This Week in Forward Arts and Culture

Image by Joan Marcus
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Gordon Haber reviews Jon Ronson’s “The Psychopath Test,” a book about, well, crazy people.
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I ponder Jewish music that courts a secular audience with religious material.
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Joshua Furst believes in the spirit of Tony Kushner’s new play, if not always its execution.
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Elissa Strauss goes to see the art collection of the Cone Sisters of Baltimore, now on view at The Jewish Museum.
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Philologos explains why the word “Jewish” describes national, as well as religious, identity.
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Benjamin Ivry profiles Franco-Greek singer-songwriter Georges Moustaki.
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And in our special Yiddish section, Rokhl Kafrissen takes stock of a new wave of klezmer musicians, Itzik Gottesman remembers poet Jeremiah Hescheles, Shoshana Olidort anticipates the online translations of Walt Whitman, Gary Shapiro investigates the anonymous blogger Katle Kanye, and Brian Diamond translates three poems by Yankev Glatshteyn.
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
