
- books
-
essays
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- August 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- August 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- November 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- December 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- April 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- April 2014
- January 2014
- September 2013
- August 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- August 2012
- March 2012
- January 2012
- November 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- February 2011
- August 2010
- July 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- January 2010
- October 2009
- September 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- September 2008
- May 2008
- February 2008
- August 2007
- June 2007
- February 2007
- August 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- November 2004
- May 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- November 2002
- October 2002
- May 2002
- April 2002
- September 2001
- August 2001
- August 2000
- May 2000
- January 2000
- December 1999
- September 1999
- November 1997
- reviews
- short stories
- documentaries
-
April 27, 2020
Binge-watching Jewish TV as an indoor sport
Jewish News Syndicate--JNS.OrgNetflix was surely not around during the making of the Covenant—the contract between God, Abraham and Jewish People. But more so than perhaps any other media company, Netflix is, apparently, determined to discover the destiny of the Chosen People.
With “Shtisel,” “Unorthodox” and “Fauda,” each trending on its “must-see-TV” platform—and presented in English, Yiddish and German subtitles—Netflix is making a cultural statement as to who Jews really are in this world. Doing so required a titanic shift in the cultural depictions of Jews, and a total abandonment of the Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Barbra Streisand, Larry David and Sarah Silverman axes of Jewish-American comedy, which dates as far back as the origins of Hollywood, radio and television itself.
read more -
April 13, 2020
Passover and crises go hand in hand
Jewish News Syndicate--JNS.orgOK, so maybe this wasn’t the most fulfilling Passover in living memory. Adapting to the virtual seder model on Zoom and FaceTime was a novelty, but if we never go back to it again, I don’t think anyone will miss the experience.
read more -
April 6, 2020
The 11th Plague: How COVID-19 Forces Us to Ask Disturbing Questions During Passover
Jewish Journal of LAGod might have gone a little too far this time. An actual plague before Passover? Seriously? And not just against Egyptians — but everyone, including Jews?
The Chosen People, especially Orthodox Jews, given the early outbreak in New Rochelle, New York, have no immunity to a modern-day plague that plays no favorites and refuses to pass over anyone — even on the holiday of Passover. We are now all exiled — not in the desert or even the Diaspora — but to dreary self-quarantines and the anxiety from incomplete and convoluted information.