This is the Forward’s coverage of Jewish culture where you’ll learn about the latest (and sometimes earliest) in Jewish art, music (including of course Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen), film, theater, books as well as the secret Jewish history of…
Culture
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Books
From Gary Shteyngart to Emily Ratajkowski: The Jewish books you need to know this month
Welcome to Forward Reads, your monthly tour of the Jewish literary landscape. I’m a culture writer at the Forward, and I spend a lot of time combing through new releases so you can read the best books out there. This article originally ran in newsletter form. To sign up for Forward Reads and get book…
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How did Bob Dole get along with the Jews? It’s complicated.
To understand the rapport with Jews and Jewish history of Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, who has died at the age of 98, a surprising number of analyses of jokes are required, worthy of the precedent of Sigmund Freud. In addition to a distinguished legislative career and splendid military record, Dole cultivated the reputation as…
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Finally, we can move on from ‘Dreidel Dreidel’ — a true Hanukkah bop has dropped
In the past few weeks, I’ve written about everything wrong with Hanukkah today — kitschy merchandise, Christmasification, the Maccabees. So as we approach the end of the eight nights, I wanted to finish on a sweeter note: a pop anthem made for the holiday that, in my humble opinion, does everything right. “Hanukkah” comes from…
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Music What do Bible characters have on their Spotify Wrapped list?
From Abraham to Yael, here's what your faves were listening to this year
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The vibrant, colorful world of Hanukkah stamps — and how they got to be that way
The festive season is upon us, and along with merriment comes the annual exchange of holiday greetings and gifts. Even though virtual cards are popular, many still prefer to send a more personal message through the mail, using Christmas stamps issued annually by postal administrations. For Jews, the greeting card season had traditionally been consigned…
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Kenny G thinks he’ll win an Oscar. First he has to find his soul.
Like the tides, romance or dentists’ waiting rooms, Kenny G has always seemed to exist. But have you ever wondered what he’s like? It is the saxophonist’s particular curse to take up the most mental real estate in his biggest detractors — critics and purists who dismiss his mass appeal brand of virtuosic musical Novocaine…
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In a heartbreaking and inspiring new film, the soul of an actress — and the lives she touched — lives on
In equal measure a valentine to his late wife, a tribute to her as an actor, director and writer on the cusp of a serious career, and an exploration of personal grief, “Adrienne” is a skillful, almost seamless film and a notable debut for director Andy Ostroy. The 90-minute documentary could easily have slipped into…
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How a poor Jewish immigrant made a fortune as a madam — and why we’re still uncomfortable talking about it
On Dec. 10, 1913, a 13-year-old Yidishe meydl arrived alone and almost penniless at Ellis Island. She was to have traveled to America from Eastern Europe with a cousin, who decided to abandon the journey. The new immigrant’s name was Pearl Adler. The oldest of at the time eight siblings, she hailed from Yanow, a…
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How a right-wing Jewish presidential candidate is channeling de Gaulle, X-Men and ‘The King’s Speech’
After months of hedging, Éric Zemmour finally crossed the Rubicon yesterday. In a video released on YouTube, the racist and reactionary pundit declared his candidacy in next year’s French presidential election. Upon parsing the video’s words and images, a chorus of commentators have noted the many cues Zemmour took from Charles de Gaulle’s historic appeal…
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In ‘Licorice Pizza,’ P.T. Anderson shows us what makes Jews — and Haim — unique
Thanks to Paul Thomas Anderson, we can now glimpse the Haim family’s Shabbat dinners
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Why the story of cream cheese is the story of Jews in America
When it comes to “bagels and lox,” the cream cheese is essential but goes without mention. Like the marinara sauce in “spaghetti and meatballs,” it plays a leading role but gets no top billing. Still, a tart, bright red tomato sauce gets noticed. Cream cheese, however, inspires no secret nonna recipes. Even Jewish gourmands who…
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