Abomination: a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen
July 20, 2022 by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen
This book begins in 1999 and is set in Melbourne. Read more
Biden’s trip produced mixed bag of results for Israel, say experts
July 19, 2022 by Israel Kasnett - JNS.org
U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel and the Middle East accomplished most of the administration’s goals, but from Israel’s point of view, the results were a mixed bag, experts told JNS. Read more
From Australia’s Jewish Past: Sir Julian Emanuel Salomons (Solomons) – barrister and politician extraordinaire
July 19, 2022 by Ruth Lilian
Julian was born on 4 November 1835 in Birmingham, England and emigrated to New South Wales in 1853, working first for a bookseller and then for a ‘stock jobber’ – now known as a stockbroker – moving on to study law. Read more
Was there a choir in the Temple in Jerusalem?
July 18, 2022 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
Ask the rabbi. Read more
The disgraceful disruption of the Abraham Accords
July 18, 2022 by Ruthie Blum - JNS
The debate in Israel about the significance of U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent visit to Israel and affirmation of America’s “bone-deep” relationship with the Jewish state should make way for a far more serious question. Read more
Biden rejects Saudi plan for Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine
July 18, 2022 by David Singer
President Biden’s support for the creation of an additional Arab State between Israel and Jordan constitutes his clear rejection of a Saudi plan to merge Jordan, Gaza and part of the West Bank into one territorial entity to be called “The Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine” (“Saudi Solution”). Read more
Feintooner
July 18, 2022 by Feintooner
This week’s cartoon: Serving up a tossed policy salad Read more
Il Trovatore: an opera review by Murray Dahm
July 18, 2022 by Murray Dahm
This new production of Verdi’s 1853 opera Il Trovatore directed by Davide Livermore had all the bells and whistles – the 14 LED digital panels supplemented with big, old-fashioned set pieces and a wonderful cast. Read more
Iran’s ‘death corridor’ is open for business
July 17, 2022 by Ben Cohen
Iran thrust its way back into the news cycle last week as U.S. President Joe Biden embarked on a four-day tour of the Middle East beginning in Israel, but arguably, the most significant event to impact the Islamic Republic’s international reputation took place in faraway Stockholm. Read more
Murray Dahm profiles David Parkin, Il Trovatore and basses
July 17, 2022 by Murray Dahm
Not long into my interview with bass David Parkin, we discovered a mutual admiration of the great Italian bass Cesare Siepi (1923-1910). Read more
L’chaim – to Life: Jeremy Ungar – Israel the “Start Me Up” nation
July 17, 2022 by Features Desk
Maurice Klein speaks with Jeremy Ungar, Senior Trade Officer at the Israel Trade and Economic Commission Israel Embassy in Australia. Read more
9 to 5: The Musical – State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, as reviewed by Alex First
July 17, 2022 by Alex First
9 to 5 The Musical is energetic, sassy and colourful. Read more
On the other hand
July 17, 2022 by Michael Kuttner
What has caused Jerusalem to be shut down, the main highway to the Capital closed and total chaos at Ben Gurion airport? Read more
Zealotry
July 15, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
Nowadays, aggression seems to be the norm rather than the exception. Especially when it comes to political issues and identities. Read more
La La Land
July 15, 2022 by Michael Kuttner
This colloquial term’s definition is: “a euphoric, dreamlike mental state detached from the harsher realities of life.” Read more
Behind the scenes: La traviata assistant director Warwick Doddrell
July 15, 2022 by Murray Dahm
Opera Australia assistant director for the La traviata season Warwick Doddrell was first bitten by the theatre bug in the 1990s watching the Essgee Entertainment productions of Gilbert & Sullivan show starring Jon English (The Pirates of Penzance (1994), The Mikado (1995) and H.M.S. Pinafore (1997). Read more
Shabbat Balak: Prophecy
July 14, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
Three people are called prophets in the Torah Abraham, Miriam, and Moses. Read more
Austen Tayshus talks about his favourite audience – The Jews
July 13, 2022 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Austen Tayshus: Skin in the Game, a documentary about Sandy Gutman and his alter ego Austen Tayshus premieres on Sunday on Foxtel. Read more
Secrets: a theatre review from Melbourne by Alex First
July 13, 2022 by Alex First
Just how good are you at keeping secrets? Read more
Drawing the wrong conclusions from a Western Wall outrage
July 13, 2022 by Jonathan S. Tobin - JNS.org
If anyone was looking to create an incident whose principal aim was to help alienate more Jews from Israel, the attack on bar mitzvah ceremonies being held at the egalitarian prayer area at Jerusalem’s Western Wall (Kotel) certainly fit the bill. Read more
From Australia’s Jewish Past: Sir Benjamin Benjamin – a Victorian community pioneer and one of the most notable Australian Jews
July 12, 2022 by Features Desk
Benjamin was born on 2 September 1834 in London, the eldest son of Moses and Catherine. The family emigrated to Melbourne arriving on 29 December 1843.
What do Jews think of Jesus?
July 11, 2022 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
PLO & Hamas give silent nod to Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine
July 11, 2022 by David Singer
The first meeting in six years between PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Algeria this week saw these two protagonists for leadership of the Palestinian Arabs failing to take the opportunity to condemn a Saudi Arabian proposal to unify Jordan, Gaza and parts of the West Bank into one territorial entity. Read more
Compartment No 6: a movie review by Alex First
July 11, 2022 by Alex First
We’re in Moscow in 1996. Read more
Banning anti-Zionism: Feasible? Desirable?
July 10, 2022 by Ben Cohen
One of the main differences between the American and European systems of democratic government is the absence, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, of a First Amendment-style guarantee of free speech. Read more
On the other hand
July 10, 2022 by Michael Kuttner
The long hot days of summer have arrived which means that parents must organize themselves in order to keep their children busy and happy. Read more
Sundown: a movie review by Alex First
July 8, 2022 by Alex First
An intelligent, slow-burn movie in which little appears to happen for a long time and much remains unsaid, thereafter the shocks come. Read more
Stacey Alleaume magnificent in classic Traviata triumph
July 8, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
If Giuseppe Verdi is indeed the greatest opera composer (which I certainly think he is ) then among his many great compositions La Traviata must surely be close to the very top…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more
Kopul Rosen and The Eichmann trial
July 8, 2022 by Jeremy Rosen
A few weeks ago, I mentioned the Netflix film “The Trial of Adolph Eichmann” and a brief clip of my late father Kopul Rosen speaking in a BBC panel that appeared in it. Read more
An open letter to President Biden on his planned visit to eastern Jerusalem
July 8, 2022 by Danny Danon
Dear Mr President,
It is with the respect that I write to you today to express my deepest concerns over reports of your proposed visit to symbolic Palestinian Authority institutions in eastern Jerusalem during your forthcoming trip to Israel this month. Read more
