, who saved 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazis
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli actress Gal Gadot will star as Polish heroine Irena Sendler, who saved 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazis, in a film produced by the actress and her husband. Gadot and her husband Yaron Varsano have formed the production company Pilot Wave. Gadot will star as… Read more »
Celebrate 50th anniversary of Woodstock with outdoor concert at the Tucson JCC
This summer marked the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the music festival that brought half a million people together in 1969 to celebrate peace, love, and music. In celebration of this anniversary, the Tucson J is putting on J-Stock: an outdoor community concert featuring Eric Schaffer & the Other Troublemakers,… Read more »
Upcoming art exhibit at Tucson J seeks to spark ‘Reflection + Renewal’
The Tucson Jewish Community Center is featuring the works of more than 20 local artists, many of whom are members of the Jewish Artists Group, in the Fine Art Gallery show, “Reflection + Renewal,” which is on display through Nov. 2. The Jewish High Holy Days season began with… Read more »
Sephardic chicken soup with lemon and egg: A Balkan twist on the ultimate comfort food
This recipe originally appeared on The Nosher. Sephardic chicken soup with lemon and egg, or sopa de huevos y limon, is a traditional first course for breaking the Yom Kippur fast among Jews from Turkey, the Balkan states and the Greek port city of Thessaloniki (known as Salonika in… Read more »
Eric Pleskow, Holocaust refugee and producer of Oscar-winning films, dies at 95
(JTA) — Eric Pleskow, who escaped the Nazis to become a film executive whose movies won the Academy Award for best picture seven times, has died. He was 95. Pleskow was the president of the United Artists studio when it took home the best picture Oscars for “One Flew… Read more »
Why a Christian Japanese-American artist painted a mural of Nazi fighter Hannah Senesh
(JTA) — Hannah Senesh may seem an unlikely motivation for Japanese-born artist Julie Robertson. But the 35-year-old Christian artist, who just spent four days painting a 30-by-40-foot mural of the late Jewish poet, learned about Senesh earlier this year and was struck by her bravery. A national hero in… Read more »
Storyteller Jordan Wiley-Hill brings talents, energy to Fox Tucson Theatre
Professional storyteller Jordan Wiley-Hill joined Tucson’s Fox Theatre Foundation about a year ago to expand its youth programming known as Kids In the Theatre. Filling the new position of youth arts and culture program associate, he brings an extensive repertoire of performance art, education, and program development. Local community… Read more »
Four gorgeous Rosh Hashanah recipes from some of Israel’s top chefs
Rosh Hashanah menus, while traditional and delicious, can also get a little stale year after year. With Israeli food trending across the globe, now is a perfect time to add some authentic Israeli flavors to your holiday. We have gathered four exclusive recipes from some of Israel’s top chefs:… Read more »
Ruth Bader Ginsburg on why she did not retire during Obama’s term
NEW YORK (JTA) — It was a blunt statement in the midst of a cordial conversation: “I’m wondering why you’re here.” That was Nina Totenberg, the NPR legal affairs correspondent, to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Sept. 18 Moment magazine awards dinner, where the justice had… Read more »
How poetry literally saved the life of a famed Yiddish writer
MINSK, Belarus (JTA) — When Yiddish poet Avraham Sutzkever said that poetry saved his life, he meant it more literally than many of his listeners realized. In 1944, Sutzkever and his wife, Freydke, needed to walk through a minefield to reach the plane that would take them to freedom.… Read more »
Meringue-topped apple pie bars: An innovative Rosh Hashanah dessert
This recipe originally appeared on The Nosher. Looking for an innovative way to incorporate apples into your Rosh Hashanah menu? Look no further than these meringue-topped apple pie bars. With layers of buttery pastry, cinnamon-scented apples and fluffy meringue, they’re sweet, toasty and sure to be a hit. The… Read more »
‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in Yiddish makes a match
(JTA) — It’s life imitating art over at New York City’s Off-Broadway production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish. Stephanie Lynne Mason and Drew Seigla, who play the young couple Hodl and Perchik in the production, are engaged, the show announced Sunday on its Twitter feed. “We’re KVELLING!… Read more »
Film about Yitzhak Rabin’s assassin is Israel’s entry for Academy Awards
JERUSALEM (JTA) — A film about the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin as seen through the eyes of his killer will be the country’s nomination for an Oscar. “Incitement” took the Ophir Award in Israel for best picture on Sunday night. The top prize at the Ophirs of… Read more »
All the Jewish moments from the 2019 Emmys
(JTA) — After winning an Emmy Award for the second straight year, Alex Borstein of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” movingly dedicated this victory to her Holocaust survivor grandmother, who defied the Nazis to stay alive. “My grandmother turned to a guard … She was in line to be shot… Read more »
‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ star recalls Holocaust survivor grandmother at Emmys
(JTA) — Alex Borstein of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” recalled her Holocaust survivor grandmother’s courage in defying the Nazis at the Emmy Awards. Borstein, who won the best supporting actress award for her portrayal of Midge Maisel’s manager Susie Myerson, dedicated her award on Sunday night to her grandmother… Read more »