Reason to Believe: The Controversial Life of Rabbi Louis Jacobs

It seems strange that I received this book on the day I heard about the death of Jonathan Sacks, the Emeritus Chief Rabbi of the United Synagogue of the United Kingdom…writes Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen. Read more

Opera Australia to return to the Sydney Opera House in January

Opera Australia will return to the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage for the first time since the coronavirus shut down its 2020 season in March, today announcing a three-month COVID-safe season that includes two productions never before performed by the Company. Read more

Fraser Beath McEwing reports: What the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has in store for 2021

Tossing aside the pandemic and the problem faced by wind players blowing through face masks, the SSO has announced the programs for its 2021 season. Read more

Heart of Violence: Why People Harm Each Other – a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

Paul Valent brings two unique interests in writing this book. Not only was he the long-serving President of the Child Holocaust Survivors Melbourne but he has been a major voice in the study of Trauma and Founder of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Read more

The Order: a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

This is Dan Silva’s twenty-third novel and as usual features as its chief protagonist is Gabriel Allon who is not only head of Israel’s secret service, the Mossad, but also an art restorer. Read more

Behind the South African Festival

Claire Jankelson and Di Singer are the directors of the South African Film Festival. Claire answers questions for J-Wire. Read more

Lie back and listen to Ludwig: a didn’t-happen music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Instead of arriving at the Sydney Town Hall next Wednesday night to hear the SSO, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, organ, and four soloists perform Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, I’ll probably be waiting for an Uber-eat paper bag to arrive at home. Read more

The Yellow Bird Sings: a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

I seem to have become our esteemed editor’s go-to guy when he needs someone to crit books about the Holocaust. Read more

Impressions from, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Debussy – and the Sydney Town Hall: a music review from Fraser Beath McEwing

The first concert in the SSO Masters Series for 2020 ushered in the beginning of a two-year stint in ye auld and venerated Sydney Town Hall while the Opera House concert hall is up for a rebore. Read more

Faust: McVicar’s devilish take on classic opera…an opera review by Victor Grynberg

One of France’s greatest ever composers, Charles Gounod had an immediate hit on his hands when his opera Faust finally premiered in Paris in 1859. Read more

A Universe of Sufficient Size: a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

At the first Limmud-Oz I gave a presentation on Holocaust Novels: Fact from Fiction. It posed the possibility that some holocaust novels appear so real and some true stories seem to be pieces of fiction. Read more

Don Giovanni: singers shine in Mozart masterpiece

Don Giovanni is the tale brought to Mozart by his librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte when he was looking for a story to follow his great success with The Marriage Of Figaro writes Victor Grynberg. Read more

Just Mercy: a movie review by James Bernardinelli

Just Mercy is the kind of high-minded tale about social injustice that often opens around this time of the year. Read more

Bombshells: a movie review by James Bernardinelli

As a dramatic re-creation of the events leading up to the July 2016 ouster of Fox News honcho Roger Ailes, Bombshell is effective cinema. Read more

Present Tense by Natalie Conyer: a book review by Geoffrey Zygier

In Bereishit, the first reading of the Torah, Eve picks a fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, despite the Almighty’s specific prohibition. Read more

John Bell’s Havana colours bring extra delight To Carmen: an opera review by Victor Grynberg

George Bizet died tragically at only 37 years of age, after 33 mixed-reviewed performances of his Spanish-themed opera Carmen. Read more

Mengele: Unmasking the Angel of Death – a book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

In receiving this book, it brought back to me two issues. Read more

1917: a movie review by James Bernardinelli

When it comes to 20th-century wars, World War I, the so-called “Great War” or “War to End All Wars,” is poorly represented in motion pictures. Read more

La Boheme: an opera review by Victor Grynberg

A summertime favourite at the Opera House almost every year, La Boheme received that rare Sydney accolade, an almost total standing ovation after this year’s opening night. Read more

Jojo Rabbit: a film review by James Berardinelli

It’s not hard to understand how something like Jojo Rabbit might divide audiences. Comedies about Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Third Reich can be difficult to sell, even if there’s an underlying seriousness to the subject matter. Read more

A briefish Mahler fest: Music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

If you love Mahler, this was a concert for you. Read more

Peerless playing from Paul Lewis: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

British pianist, Paul Lewis, filled his Sydney Recital Hall program with just two works last night: Schubert’s Sonata in G D894 and Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. No bonbons to be seen. Read more

Kaddish.com: book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

The publisher introduces the novel by “Larry is the secular son in a family of Orthodox Brooklyn Jews. Read more

The Other Story: screening at the Jewish International Film Festival

The Other Story is an Israeli movie from director and co-writer Avi Nesher. It is a fascinating movie that juxtaposes relationships in the religious orthodox community, against secular relationships in modern-day Israel. Read more

The beauty of sadness: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

While concert programs are usually eclectic, so that everybody gets at least something they like, last night’s SSO offering in the Masters Series was unashamedly emotional from start to finish. And I, for one, loved it, not just for the program but the quality of the performance. Read more

Never Again-Austen Tayshus

Like so many I saw a number of Austen Tayshus shows in the 80’s in Pubs and clubs where you would leave drenched in sweat and feeling like you had just done nine rounds of cage wrestling with Andre the Giant and a Grizzly bear. The latest offering by Austen Tayshus at the Bondi Pavillion still leaves you battered and bruised but dying for more. Read more

Working Woman: a movie review by Toni Susskind

Written by Michal Aviad, Working Women is a powerful movie that highlights gender exploitation, by turning the spotlight on sexual harassment in the office. Read more

Something completely different: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Although Geoffrey Lancaster is a world-renowned performer on the fortepiano, it was risky to devote one of the four piano series recitals to a period instrument. Read more

Music from beneath the Bolshevik boot: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

Last night’s Masters Series concert was not for faint-hearted orchestral players, conductors or an audience that wanted orderly, familiar music. Read more

Lux: a book review by Aviva Kipen

For millennia unembroidered biblical and post-biblical stories were elaborated and embellished in the oral tradition that was finally committed to writing following the destruction of the Second Temple. Read more

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