Douglas Wolk


Hand-Drawing, Hand-Drying, and Hand-Wringing in Ben Katchor's America

By Douglas Wolk

Hand-Drawing, Hand-Drying, and Hand-Wringing in Ben Katchor's America
Ben Katchor’s forte has always been his ability to nudge a real-life absurdity one or two notches too far. This quality is on display in his new book ‘Hand-Drying in America.’Read More

Everything Isn't Illuminated

By Douglas Wolk

Everything Isn't Illuminated
Prominent and prolific scholar and Yiddishist tries his hand at a south of the border graphic novel with echoes of ‘The Da Vinci Code.’ The results are mixed.Read More

Faster Than A Speeding Tallis

By Douglas Wolk

Faster Than A Speeding Tallis
At the core of ‘Superman Is Jewish?’ is a fascinating sliver of history. Without Jewish creators, there would have been no Superman, no Batman, and no Archies.Read More



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      • Thousands of Jews packed into a Johannesburg shul to pay tribute to Mandela, the 'Joseph of South Africa.'
      • The current NFL season demonstrates the great flaw of pro football: The quarterback has become too important. How did this happen? It all goes back to Sid Luckman. http://jd.fo/h1eDf
      • A quiet revolution is taking place among ultra-Orthodox women in Jerusalem. They have discovered the power of mascara.
      • The Council of Jews in Germany receives a river of hate mail. Disturbingly, a study shows that 60% of the letters come from well-educated Germans, including some university professors: http://jd.fo/t1for Does that number surprise you? Share your reactions in the comments.
      • "Also, one will beautify [Shabbat candle lighting] when the wick is made from cotton, flax or cannabis…” While researching #Shabbat customs, Yosef Glassman came across this reference. It sent him on a mission to learn about the biblical history of weed: http://jd.fo/j1d05
      • Could a 1976 movie starring Alain Delon have predicted the tale of Cornelius Gurlitt, found to be holding 1,280 pieces of Nazi-looted art in his Munich apartment? Find out: http://jd.fo/a1Voc
      • Greek geometricians like Euclid knew that letters could be used to solve numerical problems. Philologos explains how rabbis do the same with the Hebrew alphabet: http://jd.fo/i1d9n
      • What does the Bible say about contraception? Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg explains: http://jd.fo/f1cV9
      • Can you recognize Mandy Patinkin without his beard? The beloved facial hair that has become Saul Berenson's trademark look on "Homeland," is no more: http://jd.fo/h1cpf
      • Once, there was a less-complicated time when Jewish and African freedom struggles went hand in hand. J.J. Goldberg recalls memories of Mandela from a Zionist childhood: http://jd.fo/e1VRI
      • "Wall" or "separation barrier"? "Palestine" or "West Bank"? Why writing about the Holy Land can get pretty tricky: http://jd.fo/j1cGe
      • What flavors define #Jerusalem? WATCH Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi describe their top picks:http://jd.fo/e1UgG Did they miss any? Let us know in the comments.
      • Nelson Mandela was a global symbol of the fight for human dignity. But there were two sides to any great leader — and Mandela sometimes made Jews very uncomfortable. http://jd.fo/i1cXF May his memory be a blessing.
      • Need a weekend movie suggestion? Read Ezra Glinter's review of the new Coen Brothers movie, "Inside Llewyn Davis," which opens in theaters tomorrow: http://jd.fo/t1f36
      • Nelson Mandela has become a beloved icon for all of South Africa. But his death is also mourned by the Jewish community, with which he shared an enduring bond. Richard Goldstone remembers a great man: http://jd.fo/i1cV8
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