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November 11, 2019

Gaza Violence Eruption: Questions and Answers on Policy and Politics

Leave a Comment / Israel, Online, Rosner's Domain /

What happened?

On the night between Monday and Tuesday, the IDF killed a senior Islamic Jihad officer in Gaza.

Following the assassination, rockets were fired on many areas in Israel, south and center.

Schools and workplaces are closed in the southern half of Israel, including the Tel Aviv area.

In Damascus, an assassination attempt missed another Jihad commander (the boss of the Gaza Jihad commander). Israel did not take any credit for this event.

 

What was the purpose of the targeted killing?

Baha Abu al-Ata, a senior Islamic Jihad leader, initiated attacks on Israel. He was warned time and again but continued to plan attacks. Israel had no alternative to killing him, as Hamas authorities in Gaza did not act to restrain him. The purpose of the attack is double. One – to send a message that no one attacks Israel and gets away with it. Two – to harm the operational capabilities of Islamic Jihad.

 

What’s the reaction in Gaza?

Jihad is responding to the assassination. Hamas has to make a decision: does it respond, how much, and for how long. Israel’s message to Hamas is simple: make sure to respond in a way that does not force Israel to expand its military operation. In other words: send some rockets and then relax. Note that when Israel kills a senior Jihad operative – Hamas benefits. Abu al-Ata not only challenged Israel but also the authority of Hamas. So (the thinking in Israel goes) Hamas has no reason to want this event to escalate.

 

What Israel wants?

The goal of the assassination is simple and limited: to tame Islamic Jihad. This organization, a proxy of Iran, is currently the obstacle to having a more stable ceasefire with Gaza. That’s why we do not hear Israeli rhetoric against Hamas since the eruption of violence.

 

What is the best-case scenario?

A few hours, maybe a day, of rocket fire, and then a ceasefire.

 

What can go wrong?

If there are many casualties, in Israel or Gaza, public pressure could lead to escalation.

Iran could decide to use the outbreak of violence as pretext for attacks from Lebanon or other places.

 

Can this change the process of coalition building in Israel?

Sure, in at least two ways.

It makes it easier for Netanyahu (Likud) and Gantz (Blue and white) to declare that an emergency situation forces them into a unity government.

It makes it harder for Gantz to form a narrow coalition based on the support of the Arab Party (a party that is likely to oppose Israel’s actions).

 

Was Netanyahu acting to achieve a political goal?

Netanyahu is the leader of Israel and a politician. He must know that policy has implications on politics. He must know that eruption in Gaza could advance his political objectives. This does not mean that the decision to attack was political. Take into account the following facts: an attack like this takes preparation and planning – so the decision was made a few days ago. The decision was approved by the cabinet. There is no indication of unease with the decision from IDF commanders.

Fun fact: starting this morning, Israel has a new Minister of Defense, Naftali Bennett. For now, this has no meaning. He did not initiate the attack. He will not manage the event if it escalates (that’s Netanyahu’s job).

 

What does the opposition say?

Benny Gantz was quick to support the killing of Abu al-Ata. Amir Peretz (Labor) did the same. If there is criticism, it will come from the far left and from Arab politicians.

 

To be continued….?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gaza Violence Eruption: Questions and Answers on Policy and Politics Read More »

Want To Dive Deep With Me In Vanuatu? Meet Me In Santo #AnswerTheCall

Leave a Comment / Blogs, Travel /

I loved diving the S.S. Coolidge on my first trip to Santo, Vanuatu in 2007. It is steeped in history and one of the most remarkable wreck dives I have ever done. I was thrilled that I was able to dive there again as part of Tok Tok Vanuatu 2019.

My experience diving with Aore Adventure Sports was fantastic! I highly recommend them. All four of my dives were fantastic and we stayed in their two bedroom villa. Paul and Lyndel took amazing care of us.

Please enjoy my three videos from the Coolidge and one at Million Dollar Point. We also went diving at Tutuba Reef with Coral Quays. It was choppy on the way out and my buddy decided not to dive after the 40 minute boat ride. You can hear me singing to her in the video, “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” I am not quite sure how you can hear me sing and clap so well underwater!

 

More about Aore Adventure Sports & Lodge: “Come and dive on Santo’s premier dive boat and if you are looking for a great place to stay Espiritu Santo’s newest private beach house is waiting for you.Situated on your own 200m white sandy beach in a self contained contemporary villa on Aore Island , just a short 10min boat ride from Luganville. We are a PADI dive resort and run our new dive vessel from right out front, diving the world famous SS President Coolidge and all the other local reef sites and wrecks. We also dive sites that no other operator can due to our boat capabilities. The villa sleeps 6 adults in comfort and has a fully self contained kitchen and barbecue area. One of the top local restaurants and bar is less than 5 minutes walk away. For non-divers there is plenty to do with tours to caves, pristine spring fed blue holes, great beaches, jungle treks plus many other activities, or just lay around and enjoy your own private beach. Snorkel right out the front or enjoy a paddle over the reef with our complementary kayaks.”

How do you get to Santo? Fly Air Vanuatu from Port Vila.

Learn more about our journey in Vanuatu:

Watch my 38 videos: Click here
Part One: Will You #AnswerTheCall? Tok Tok Vanuatu 2019
Part Two: Will you visit Tanna, Vanuatu with me? #AnswerTheCall
Part Three: Want To Dive Deep With Me In Vanuatu? Meet Me In Santo #AnswerTheCall
Part Four:
 
Read about Vanuatu on The Jewish Journal: Part One, Two, Three, Four

Want To Dive Deep With Me In Vanuatu? Meet Me In Santo #AnswerTheCall Read More »

the bagel report

The Crazy Ex-Awakening of Motti and Tiffany Haddish

Leave a Comment / The Bagel Report /

Erin and Esther share their excitement about comedian Tiffany Haddish’s upcoming bat mitzvah and her comedy special “Black Mitzvah,” and share thoughts and feelings about Switzerland’s “The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch,” now on Netflix. Also, just because “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is off the air doesn’t mean we’re not going to talk about its brilliance, especially now that show star and co-creator Rachel Bloom is auctioning show memorabilia to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She’s such a menschette. And at the center of this triangle of topics is little ol’ us. 🙂

Follow Erin and Esther on Twitter! 

The Bagel Report is also available to stream on Stitcher and Google Play.

The Crazy Ex-Awakening of Motti and Tiffany Haddish Read More »

Stage Role Mirrors Iain Kohn’s Life on the Autism Spectrum

Leave a Comment / Entertainment, Special Section /

Based on the best-selling 2003 novel by Mark Haddon and written by Simon Stephens, the Tony-winning play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is about an autistic teenager who uses his unique abilities to solve the murder of his neighbor’s dog.

“Curious Incident” is a journey of personal discovery, played out in interactions with the teen’s teacher and parents and presented in a play-within-a-play structure that results in a unique visual, kinetic style. In the Greenway Arts Alliance’s new production, first-time actor Iain Kohn takes on the demanding lead role. He, too, is on the autism spectrum.

Kohn had been recommended to Heidi Levitt, who was casting actors for the movie version of “Curious Incident.” He didn’t get the lead role of Christopher in the film, but that audition led to another for the play. The 19-year-old Cal State Northridge freshman soon was juggling rehearsals with his class schedule.

“It’s a full load and oftentimes, I’ve struggled with it,” he admitted in an interview with the Journal. “Some of my grades have gone down. These rehearsals drain study time. It’s grueling.” But he wouldn’t trade the experience.

“As someone who is so young and a beginner to acting, I’m thankful for being cast in such a famous play,” Kohn said. “And I think that having someone like me being represented is a dividend. I like being part of that, even though being a beacon of hope isn’t necessarily my first goal.”

On the other hand, “There’s a surge in Hollywood to cast actors that are part of minority demographics, but I think people on the spectrum are woefully underrepresented,” he said. “People like me, who don’t have the easiest time ingratiating themselves and making frie.nds, need some assurance that people will listen to our stories and perspectives and have empathy for us.”

Kohn had seen the Broadway production of “Curious Incident” and subsequently read the novel. “Mark Haddon did a great job in portraying the mannerisms and writing style of someone on the autism spectrum and the nature of his personality,” he said. “The play is brilliantly written, and the script lends itself easily to stage choreography. When I watched it on Broadway, I was fully engaged and riveted to my seat.”

It comes as no surprise that Kohn relates to his character. “Christopher reminds me of myself when I was much younger,” he said. “His lack of self-control and his anger management remind me of myself when I was in middle school and elementary school. But his ability to grasp complex concepts such as mathematical equations is something I do not see in myself. I’m terrible at math.”

Kohn excels at writing, public speaking and languages. He is a published spoken-word poet and performer, speaks Spanish, Portuguese and German, and is learning Japanese and Korean. “I study languages because of my fascination with foreign cultures and also because it’s a good exercise to keep my brain active,” he said. “People on the spectrum are known to be gifted in rote memorization but tend to have difficulties with writing and communication, so I’m an oddity in that respect.”

Ian Kohn Photo by Philicia Endelman

In 2017, Kohn directed a documentary short called “Cleveland High,” about a poet preparing for a poetry slam. He’s working on a poetry anthology that reflects “moments in my life where I was not of sound mind and I did things that I regret. I was suffering from a mental illness,” he said. “I used those stories to create an overarching theme of reflection and redemption. I believe that if I had not gone through that adversity and experiencing that trauma, I don’t think I’d have developed the worldview, the work ethic and discipline that I have today.”

“Theater is an intensive practice to participate in,” he continued. “Memorizing scripts, choreographing movements and using teamwork to its fullest extent to put together such a grand production is extremely difficult. I have anxiety about my performance and getting my lines right, and that I don’t stutter or stumble. I’m a perfectionist.”

“I would not be able to get this far in my acting work if not for the vast scope of support I’ve been privy to,” he said, giving thanks to all those involved in the play, “and my mother, who has been generous enough to schlep me across the entire Valley to attend rehearsals.” He has not yet had the time to learn to drive.

Kohn’s mother is a Methodist, but he identifies more with his father’s Jewish side. His grandfather Martin Kohn, a cantor, is a Holocaust survivor whose two-hour testimony for the Shoah Foundation is on YouTube. “I don’t attend synagogue services, but I often celebrate Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah. I love attending Shabbat dinners with my friend. I believe that Judaism is more than a faith; it’s a community, and it feels like being part of a second family.”

Although he hasn’t yet decided on a profession, “I think that acting and performing arts in general are a good way to kickstart a career,” Kohn said. “I’m still not sure what I want to major in in college, and I’m not sure what I want to be my lifetime career. I do know that this is a fun art to participate in and a fun play to be part of. I want to keep at it —  for now, at least.”  

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” runs at the Greenway Court Theatre through Dec. 29.

Stage Role Mirrors Iain Kohn’s Life on the Autism Spectrum Read More »

Holiday Movie Roundup: MOTs on Screen and Behind the Camera

Leave a Comment / Entertainment, Special Section /

Director James Mangold’s action thriller “Ford v Ferrari” follows the efforts of American auto designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British race driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) to build the Ford GT40 and defeat the Ferrari team at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. (Nov. 15)

Annette Bening; Photo by Atsushi Nishijima

Annette Bening plays Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the political thriller “The Report,” about the investigation into the CIA’s detention and interrogation program created in the aftermath of 9/11 and the government cover-up it revealed. Written and directed by Scott Z. Burns, the drama also stars Adam Driver, Jon Hamm, Maura Tierney and Tribe members Sarah Goldberg, Tim Blake Nelson and Corey Stoll. (In theaters on Nov. 15, Amazon Prime Video on Nov. 29)

Adam Sandler in “Uncut Gems” Photo courtesy of Amazon Studios

In “Uncut Gems,” Adam Sandler plays a New York diamond-district jeweler with a major gambling problem who gets deeper into debt — and trouble — as the story progresses. Josh and Benny Safdie wrote (with Ronald Bronstein) and directed a cast that includes Idina Menzel, Judd Hirsch, Kevin Garnett and LaKeith Stanfield. (Dec. 13)

Jake Kasdan directs while Jack Black reprises his role alongside Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan in “Jumanji: The Next Level,” another adventure inside the wild video game. Kasdan wrote the script for the sequel to the 2017 hit with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg. (Dec. 13)

Adapting a true story told by his grandfather, Sam Mendes co-wrote and directed “1917,” a World War I drama about two British soldiers tasked with crossing enemy lines to deliver a message warning of a German ambush, thereby saving thousands of lives. The cast includes Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden and Mark Strong. (Dec. 25)

Charlize Theron (from left), Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie in “Bombshell.” Photo by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle

A satisfying and timely example of #MeToo justice, “Bombshell” chronicles the downfall of Fox News chief Roger Ailes, and the women who sued him for sexual harassment, including Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) and a composite character played by Margot Robbie. Jay Roach directed the film, which also stars Kate McKinnon, Mark Duplass, Connie Britton and Allison Janney. (Dec. 20)

After 42 years and eight movies, the “Star Wars” space saga concludes in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, it picks up a year after the events of “The Last Jedi” as what’s left of the Resistance fights the First Order, and the Jedi vs. Sith conflict reaches its ultimate climax. Original cast members Mark Hamill,
Anthony Daniels and the late Carrie Fisher reprise their roles one last time. (Dec. 20)

The computer-animated comedy “Spies in Disguise” features the voices of Rashida Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Will Smith and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s” Rachel Brosnahan in a story about a spy accidentally transformed into a pigeon. (Dec. 25)

Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet in “Little Women” Photo by Wilson Webb

Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel about the March sisters gets its eighth adaptation in this new film from writer-director Greta Gerwig, once again directing her “Lady Bird” stars Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet. Emma Watson, Laura Dern and Meryl Streep also star. (Dec. 25)

“The Song of Names” Luke Doyle; Photo by Sabrina Lantos/Sony Pictures Classics

Based on a novel by Norman Lebrecht, “The Song of Names” is about a young Polish-Jewish violin prodigy taken in by a music impresario in London and who becomes like a brother to the man’s son. When the violinist disappears on the eve of his big debut, his friend spends nearly four decades trying to find him. The answer to the mystery has to do with the Holocaust, remembrance and a special piece of music. Tim Roth and Clive Owen head a cast that includes Saul Rubinek. (Dec. 25)

Holiday Movie Roundup: MOTs on Screen and Behind the Camera Read More »

Sanders Says Fighting Anti-Semitism Is Just Like ‘The Struggle for Palestinian Freedom’

Leave a Comment / Online, United States /

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wrote in a Nov. 11 piece for the Jewish Current magazine titled “How to Fight Anti-Semitism” and in it, he equated the fight to “the struggle for Palestinian freedom.”

The sentence, which Jewish Insider reporter Jacob Kornbluh highlighted on Twitter, reads: “The forces fomenting anti-Semitism are the forces arrayed against oppressed people around the world, including Palestinians; the struggle against anti-Semitism is also the struggle for Palestinian freedom.”

Sanders highlighted at the beginning of the piece how the Nazis murdered his ancestors in Poland during World War II; his father had escaped from the country to the United States in 1921. It is therefore important for leaders to speak out against white supremacy, Sanders argued.

“We have to be clear that while antisemitism is a threat to Jews everywhere, it is also a threat to democratic governance itself,” Sanders wrote. “The anti-Semites who marched in Charlottesville don’t just hate Jews. They hate the idea of multiracial democracy. They hate the idea of political equality. They hate immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ people, women, and anyone else who stands in the way of a whites-only America. They accuse Jews of coordinating a massive attack on white people worldwide, using people of color and other marginalized groups to do their dirty work.”

He went on to state that criticizing the Israeli government’s policies isn’t anti-Semitic and he was irked “that we are also seeing accusations of antisemitism used as a cynical political weapon against progressives.” Sanders did acknowledge that certain criticisms of Israel can be anti-Semitic, but argued that the pro-Israel crowd must understand that “the founding of Israel is understood by another people in the land of Palestine as the cause of their painful displacement.”

Sanders urged the Israeli government to end the “military occupation now over a half-century old, creating a daily reality of pain, humiliation, and resentment.” He also pledged that as president, he would fight anti-Semitism through returning the U.S. to the United Nations Human Rights Council and appointing a new Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.

Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Rabbi Abraham Cooper told the Journal in a phone interview that Sanders’ piece “can be interpreted as a free pass for Palestinian hatred of Israel… there’s nothing in there by him stating that, despite the fact that the Jewish people traces its roots back in this land for over 3,000 years, there is another people that is part of the land – the Palestinians – and the majority of Israelis understand that.”

Cooper added that the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Hezbollah “are not negotiating partners. These are entities that want to do away with the only Jewish state in the world that’s home to over six million people. So, I think he could have stated the Palestinian explanation in one sentence; instead, it goes into great detail about what Israelis and everyone else has to understand at that is at the root [of the conflict], and that would seem to say that it’s justified. With the greatest respect, it’s not justified, and there will be no peace as long as people like Senator Sanders imply that it is.”

Cooper also said he was disappointed that Sanders didn’t go after anti-Semitism emanating from Islamic extremists and anti-Semitism from progressive circles.

Former New York Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who heads the Americans Against Anti-Semitism watchdog, echoed Cooper’s criticisms in a couple of tweets.

“So when Palestinians are engaged in violent antisemitism, when they chant “death to Jews”, it’s really because they’re also victims of anti-Semitism?” Hikind wrote. 

Jerusalem Post Senior Editor Lahav Harkov tweeted, “You might think this is the often-heard argument that if Palestinians have a state and better quality of life, they’ll have more to lose and will be less likely to attack Israel, but if you read the article, this is just all-lives-matter-ing anti-Semitism.”

Forward Opinions Editor Batya-Ungar Sargon tweeted, “The essay has just one graph on his plan to fight anti-Semitism, [with] much of the rest arguing it’s ok to criticize Israel.” She added in a subsequent tweet, “This essay won’t do much to allay Jewish fears about Senator Sanders. But I’m truly glad he wrote it. I’m glad he wants to fight anti-Semitism and it’s a really good encapsulation of how the far left sees the problem: only from the right, bound up in the need to protect others.”

Sanders Says Fighting Anti-Semitism Is Just Like ‘The Struggle for Palestinian Freedom’ Read More »

Live Events Holiday Calendar

Leave a Comment / Entertainment, Special Section, What's Happening /

Anna Abbott; Photo courtesy of Anna Abbott

The Jewish Women’s Theatre will celebrate the Festival of Lights with the cabaret show “It’s a Very Happy Goyisha Hanukkah,” in which Anna Abbott tells the story of her transition from evangelical Christian to Jew in song. “My life really had two different chapters: the Christian world I came from and the Jewish world I’ve fallen in love with,” Abbott explained. “Life changed when I met a Jewish, lesbian comedian. Before I met her, I had only met one Jew in my life. I had to learn a new Yiddish vocabulary, I started eating at delis and I learned how Jews questioned everything.” Performances are Dec. 15 and 17 at The Braid in Santa Monica. The JWT also presents “Three Jews and a Blonde Walk Into the Braid,” a night of stand-up comedy featuring comedians Monica Piper, Cathy Ladman, Sue Kolinsky and Debbie Kasper on Dec. 14. Visit jewishwomenstheatre.org for details. 

“Mandy Patinkin in Concert: DIARIES” presents the acclaimed actor, singer and storyteller with Adam Ben-David on piano at the Musco Center for the Arts at 4 p.m. Nov. 24. “DIARIES” is a marriage of many of Patinkin’s favorite Broadway and classic American tunes, along with selections from his newest recordings on Nonesuch Records, “Mandy Patinkin Diary January 2018” and “Mandy Patinkin Diary April/May 2018.” From Randy Newman to Stephen Sondheim, from Harry Chapin to Rufus Wainwright, Patinkin takes you on a dazzling musical journey you’ll never forget. For more information and tickets, visit muscocenter.org.

The Skirball Cultural Center’s annual Hanukkah festival takes place Dec. 15, featuring performances by Klezmer Juice and Zingarella, Capoeira by Dana Maman and Friends, art and food workshops, and Hanukkah storytelling in English and Spanish. Latkes and sufganiyot will be served. Speaking of Jewish nosh, the Skirball will hold a book talk for “The 100 Most Jewish Foods: A Highly Debatable List” on Dec. 12. Book editor Alana Newhouse, restaurant critic Ruth Reichl, and James Beard award-winner Edward Lee will weigh in on the delicacies. See Skirball.org for more information. 

The klezmer folk-rock band Mostly Kosher and Vox Femina choir led by Dr. Iris Levine will be among 25 groups in the lineup at the 60th annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration, which takes place at the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Dec. 24. Also taking part is the Yuval Ron Ensemble, which is made up of Jewish, Christian and Muslim artists who will perform the Jewish prayer “Hadasa.” The free concert will be broadcast live on PBS SoCal and streamed on pbssocal.org/holidaycelebration. 

The Tapitalists, a tap dance troupe led by Howard Blume and including Nancy Cohen, will perform its show “TAP-water” at the Fremont Theater in South Pasadena on Nov. 15, 16 and 17. Visit purplepass.com/tapwater for tickets.

David Broza Band; Photo courtesy of the Broad Stage

Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza will perform in concert at the Broad Stage on Dec.22, kicking off Hanukkah with a musical mix that includes songs with Middle Eastern and flamenco flair. Visit theBroadStage.org for more information. 

Verdi Chorus; Photo by Tim Bereth

The Verdi Chorus caps its 36th season with the fall concert “Sound and Fury,” performing selections from Verdi (“Otello,” “Il Trovatore”), Puccini (“Turandot,” “Tosca”) and Lehar (“The Merry Widow”). Performances are Nov. 16 and 17 at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica. The ensemble includes Robin Van Zak, who makes chuppahs when she’s not singing. Visit verdichorus.org for tickets.

Numi Opera finishes its inaugural season with Erich Korngold’s rarely performed one-act opera, “Der Ring Des Polykrates,” which was banned in Nazi Germany because Korngold was Jewish. Performances are Dec. 19 and 22 at Zipper Hall at the Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles. Visit numiopera.org for more information.

“Little Black Dress” Photo from littleblackdressthemusical.com

From writer Natalie Tenenbaum (Broadway’s “Mean Girls”), “Little Black Dress: The Musical,” featuring comedic songs and stories about women and their favorite LBDs, will run Dec. 3-15 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Visit LittleBlackDressTheMusical.com for tickets. 

The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust will present several Shoah-themed special events in December. On Dec. 8, “Memories That Won’t Go Away: A Tribute to Children of the Kindertransport” commemorates the 81st anniversary of the life-saving rescue trains. Michele Gold will discuss her book, which tells the story of hundreds of the surviving children, including her mother, Rita Berwald. The event will include a discussion with a Kindertransport survivor and several descendants of Kindertransport survivors. “Healing the Holocaust: A Dialogue Between Authors Michael Berenbaum and G.K. Hunter,” inspired by Hunter’s book “Healing Our Bloodlines: The 8 Realizations of Generational Liberation,” will take place on Dec. 15. Judy Glickman Lauder will appear in conjunction with her photography exhibit, “The Holocaust and the Danish Exception,” to sign her book of the same name.

Jared Gertner; Photo courtesy of Jared Gertner

Jared Gertner (“The Book of Mormon”) joins Michelle Williams and Neil Patrick Harris in the Lythgoe Family Panto version of Snow White in an interactive, family-friendly production at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. “A Snow White Christmas” runs Dec. 13-22. Visit thepasadenacivic.com for tickets.

Live Events Holiday Calendar Read More »

The Jewish Stars of 2019 Holiday TV

Leave a Comment / Entertainment, Special Section /

To impress her Jewish boss at his Hanukkah party, Christy needs a crash course in Hanukkah tradition, and Jewish Jonathan wants to learn about Christmas to celebrate it with his girlfriend’s family. Mutual education inevitably turns into more in the romantic comedy “Mistletoe & Menorahs,” premiering on Dec. 7 on Lifetime. Starring Jake Epstein and Kelley Jakle, the movie’s story was inspired by Israeli-born writer Guy Yosub’s real-life relationship with his wife. 

Sharone Hakman (from left), Duff Goldman, Molly Yeh. Photo courtesy of Food Network

Food Network celebrates the Festival of Lights with several Hanukkah specials revolving around the fried favorites we love. On Dec. 21, four chefs take on the “Ultimate Hanukkah Challenge,” putting their own twists on latkes, brisket and sufganiyot in an effort to impress host Molly Yeh and judges Duff Goldman and Sharone Hakman. In the Dec. 8 episode of her weekly series, “Girl Meets Farm,” Yeh serves up an interfaith feast that includes roasted spiced chicken and apples, potato latkes with caramelized-onion sour cream, and raspberry rose-filled donuts. On “Good Eats,” Alton Brown investigates potato-pancake history and technique in an episode titled “Whole Latke Love,” premiering on Dec. 15.

Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt; Photo courtesy of Spectrum

Twenty years after it ended its seven-season run on NBC, “Mad About You” returns on Spectrum cable with its original cast, led by Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as Paul and Jamie Buchman. In the reboot, the couple struggles with aging and being empty nesters, now that their daughter has started college. Richard Kind (Dr. Mark Devanow) and John Pankow (cousin Ira) reprise their roles. The series premieres with six episodes on Nov. 20 and another six on Dec. 18.

The Orthodox title character not only resists his mother’s matchmaking efforts but secretly falls for a non-Jewish girl in the comedy “The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch,” now streaming on Netflix. Originally released in Switzerland as “Wolkenbruch’s Wondrous Journey Into the Arms of a Shiksa,” the German-Yiddish-Hebrew-language movie stars Joel Basman (“Land of Mine”) as Motti. 

Iliza Shlesinger; Photo courtesy of Netflix

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger’s recent nuptials provide fodder for jokes about wedding planning, honeymooning and bachelorette parties in her fifth Netflix standup special, “Iliza Unveiled,” debuting Nov. 19. Shlesinger also will star in a sketch comedy series for the streaming service in 2020.

Kat Dennings and Esther Povitsky; Photo by Ali Goldstein/Hulu

Kat Dennings (“2 Broke Girls”) stars as a woman who seeks to reconnect with her female friends after her longtime boyfriend dumps her in Hulu’s “Dollface.” Esther Povitsky (“Alone Together” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”) plays her co-worker and friend in the comedy, which begins streaming on Nov. 16.

Lizzy Caplan plays the daughter of a murdered man whose possibly coached testimony may have convicted an innocent man (Aaron Paul) in the Apple TV+
drama “Truth Be Told,” premiering Dec. 6. Octavia Spencer stars as the journalist whose podcast played a part in the conviction, and she seeks to reopen the case two decades later. 

In director Michael Bay’s latest action thriller, “6 Underground,” six billionaires fake their deaths and form a covert vigilante squad to take down criminals. The cast includes Mélanie Laurent, Dave Franco and Lior Raz (“Fauda”). It premieres on Dec. 13 on Netflix. 

Idina Menzel; Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS

Idina Menzel hosts and performs songs from her “Season of Love” album while introducing stories about adoption in the 21st annual “A Home for The Holidays” special, airing on CBS on Dec. 22. Adam Lambert also performs. 

A young, female conductor shakes things up when she takes over as maestro of the orchestra in the French drama “Philharmonia,” debuting on the Topic streaming service at Topic.com and via Roku Nov. 21. The cast includes Tomer Sisley.  

The Jewish Stars of 2019 Holiday TV Read More »

Activism, Light Shine Through in Mandy Patinkin ‘DIARIES’ Concert

Leave a Comment / Entertainment, Special Section /

If you ask singer, actor and performer Mandy Patinkin what life is all about, he’ll say two things: children and art.

“What are we getting up and risking our existence for? The children,” Patinkin, 66, told the Journal. “How are they doing? Some are well but many are not. How do we help to improve that? Maybe we need to ask the poets and the writers because they seem to have a way of communicating that others don’t.”  

After 17 years, the multi-award-winning performer, who originated roles on Broadway (“Sunday in the Park With George,” “Evita”), television (“Homeland”) and film (“The Princess Bride”), returned to the recording studio with music producing legend Thomas Bartlett to create his recent album “Children and Art.” 

His new album is part of his latest 30-city concert tour “Mandy Patinkin in Concert: DIARIES” which kicked off Oct. 30. He visits Orange County on Nov. 24 at the Musco Center at Chapman University.  

The album title not only is a reference to Patinkin’s meaning of life, but a nod to musical theater lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim, who wrote a song of that title for “Sunday in the Park With George.”  

In the album series, Patinkin sings a wide variety of songs written by American greats —Paul Simon, Randy Newman, to name a few — but Sondheim continues to hold a special place in his heart.

He refers to himself as a musical “mailman,” one who delivers moving, emotional and vulnerable words to audiences around the world on a variety of platforms using magnificent text as a guide. Noting that the stage is his favorite medium, he said he will gladly sing the words of Sondheim for as long as he can. 

“I get to be a mailman for [Sondheim], that’s all I am,” Patinkin said. “I’m looking for stories that hit me right in the kishkees, and stories I get to share and, my God, he never misses.” 

Patinkin’s love for music developed at the age of 7, in part because he hated going to school. Every day at 3 p.m., he left school on the south side of Chicago and headed to Hebrew school at his local congregation, where he joined the boys choir and family choir as a soprano.  

“Mrs. Goldberg, the wife of Cantor Maurice Goldberg, said come and be in the children’s choir,” Patinkin said. “So I started that and suddenly I liked being in the place. It wasn’t being in a classroom, it wasn’t learning Hebrew, it was singing that changed my life, in a nutshell. It was something I could do and the grown-ups were encouraging me to do and it made me happy.”  

Patinkin sang in the choir on Shabbat mornings and during the High Holy Days until he was 14, along with a friend who later became a doctor. Patinkin joked that his friend “became a gynecologist and I became a singiologist.”  

Later in life, his love for Jewish music grew and became “dearest friends in the world” with late-Jewish music singer Debbie Friedman, who Patinkin holds in the highest regard. Her music and spirit left such an impact on his life he said he hopes to devote an entire project to singing her music.  

“It wasn’t being in a classroom, it wasn’t learning Hebrew, it was singing that changed my life, in a nutshell. It was something I could do and the grown-ups were encouraging me to do and it made me happy.”

His passion for Jewish music and storytelling also led him to create an entire album in Yiddish, titled “Mamaloshen.”

One of the songs featured on “Children” is Yiddish song “Refugees/The Song of the Titanic,” which has been modified since he originally recorded it on “Mamaloshen” in 1998. 

Patinkin wanted to revamp the song after being exposed to a refugee story line on the set of “Homeland.” 

“We were in Berlin in 2015, shooting the fourth or fifth season, and the first episode of that season takes place in a refugee camp. … At that exact same time, 125,000 refugees were trying to have a new beginning and get to Germany for rescue and a new life, and when I looked at those photographs every moment, I saw my family. I saw my ancestors. … I thought ‘They’re me. They’re my family. I need to be with them.’ ” 

After the six-month shoot ended, Patinkin jumped on the first plane home and called his friend Ruth Messinger, CEO and president of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS). She helped him form a relationship with the International Rescue Committee, with which he has joined on missions and actively advocated for refugee rights ever since.

“It is a grave concern of our time,” Patinkin said. “I was putting the concert together with my music and a lot of it is new mixed with the old stuff. I wanted to say something about the refugees.”

Patinkin explained that the original Yiddish version of “Song of the Titanic” included sounds and imagery of the sea and a mix of voices and effects that make it sound like there are thousands of people together. 

“There is something about the music and the sounds of the recording that absolutely mirrored the refugees trying to survive the sea and many of them losing their lives trying to find salvation. That’s how I went, ‘OK, I’m going to use this song a little differently in this concert and change the name to “Refugees/Song of the Titanic,” ’ which is frighteningly understandable,” Patinkin said. “I wish it wasn’t.”   

The musician and activist told the Journal he felt very fortunate to produce this album and was excited that the experience was vastly different from all the others.

Patinkin said Bartlett had little to no knowledge of the musical theater world but dived in and brought 300 songs to Patinkin, who listened to all of them in one sitting. 

After selecting a few more than 20 songs, and recording every session they worked on together, Patinkin released three personal, musical online “Diary” collections. 

“Children and Art” became the finished official album of those diaries and Patinkin created his concert tour around the collective project.

“Mandy Patinkin in Concert: DIARIES” features Patinkin accompanied by pianist Adam Ben-David, whom Patinkin said is “an extremely gifted human being,” and a grand piano every night. 

“I feel blessed on so many levels with my wife and two glorious children,” Patinkin said. “Now I have two musicians [Bartlett and Ben-David] I get to make music with. I’ve had an embarrassment of riches and I’m extremely grateful. I don’t understand it but I guess the answer is ‘shut up and keep swimming.’ ” 

When it comes to performing each night, he looks forward to performing every song. He hopes he can provide hope to listeners during the 30-city tour. 

“My goal is to find the light and to turn any story that I may be singing into a hopeful, optimistic life-filled possibility,” Patinkin said. “There were times where certain pieces I chose to do in the concert version, I wondered if it is too painful or too dark, so I said to myself, ‘I have to make it light’ and it was the easiest light switch.”

For ticket information on “Mandy Patinkin in Concert: DIARIES,“ visit his website. 

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