There is the compulsion to say to the world, to those who could not come: I am here. We are here. And even if we still cannot understand, we try to remember. Continue reading
Category Archives: Jewish
[The Forward] Wexler’s Brings The Deli Revolution to L.A.
Chef Micah Wexler spent months developing the rye bread recipe in his aim for craftsmanship. Continue reading
[The Forward] For Moroccan Jews, Passover Has a Sweet Ending
Tonight, right after sundown, chef Simon Elmaleh will discard the Passover matzo, set out fine platters laden with leavened, sugary sweets and welcome friends into his home with cries of terbhou ou tseedou, Arabic for “good luck.” Continue reading
[Neon Tommy] Israeli Musician David Broza Brings ‘East Jerusalem / West Jerusalem’ To L.A.
Israeli musician David Broza hopes that bridging cultures through music can be one small step toward peaceful coexistence. Continue reading
[USC] Who are the people of Israel?
Mainstream media consumers often think of this tiny country’s population in terms of two factors: Jewish and non-Jewish — which often means Arab. Yet the reality is much more complex. Modern-day Israelis have emigrated from or descend from roughly 25 countries in substantial numbers, with Russia representing the largest migration, and Syria the smallest. And … Continue reading
[USC] Press Freedom for Israel?
When I wrote this essay for a USC journalism class in October, there was no obvious sign that tensions between Israel and Palestine would soon flare up in the Gaza Strip once again. But then in mid-November Palestinians began lobbing rockets over the border. A decades-old conflict over territory and homeland picked up where it had last left off. Israel responded with air raids, and casualties resulted on both sides. U.S. media pounced on the story, filling front pages, radio reports, and TV shows. No doubt coverage in Israel and the Middle East was just as robust. But was it free of government influence and other constraints? Israel treats press freedom differently from the U.S., as my paper aims to explain. Times of war are especially sensitive. Israel and Palestine may have agreed on a cease-fire, but Israel’s political situation is still unstable. Israeli citizens — and the world — will need an active press to keep us informed about what is happening, and what we might expect next. Continue reading
[Blog] Summer Reading: China, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Cuba and New York City
We’re nearing the end of those “lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer,” as Nat King Cole put it in his 1963 pop hit. The days have been especially lazy, crazy and hazy for those of us who just graduated college. Plenty of time for reading! No syllabus necessary. My picks have taken me to the … Continue reading