20th-Century American Music Owed Much to Jewish Artists

JNS.org – Discuss these names—Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Benny Goodman—with author/musician Ben Sidran, and you will understand how being Jewish, the Jews’ hunger to fit in, and their ease at doing so helped shape both the core of their identity and many of America’s greatest songs. “Jews in America were able to access a popular imagination because they were, in some ways, experts at being outsiders wanting to be accepted. They had a long tradition of this. A [...]

11 Behind the Scenes Shots of Israel’s Gal Gadot, Recently Cast as Wonder Woman

Bike Tours Offer New Way to See Jerusalem

JNS.org – JERUSALEM—What kind of ground can you cover in three hours in Jerusalem? Start at First Station (the renovated train station), go to the Haas Promenade for views of the city, continue past Mishkenot Shaananim and the historic windmill, through the Russian Compound, on to Jaffa Street, over the “harp” string bridge crossed by light rail passengers, through the Supreme Court area and the Knesset, past the Israel Museum to the Valley of the Cross, and back through the neighborhood of Rehavia. The [...]

‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ Approaching 50th Anniversary, is Strong as Ever

JNS.org – Worldwide performances of “Fiddler on the Roof” attest to its cultural power, as it evokes the yearning for tradition in a changing world. What is behind its staying power? According to Alisa Solomon, author of the new book “Wonder of Wonders: A Cultural History of Fiddler on the Roof,” it is the show’s balance between the universal and the particular. During a recent symposium at Princeton University celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of the play’s Broadway opening on Sept. [...]

Hanukkah Recipes From ‘Queen of Kosher’ Jamie Geller

Recipes for latkes and other Hanukkah treats.

Beatles, Spice Girls, and Newsies Should be on Your Chanukah Playlist

Musical ideas for celebrating Hanukkah.

Jewish Prophet Daniel Inspires Weight Loss Diet

The Daniel Fast, named after the Old Testament prophet, recommends eating fruit, vegetables and whole grains and drinking water, while avoiding meat, fish, bread and sweetened or processed foods,the UK’s Daily Mail reported on Thursday. Susan Gregory, author of The Daniel Fast, told the newspaper that the plan is drawn from the Book of Daniel, which describes the prophet’s response to a command from King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to eat the same food he was eating to gain strength. But Daniel refused [...]

Moshav and Matisyahu’s ‘World on Fire’ Music Video Released for the Holidays (VIDEO)

In time for Chanukah, Moshav released its new music video, “World on Fire” featuring Grammy-nominated artist, Matisyahu. At a time when holiday shoppers are tripping over each other to buy presents, the video shows that the greatest of gifts require very little money. The camera follows a $20 bill as it passes through the hands of children and adults that have different hopes and hardships. Produced by my company, Bancs Media, the video boasts a stellar cast of actors. Moshav, whose first studio album was titled ”The [...]