Arts and Culture

Singer Morrissey: Those who criticize Israel are ‘jealous’

Morrissey performing at the Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del., June 19, 2015. (Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Firefly)Morrissey performing at the Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del., June 19, 2015. (Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Firefly)

(JTA) — The British rocker and former Smiths frontman Morrissey has not one but two Jewish-themed songs on his forthcoming album, “Low in High School.” Perhaps the more notable one is simply called “Israel” and offers a blunt rebuke of critics of the Jewish state. “In other climes they… Read more »

Hollywood blacklist echoes in ‘Value of Names’

Benny (David Alexander Johnston) and Norma (Julianna Grantham) speak about his past in Invisible Theater’s production of ‘The Value of Names.’Benny (David Alexander Johnston) and Norma (Julianna Grantham) speak about his past in Invisible Theater’s production of ‘The Value of Names.’

Invisible Theatre will present the Arizona premiere of “The Value of Names” by Jeffrey Sweet from Nov. 7-19. The play introduces Benny Silverman, a celebrated comic who has revived his career via television after many years of forced inactivity that resulted from being named on the Hollywood blacklist of… Read more »

‘Life in a Jar’: Teens rescue Holocaust rescuer’s story

Irena SendlerIrena Sendler

More than 80 participants attended the “Life in a Jar” community gathering sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s Northwest Division on Tuesday, Oct. 24, hosted by Splendido. “Life in a Jar” is the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker who rescued over 2,500 children… Read more »

Excerpts from ‘Aging Wisely’

“The doctor went into the examining room and, leaning over my father, who was still lying on a gurney, he asked in a condescending way, ‘What do you want me to do, Mr. Wyner, make you younger?’ And my father responded with words that will always… Read more »

Loft to screen film on reality of chronic fatigue syndrome

“Unrest,” a Sundance-award-winning documentary, will be screened at the Loft Cinema on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. Jennifer Brea, a Harvard Ph.D. student, was about to marry the love of her life when she was derailed by strange symptoms. Hoping to find answers, she grabbed a camera and… Read more »

In new book, victims of chlorine bomb, anti-Semitic attack, find healing and hope

(L-R) Karen and Myles Levine with co-author Dan Baldwin [Courtesy Dan Baldwin)(L-R) Karen and Myles Levine with co-author Dan Baldwin [Courtesy Dan Baldwin)

During the early morning hours of Aug. 2, 2009, Myles Levine was jolted out of bed by the screams of his wife, Karen. Their front and garage doors were sealed shut. Globs of motor oil, paint, and foam peanuts were strewn along their walkway and driveway. A putrid chemical… Read more »

At 97, former Tucsonan publishes sweeping anthology of ‘Aging Wisely’ essays

Irving Silverman, left, and George Youngerman at Maya Levy’s bat mitzvah celebration in Tucson on Feb. 15, 2014. (Courtesy Doug Levy)Irving Silverman, left, and George Youngerman at Maya Levy’s bat mitzvah celebration in Tucson on Feb. 15, 2014. (Courtesy Doug Levy)

If Irving I. Silverman had not been born legally blind 97 years ago, he probably wouldn’t be making news today. Silverman recently published “Aging Wisely … Wisdom of Our Elders,” a nearly 500-page anthology of essays by more than 75 seniors and experts in aging. This is just the… Read more »

To save Yiddish theater, these Romanian actors abandoned their home

Nicolae Botezatu, sitting, with the rest of the cast of Romania’s Jewish State Theater last year. (Courtesy of Jewish State Theater)Nicolae Botezatu, sitting, with the rest of the cast of Romania's Jewish State Theater last year. (Courtesy of Jewish State Theater)

BUCHAREST, Romania (JTA) — When the roof of the Jewish State Theater collapsed during a 2014 snowstorm, its director reluctantly knew it was finally time to abandon the century-old building in this capital city. Maia Morgenstern did not take the decision lightly. Following years of neglect by authorities, the… Read more »

‘The Odd Couple’ at Arizona Rose Theatre

Felix_Oscar2

(L-R) Christopher Younggren as Felix and Lawrence Fuller as Oscar in a rehearsal for the Arizona Rose Theatre’s production of Neil Simon’s classic comedy, “The Odd Couple.” Arizona Rose Theatre will present “The Odd Couple” on Oct. 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. The theatre is located in the… Read more »

In new film, Hasidic ‘Menashe’ tries to do the right thing

Menashe Lustig as Menashe and Ruben Niborski as Rieven in ‘Menashe’ (Courtesy The Loft Cinema)Menashe Lustig as Menashe and Ruben Niborski as Rieven in ‘Menashe’ (Courtesy The Loft Cinema)

On a sidewalk crowded with people moving at the pace of a typical New York day, nobody stands out. Eventually a man appears in the back of the frame who gradually attracts our attention. There’s nothing extraordinary about him except he’s a bulky man, and he’s laboring more than… Read more »

Tucson emergency doc to be on ‘20/20’

Tucson’s Kenneth Iserson, M.D., MBA, FACEP, an expert on emergency medicine, films an episode of ABC’s ’20/20′ in the University of Arizona Simulation Lab (Courtesy Kenneth Iserson)Tucson's Kenneth Iserson, M.D., MBA, FACEP, an expert on emergency medicine, films an episode of ABC's '20/20' in the University of Arizona Simulation Lab (Courtesy Kenneth Iserson)

Medical dramas are among TV’s most popular entertainment shows. But how realistic are those life-saving scenarios? ABC’s news program “20/20” will turn that question over to a group of medical experts to explore “The Good Doctor,” a series starting Sept. 25 from David Shore, the creator of “House.” The… Read more »

Tucson J cooking classes accent healthy eating

Participants learn to make caponata as part of the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s ‘Around The World: Adult Summer Camp’ spotlight on Italy on June 14.Participants learn to make caponata as part of the Tucson Jewish Community Center's 'Around The World: Adult Summer Camp' spotlight on Italy on June 14.

Cooking and culture will blend together in a variety of classes at the Tucson Jewish Community Center starting this month. The classes will emphasize healthy eating and the importance of cooking together as a family, as well as sharing food and culture from around the world. All dishes will… Read more »

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