Jewish Advocate

‘The Jazz Singer’ in clown face

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:19:56 +0000

By Daniel M. Kimmel

Movie Maven

“The Jazz Singer” was a Broadway hit in the 1920s with Georgie Jessel playing the cantor’s son who didn’t follow family tradition because he wanted to go into show business. In 1927 the story was immortalized on screen by Al Jolson in what would be the first talking feature film.

A painting threatens a friendship

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:19:56 +0000

By Jules Becker

French Jewish playwright Yasmina Reza could have been thinking of Reb Zusha of Hanipol when she wrote “ART.” The 18th century Hassidic sage didn’t make it his goal to become another Abraham or Moses, but rather to be simply himself.

Olympic mystery: Why were 2 Jews benched in Berlin?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:19:57 +0000

By Adriane Spunt

Special to the Advocate

Think of the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the name Jesse Owens likely comes to mind.

With his four gold medals, the black track-and-field star made a mockery of Hitler’s claims of Aryan superiority.

Top children’s books honored

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:19:57 +0000

The 2012 winners of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, which honors new books for children and teens on Jewish themes, have been announced.