Seth Rogovoy, a contributing editor at The Forward, is the author of Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet (Scribner) and the recently-published Within You Without You: Listening to George Harrison (Oxford Univ. Press).
Seth Rogovoy
By Seth Rogovoy
-
Culture Bob Dylan’s overblown new music video offers only a ‘Shadow’ of transcendence
I confess that I was in a pretty bad mood yesterday when it was time to log in to view “Shadow Kingdom,” a global, online pay-per-view event starring Bob Dylan. I had spent a large part of the day reading deeply into the news — about the upswing in COVID, catastrophic and deadly natural events…
-
Culture The secret Jewish history of birdwatching
Like so many things, birdwatching can be traced back to the Bible, specifically to the story of Noah and the Flood. You probably recall that when the floodwaters receded and Noah’s ark found itself grounded atop Mount Ararat, Noah opened a window in the ark and sent out a dove to run reconnaissance for him,…
-
Culture The secret Jewish history of Rita Moreno (who just might be a descendant of very secret Jews)
At age 89, Rita Moreno is still going strong, with a role in the upcoming remake of “West Side Story” by Steven Spielberg (she starred as Anita in the original film) and a leading role in the rebooted TV sitcom “One Day at a Time,” which was an ongoing venture until filming was shut down…
-
Music The secret Jewish history of Judy Garland
Editor’s Note: Judy Garland, who was born on June 10, 1922, would have turned 99 today. We take that occasion to explore the many Jewish affinities and associations of her career. Although Judy Garland wasn’t Jewish, but several of her romantic partners were, including two of her five husbands. Many of her best-known songs were…
-
Culture From the confinement of a ‘ghetto,’ the liberation of great art
The other day, I looked up the word “ghetto” in the online Urban Dictionary, in order to get a sense of how the word is being used in the vernacular these days. While the definition provided there is problematic and poorly written, I was struck, however, by the very first sentence: “When someone is to…
-
Culture At 80, is Bob Dylan still the voice of his generation?
Because I have a somewhat morbid outlook on life combined with an almost fanatical devotion toward being prepared — a vestige of my year or so in the ranks of the Boy Scouts? — I have been toying with the idea of writing Bob Dylan’s obituary in advance of his actual death for at least…
-
Culture Antisemitism may be the least of Van Morrison’s problems on his wretched new album
There is not one single moment of wit, humor or self-reflection on Van Morrison’s execrable new album, “Latest Recording Project Volume 1” (is that “Volume 1” a promise or a threat?). Morrison gives full voice to his inner Karen throughout the album, kvetching about everything from COVID lockdowns, bad reviews, Facebook, and, insidiously, Jews who…
-
Culture The Secret Jewish History Of U2
While U2 is still largely considered one of, if not the greatest rock band in the world, the group’s singer and frontman, Bono, is not quite the beloved figure he was when the band first exploded on the scene in the mid-1980s. His hobnobbing with world and corporate leaders is very un-rock ’n’ roll, and…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
News Trump antisemitism executive order invokes anti-KKK law and targets ‘leftist, anti-American’ universities
- 2
Forward Newsletters What the ADL should have said in response to Elon Musk’s salute
- 3
Culture Is Elon Musk Jewish?
- 4
Fast Forward UFC fighter says Hitler was a ‘good guy’ and the ‘Holocaust ain’t real’
In Case You Missed It
-
Culture Why Ladino is having a big moment — both in New York and the rest of the world
-
Opinion As a rabbi, I’ve never confronted a topic as tricky as Trump
-
Looking Forward The Jewish hostage nobody is talking enough about
-
Fast Forward ‘I’m not waiting until they come to round us up’: Transgender Jews and their families search for safety as Trump takes aim at their rights
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
