Author: Glen Berd

This singing trio wants to make Yiddish current again Raquel Nobile, Jodi Snyder and Maya Jacobson form the trio "The Mamales" with a goal to eventually release a concept album of Yiddish song covers. (Courtesy) (New York Jewish Week) – Like many great ideas, “The Mamales,” a Yiddish singing group, began on a summer night at a bar on the Lower East Side. The women who make up the trio, Maya Jacobson, Raquel Nobile and Jodi Snyder, had gotten together for a night of fun and to reminisce about the 2018 production of “Fiddler on the Roof” (“Fidler afn Dakh”) at the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene, where they met as members of the cast. Jacobson had been listening to The Barry Sisters — a duo whose Yiddish covers were wildly popular in the mid-20th century —  and realized it was time for the next generation to carry on the tradition. “I heard The Barry Sisters’ version of ‘Abi Gezunt’ and I knew I wanted to record this...

William Shatner: boldly going where no Jew has gone before William Shatner stars as Capt. James T. Kirk in Star Trek. If things had worked out differently, William Shatner would have had a career as a Shakespearean actor and lived a much quieter life. But as fate would have it, he ended up being cast as Capt. James T. Kirk, commander of the USS Enterprise, and became a cultural icon. Star Trek lasted just three seasons, but the show catapulted Shatner into a lifetime of making films and television shows, some acclaimed and some derided by critics. Along the way, Shatner, who was born and raised in Montreal, won two Emmy Awards for his work on Boston Legal and was awarded a star on both Canada’s and Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from his alma mater, McGill University. Born in 1931 in Montreal’s West End to Anne and Joseph Shatner, a clothing manufacturer, William Shatner started his career as a child actor...

In 1982, Senator Joe Biden threatened Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin to cut American aid. This was Begin's answer: "Never frighten us with no help. It's not going to work. I am not the Jew whose knees are shaking. I am a Jew who is proud of the history of my people, which dates back 3,700 years. When we were dying in gas chambers and ovens, no one came to our rescue. And also no one helped us in our quest to build our state. We did it ourselves and paid in full. We fought for our ideals We were dying for them. And we still hold on to these principles. We will protect them. And, if need be, we will die again for our principles. With or without your help"   ...

BREAKING NEWS for Shtisel fans !! The latest Israeli television hit, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem,” yes Studios’ award-winning historical series, has been picked up by Netflix! The first season of the family saga will air in two parts – each consisting of 10 episodes, starting on May 20 and July 29 respectively. The multi-language series is represented in international markets by Yes Studios, the Tel Aviv-based producer and distributor behind “Fauda” “Your Honor,” “Shtisel” and “On the Spectrum.” and stars Michael Aloni (Akiva in Shtisel) Set in the early-mid 20th century, “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem” is adapted from Sarit Yishai-Levi’s bestselling novel of the same name and tells the story of a family set against the backdrop of the Ottoman Empire, The British Mandate and Israel’s War of Independence. ...

JSCN is a member of the Refugee Task Force convened by the JLC and Board of Deputies. I thought you would like an update on the knowledge that is currently being shared. Not many Jewish refugees have chosen to come to the UK. Most are going to Israel. Of those that are arriving in the UK, most are being directed by World Jewish Relief to specific locations in the London area where targeted support is being provided. Other Jewish communities around the country, notably Birmingham, have mobilised to support any Ukrainian refugees arriving in their area. You are probably aware that the visa process is delaying the arrival of many refugees. Below are some highlight points with links.   World Jewish Relief will be hosting a Webinar on 23rd May designed to inform people about the sponsorship process to help them decide if this is something they would like to do. Anyone is welcome to join the webinar, you can sign up here / circulate the link: https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/get-involved/events/1322-homes-for-ukraine-webinar World Jewish Relief have expanded their STEP...