CONTENTS
I O N S
I T
E D
A N T H O LO GY
BY
I S H E D
, P U B L
S TAT E S
A LT E R E D
; F R O M
I S A AC S
; © C A R O L
I T U T E
I N S T
F RY
I A N
; © VA R
I G
G R E
; © R O B
C E N T E R
I O N
D O C U M E N TAT
T H E
O F
I ; C O U R T E SY
I G E L L
B A R
C R U Z
I A
; © C L AU D
S O KO L
I Z
: © B E AT R
C OV E R
T H E
O N
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36
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OCTOBER 2018 WWW.JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK
JR
4 YOUR SAY… Reader’s rants, raves and views on the July issue of JR.
6 WHAT’S NEW First service in 500 years for Lorca synagogue; chocolate menorot (yum); YIVO opens in London.
10 FEATURE Marseille’s unsung hero: Elisabeth Blanchet uncovers the wartime story of Varian Fry.
12FEATURE When the nun met the rabbi: Deborah Freeman visits the German Bible study centre where Christians, Muslims and Jews debate together.
14PASSPORT Mexico: We uncover a history of secret villages; fiery revolutionaries and Yiddish activists; meet Mexico City’s first woman – and Jewish – mayor; and hear from the cultural movers and shakers who are putting this Latin American country on the map.
32 FILM The UK Jewish Film Festival is coming to town! We review the top docs that are set to make waves this year.
34THEATRE Canada is the setting for Old Stock’s story of immigration and love. Judi Herman meets the husbandand-wife team behind the show.
36MUSIC Vivi Lachs uncovers the story behind Soviet Zion, a musical about the Jewish region in Siberia; a concert marks Kristallnacht 80 years on.
38BOOKS Peter Watts pops the religion pill; Mike Witcombe speaks to Ariel Kahn about his debut novel and we revisit Maureen Kendler’s seminal series on British Jewish writing. Plus David Herman on Saul Bellow; Liz Cashdan on Kinder Scout; and Seymour Hersh’s biography.
46THE MODERNISTS Adrian Whittle on Haifa’s iconic shuk.
47 SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE Rebecca Taylor on the Wolf of Baghdad; Michelle Huberman on the parties promising miracles; Lyn Julius asks: who owns Jewish culture?
54 WHAT’S HAPPENING Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.
65 FAMILY Alumot gives Cambridge Israelis a warm shalom.
66 MEET THE READER This issue: Basil Mann in Hounslow.
OCTOBER 2018 JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK 3
C O N T E N T S
