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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Barbra Streisand’s brand-new duet with Bob Dylan is a whole lot different than you might think
Though Dylan and Streisand's voices may seem ill-suited to each other, the two complement each other gorgeously on 'The Very Thought of You'
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On William Shatner’s 90th birthday, a reminder of when he could laugh at himself
William Shatner AKA Captain Kirk Turns 90
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How macaroons became a must for Passover — even if no one likes them
I grew up with no macaroons. My mother was raised on almond macaroons that her grandmother made, but the experience was hard to replicate by the time I came around. “Every time I saw an almond macaroon, I bought it, but in bakeries you mostly only see coconut,” she told me. “It’s a travesty.” This…
The Latest
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Blu-Ray set of restored Yiddish classics comes alive with excellent commentary
Read this article in Yiddish There is an expression in Yiddish—di kale iz tsu sheyn—the bride is too beautiful. Basically, the problem is—it’s too good. This is exactly my problem with a new Blu-ray disk set “The Jewish Soul: Ten Classics of Yiddish Cinema,” issued by Kino Lorber. It took me a while to start…
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Sweatpants, sneakers, and lots of coffee: How the Jewish world is working from home
When schoolchildren of the future learn about the chaos and despair of the coronavirus pandemic, I hope they also learn that we explored Mars from our kitchen tables. As NASA’s Perseverance rover began its search for life on Mars, scientist Sanjeev Gupta made another kind of history by sharing pictures of himself controlling the rover…
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WATCH NOW September 2: The Borscht Belt and the rise of American Jewish comedy
Watch the recording of this event here. Join us as we look into the rich history of the Borscht Belt and the rise of Jewish comedy in the mid-20th century, including the legacy of the late comedian, Jackie Mason. Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter will moderate a conversation with Phil Brown, President of the Catskills Institute…
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‘Slow, small, imperfect’ — round two of pandemic Passover comes with its own perks and challenges
This time last year, I penned the Forward’s inaugural guide to virtual seders. But the one I organized for my own family in 2020 was a hot mess. Muting was a Herculean feat that few could accomplish. Audio feedback dogged ancient blessings. There was an ill-fated experiment in communal singing. By the time we finished…
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Was the Last Supper a ‘Seder?’ And 3 other vital Passover questions, asked and answered.
When we ask at our Seders why this night is different from all other nights, there are the stock responses and the ones we take for granted. We receive explainers on slouching, unleavened bread and why we dip our herbs. We don’t get into what Jesus’ Passover plans were in Jerusalem. In our Haggadot, we…
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After vandalism, ‘Soup Nazi Kitchen’ in Washington paints over provocative sign
For one, brief, bizarre moment a Soup Nazi restaurant was coming to Everett, Washington. Redditters were quick to note the storefront of “The Soup Nazi Kitchen” in the downtown area, advertised with a sexualized female Nazi mascot in SS-like uniform — not the mustachioed visage of the Soup Nazi of “Seinfeld” fame or his real…
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‘Shtisel’ season 3 bites off a lot, but plays to its strengths — its flawed and relatable characters
A hidden pregnancy? A sham marriage? A love triangle and multiple broken engagements? A lot is happening in season three of “Shtisel,” the beloved Israeli show which follows the Shtisels, a Haredi family living in Jerusalem, On paper, the plot lines in the newest season of “Shtisel,” which will begin streaming on Netflix on March…
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The rise and fall of James Levine
The American conductor James Levine, who died on Mar. 9 at age 77, drew on Jewish musical heritage to inspire his achievement, until multiple accusations of abuse justifiably ended his career. Born in Cincinnati to parents who attended the Isaac M. Wise Temple, a pioneering synagogue for Reform Judaism, Levine was a child prodigy musician…
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150 years ago in the French Civil War, Jews were on both sides of the barricades
Parisians surprised the world (and themselves) by throwing a revolution
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Fast Forward Melbourne protesters chant ‘Death to the IDF’ days after attacks on local synagogue, Israeli restaurant
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Fast Forward Trump says he didn’t know antisemitic history of ‘Shylock’ when he criticized bankers using the term
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