I don’t have a creative bone in my body, I hear you say. But, many pursuits fit the definition of creativity. You don’t need to be Rodin, Michelangelo or Van Gogh.
How about being passionate about technology, cooking, gardening, sewing or dancing? Are you good at crosswords or sudoku? There is creativity involved in all those pursuits.
Psychological research confirms that being creative can increase positive emotions, lessen depressive symptoms, reduce stress, decrease anxiety and, even, improve the functioning of one’s immune system. Spending time on creative activities is associated with a higher “activated positive affect”.
“Positive affect” is the extent to which people experience positive moods, reflecting happiness and optimism. Higher positive affect lowers stress and expands perspective, opening us up to more possibilities.
Being creative boosts brain function. When we are creative, we use parts of the brain that are not activated in undertaking routine, everyday tasks. The
analytical left hemisphere focuses on motor functions, the right is the creative.
We know that social connection is vital for well-being. Creative activities undertaken in groups provide the opportunity to interact with others. It also helps boost self-esteem and confidence. There is a sense of satisfaction and achievement. You might have noticed that adult colouring-in books are “a
Good luck. Enjoy. Hopefully, learn something new about your Jewish heritage and tradition.
Thank you to so many readers for their positive feedback about our unique Judaica quiz crafted by the learned and talented Rabbi David Freedman. His breadth of knowledge of all-things-Judaica enables us to dip and dive into myriad topics. These include Zionism, Jewish music, education, the Hebrew language. We also see a nod to both the Sephardi and Ashkenazi heritage and culture and yes, as always so much more.
1. How long after the capture of Beer Sheva (October 31, 1917) by the British and Anzac servicemen did Lord Balfour send the letter (which became known as the Balfour Declaration) to Lord Rothschild?
2. Which famous Chasidic Rebbe said the following: “If you won't be better tomorrow than you were today, then what do you need tomorrow for?”
3. Simcha ben Samuel of Vitry composed which famous liturgical work in the 11th century?
4. Which former record producer and convicted murderer died in prison from Covid 19?
5. Who is one of Britain’s most famous cooks, known for her enthusiastic, verbose descriptions of food and her midnight cake cravings?
6. Born in Poland, who founded the Bais Ya'akov educational movement for girls and brought about a revolution in the status of women in Orthodox Judaism?
7. Name the female prophetess mentioned in 2 Kings 22:14–20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22–28.
8.In Hebrew, what is the opposite of yamin?
9. The beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943 coincided with which Jewish festival?
10. Where would one find the Yosef Caro Synagogue?
11. Who is the current Israeli ambassador to Australia?
12.What potentially dangerous event occurred in 1995 in the Gulf of Eilat, 100km south of Eilat?
13. Max Homa is an American Jewish sportsman in which sport?
14. Name any one of the three Jewish organisations that founded ZIM Palestine Navigation Company Ltd in 1945.
15. Which is the oldest of Israel’s banks?
16. Approximately how many different species of birds are found in Israel?
17. Complete the following phrase from the Book of Proverbs:
“The fear of the LORD is ……”
18. In which book of the Bible do we read about the Valley of the Dry Bones?
19. What does the word Talmud mean?
20. What is the name of the publishing house of the Hebrew University?
21. Which two Jewish brothers became the sole owners of Macy’s in 1896?
22.Which commemorative day in the Jewish calendar precedes Yom Ha’atzmaut?
23. Before Noah released the dove from the Ark, which other bird did he send out?
24.In which Spanish city is a statue of Moses Maimonides?
25. Neil Sedaka’s paternal grandparents were Sephardi Jews who arrived in the USA in 1910 from which Mizrachi or Middle Eastern Jewish community?
ANSWERS PAGE 14
thing” now. That’s because they help you find “your flow” – the state where you’re so absorbed in an activity that you forget all the worrying thoughts lingering in your mind.
It’s impossible to be stressed or anxious when you’re completely “in the moment”.
I referenced research earlier. Studies indicate that engaging in creative
activities during stressful times results in a significant decrease in anxiety afterwards. It is a mechanism to help cope with stress. It also boosts the natural, feel-good hormone dopamine. So, the next time you are feeling low, try to pursue something creative.
Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.
How many common words of five or more letters can you spell using the letters in the hive? Every answer must use the centre letter at least once. Letters may be reused in a word. At least one word will use all seven letters and have a direct Jewish connection.
Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. Score 1 point for each answer and 3 points for a Jewish related word that uses all 7 letters.
Rating: 20 = Good, 25 = Excellent, 30 = Genius
Yoni Glatt has published more than 1,000 crossword puzzles worldwide, from the LA Times and Boston Globe to The Jerusalem Post. He has also published two Jewish puzzle books: "Kosher Crosswords" and the sequel "More Kosher Crosswords and Word Games".
ANSWERS PAGE 14
It is with pride, joy and gratitude that UIA reflects upon the past 75 years of Israel’s existence. 75 years of building infrastructure, providing housing and jobs. 75 years of establishing education and healthcare systems, airlines and many other institutions that have become the backbone of Israeli society as we know today. 75 years of rescuing Jews from the threats they faced anywhere in the world and absorbing them. 75 years of growth and development, all of which has been achieved with Keren HayesodUIA (KH-UIA) in lock step.
While the miracle that is the State of Israel may have been declared in 1948, the work to establish a recognised Jewish Homeland began decades earlier. Mandatory Palestine of 1920 was a backward, desolate place. Jews were desperately trying to make a living, while defending themselves against a violent Arab population. The situation of world Jewry was also dire.
KH-UIA embarked on a mission of national revival, the likes of which had not been undertaken in 2,500 years. Yet the challenge of creating a sovereign state out of nothing and the sheer scope of this venture were mind-boggling. KHUIA brought and resettled hundreds of thousands of immigrants and created physical, social and educational
infrastructures for the state in progress.
By 1948, a Jewish state was no longer a utopian dream. Yet, tiny newborn Israel, which lost one per cent of its population in the War of Independence, faced the huge task of absorbing Holocaust survivors and refugees from Arab countries.
From its inception, the organisation’s mission was mutual responsibility and support for the People of Israel. With
The King David School wishes you a
the help of worldwide donors, who at every juncture rallied to support Israel, KH-UIA facilitated the development of hundreds of border settlements and development towns. There was barely an aspect of Jewish life that KH-UIA wasn’t involved in – from youth aliyah and rescue, to setting up absorption centres and ulpanim, youth villages, kindergartens and hospitals. And here we are today, 75 years later. Despite
the toll taken by the many wars that Israel has been forced to fight, KH-UIA has brought in more than three and a half million olim. It has facilitated their integration so that Israel today is the spiritual, cultural and population centre of the Jewish people. The inventiveness and ingenuity that characterises this young country has made it a global leader in security, agriculture, science, technology, medicine and other fields. All these achievements were made possible with the help of KH-UIA donors, who serve as a bridge linking world Jewry and the State of Israel.
Yet, immense challenges remain. In Israel, at-risk youth, vulnerable populations, Holocaust survivors and the elderly are in desperate need of our support. Around the globe, the flames of antisemitism are burning again. Despite this, the same perseverance and passion that fired KH-UIA’s founders continues to drive its worldwide family. Supporters have demonstrated that all of Israel is responsible for each and every component of the nation, reflecting their unconditional love for the Jewish People and their homeland.
This spirit will continue to inspire the global KH-UIA family as it strengthens the State of Israel to be a safeguard for Jews around the world.
Keren Hayesod-UIA is proud to be the official fundraising arm of the State of Israel.
Thanks to your support, thousands of new Olim from Ukraine and other countries will celebrate their first Yom Ha'atzmaut in Israel.
Together, we will continue to empower and strengthen the People of Israel.
Am Yisrael Chai!
The pantomime artist’s greatest performance: risking his life to save others.
Marcel Marceau not only entertained with his funny, graceful, exaggerated movements, he saved lives – including hundreds of orphans – during the Holocaust.
As a teenager, he put his gift of acting to good use. A member of the resistance movement fighting the Nazi occupation of France, he masqueraded as a Boy Scout director and evacuated a Jewish orphanage. He first convinced the children in eastern France that they were going on a hiking vacation in the Alps. Then he shepherded them to safety in Switzerland. He avoided detection on the perilous journey by charming the children with silent pantomime.
“He was miming for his life,” said documentary filmmaker Phillipe Mora, whose father was Marceau’s partner in the French resistance.
Marceau was born into a Jewish family as Marcel Mangel on March 22nd, 1923, in Strasbourg on the Rhine. He professionally performed what he called “the art of silence” worldwide for more than 60 years. It all began when he discovered Charlie Chaplin at age five and amused friends by imitating the silent film star.
Marcel changed his last name to Marceau at age 16 to avoid being identified as Jewish. The Nazis had invaded France and the Jews of Strasbourg, in the Alsace region near the German border, were fleeing to save their lives.
Young Marcel travelled with his older brother to Limoges and joined the underground. Marcel not only mimed to keep orphans quiet as they crossed the border into Switzerland, but he also performed a sleight-of-hand, changing the ages on the identity cards of scores of French youths, both Jews and Gentiles. He wanted to make them seem too young for labour camps or work in German factories for the army.
“I don't like to speak about myself, because what I did humbly during the war was only a small part of what happened to heroes who died through their deeds in times of danger,” Marceau said at the University of Michigan in 2001, when accepting the Raoul Wallenberg Medal in memory of a righteous Gentile who saved thousands of Jews from death in the Holocaust. “Think about the American G.I.s when they were at Normandy and were killed terribly before they reached France.
“We shall never destroy evil, unfortunately. But good exists also among the majority. I will speak only briefly about my own deeds. It is true that
I saved children, bringing them to the border in Switzerland. I forged identity cards with my brother when it was very dangerous because you could be arrested if you were in the underground. I also forged papers, not to save only
who hid him during the war knew Marceau later would make an important contribution to the theatre.
He talked about his father, whom he didn’t have a chance to rescue. The elder man, a butcher, died in Auschwitz.
Master of Silence – it may have been particularly difficult for him to break the silence about this tragic period in his life.” He built a career on that silence.
In 1944, after Paris was liberated, Marceau enlisted in the French Army, serving side by side with American G.I.s. As he recalled, “We were already at peace in December 1945, but we were still mobilised. I went to Frankfurt where there was the Sixth Army of General Patton and I met Captain Parker. He said to me, ‘Young man, what will you do later?’ I said, ‘Pantomime … you know, Chaplin, Keaton, I want to make theatre without speaking.’”
Jews and children, but to save Gentiles and Jews, especially Gentiles because there was a law in Vichy-occupied France – to send the young French men, who were 18, 19 years old, to factories in Germany to work for the German Army. And then I had an idea to bribe the officials and make people look much younger in their photos.”
That night in Michigan Marceau gave the crowd advance warning: “Never get a mime talking, because he won’t stop.”
He talked about the acting skills that enabled him to save lives. The cousin
“I cried for my father,” said Marceau, “but I also cried for the millions of people who died.”
The great mime hadn’t spoken about his World War II experiences earlier in his life. His silence wasn’t surprising, according to University of Michigan professor emerita Irene Butter, who introduced him as the Wallenberg Medallist.
“Many, if not most, survivors of the Holocaust were not able to speak about it for nearly half a century,” explained Butter, herself a Holocaust survivor. “Marcel Marceau is known as the
The captain asked Marceau to demonstrate. He obliged with shticks about walking against the wind, climbing stairs and engaging in a tug of war. Then Parker asked him to entertain the U.S. troops – 3,000 strong.
With white face, arched eyebrows and red lips, Marceau continued to communicate to audiences through movement for decades.
Until his death on Yom Kippur at age 84, Marceau performed 300 times a year and taught at his pantomime school in Paris. The artist who brought poetry to silence was laid to rest in a Paris cemetery in 2007.
RONDA ROBINSON COURTESY: AISH.COM
CONSIDERED OPINION
“Never get a mime talking, because he won’t stop.” – Marcel Marceau
Centre – the largest hospital in the country’s south and the only one in the Negev – by developing a healing garden.
The Jewish National Fund is delighted to be celebrating Israel’s 75th Yom Ha’atzmaut with its supportive community.
JNF is proud to have contributed to essential environmental projects in Israel, greening our beautiful homeland by planting more than 260 million trees, as well as conducting conservation works, water projects, agricultural research and supporting technological innovation.
JNF is dedicated to supporting the many inspirational Israelis that work tirelessly to improve the environment in Israel and is committed to the welfare of her people.
That’s why JNF is pleased that, in this milestone year, all its campaigns will support the growth and development of Israel’s south.
This September, its 2023 Major Campaign will focus on support for the Soroka Medical
The Centre serves in excess of 60 per cent of Israel’s land area. Upwards of one million patients rely upon Soroka’s care every year. The healing garden will offer a pathway to recovery and peace to many of the most vulnerable.
Ever mindful that its core mission is environmental, JNF Australia also supports a wide range of vital benevolent relief projects.
To mark Israel’s special anniversary, JNF is running two special tours to Israel – the JNF 75th Celebration Tour and a JNFuture Leadership Tour.
May Israel continue to go from strength to strength with the love and support of JNF Australia and the entire Jewish community.
To contact JNF, please email office@jnf.org. au or phone 1300 563 563.
St Kilda shule has bought the desk that belonged to General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD (1865-1931), the founding president of the Zionist Federation of Australia and New Zealand.
Rabbi Yaakov Glasman announced the news to his congregation after the desk was purchased by the synagogue’s president Janice Iloni-Furstenberg. She donated it to the shule to become Rabbi Glasman’s new working desk.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I stumbled upon John Monash’s desk on Posh Opp Shoppe’s Facebook page,” said IloniFurstenberg.
“Monash has been an incredibly important figure in our shule and it was amazing to think we could have another piece of his history.”
The synagogue also owns a gavel that belonged to Monash. The desk’s journey from
Monash’s home in Toorak to the St Kilda shule was explained by Monash’s great-grandson, Michael Bennett. He told Rabbi Glasman that when his father, Sir John Monash's grandson Colin Bennett, passed away last year, Michael Bennett donated his great grandfather's desk to the op shop, which raises money for disadvantaged children. Monash was a longstanding member of St Kilda synagogue and served on its board between 1920 and 1931.
"It feels surreal to be sitting at the same desk at which Sir John Monash sat,” Rabbi Glasman said.
“It's deeply humbling to think every time I sit down to write an email, I'm sitting at the desk of a true Australian hero and arguably the most prominent Australian Jew in our history."
After the desk arrived in Rabbi Glasman’s office, Michael Bennett paid a visit to the shule to see its new home.
He, the rabbi and the president then talked about “all things Monash”.
Chana Raskin breaks new musical ground with an album of Hasidic melodies.
Growing up in Brooklyn, Chana Raskin was exposed to different genres of Jewish music from a young age. With family lineage traceable all the way back to the Alter Rebbe, the founder of the Chabad branch of Hasidism, the Raskins always had a particularly special relationship with wordless Jewish melodies known as niggunim. Most often made up of rhythmic sounds (“lai-lai-lai” or “bim-bam”, for instance) instead of lyrics and sung or hummed in groups, niggunim were composed by Hasidic leaders, often hundreds of years ago.
“My father loves niggunim and he would always sing them. We grew up with Chabad music,” Raskin said, adding that as one of eight children singing niggunum was a family affair. “We used to sing a lot at the Shabbat table, on motzei shabbat [when Shabbat ends on Saturday night] and we would always play these Chabad niggunim albums.”
These melodies, which provide an intense spiritual experience for all participants and aim to elevate the soul, are sung at Hasidic gatherings. They are sung by men and women alike, but separately. Orthodox men are prohibited from hearing women singing, for reasons of modesty – a prohibition known as kol isha. (There are more lenient opinions from some rabbis that exclude singing in mixed groups from the prohibition.)
While professional recordings of Hasidic niggnum in a male voice exist and many people will listen to them outside traditional gatherings, previously no full album of professionally recorded Hasidic niggunim in a woman’s voice had – even if there is a debate in Orthodox Jewish law about whether kol isha extends to recorded female voices.
That changed with the recent release of 35-year-old Raskin’s album Kapelya, which comprises more than a dozen Chabad Hasidic niggunim sung by Raskin, who uses the name RAZA when performing. The album features vocals from an additional circle of 21 women, including a small group of female instrumentalists that come from a wide range of Jewish backgrounds and are not exclusively from the Chabad movement. The only man to feature in any capacity on the album is Joey Weisenberg, a wellknown Jewish musician-composer that does not sing on the album, but appears as an instrumentalist on some of Raskin’s tracks. Weisenberg also produced and musically directed the entire project and album with Raskin. Other men were also involved in the making of the album, including male recording engineers and filmographers.
While many Orthodox women do not sing in public due to the prohibitions against men hearing their voices, Raskin does not mind performing for mixed audiences and created her album for anybody who wants to listen to it. “My hope is that women in the various communities I am connected to, including the broad-spectrum religious community, [such as] the Hasidic community, will get to listen to this music,” she said. “I hope that women will
start singing and listening and know that they can and are invited to start singing and listening more deeply to this music as their own.”
A successful crowdfunding campaign for Raskin’s album in July last year cemented her status as a trailblazer in the world of Hasidic music. It is hoped that the story of these niggunim will resonate with all people across the spectrum of Judaism and the recordings of women singing niggunim will empower a new generation.
This album is also a part of Raskin’s personal healing journey. Just over eight years ago, she sustained a minor traumatic brain injury, which changed her life. “I spent two years in rehab and recovery. Much of the last couple of years has been cognitive rehabilitation. Music has been a really big part of that. Humming and music and stillness has been my healing,” she said. “During the past many years of recovery, music and singing have become a haven, a teacher, a place where I could just be. And that has been the deepest learning, the wisdom of rest, of quiet, of listening, that has informed all the music on this album.”
While Raskin has always been musically inclined, she had never considered herself a musician by trade. However, in the years since her injury she began teaching music more regularly and consistently. During her recovery, Raskin facilitated musical singing experiences for groups of mainly women, called Raza circles. “Raza is an Aramaic word that means ‘hidden’, she explained. “When I started the circles it was about
uncovering or discovering a sound that felt hidden, even from me. I heard a whisper, sometimes in my mind. I started the circles with the hope of trying to get to the sound … even though I was still physically and cognitively struggling, I needed to do something that would nourish my soul. I did monthly circles open to all and eventually also weekly circles for a dedicated group of musicians – all women. That’s when I officially deep dived into the niggunim.”
In recent years, the interest in creating new Jewish music has been largely driven by Hadar’s Rising Song Institute, founded by Weisenberg. The institute hopes to encourage the creation of Jewish music that resonates with many audiences. Raskin’s album is one of their projects. Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz is Hadar’s director of tefillah and music and her role involves creating opportunities for communal music and song. She supports emerging artists and prayer leaders, partnering with the Rising Song Institute in the cultivation of new Jewish music.
“The artists that we work with come from myriad diverse backgrounds, cultures, lived experiences and reasons for creating music in the first place. [At Hadar] our goal is to cultivate Jewish life through that diversity of song and to find the spiritual underpinnings of that music,” she said. “One of the core features of much of the music at the Rising Song Institute, at its essence, is that the music brings together the old and the new. And many of our artists –myself included as a compose –explore what that looks like through ancient texts
paired with new melodies and voices, and these are important contributions to the soundscape of Jewish life.”
As niggunim are traditionally sung in groups, to create Kapelya and be authentic to the genre, additional singers were required for the recordings. A core group of seven, called the RAZA ensemble, composed of female singers and instrumentalists, including Sacks Mintz, and spearheaded by Weisenberg, formed to support Raskin as she recorded the tunes. In addition to this core group, another team of women called the RAZA circle were also involved. “[These women] created the real fire and power of this record,” said Sacks Mintz.
Sacks Mintz is not surprised that Raskin’s journey led her to this recording project.
“I had been hearing about Chana Raskin for many years, as myself being a woman who loved to foster communal singing experiences. I couldn’t go anywhere in the Jewish world without someone bringing up her name and asking me if she and I had ever sung together,” said Sacks Mintz.
“I found her journey of excavating and exploring and unearthing the treasures of her own voice as a woman incredibly inspirational. Something unique that Chana is bringing with her musical traditions, is that she breathes old melodies to life with new voices and new perspectives. And that’s particularly exciting and courageous.”
This story originally appeared in Tablet Magazine (tabletmag.com) and is reprinted with permission.
ZIONISM VICTORIA
Zionism Victoria is overseeing community celebrations to mark a major Israeli milestone – its diamond jubilee.
The Jewish Report spoke with Zionism Victoria Executive Director Zeddy Lawrence.
What is Zionism Victoria doing to mark Israel’s 75th anniversary?
As well as several initiatives during the year, such as creating the Israel 75 Peace Garden in Glen Eira, on Yom Ha’atzmaut itself – Wednesday 26th April – there’s a free community festival in O’Donnell Gardens (next to Luna Park), with stalls, food, music and entertainment. We’re also taking over Luna Park itself, offering unlimited rides, and then there’s a gala concert next door at The Palais, featuring incredible musicians, singers and DJs, including David Southwick, who’ll be reviving his legendary ‘DJ Dave’ alter ego for one night only. For Luna Park and Palais tickets, visit yoms.com.au.
What can the community to do lend its support to the occasion?
Come along and join the once-ina-lifetime celebrations. We only have one Jewish State and while we may not always agree with its politicians the fact
it exists is a miracle. Its achievements are incredible and we need to recognise and embrace that.
Tell me a little more about what Zionism Victoria does on a day-to-day basis?
As well as running a range of events throughout the year, we promote Israel and its interests within and outside the community. We also run a program called Connecting Cultures for students from non-Jewish schools, educating them about all aspects of the Jewish community.
Do you have an Israeli advocacy program. If so, how does that work?
Advocacy is at the forefront of our activities, promoting awareness of Israel and its accomplishments in all forums and at every opportunity. When necessary, we also have to defend Israel and the community. Last year, Zionism Victoria spearheaded the adoption of IHRA (the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) by the Victorian government and when the University of Melbourne Student Union passed a blatantly antisemitic and anti-Israel resolution, we led the community response against it. Likewise, last month when there was controversy over Israeli flags being flown at footy matches, we took it up with the AFL and within hours the situation was resolved.
The Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women Australia (VAJEX) has honoured its three oldest members – Woolfe “Gunner” Lewis, 103, Leon
Bloom, 100 and Maurice Smith, 99 – for their bravery in action. The trio fought for Australia during WWII. VAJEX past president Ben Hirsh created three sets of framed medals housed in glass display cases that he and current Association president Marvin Bude presented to the men.
Italian historian Carlo Vecce set out to debunk rumours of da Vinci’s foreign origins, but a newly discovered document changed his mind.
In all likelihood, Leonardo da Vinci was only half Italian. His mother, Caterina, was a Circassian Jew born somewhere in the Caucasus, abducted as a teenager and sold as a sex slave several times in Russia, Constantinople and Venice, before being freed in Florence at age 15.
This, at least, is the conclusion reached in the new book Il sorriso di Caterina, la madre di Leonardo, by the historian Carlo Vecce, one of the most distinguished specialists on da Vinci. The official version of da Vinci’s birth is that it was the fruit of a brief fling between the Florentine solicitor Piero da Vinci and a young peasant from Tuscany called Caterina, of whom almost nothing was known.
Yet there had long been a seemingly unfounded theory that Leonardo had foreign origins and that Caterina was an Arab slave.
Six years ago, Professor Vecce decided to kill the rumour for good. “I simply found it impossible to believe that the mother of the greatest Italian genius
The artist is best known for his colourful paintings, but the first uploads to this new site are sculptures and reliefs (www.marcchagall.com).
The first official website dedicated to Marc Chagall has gone live in a key year for the man hailed as the quintessential Jewish artist of the 20th century.
would be a non-Italian slave,” he said.
“Now, not only do I believe it, but the most probable hypothesis, given what I found, is that Caterina was Jewish.”
Vecce embarked on the research for his latest book during the reconstruction of da Vinci’s library, which is where he found the document that changed everything.
Dated November 2, 1452, seven months after Leonardo’s birth, and signed by Piero da Vinci in his professional capacity, it is an emancipation act regarding “the daughter of a certain Jacob, originating from the Caucasian mountains” and named Caterina.
It is a massive labour of love initiated by Meret Meyer, granddaughter of the prolific Russian painter, sculptor and set designer, born Moishe Shagal near Vitebsk in 1887.
Indeed, he was so productive that website director Ambre Gauthier says it will take years to complete the detailed list of the estimated 10,000 works the site ultimately aims to host.
“Chagall worked in stained glass and mosaic as well as paint, pen and ink, clay, stone and textiles.
We don’t even know yet for sure the total number of pieces,” says art historian Gauthier, who is also director of the Chagall archives
and catalogues. Years of work have already gone into compiling an authoritative catalogue for every medium Chagall worked in, but it will take several more years to complete.
“We have started with the sculptures, ceramics will be next and everything will be listed, from theatre sets and costumes to windows and tapestries, as well as the thousands of paintings and drawings,” Gauthie says.
The website, in French and English, is being launched now because this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Chagall Museum in Nice and the opening of a year-long immersive event at the Atelier des Lumières in Paris, as well as exhibitions in Oslo, Madrid and Vilnius.
Albert
Einstein's character and research. That will include scientific demonstrations,
breakthroughs in a variety of disciplines and it is among the top recipients
students, is truly the University of the Jewish People.
Rabbi Michael Strassfield’s Jewish Catalogues defined do-it-yourself Judaism of the late 20th century. His new book is written for a different world.
(JTA) — “What the son wishes to forget the grandson wishes to remember.”
That’s known as Hansen’s Law, named for the historian Marcus Lee Hansen, who observed that while the children of immigrants tend to run away from their ethnicity in order to join the mainstream, the third generation often wants to learn the “old ways” of their grandparents.
In 1973, “The Jewish Catalog” turned Hansen’s Law into a “do-it-yourself kit” for young Jews who wanted to practice the traditions of their grandparents but weren’t exactly sure how. Imagine “The Joy of Cooking”, but instead of recipes the guide to Jewish living had friendly instructions for hosting Shabbat, building a sukkah and taking part in Jewish rituals from birth to death. Co-edited by Michael Strassfeld, Sharon Strassfeld and the late Richared Siegel, it went on to sell 300,000 copies and remains in print today.
Fifty years later, Rabbi Michael Strassfeld has written a new book that he calls a “bookend” to “The Jewish Catalog. ”If the first book is a Jewish “how to”, the latest is, he says, a “why bother?”
“Judaism Disrupted: A Spiritual Manifesto for the 21st Century” asserts that an open society and egalitarian ethics leave most Jews sceptical about the rituals and beliefs of Jewish tradition. In the face of this resistance, he argues that the purpose of Judaism is not obedience to Torah and its rituals for their own sake or mere “continuity”, but to “encourage and remind us to strive to live a life of compassion, loving relationships, and devotion to our ideals”.
Strassfeld, 73, grew up in an Orthodox home in Boston and got his master’s degree in Jewish studies at Brandeis University. Coming to doubt the “faith claims” of Orthodoxy, he became a regular at nearby Havurat Shalom, an “intentional community” that pioneered the havurah movement’s liberal, handson approach to traditional practice. He earned rabbinical ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College when he was 41 and went on to serve as the rabbi of Congregation Ansche Chesed on the Upper West Side and, later, the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, the Manhattan flagship of Reconstructionist Judaism.
“To be disrupted is to experience a break with the past and simultaneously reconnect in a new way to that past,” writes Strassfeld, who retired from the pulpit in 2015. This week, we spoke about why people might find Jewish ritual empty, how he thinks Jewish practices can enrich their lives and how Passover could be the key to unlocking the central idea of Judaism.
JTA: What connects the new book with the work you did back then on the Catalog, which was a do-it-yourself guide for Jews who were trying to reclaim the stuff they either did or didn’t learn in Hebrew school?
Michael Strassfeld: I see them as bookends. Basically, I keep on writing the same book over and over. [Laughs] Except no, I’m different and the world
is different. I’m always trying to make Judaism accessible to people. In the “Catalog” I was providing the resources on how to live a Jewish life when the resources weren’t easily accessible.
The new book is less about “how to” than “why bother?” That’s the challenge. I think a lot of people take pride in being Jewish, but it’s a small part of their identity because it doesn’t feel relevant. I want to say to people like that that Judaism is about living a life with meaning and purpose. It’s not about doing what I call the “Jewishly Jewish” things, like keeping kosher and going to synagogue. Judaism is wisdom and practices to live life with meaning and purpose.
The purpose of Judaism isn’t to be a good Jew, despite all the surveys that give you 10 points for, you know, lighting Shabbat candles. It’s about being a good person.
So that brings up your relationship to the commandments. If someone doesn’t feel bound by these obligations, why do them at all?
Rituals are tools, but tools in the best sense of the word. They help us pay attention to things in our lives and things in the world that need repair. And people use them not to get ahead in the world, but because they want to be a somewhat better person. I talk a lot these days about having a brief morning practice and in the book I write about the mezuzah. For most Jews it’s become wallpaper, but what if you take the moment that you leave in the morning and there’s a transition from home to the outside and to work perhaps, and take a moment at the doorpost to spiritually frame your day? What are the major principles that you want to keep in your mind when you know you’re gonna be stuck in traffic or a difficult meeting?
And a lot of traditional rituals are instrumental. Saying a blessing before you eat is a gratitude practice. So much in Jewish tradition says boundaries are good but you argue strongly in an early chapter that that kind of binary thinking is not Judaism as you see it.
Underlying the book is the notion that Rabbinic Judaism carried the Jewish people for 2,000 years or so. But we’re living in a very different context and the binaries, the dualities too often they lead to hierarchy, so that, for example, men matter more than women in Jewish life. And we’ve tried to change that. We are living in an open society where we want to be more inclusive, not less inclusive. We don’t want to live in ghettos. Now, the ultra-Orthodox say, ‘No, we realise the danger of trying to live like that. We don’t think there’s anything of value in that modern world. And it’s all to be rejected.’ And it would be foolish not to admit that in this very open world the Jews, as a minority, could kind of disappear. But I think that Judaism has so much value and wisdom and practices to offer to people that Judaism will continue to be part of the fabric of this world – the way, for example, we have given Shabbat as a concept to the world.
What is disruptive about the Judaism that you’re proposing?
I meant it in two ways. First, Judaism is being disrupted by this very different world we’re living in. The contents of the ocean we swim in are very different than in the Middle Ages. But I’m also using it to say that Judaism is meant to disrupt our lives in a positive way, which is to say, ‘Wake up, pay attention’. You are here to live a life of meaning and purpose, and to continue as co-creators with God of the universe. You’re here to make the world better, to be kind and compassionate to people, to work on yourself. In my mind it is a shofar, “Wake up, sleepers, from your sleep!” “Judaism Disrupted” says you have to pay attention to issues like food, and justice, and teshuva [repentance].
Naale Elite Academy was founded in 1992 by the Society for Advancement of Education in partnership with The Ministry of Education and The Jewish Agency. Naale offers three or four-year, tuitionfree, Jewish high school education in various programs in elite youth villages in Israel. More than 19,000 teens have been brought to Israel to study at Naale, which offers science and technology disciplines, religious studies, history, agriculture and art. The Academy integrates its participants with Israeli and international students, fostering personal and communal growth.
The most authentic accounts about the positive impact of Naale come directly from its students, their parents and staff.
Kass family, Melbourne: “Our decision to send Gadi abroad at 15 was daunting, but the Naale Elite Academy study program in Israel alleviated our worries. Gadi has thrived academically, religiously and socially, and we are proud of his accomplishments. Gadi's time at Shalavim high school has allowed him to mingle with international and Israeli students, enriched his experience, and
me as it increases my knowledge about Israel. Also, going on trips with my friends, when we hang out and engage in conversations, is a memorable and entertaining experience.
fostered his love for Torah and Judaism. The caring and supportive staff, led by Rav Daniel Hershenson, have provided Gadi with guidance and inspiration, preparing him for future success.
Azulay family, Queensland: “Since the moment he arrived in Mosenson, Daniel’s experience has been positive. The warm welcome by staff helped reduce his worries. He has made friends from all around the world, receives academic and emotional support, engages in weekly themes and sports activities, and visits different parts of Israel.
Using grief to refocus
With Yom Hashoah about to be commemorated, followed by Anzac Day, it is an phrase I have been thinking a lot about. Despite more than 100 years since the end of WWI and 75 years since WWII, the effects of the senseless deaths of so many young people continues to haunt our national consciousness. On Anzac Day we stand as one, thinking about the sacrifices made for us so that we can lead better lives.
In a world that seems to edge ever closer to war, we are roused to consider the expression “V’hachai yiten el libo”. Their sacrifices were not in vain and their memories live on. We, the beneficiaries of their sacrifice, have the responsibility to live a life that appreciates what they gave for our freedom and our country. We know that it is hard to move on from pain and tragedy, but the circle of life continues. Living well can mean increasing our appreciation of the small things in our lives. When you put the question “what does it mean to live well?” into Google, the response is telling. The first listings are all about luxury and expensive items – a superficial understanding of what it means to “live well”.
But the second set of results speak to a deeper understanding. The results are focused on happiness, on finding your passion with people that are important in your life. And that’s the real crux. Living a full and decent life is about living with a full heart and soul. Tragedy can be used to refocus and sharpen thinking, to make sure one focuses on what is really important.
Intensive support for learning Hebrew made it easier for him to adjust quickly. Despite being far from his family, Daniel relishes his independence, celebrates Shabbat and Jewish holidays, feels more connected to Judaism and has broadened his horizons.
Daniel Azulay, Year 9 at Mosenson Youth village: “School is enjoyable for me because of the numerous friends I have and the fun activities we do together. My friends and I play soccer every night and during Jewish holidays we learn about Jewish culture, which fascinates
Anat Aloni, Naale's regional manager for Australia and Oceania, joined the organisation in 2019. With a background in communications, business development and networking, Anat has worked in the Jewish community for upwards of two decades. That included serving as a project officer with the Jewish Community Council of Victoria. She believes every child has the right to shine. “Naale provides an incredible opportunity for students to live and study in Israel, achieve academic excellence and experience personal growth. Naale overcomes barriers in education, language, socialisation and culture. It helps students mature and to become self-sufficient and resilient, while forming lifelong friendships. Students develop a profound bond with their homeland and their community. And for those that opt to stay in Israel, Naale provides the most effective platform for successful integration”.
For more information, email naale. australia@gmail.com or log onto https:// naale-elite-academy.com
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann (left) with his grandfather Joseph Kaltmann, who survived six concentration camps
Ben Ferencz, the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, who prosecuted Nazis for genocidal war crimes and was among the first outside witnesses to document the atrocities of Nazi labour and concentration camps, has died. He turned 103 last month.
Ferencz passed away in Boynton Beach, Florida, according to St. John’s University law professor John Barrett, who runs a blog about the Nuremberg trials. The death also was confirmed by the US Holocaust Museum in Washington.
“Today the world lost a leader in the quest for justice for victims of genocide and related crimes,” the museum tweeted.
Born in Transylvania in 1920, Ferencz emigrated as a very young boy with his parents to New York to escape rampant anti-Semitism. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Ferencz joined the US Army in time to take part in the Normandy invasion during World War II.
Using his legal background, he became an investigator of Nazi war crimes against US soldiers, as part of a new War Crimes Section of the Judge Advocate’s Office.
When US intelligence reports described soldiers encountering large groups of starving people in Nazi camps watched over by SS guards, Ferencz followed up with visits, first at the Ohrdruf labour camp in Germany and then at the notorious Buchenwald concentration camp. At those camps and later others, he found bodies “piled up like cordwood” and “helpless skeletons with diarrhea, dysentery, typhus, TB, pneumonia and other ailments, retching in their louseridden bunks or on the ground with only their pathetic eyes pleading for help,” Ferencz wrote in an account of his life. “The Buchenwald concentration camp was a charnel house of indescribable horrors.”
“There is no doubt that I was indelibly traumatised by my experiences as a war crimes investigator of Nazi extermination centres. I still try not to talk or think about the details.”
At one point toward the end of the war, Ferencz was sent to Adolf Hitler’s mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps to search for incriminating documents, but came back empty-handed.
After the war, Ferencz was honourably discharged from the US Army and returned to New York to begin practising law. But that was short-lived. Because of his experiences as a war crimes investigator, he was recruited to help prosecute Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg trials, which had begun under the leadership of US Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson. Before leaving for Germany, he married his childhood sweetheart, Gertrude.
At the age of 27, with no previous trial experience, Ferencz became chief prosecutor for a 1947 case in which 22 former commanders were charged with murdering more than a million Jews, gypsies and other enemies of the Third Reich in Eastern Europe. Rather than
depending on witnesses, Ferencz mostly relied on official German documents to make his case.
All the defendants were convicted and more than a dozen were sentenced to death by hanging even though Ferencz hadn’t asked for the death penalty. “At the beginning of April 1948, when the long legal judgment was read, I felt vindicated,” he wrote. “Our pleas to protect humanity by the rule of law had been upheld.”
items that had been confiscated from them by the Nazis.
He also later assisted in negotiations that would lead to compensation for the Nazi victims.
In later decades, Ferencz championed the creation of an international court that could prosecute any government’s leaders for war crimes. Those dreams were realised in 2002, with the establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, though its
In December 2022, the U.S. Congress awarded him its highest honour, the Congressional Gold Medal.
“Ben Ferencz was a giant,” said WJC General Counsel and Associate Executive Vice President Menachem Rosensaft. “He devoted himself to the very end of his long and distinguished career to making sure that the lessons of Nuremberg would become engrained in both international law and the consciousness of society as a whole. He was also a fierce and tireless champion of providing at least a modicum of justice to Holocaust survivors.”
George Foster, President of The Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors & Descendants, told J-Wire: “His passing marks the end of an era, which saw the murder of six million Jews and, perhaps, also the era of prosecution of the perpetrators. He was a persuasive advocate of justice for victims of genocide stemming from his experience as a Nuremberg prosecutor and witnessing the horrific consequences of the genocide of European Jewry.
“Nuremberg taught me that creating a world of tolerance and compassion would be a long and arduous task,” he said. “And I also learned that if we did not devote ourselves to developing effective world law, the same cruel mentality that made the Holocaust possible might one day destroy the entire human race.”
With the war crimes trials winding down, Ferencz went to work for a consortium of Jewish charitable groups to help Holocaust survivors regain properties, homes, businesses, artworks, Torah scrolls and other Jewish religious
effectiveness has been limited by the failure of countries like the United States to participate.
The World Jewish Congress said Ferencz played a key role in negotiating the watershed 1952 reparations agreements under which West Germany agreed to pay $822 million to the State of Israel and to groups representing Holocaust survivors.
A lifelong advocate for Holocaust remembrance and genocide prevention, he was the last remaining link with the post-war efforts to bring the leading Nazi war criminals to justice.
The Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors & Descendants and, indeed, all survivors and people of conscience, mourn the death of Ben Ferencz, an honest, caring and thoughtful man.
In noting Mr Ferencz’s passing, Sue Hampel, co-President of Melbourne’s Jewish Holocaust Centre, said: “He was a remarkable man who left an incredible legacy in his quest for justice for all victims of genocide.”
Ben Ferencz is survived by a son and three daughters. His wife died in 2019.
At the age of 27, with no previous trial experience, Ferencz became chief prosecutor for a 1947 case in which 22 former commanders were charged with murdering more than a million Jews, gypsies and other enemies of the Third Reich in Eastern Europe.
Last year, as I approached my 40th birthday, my wife and children eagerly anticipated throwing a joyous party to mark the milestone. While shopping for supplies at the local supermarket, a fellow shopper at the checkout remarked upon the large number of items I had gathered, enquiring about the nature of the festivities. I informed them of my upcoming birthday, to which they casually retorted that they did not see the significance of birthdays, insisting that they were merely another year in one's life. Fortunately, their comment failed to detract from the excitement of the moment and, instead, it inspired me to reflect upon the meaning of landmark celebrations.
We are shortly to mark the 75th birthday of the modern State of Israel and I have noted confusion among some as to how to appropriately observe this significant occasion. There are questions around whether attending a large gathering or donning blue and white attire is enough, seeking ways to make the day more meaningful.
In my exploration of how to celebrate birthdays, I have learned from the Talmud that one's "Mazal", or good fortune, dominates on that day. It recounts how when the evil nation of Amalek attacked the ancient Israelites, the Jewish people positioned fighters whose birthdays fell on that day on the front lines, implying that their birthdays were a lucky day for the soldiers and could potentially help sway the battle's outcome in their favour (Jerusalem Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 3.8).
Other scholars assert that a birthday celebration should serve as an opportune moment for growth, self-reflection and action. Therefore, as we celebrate Israel's miraculous 75th birthday and the unique mission it holds in the world, I would suggest several meaningful ways to observe this significant milestone.
Celebrating Israel's 75th birthday offers us a unique opportunity to express our gratitude and support for the Jewish State by giving to a charitable cause in Israel. While giving to those in need should be a regular occurrence, on this special
day we can increase the impact of our contribution by donating generously to an Israeli cause that resonates with us. By so doing, we not only honour the country’s birthday, but also play a role in strengthening the nation and its people. We can also devote extra time to prayer and meditation. Reciting Psalms, especially the Psalm corresponding to Israel's 75th year, can also forge a profound connection to the anniversary. There are beautiful Yom Ha'atzmaut Tefillah services one can attend, which can imbue the day with a greater sense of meaning.
In addition, we are fortunate to have many great festivities happening over this time in Melbourne. By participating in these events, we can join with others to commemorate the significance of
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, it is upon us to ask about our own connection to this modern miracle. What role does it play in our lives in Australia? Maimonides writes in his Hilkhot Tefillah (5:3) that a person standing in the diaspora should “turn his face” (mahzir panav) towards Israel and pray. One standing in Israel should “direct his face” (mechaven et panav) towards Jerusalem.
The question is why does Maimonides use a different term when referring to
diaspora Jews facing Israel (i.e. mahzir) and Israeli Jews facing Jerusalem (i.e. mechaven)? Moreover, the Talmud (Brachot 30a) consistently uses the phrase “direct one’s heart” (yechaven et libo), both with reference to Jews praying outside and inside Israel and only uses the phrase “return his face” (mahzir panav) with reference to someone who is facing east and needs to turn west or vice versa (i.e. they need to make a 180 degree turn), which strengthens our question.
Perhaps Maimonides is teaching us that we must be prepared to make 180 degree turns so that we are always facing Israel.
this momentous occasion. According to Midrash Sechal Tov, most people view their birthday as a significant time and celebrate it with a festive meal. Why not do so for Israel?
Just as we contemplate the past year and strive to improve in the coming year on our personal birthdays, celebrating Israel's 75th birthday provides an opportunity to reflect upon our involvement with Israel over the past year. Did we visit the country, support programs or events that championed Israel, or otherwise engage with the nation in a positive manner?
Studying Torah and teaching others about Judaism also serve as fitting ways to celebrate, after all many sources expound on Israel's spiritual significance, God’s promise of the land to Abraham
and the importance of Israel's four Holy Cities.
Furthermore, committing to performing a particular good deed to help support Israel and promote peace and kindness can honour the milestone in a practical, impactful way.
While it is wonderful to attend the many exciting events and parties planned to celebrate modern Israel's 75th birthday, let us not lose sight of the occasion's profound significance. Let us take meaningful action to honour the miracle of the Jewish state, which has endured in the face of adversity and continues to shine as a beacon of hope and inspiration to the world. Happy birthday, Israel. May you continue to thrive and serve as a shining light unto the nations.
In recent times, some of us have experienced inner struggles concerning how we relate to Israel, especially while living in a place like Australia. However, what Maimonides teaches us is that the concept of praying towards Israel demands that wherever we face in other aspects of our lives, we must never turn our backs on Israel. Like a relationship with a loved one, difficulties arise and no one is perfect, but we must always appreciate the foundational relationship and invest in growing it, even through the difficulties. Sometimes, we must even be prepared to make 180 degree turns and work through the birth pangs of any new venture.
the melbourne jewish report | April 2023
1. Two days. The letter was dated November 2, 1917
2. Rav Nachman of Breslov
3. Machzor Vitry
4. Phil Spector
5. Nigella Lawson
6. Sarah Schenirer
7. Hulda
8. S’mol (Yamin means ‘right’, s’mol means ‘left’.)
9. Pesach
10. Safed
11. Amir Maimon
Histadrut (General Federation of Laborers in the Land of Israel)
15. Bank Leumi founded in 1902
16. Between 550 and 600 species
17. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
18. Ezekiel
19. The Study, The Instruction or Learning
20. Magnes Publishing
21. Nathan and Isidor Straus
Melbourne Jewish Report Disclaimer:
Except where expressly stated otherwise, content in The Melbourne Jewish Report is provided as general informations only. The articles in this paper have been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content here are presented solely by the author, and The Jewish Report assumes no responsibility for them. It is not intended as advice and must not be relied upon as such. You should make your own inquiries and take independent advice tailored to your specific circumstances prior to making any decisions. We do not make any representation or warranty that any material in the papers will be reliable, accurate or complete, nor do we accept any responsibility arising in any way from errors or omissions. We will not be liable for loss resulting from any action or decision by you in reliance on the material in the papers. By reading the papers, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for, and accept no liability in relation to, any reader’s use of, access to or conduct in connection with the papers in any circumstance. Photographs submitted by individuals or organisations are assumed to be their property and are therefore not otherwise credited. All articles in this paper have received the expressed consent of the author to publish in this paper.
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12. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2
13. Golf
14. The Jewish Agency, the Israel Maritime League and the
22. Yom HazikaronRemembrance Day
23. Raven
24. Cordova
25. Istanbul, Turkey
Jewish Answer – SHEPPING. Here is a list of some common words (“yes”, we know there are more words in the dictionary that can work, but these words are common to today’s vernacular)
– HIGHNESS, HIGHS, HINGE, HINGES, HINGING, HIPNESS, HIPPIE, HIPPIES, HISSES, HISSING, NEIGH, NEIGHING,
NEIGHS, PHISH, PHISHES, PIGGISH, SHEEN, SHEEP, SHEEPISH, SHEPS, SHIES, SHINE, SHINES, SHINING, SHIPPING, SHINS, SHIPS, SIGHING, SIGHS, SIGNING, SIGNINGS, SIGNS.
Questions/comments – email Yoni at koshercroswords@gmail.com
Rolling Thunder Vietnam is a deeply emotional, richly rewarding musical and narrative experience that takes you to the heart of the highly divisive Vietnam War.
Featuring 20 of the most affecting songs of the era, Rolling Thunder Vietnam prizes open the hopes and fears of the young soldiers who went into battle.
It also looks at the impact on their loved ones left behind and the reception the troops received upon their return home.
Writer Bryce Hallett conducted extensive research, including numerous interviews with veterans and family members, as well as relying upon letters exchanged.
Supported by video footage, few productions I have seen are as poignant as this power-packed show, which cuts to the quick.
The protest songs and potent rock anthems presented have been masterfully packaged into a searing reminder of what went down.
The numbers are those of Steppenwolf, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Gladys Knight, Billy Thorpe, Paul Simon and many more legendary artists.
Think Magic Carpet Ride, The Real Thing, Fortunate Son, The Letter, Black Magic Woman, Help Me Make it Through
How do you make a compelling film when the outcome is clear for the world to see?
AIR has the answer. It is a ripper of a movie. It is fun, engaging, edge of your seat fare.
It helps when you have talent like Matt Damon and Viola Davis at the core.
It means you dare not look away for a second.
We are in 1984, when Nike is known as a shoe brand synonymous with running, not basketball.
That latter is dominated by Converse and, to a lesser extent, Adidas.
Nike’s basketball division is on the brink of collapse.
Some time ago, founder and CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) brought in shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) to help change that.
So far, the move hasn’t brought results. In fact, in that regard the company has gone backwards.
With money tight, the answers don’t seem to be forthcoming, until Vaccaro pins all his hopes on a young basketball prodigy that looks like being signed to Adidas.
Against the better judgment of several senior Nike executives, Vaccaro makes an all of nothing play for Michael Jordan (Damian Young).
His pitch is to build a style of shoe around Jordan.
To do so, he bypasses the normal protocol, which dictates going through a target’s manager.
Instead, knowing full well that he will inflame Jordan’s go-to guy, David Falk
the Night, War and Bridge Over Troubled Water.
I attended the final rehearsal for the upcoming Australian tour, which runs until 10th June and the vocal and musical proclivity involved is stellar.
Tom Oliver plays larrikin country soldier Johnny and Brittanie Shipway his girlfriend, Sarah.
Jerrod Smith is cast as duty-bound American marine Thomas and Christian Charisiou the conscripted Aussie, Andy.
Rounding out the cast are Imogen Moore and Sam Richardson, both of whom appeared in Frozen The Musical.
The five-piece band (drums, keyboards, two guitarists and a bass) under musical director Chong Lim is inspired. I can’t recommend Rolling Thunder Vietnam any more highly – it seeps into one psyche and remains there long after exiting the theatre.
This is “must see” material. Do not miss it.
For bookings, go to https://www. rollingthundervietnam.com/#tickets
Between July 1962 and June 1973, more than 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam (the war ended in 1975). During the battle between the North and South Vietnamese, 523 Australian troops died and more than 3,000 were evacuated, after being injured or falling ill.
US casualties alone numbered 58,220.
More than a million Vietnamese fighters were killed and as many as two million civilians on both sides of the conflict.
(Chris Messina), he appeals directly to Jordan’s parents.
In this case, it is Jordan’s down to earth mother Deloris (Viola Davis) pulling the strings.
But to get a deal done, Vaccaro and Knight will have to reinvent the rulebook. Heavily conversation driven, the script by Alex Convery hits the mark. The characters have been neatly crafted, each with their own peccadillos.
Director Ben Affleck builds an entertaining picture, driven by scenes of high drama and comedy.
A big part of that is taking the mickey out of his own character, the head of Nike.
An unforgettable sequence is the invective laden response when Falk discovers Vaccaro has gone behind his back.
Overall, Messina milks the arrogance inherent in his role, knowing he holds all the cards … until he doesn’t.
In a bravura showing, Damon is utterly convincing as a driven and passionate salesman of integrity.
Davis brings a measured dignity to her portrayal of the wily Deloris Jordan.
There’s a glint in Julius Tenon’s eyes as her husband James.
Jason Bateman brings sensitivity to Nike marketing executive Rob Strasser.
Matthew Maher is nothing if not quirky as shoe designer Peter Moore.
Despite the good nature of his persona, I struggled to understand Chris Tucker as fast-talking Nike heavyweight Howard White.
Even though this is ultimately a movie about how Michael Jordan ended up making his hundreds of millions of dollars each year, we don’t see his face.
Affleck decided to shoot him (or, at least the actor playing him) from behind in the few scenes he is in.
File footage of the real Jordan speaking is saved for the final credits.
Because of the film’s focus on “getting the deal done”, Affleck’s approach works.
While not everything lands, the vast majority of the time AIR delivers – scoring basket after basket.
Like in Jordon himself, there is greatness inherent in what is on screen.
Rated M, AIR scores an 8 out of 10.
Driftwood The Musical tells the inspirational story of the renowned Austrian/ Australian sculptor Karl Duldig and his artist-inventor wife, Slawa Horowitz-Duldig.
It follows their lives in pre-war Vienna, the family’s narrow escape from Nazi Austria, Slawa’s invention of the foldable umbrella and what took place after escaping the Holocaust.
The story, based on the original memoir by Eva de Jong-Duldig and stage play by Jane Bodie, covers three generations and three continents.
It features original music, lyrics and arrangements by Anthony Barnhill, with lyrics by Tania de Jong AM and Jane Bodie and is directed by Gary Abrahams.
For more information about the show, please go to https://driftwoodthemusical.com.au
The Jewish Report is giving away two double passes to the preview of Driftwood the Musical at 7.30pm on 3rd May at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran.
The passes will go to the first two readers that can answer the following question: in which year was the original foldable umbrella invented and who invented it?
Please email your answer with your mobile number and the words “Melbourne giveaway” in the subject line at the top of your email to vanessa@ mtaust.com by no later than 27th April. Note that only the two winners will be notified.
