This Week in Forward Arts and Culture
Laura Hodes goes to see “Dinner for Schmucks,” which maybe should have been called “Dinner for Schlemiels,” or “Dinner for Bat Mitzvah DJs.”
Susan Shapiro offers an excerpt from her new novel, “Overexposed.”
Philologos takes a nibble of Italy’s “pizza ebraica dolce.”
Benjamin Ivry casts his gaze on Sweden’s Ernst Josephson, the “Jewish Edvard Munch.”
Tom Freudenheim appreciates a self-published book that’s not only a good read, but also offers a look at the seamy underside of pilfered Judaica.
Jenna Weissman Joselit dusts off the controversy over John Singer Sargent’s recently restored murals at the Boston Public Library.
Laurence Klavan reviews the now infamous play “Imagining Madoff,” which ran at StageWorks/Hudson in upstate New York.
Over on The Sisterhood, Elissa Strauss interviews Anthony Doerr about his novella “Memory Wall” and Allison Kaplan Sommer talks to Ayelet Waldman about her new novel “Red Hook Road.”
And make sure to mark down the Forward’s upcoming evening of “Jewish Art for the New Millennium: 3 Alicias 3” at the Sixth Street Synagogue on August 24, featuring violinist Alicia Svigals, poet Alicia Ostriker and singer-songwriter Alicia Jo Rabins.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
