Paideia Conference Considers Jews in a Multicultural World

By Michael Berenbaum
Published on October 26, 2011

Recently, I attended a three-day conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of Paideia, the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden. The brainchild of Barbara Spectre, an American-Israeli-Swedish philosopher who has led the program since its inception, Paideia brings together young Jews for a year of intensive study. Imagine in an American context a Wexner Jewish Heritage Program leadership retreat that is sustained for 10 intensive months. By now, Paideia has several hundred alumni working, living and creating throughout Europe. They were returning to learn, celebrate and renew.

Concerts celebrate Ash Grove’s golden legacy

By Kirk Silsbee
Published on April 17, 2008

Ed Pearl, 70, silver-haired and feisty, will forever be associated with the Ash Grove, the folk club he opened 50 years ago with a $5,000 investment, despite the fact that the venue's been closed for a quarter century.

"My life," Pearl said, "has been a series of fortuitous accidents. And," he ruefully adds, "not-so fortuitous."

Experience at international camp broadens perspective

By Sivan Ron
Published on March 7, 2008

As a counselor at Camp Kimama in Michmoret, Israel, I learned that the only connection these children from all over the world need is their passion and love for Israel. Camp Kimama is Israel's first international camp, where Jewish children spend two weeks forming a multicultural group of friends and exploring the different worlds that these friends come from. I spent one month of my summer working at Kimama, every day discovering more about myself and my fellow Israelis, Jews and Zionists.

Bratz : They’re cool, hot and controversial

By Lisa Keys
Published on November 1, 2007

Depending on whom you ask, Bratz are odd-looking multiethnic dolls with big eyes and skimpy clothes - or they're, like, the coolest things ever.

East meets West over Shabbat sushi

By Deborah Vankin
Published on May 3, 2007

Akira Mizutani, a tall, willowy Japanese man who's been living in Los Angeles for 12 years now, has long, flowing, jet black hair that hangs loose to his waist -- and on this night, his mane is topped with a yarmulke.

Language institute helping Ladino revival

By Jerome Socolovsky
Published on April 26, 2007

The Cervantes Institute has been sponsoring Ladino readings and seminars at its branches in Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Bucharest and Sofia. Now Urrutia says the institute will create a Ladino Department with a Judeo-Spanish archive at its headquarters in Madrid. And Ladino will be the focus of a new Cervantes Institute in Salonika, which will be located next to the city's Sephardic Museum.

Time for the last dance at folk dancing venue

By Karla S. Blume
Published on February 1, 2007

Café Danssa opened for business in December 1965 on a nondescript block of West Los Angeles on Pico Boulevard. The name of the business was a morphing of the first three letters of Dani Dassa's first name and the last three letters of his last name.

The King of Hearts; Celebrating diversity

By Norma Zager
Published on December 7, 2006

Circuit

Band Gives Klezmer Extreme Makeover

By Robert David Jaffee
Published on March 30, 2006

Joellen Lapidus points out that klezmer, which has famously experienced a revival since the late 1970s, has never been performed exclusively at Jewish functions, and the bands have often included non-Jewish musicians. Likewise, Extreme Klezmer Makeover is not comprised solely of Jews.

Jewish Weddings in Space

By Ron Magid
Published on September 22, 2005

Based on Whedon's short-lived 2002 TV series, "Firefly," whose fan base helped spur the movie, "Serenity" revolves around the outlaws' attempts to discover the telepath's true identity after she beats up everyone in a bar.

Still’s ‘Waters’ Run Deep

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on May 26, 2005

To structure the sprawling "Waters," James Still drew on Arthur Schnitzler's classic play, "La Ronde," in which scenes are connected by protagonists moving from one sequence to another.

For the Kids

By Abby Gilad
Published on July 17, 2003

For The Kids

‘Chai’ Time to Celebrate

By Ruth Weisberg
Published on January 30, 2003

In Lita Albuquerque's serene "Particle Memory," a constellation of gold disks swirls in an intense blue void. In Peter Shire's cheekily futuristic "Torso Teapot," a tiny central pot sprouts gangly limbs.

Japane wish American Reflections

By Ellen Fuji
Published on January 23, 2003

If there is such a thing, I am your typical Japanewish American Princess.

My Mom is Japanese American, my Dad is ethnically Jewish and, in a wonderful embrace, I came to be. Growing up in a town in which racial and religious combinations were not the norm, my two heritages naturally blended into one. Kamaboko (fish cake) and matzah ball soup were just as normal to me as they were odd to everyone else. On several occasions, my brother and I would joke about being double-teamed by our parents, whose academic standards were sky-high. Mom and Dad seemed to be the only ones on the block who strategically transformed games of report cards and SAT scores into two-on-one situations. But no matter how much I still accuse them of being ruthless, they didn't team up to be mean -- they just wanted us to be the best we could be.

Toy Vey!

By Amy Sara Clark
Published on December 6, 2001

Monica Garcia had her daughter-to-be in mind when she designed a modest line of Barbie clothing while she was pregnant last year.

Family Values

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on November 16, 2000

Gurinder Chadha was having one of those surreal multicultural moments you get in L.A.