This Week in Forward Arts and Culture

Ethan Pack talks to Amir Benayoun, an Israeli musician who embodies the country’s deepest fears.

Benjamin Ivry examines the French Lithuanian novelist, journalist and bon vivant, Joseph Kessel.

Allison Gaudet Yarrow takes a look at the Jewish Book Council’s two minute author tryouts.

Jeremiah Lockwood teams up with Alexander Benaim of The Harlem Shakes for the latest installment of The Nigun Project.

Michael Kaminer reviews “In a Dark Wood,” a magic realist novel by best-selling Dutch writer Marcel Möring.

Stanley Siegelman riffs on the finer points of Yiddish grammar.

Philologos argues that the New York Times should take another look at Jeffrey Goldberg’s (use of the word) tukhis.

Mark Cohen writes about “An American Type,” the new Henry Roth novel culled from a 1,900 page manuscript by New Yorker editor Willing Davidson.

Samuel D. Gruber investigates Sukkah City, an architecture competition coming to New York this fall.