Binyomin Ginzberg profiles Chilik Frank, a master Breslov clarinet player. Mark Oppenheimer reviews Lee Siegel’s “Are You Serious?: How To Be True and Get Real in the Age of Silly.” On the 72nd anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, we feature Israeli author Ada Pagis’s story about a speculative image. Josh Lambert reviews…
“She is not worried for her household because of the snow, for her whole household is dressed in scarlet. ” (from ‘Eshet Chayil’ – Proverbs 31:21) This kittel explores the mother as dressmaker. When she clothes her children she is providing not just physical protection, but also nurturing and caring for them, even when she…
Gerald Sorin looks at the complicated history of Jews and Black baseball. Berel Lang celebrates the 50th anniversary of ‘Catch-22’ by arguing that the book is a neglected masterpiece of Jewish fiction. Jenna Weissman Joselit pays a visit to the Stanton Street Shul and admires its zodiacal murals. Benjamin Ivry appreciates two new books by…
In our Summer movie special, John Semley casts a critical but approving eye on the re-imagined exploits of Captain America; Jenny Hendrix has some harsh words for “Sarah’s Key,” a film about France’s 1942 Vel’ d’Hiv roundup; Myra Mniewski relishes the life’s work of the most accomplished translator of Russian literature into German; Elizabeth Stone…
Irina Reyn reviews “My New American Life” by Francine Prose, a novel that subverts the traditional immigration myth, but also reinforces it. Philologos charts the influence of Yiddish on the local Amsterdam slang known as Bargoens. Jacob Berkman gives the definitive take on the demise of JDub Records. Lawrence Grossman uncovers the history of philosemitism…
Jake Marmer pores over two collections by the “poet’s poet’s poet” Louis Zukofsky. Olga Gershenson checks out the Jewish-themed films at the Moscow International Film Festival, including a documentary about the great Soviet director Mark Donskoy. Shaul Magid reviews Aryae Coopersmith’s personal history of Shlomo Carlebach’s House of Love and Prayer. Allison Gaudet Yarrow reviews…
I revisit the life and work of the great music and cultural critic Ellen Willis. Jenna Weissman Joselit pays homage to a colonial-era circumcision set. Carol Zemel explores the irony-laden work of Israeli artist Yael Bartana, who is representing Poland at this year’s Venice Biennale. Shoshana Olidort and Jake Marmer review the letters of Paul…
Jay Michaelson suggests a third way in the San Francisco circumcision controversy. Philologos wonders whether Vice President Biden used the word “shtick” correctly. Mark Oppenheimer dishes on Robert Gottlieb’s not-salacious-enough collection of essays. Menachem Wecker visits a music festival dedicated to the heroism of Bulgaria’s Righteous Gentiles. Benjamin Ivry remembers Jean Zay, co-founder of the…
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