John Lennon & the Jews: A Philosophical Rampage By Ze’ev Maghen CreateSpace, 296 pages, $12.50 As a rule, I wouldn’t agree to review a book with “John Lennon” in its title. I also wouldn’t review a self-published book. (Although publishing one’s own work is no crime, it does tend to indicate that no one else…
Each week The Arty Semite connects the Torah reading — however tenuously — with a classic work of rock and roll. This week’s parsha is Korach, named after the man who, along with his lackeys, tries to instigate a rebellion against Moses’ leadership. They fail, as God weighs in on Moses’ side and sends Korach…
Each week ‘In Song’ links the weekly Torah reading — however tenuously — to classic works of rock ‘n’ roll. This week’s parsha, Bamidbar (in the desert), kicks off the Book of Numbers, starting with a census of the nation of Israel (603,550 males of military age) and a description of their camping arrangements. Then…
When I entered Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Greenwich Village on a recent Sunday afternoon to see the play “In Between,” which explores the cultural identity of a Palestinian-Muslim/Jewish-Israeli man, I suddenly felt hyper-aware of my own Jewish identity. It seemed telling to me, and surprising, that the only current New York performance of this…
“You came to me one summer night and from your beam you made my dream,” sang the Beatles on their 1964 cover of “Mr. Moonlight.” Yes, the entire song was penned as a love letter. But that doesn’t mean those particular words can’t be applied during Hanukkah, when we celebrate and remember the miracle that…
