When Baseball Was Too American for Jews
Albert Dabah, the writer and director of the truly wonderful drama Extra Innings, has delivered a heartrendingly personal portrayal based on his own life story.
30
Oct
02
Oct
The (Un)Holy Silence of Pope Pius XII
“There are 16 million documents in the Vatican waiting to be read. Maybe one day we will get a deeper understanding of the profound moral questions raised in the film about complicity and silence. It is not only Jews who need answers but also Catholics, who must ask themselves why their church failed to uphold Catholic principles of love and mercy. “
08
Sep
The Abandoned Jews of Ethiopia
Jews have lived in Ethiopia for centuries, but over the past decades, the majority have emigrated to Israel, most in the well-known airlifts of Operations Moses (1984) and Solomon (1991). Now some 140,000 are citizens. Those left behind in Addis Ababa and Gondar languish in dire conditions, vividly illustrated in the beautifully shot film.
12
Aug
The Rabbinical Student Tackling Chicago Gun Violence
What’s the answer to Chicago’s epidemic of gun crime?
According to Tamar Manasseh, the subject of the new documentary They Ain’t Ready for Me, which chronicles her fight against gun violence on the south side of Chicago, it’s, “Nobody wants to shoot anybody’s mother.”
29
Jul
Saul and Ruby’s Holocaust Survivor Band
To assume this is just another depressing Holocaust survivor film would be a huge mistake. Far from it. This outstanding documentary, about survival and the joys of living, is suffused with humor and boundless energy.
30
Jun
Homage to a Master Drama Teacher
This film is an insightful view into the life of a little-known luminary, replete with wonderful archival footage (not only of pre-state Jerusalem but also of his and his wife’s mime performances), whose legacy would otherwise be unknown to almost all of us.
12
Jul
Verdict on Roman Artichokes? Tasty!
In Rome, the future of the Jewish community’s signature dish—the carciofo alla giudia (Jewish-style artichoke)—was threatened by a decree from the Israeli rabbinate’s head of imports.
05
Mar
Taking the Pulse at AIPAC 2018
“Choose to Lead” is the AIPAC motto for 2018. There are 18,000 attendees, a figure slightly up from last year’s, including 3,600 students.
14
Sep
The Role of a Genetic Counselor
I truly believe in the old adage that “knowledge is power.” When a couple finds that one or both carries a genetic mutation, this will likely change their perspective on family planning. Although this information might be hard to swallow, in my experience couples are happy that they are empowered with information that makes it possible to make sound decisions about their future.
18
Jan
Jewish Germans and the History of Fashion
Few people these days are aware that Berlin, in the 1920s and early 1930s, was the capital of the world’s fashion industry. And this illustrious position was almost exclusively thanks to Jewish innovators. But the invaluable contribution of Jewish Germans has been forgotten—until now.