CULTURE
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Less Than Kosher ★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
Although there’s scope here for plenty of hilarity, many of the jokes don’t land. Often the scenes feel tonally oblivious, like when Viv finds herself flirting with the rabbi’s son by using Holocaust quips. It’s the classic Jeremy Clarkson theory of outrage first, think about substance later. But the finished product relies on being funny, else it strays into shock-for-the-sake-of-shock…
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The Goldman Case ★★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
Cédric Kahn’s account of the little-known trials of Pierre Goldman is both gripping and pertinent The trials of Pierre Goldman are little known in the UK, but infamous in France and inevitably draw comparisons with the Dreyfus Affair. Goldman was imprisoned for life in 1974 for the murder of two women in a Paris pharmacy in 1969. France’s death penalty…
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Vishniac ★★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
Vishniac’s self-promotion was also self-preservation. When the family immigrated to America, he had to support himself and his family. He took a job with Life magazine, reinventing himself as a scientific microscopic photographer. This unique technique was one he had practised since childhood; using a microscope to capture living organisms. Until then, samples were only photographed when flattened between two…
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Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Pig ★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
Josh Glanc’s Pig is neither nice nor Jewish, but he sure is good at being bad. He looks and acts the part of the unapologetic, unscrupulous entrepreneur to perfection; expensively and nattily dressed, putting his feet up on his desk. Making it clear he’ll stop at nothing to cash in on the search for renewables, he is the natural antithesis…
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Maestro ★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
There was criticism from the Hispanic community that British actor Carey Mulligan was chosen to play Bernstein’s Costa-Rican wife; in fact, Felicia’s father was an American Jew. Ethnic casting is a sensitive issue: in 1958, Danny Kaye turned down the role of Noel Airman in Marjorie Morningstar, considering it “too Jewish” (Gene Kelly took it up instead). Maestro met with…
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Omer Friedlander — Jewish Renaissance
Our series of ‘Urgent Voices’ continues with New York-based Israeli author Omer Friedlander, who reflects on the current crisis The most familiar sound during wartime in Israel is the blaring of sirens warning of incoming rockets. When I moved to New York City, I heard ambulance sirens and they made me think of Israel. Strange how such a frightening sound…
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Anna Scher 1944-2023 — Jewish Renaissance
Despite her father’s wish that she follow him into dentistry, Scher moved to the UK to study at Brighton School of Music and Art. She juggled a job in local journalism, writing a column for the Islington Gazette, while trying her hand at acting and poetry, followed by a teaching position at Ecclesbourne Junior School. Her work there with children…
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The Museum and Laboratory of the Jewish Comic Experience — Jewish Renaissance
Cartoons by women are represented by 16-year-old Liesel Felsenthal, who drew images from the labour and death camps where she was imprisoned, and American artist Lily Renée Wilhelm, whose mother saw an ad for illustrators at Fiction House and encouraged her daughter to apply for the job. Lily escaped Vienna in 1938 via the Kindertransport, joined her parents in New…
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