Aftershocks

After a serious earthquake, it is usual to experience a series of aftershocks, some of them just as severe as the main quake. Read more

Unpredictable politics

I realise someone has to run a country. I just wish there was another viable alternative to current politics. Read more

Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Straight from the West End, the new, reimagined production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat is a delightful, fun, engaging and dynamic family musical. Read more

Qatar’s farcical World Cup begins

Even before the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicked off, the tournament already had a hero: the former captain of the Iranian national team, Ali Daei. Read more

Dave Chappelle and normalizing black antisemitism

You have to live in a bubble of New York Times readers and NPR listeners to think that what happens on “Saturday Night Live” is of earth-shattering importance. Read more

From Australia’s Jewish Past: Constance Ellis – the first woman medical graduate in Victoria

Constance was born to Jewish parents on 2 November 1872 in Carlton, Melbourne. Read more

The Phantom of the Opera: Alex First reviews the Melbourne production

Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterful work The Phantom of the Opera sizzles. Read more

Feintooner

This week’s cartoon: A libel wrapped in a deception inside a hoax Read more

Why does Hebrew go from right to left and English from left to right?

Ask the rabbi. Read more

Let’s replace the term ‘national unity’ with ‘majority rule’

Once his formal consultations with each party in the Knesset came to a close on Friday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog was left with no choice. Read more

Don’t apologize for Ben-Gvir or anything else about Israel

As Benjamin Netanyahu begins forming the next Israeli government following his victory in the latest Knesset election, some on the left have begun a last-ditch effort to prevent him from forming a coalition with the parties that ran as his allies. Read more

Russia and Iran are heading for defeat in Ukraine

Those who are nostalgic for the heyday of neoconservatism might want to know that on Wednesday, former U.S. President George W. Bush will host a video discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Read more

Sunshine Super Girl: a theatre review by Alex First

Respectful, determined and humble. That is the picture that emerges of Australian tennis great Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Sunshine Super Girl, a moniker given to her by the British press. Read more

On the other hand

One of the many positive features of living in Israel is the experience of meeting and mixing with Jews from diverse parts of the world, sampling their culinary delights and learning about various traditions and customs. Read more

Contagious insanity

It is well known that viruses are contagious, and now it seems that a new variant is rampant among certain sections of the body politic. Read more

MBS & King Abdullah keep Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine alive

Non-participation by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister – Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS)  – and Jordan’s King Abdullah at the 31^st Summit of the Arab League held in Algiers on 1 and 2 November – even via Zoom  – was highly significant. Read more

Anger

Wherever we turn, anger seems to be the prevailing mood. Read more

Gundog (Three Fates Theatre) reviewed by Alex First

The rough lot of an impoverished farming clan is front and centre in Gundog, a dramatic and confronting play with lashes of humour. Read more

L’Chaim – To Life: Social media platforms’ hate speech prevention policy

Morry Frenkel speaks with Dr Andre Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI) and a cyber security expert, about the recent Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Antisemitism meeting that he attended in Washington DC. Read more

Shabbat Vayeyra: Who Was Hagar?

The character of Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, Avraham’s concubine, and Ishmael’s mother, has always fascinated me. Read more

A beauty and two beasts: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Under the baton of Simone Young, the SSO turned in a stirring performance last night from the two big Bs: Brahms’ first symphony and Beethoven’s violin concerto with soloist James Ehnes. Read more

Win a double pass for JIFF

There is still time to attend a movie during the Jewish International Film Festival. Read more

Lies and unapologetic antisemitism from the UN ‘Commission of Inquiry’

Antisemitism at the United Nations may be as ubiquitous as the United Nations’ dead silence on human rights violations around the world but rarely has it been as brazen and transparent as on Oct. 27, 2022. Read more

Jewish social media influencer makes a Holocaust documentary for a new generation

At a moment of sharply rising anti-Semitism, a Jewish social media star known for her dance videos is getting deadly serious. Read more

Lunch with Umberto

A Little Lunch Music is a long-running series created by the accomplished Australian pianist Kathryn Selby in 2007. Read more

Israeli Election 2022: Winners and Losers

Despite near parity between the two opposing political camps in terms of votes cast (2,360,757 to the right-wing religious alliance and 2,330,464 votes for the “anti-Netanyahu block”) the Netanyahu-led bloc of Likud, Religious Zionism, Shas and United Torah Judaism achieved 64 seats and a clear majority. Read more

From Australia’s Jewish past: Louis Pulver –  Heaven-born instructor of youth

Louis was the son of Isaac and Rosetta, who met and married in London in 1840. Read more

Bibi’s victory, Biden administration blues

Let’s set aside speculation as to why President Joe Biden has yet to congratulate Israel’s former and soon-to-be prime minister, Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, on his victory in the Nov. 1 Knesset elections. Read more

The United Ukrainian Ballet company’s Swan Lake: reviewed by Alan Slade

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Ukrainian soloists Stanislav Olshanski and Alexander Tutunique were performing in Amsterdam with the famous former principal dancer in the Dutch National Ballet, Igone de Jongh. Read more

The Hunt: A Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus thriller

Faye Kellerman’s book reviewed by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen. Read more

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