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YOUR SAY… RENAISSANCE Jewish A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON JEWISH CULTURE SPONSORED BY DANGOOR EDUCATION WINTER 2024 £10 KIBBUTZ SURVIVORS FACE THE FUTURE LIFE ON THE BORDER JR EXCLUSIVE: ESTHER KREITMAN LETTERS TO ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER + RADICAL ROMANIANS The interwar culture pioneers ED STOURTON “Religious zealots are an obstacle to peace” MCDONALDS & WHISKY The end of the USSR L E T T E R S Reactions to our winter issue LIFE ON THE BORDER: KIBBUTZ SURVIVORS FACE THE FUTURE Inking for Israel Thank you for a superb magazine, which has engrossed me since it hit my doormat. The article about the flourishing art movement in Bucharest [The radical culture of interwar Bucharest] during the 1920s was unexpected and captivating, as was the story of the artists Berthold and Margaret Wolpe [Quirky, inventive and eclectic: the art of Berthold and Margaret Wolpe]. The piece about people who are getting tattoos to show their Jewish pride [Inking for Israel], inspired me to get an ‘am Yisrael chai’ tattoo! WARREN HOSKINS Desmond Tutu and Israel In the interview with the journalist Edward Stourton [“Religion doesn’t have a good record as a peace maker”], the broadcaster referred “affectionately” to Desmond Tutu, seemingly without having asked him about his hatred of Israel. To quote from a piece in The Times of Israel on the announcement of his death in 2021: “In 1989, on a trip to Israel, he suggested that Jews should pray and forgive the Nazis for the extermination of 6 million Jews … He has also been an active member of the BDS [Boycott, Divest and Sanction] lobby – whose very existence is to promote the destruction of the State of Israel. He promoted an appeal to the United States Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association pension fund to cut partnerships to Israeli companies, as well as a US food co-op. He also called Israel a country built on apartheid and oppression of another people, while ignoring the very real history of the Jewish people in the land. In 2001, in Durban’s notorious World Conference on Racism, he called for the “end of Israeli colonialist occupation in the Palestinian territories, the achievement of the right to self-determination by the Palestinian people, including the right of return, and for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.” He told an international conference on racism that, despite our almost 4,000year history in Israel, Jews are not a part of Israel, but a colonialist entity that must be wiped out.” Was he a true Christian? I don’t think so. GEOFFREY BERNSTEIN JR has asked Ed Stourton for a response to the letter (above) and are awaiting a reply, which we hope to publish in the next issue. Please send your letters to: editor@jewishrenaissance.org.uk or by post to: Editor, Renaissance Publishing, Office 2, 353-359 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6ET CATCH UP ON THE GO! SIMPLY SEARCH FOR THE “EXACTLY” APP ON YOUR DEVICE’S APP STORE AND DOWNLOAD. THEN CHOOSE JEWISH RENAISSANCE A S THE MAGAZINE YOU WANT TO READ. YOU’LL NEED YOUR SUBSCRIBER NUMBER TO LOG IN. IF YOU CAN’T FIND THIS, EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS@ JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK. JR EDITOR Rebecca Taylor ART DIRECTOR Becky Redman DEPUTY & ONLINE EDITOR Danielle Goldstein EDITORIAL MANAGER Dani Silver ARTS & PODCAST EDITOR Judi Herman OPERATIONS MANAGER Ruth Bankover ADVERTISING & FINANCE MANAGER Lorraine Sheridan SUB EDITORS Judi Herman, Janet Levin, Judith Mirzoeff, Alex Galbinski ILLUSTRATIONS Thomas Fournier PHOTOGRAPHY Julieta Bugacoff WEB DESIGNER Becky Redman PROGRAMME PRODUCER Emma Brand FOUNDER Janet Levin PRESIDENT David Dangoor EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dr Aviva Dautch EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Monica Bohm-Duchen, David Conway, David Herman, Judi Herman, Shoshi Ish-Horowicz, Bea Lewkowicz, Michael Mail, Jacqueline Nicholls EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Geraldine Auerbach MBE Alex Brummer City Editor, Daily Mail Monica Bohm-Duchen Art historian David Glasser Chair, Ben Uri Art Gallery and Museum Judy Ironside MBE Founder & President of UK Jewish Film Jennifer Jankel Chair, Jewish Music Institute Clive Lawton OBE Senior Consultant, Limmud Maureen Lipman Writer and actor Claudia Rubenstein Director, Jewish Book Week Raymond Simonson CEO, JW3 Nitza Spiro Director, Spiro Ark Lena Stanley-Clamp Director, European Association for Jewish Culture Connie Webber Managing Editor, Littman Library Prof Jonathan Webber Jagiellonian University BOARD OF TRUSTEES Hester Abrams, David Benmayer, Patti Collins, Spencer Debson, Andrew Gordon (Chair), Ian Lancaster HON LEGAL ADVISOR Jane Phillips The publisher, editor and members of the committees of Jewish Renaissance wish to make it clear that the views in the articles are those of individual authors and should not be taken to reflect their own opinions. The rights of copyright holders are recognised. Copyright holders we failed to locate should contact us at the address below. Printed in Wales by Pensord. Published by Renaissance Publishing a company limited by guarantee Registered Charity Number 1152871. CONTACT INFORMATION 353-359 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6ET +44 20 7794 5254 WEBSITE www.jewishrenaissance.org.uk EMAIL editor@jewishrenaissance.org.uk advertising@jewishrenaissance.org.uk subscriptions@jewishrenaissance.org.uk SOCIAL Twitter: @JewishRen Instagram: @jewishrenaissance www.facebook.com/JewishRenaissance © Copyright Jewish Renaissance ISSN 1476 1769 4 JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK SPRING 2024
page 5
FROM JR’S PRESIDENT Movement has been a constant of Jewish history – whether fleeing persecution or seeking new opportunities (or a bit of both) Jews have often been in motion. The imminent Passover festival is also a story of wandering. The Inquisitions on the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century precipitated another mass movement, after Jews were expelled from Spain and Portugal. Then, the head of the Ottoman empire Sultan Bayezid II warmly welcomed them and even sent a fleet to evacuate them, offering Ottoman citizenship and religious freedom. In 2015, in a strange reversal of history, Sephardi Jews were granted the right to apply for Spanish or Portuguese citizenship, and therefore gain European citizenship, as restitution for forcing Jews out of those countries. Since then, some Turkish Jews have taken advantage of this and have left Turkey, or are considering leaving, as Paul Osterund explores in his piece on p25. This issue also delves into the popularity of Bourekas films (p50) – comedy melodramas that have been delighting Israeli audiences since the 1960s. The films are both hailed and lambasted for their representation of the Sephardi community but whatever your view, they offer an insight into the shifting attitudes towards Israel’s own recent immigrants. Both stories add a modern twist to the Passover themes of exile – and homecoming. Wishing you peaceful festivities, OUR AIMS JR encourages engagement with Jewish culture by: Offering intelligent, challenging and exciting content; Uncovering the wealth of activity taking place in Jewish communities around the world; Celebrating the diversity of Jewish experience in the UK and internationally. FROM THE EDITOR It’s spring, and I’ve been watching as, one by one, the bulbs on my balcony burst into bloom. In the midst of the depressing news from the Middle East, this new life has been offering a glint of joy, as well as reminding me of my dear mum, who loved this time of year. Mum, who died in February, was active in various peace movements over the years, from anti-Vietnam campaigns to Greenham and beyond. She also made a trip, at some risk to herself, to deliver Jewish books and materials to refuseniks in the former Soviet Union. She was passionate about theatre and the arts, eventually using dramatherapy to help Holocaust survivors in Israel deal with trauma. Above all, she radiated compassion and empathy to all with whom she came into contact. It is her spirit that I have channeled in this issue of JR: trying, through the lens of arts and culture, to recognise the terrible pain that is being experienced by both sides in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. On p6, Sam Stein’s powerful piece explores the press coverage of the war and calls on Israeli media to better represent the experiences of Palestinians in its reporting of the conflict – voices that have, so far, been almost completely absent. On p14, Peter Watts’ thoughtful and sensitivite interview with the artist Shirel Horovitz explores the responses to the events of 7 October and the ensuing war in the work of artists from Jewish and Palestinian backgrounds. The arts we feature in JR also present a way of bridging our divisive world because they offer a route to imagining how the world could be or how it might feel different for another person. That could be in the form of the dynamic, feminist Pop Art from two Argentinian artists (as part of our Argentina special from p17, and online event, see p57) or in the vivid, slightly surreal animations of the French artist Joann Sfar (p12), which draw on his inclusive vision of the world and his passionate belief that Muslims and Jews have many more stories that they share than divide them. As Passover approaches and we remember the flight of Israelites from Egypt, perhaps we can hold thoughts too, of the modern day refugees making the journey in the opposite direction? Wishing you and your families a happy and healthy Passover celebration, REBECCA TAYLOR, EDITOR rebecca@jewishrenaissance.org.uk TWITTER: @JewishRen; INSTAGRAM: @jewishrenaissance FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/JewishRenaissance CONTRIBUTORS NAOMI GRYN Naomi’s father, Rabbi Hugo Gryn, was an Auschwitz survivor, so her work as historical consultant on Sky TV’s adaptation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz feels especially poignant. On p38, she tells us about the research needed to ensure the drama’s historical accuracy. Naomi is a documentary filmmaker. GEORGE PROCHNIK George talks to Christopher Hampton on p33 about his production, Visit from an Unknown Woman. Based on a novella by Stefan Zweig, the play’s theme is a warning call to our times. George is the author of six books, including The Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World. JORDAN SALAMA Jordan’s greatgrandfather was one of thousands of Jewish Syrian immigrants to settle in Argentina 100 years ago. On p17, Jordan traces his footsteps across the Andes, uncovering tales of these entrepreneurial newcomers. Jordan is the author of Stranger in the Desert and Every Day the River Changes. JACQUELINE NICHOLLS Jacqueline is an award-winning visual poet and artist who often includes text in her art, so she was excited to speak to South African artist William Kentridge – who also plays with words in his work. On p30, he speaks to Jacqueline about Judaism, English antisemitism and the long reach of history. JAVIER SINAY In his book, The Murders of Moisés Ville, Javier explores a mystery at one of South America’s first rural Jewish colonies. On p24, he explores the history of the colony. His latest book After 9:53am, about the 1994 bombing of the Buenos Aires Jewish community centre, is published in Spanish by Penguin in July. L E T T E R S SPRING 2024 JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK 5

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YOUR SAY…

RENAISSANCE Jewish

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON JEWISH CULTURE

SPONSORED BY DANGOOR EDUCATION

WINTER 2024 £10

KIBBUTZ SURVIVORS FACE THE FUTURE LIFE ON THE BORDER

JR EXCLUSIVE: ESTHER KREITMAN LETTERS TO ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER +

RADICAL ROMANIANS The interwar culture pioneers

ED STOURTON “Religious zealots are an obstacle to peace”

MCDONALDS & WHISKY

The end of the USSR

L E T T E R S

Reactions to our winter issue LIFE ON THE BORDER: KIBBUTZ SURVIVORS FACE THE FUTURE Inking for Israel Thank you for a superb magazine, which has engrossed me since it hit my doormat. The article about the flourishing art movement in Bucharest [The radical culture of interwar Bucharest] during the 1920s was unexpected and captivating, as was the story of the artists Berthold and Margaret Wolpe [Quirky, inventive and eclectic: the art of Berthold and Margaret Wolpe]. The piece about people who are getting tattoos to show their Jewish pride [Inking for Israel], inspired me to get an ‘am Yisrael chai’ tattoo! WARREN HOSKINS

Desmond Tutu and Israel In the interview with the journalist Edward Stourton [“Religion doesn’t have a good record as a peace maker”], the broadcaster referred “affectionately” to Desmond Tutu, seemingly without having asked him about his hatred of Israel. To quote from a piece in The Times of Israel on the announcement of his death in 2021:

“In 1989, on a trip to Israel, he suggested that Jews should pray and forgive the Nazis for the extermination of 6 million Jews … He has also been an active member of the BDS [Boycott, Divest and Sanction] lobby – whose very existence is to promote the destruction of the State of Israel.

He promoted an appeal to the United States Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association pension fund to cut partnerships to Israeli companies, as well as a US food co-op.

He also called Israel a country built on apartheid and oppression of another people, while ignoring the very real history of the Jewish people in the land.

In 2001, in Durban’s notorious World Conference on Racism, he called for the “end of Israeli colonialist occupation in the Palestinian territories, the achievement of the right to self-determination by the Palestinian people, including the right of return, and for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.”

He told an international conference on racism that, despite our almost 4,000year history in Israel, Jews are not a part of Israel, but a colonialist entity that must be wiped out.”

Was he a true Christian? I don’t think so. GEOFFREY BERNSTEIN JR has asked Ed Stourton for a response to the letter (above) and are awaiting a reply, which we hope to publish in the next issue.

Please send your letters to: editor@jewishrenaissance.org.uk or by post to: Editor, Renaissance Publishing, Office 2, 353-359 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6ET

CATCH UP ON THE GO!

SIMPLY SEARCH FOR THE “EXACTLY” APP ON YOUR DEVICE’S APP STORE AND DOWNLOAD. THEN CHOOSE JEWISH RENAISSANCE A S THE MAGAZINE YOU WANT TO READ. YOU’LL NEED YOUR SUBSCRIBER NUMBER TO LOG IN. IF YOU CAN’T FIND THIS, EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS@ JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK.

JR

EDITOR Rebecca Taylor ART DIRECTOR Becky Redman DEPUTY & ONLINE EDITOR Danielle Goldstein EDITORIAL MANAGER Dani Silver ARTS & PODCAST EDITOR Judi Herman OPERATIONS MANAGER Ruth Bankover ADVERTISING & FINANCE MANAGER Lorraine Sheridan SUB EDITORS Judi Herman, Janet Levin, Judith Mirzoeff, Alex Galbinski ILLUSTRATIONS Thomas Fournier PHOTOGRAPHY Julieta Bugacoff WEB DESIGNER Becky Redman PROGRAMME PRODUCER Emma Brand

FOUNDER Janet Levin PRESIDENT David Dangoor EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dr Aviva Dautch

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Monica Bohm-Duchen, David Conway, David Herman, Judi Herman, Shoshi Ish-Horowicz, Bea Lewkowicz, Michael Mail, Jacqueline Nicholls

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Geraldine Auerbach MBE Alex Brummer City Editor, Daily Mail Monica Bohm-Duchen Art historian David Glasser Chair, Ben Uri Art Gallery and Museum Judy Ironside MBE Founder & President of UK Jewish Film Jennifer Jankel Chair, Jewish Music Institute Clive Lawton OBE Senior Consultant, Limmud Maureen Lipman Writer and actor Claudia Rubenstein Director, Jewish Book Week Raymond Simonson CEO, JW3 Nitza Spiro Director, Spiro Ark Lena Stanley-Clamp Director, European Association for Jewish Culture Connie Webber Managing Editor, Littman Library Prof Jonathan Webber Jagiellonian University

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Hester Abrams, David Benmayer, Patti Collins, Spencer Debson, Andrew Gordon (Chair), Ian Lancaster

HON LEGAL ADVISOR Jane Phillips The publisher, editor and members of the committees of Jewish Renaissance wish to make it clear that the views in the articles are those of individual authors and should not be taken to reflect their own opinions. The rights of copyright holders are recognised. Copyright holders we failed to locate should contact us at the address below. Printed in Wales by Pensord. Published by Renaissance Publishing a company limited by guarantee Registered Charity Number 1152871.

CONTACT INFORMATION 353-359 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6ET +44 20 7794 5254 WEBSITE www.jewishrenaissance.org.uk EMAIL editor@jewishrenaissance.org.uk advertising@jewishrenaissance.org.uk subscriptions@jewishrenaissance.org.uk SOCIAL Twitter: @JewishRen Instagram: @jewishrenaissance www.facebook.com/JewishRenaissance © Copyright Jewish Renaissance ISSN 1476 1769

4 JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK SPRING 2024

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