Author: Glen Berd

https://youtu.be/D4LCEi1g_-w...

Avraham Kotto immigrated to the United States in the 1920s as an observant Jew who could only speak Hebrew. Kotto ancestors were African Jews who originated in the area of modern Israel and migrated through Egypt to Cameroon. In the U.S., he married Gladys Marie, who was an officer in the army. She converted to Judaism before marrying Kotto. The couple gave birth to a fiercely proud and religious Jew, Yaphet Kotto. In 1973, young Yaphet landed the role of the James Bond villain Mr. Big in Live and Let Die, as well as roles in Across 110th Street and Truck Turner. He played a police officer, Richard "Crunch" Blackstone, in the 1975 film Report to the Commissioner. Kotto also portrayed Idi Amin in the 1977 television film Raid on Entebbe. At the time he played the menacing Idi Amin, few could imagine that Kotto was actually a tough and bad-ass Jewish kid from the streets of New York City. In a widely quoted interview in...

Documentary takes film lovers behind the scenes of making ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ ‘Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen’ breaks down the movie magic of a beloved 50-year-old musical, and shows how the film brought gentile director Norman Jewison closer to Judaism By RENEE GHERT-ZAND    'Fiddler on the Roof' director Norman Jewison (right) on set in 1970 with Chaim Topol, who played Tevye. (Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films) Norman Jewison (in baseball cap) directs on set of 1971 film 'Fiddler on the Roof.' Chaim Topol, who played Tevye, is second from right. (Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films) 'Fiddler on the Roof' director Norman Jewison at his home in Malibu, California during interview with 'Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen' director Daniel Raim in 2016. (Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films) A photo capturing the filming of the 1971 film 'Fiddler on the Roof,' directed by Norman Jewison. (Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films) In the late 1960s, film director Norman Jewison was in despair about the political upheavals in America...

Israel Baline was only five, a little guy living in Tyumen, a village in Siberia. An anti-Jewish mob attacked the town, and the Baline family fled their ruined home and eventually made the long, arduous journey to New York’s Lower East Side. Just three years later, when he was eight, little Israel’s father died, and he went to work. The years marched on, and “Izzy”, as he was known, taught himself to play the piano and found he had a knack for song writing. As he grew to manhood, he felt himself blessed to make a living from his music, but even more so, to live in freedom and safety. He served in WWI and wrote several successful patriotic songs. This of course was the Great War, the war that was to end all wars. Such was not to be the case, and in 1938, Izzy, now a successful composer in NY, found himself a visitor in Berlin as the Nazi spectre began...

We were delighted to welcome Marc Levy and Mark Addlestone from the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region to the shul to discuss working closely with us to benefit our local community. In particular we hope we can spread the news about how fantastic a place it is to live in.   There's nowhere like Lytham or St. Anne's with it's thriving Jewish community and social life along with the shops, roadside cafes and miles and miles of beach and fresh sea air. We have welcomed many 'immigrants' from both North and South Manchester as well as further afield in recent years, and along with attendances to shul services, Shabbat kiddushim every week, and regular social events throughout the year, the community is continuing to grow and thrive. FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF JRC : Our Chair and Chief Executive spent time earlier today with the Rabbi and members of the St Annes Hebrew Congregation. So pleased to hear that the Shul is continuing...