APRIL 2014
THE FIRST WORLD WAR: WHAT DID IT MEAN FOR THE JEWS?
This issue we take a look at World War I through the lens of the Jewish experience. Bernard Wasserstein assesses the impact of the war on Europe's Jews. Monica Bohm-Duchen considers why some of the most iconic works of WWI (including Mark Gertler's Merry-Go-Round and Jacob Epstein's Rock Drill) were produced by Britain's Jewish artists. And we reveal extracts from Derek Penslar's book, Jews and the Military, about what it meant for Jews from enemy countries to be fighting each other. Plus, a raft of book reviews (including a biography of Philip Roth), Passover recipes, and much more.
A TASTE OF JR: READ SAMPLES OF JR ARTICLES
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WHAT'S NEW
Timebanking takes off: a new mode of volunteering in the Jewish community. • Oy, Oy, my boy is a goy: Warsaw designers Risk.Made in Warsaw launch Jewish-themed fashion line. • Rabbi and Ukranian patriot: The latest news on Ukraine's Jews from Reform's Chief Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny
INTERFAITH
Women's Voices are Getting Stronger Janet Levin talks to Lady Gilda Levy about the Women's Interfaith Network, and meets the women helping to get young Muslims, Christians and Jews talking together
OUR SEDER
From Morocco to Rome, from Yemen to an Israeli kibbutz, readers tell us how they will be celebrating the Seder
THE FIRST WORLD WAR: THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE
To War Bernard Wasserstein assesses the impact of the war on Europe's Jews • Britain's Jews and World War 1 David Cesarani argues that WWI was disastrous for the Jews in more than one way • For King and Country? Judi Herman visits the Jewish Museum's new exhibition and talks to curator Roz Currie • From the Front Line Excerpts from letters of 2nd Lieutenant Mark Segal and from the diary of nurse Florence Oppenheimer • The War in Russia Janet Levin describes the suffering of Russian Jews during WWI • The Battle for Jerusalem Rebecca Taylor on General Allenby's capture of the city and what it meant for the future
General Monash and the ANZACs • Sam Lipski writes about "the greatest Jewish general since Bar Kochba" • The Jewish Brigades Peter Marsh on a meeting between Jabotinsky and Trumpeldor, and the birth of the Zion Mule Corps • Whe Jews Were on Different Sides Extracts from Derek Penslar's book Jews and the Military on what it meant for Jews from enemy countries to be fighting each other • Chaplain and Patriot Jonathan Wittenberg on the unwavering love of his rabbi grandfather for Germany • Composer on the Flanders Front Malcolm Miller on Paul Ben-Haim • Serving in the Ottoman Arymy Glenda Abramson reads the diary of Jerusalemite Yehuda Amon, who was conscripted into the Ottoman Army • A Poet on War Elaine Feinstein on Isaac Rosenberg, and Stephen Wilson's poem 'War Poet' written in memory of Rosenberg • Artists on the War Monica Bohm-Duchen looks at why some of the most iconic works of WWI (including Mark Gertler's Merry-Go-Round and Jacob Epstein's Rock Drill) were produced by Britain's Jewish artists • The Aftermath Bernard Wasserstein on the implications of the war for Europe's Jews, and Theresa Turk's poem 'Going to Gallipoli'
ART
Suzanne Perlman From Budapest via Rotterdam and Curacao to London – Julia Weiner speaks to the Hungarian artist • In Their Artistic Prime Julia Weiner's look at nonagenarian artists Naomi Blake and Dorothy Bohm, whose life's work is being celebrated in London this spring
YIDDISH LIVES
Giving It Some Zingt! Musician Polina Shepherd tells Rebecca Taylor why Yiddish music is breaking musical barriers • Try This! In the first of a new series we meet a choir that anyone can join • Making Stalin Laugh David Schneider tells Judi Hermanwhy he wrote the play to be premiered at JW3
BOOKS
New Israeli Quest Eshkol Nevo talks to Agi Erdos about his novel Neuland and the hopes of young Israelis • Israel Seen Differently Contested Land, Contested Memories by Jo Roberts reviewed by Diane Lukeman, and Ari Shavit's My Promised Land by Colin Shindler • Roth Unbound A new biography of Philip Roth by Claudia Roth Pierpont welcomed by David Herman • The Pinsker Orphans David Solly Sandler's book about Jewish orphans of WWI reviewed by Sorrel Kerbel • Heroes of Budapest Peter Falush reviews Bengt Jangfeldt's detailed monograph on the activities of Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest in WWII, and Reign of Terror: The Budapest Memoirs of Valdemar Langlet, 1944-45 • And We're All Brothers Rob Cowan reviews Abigail Wood's analysis of the klezmer revival in North America • Walking Through Grief Deborah Brooks reviews David Grossman's latest novel, Falling Out of Time • More Than a Book of Poems Liz Cashdan on the innovative Correspondences by Anne Michaels • For Lovers of the Unexpected Judith Mirzoeff on Clive Sinclair's Death & Texas • For Young Readers
Two young readers (and a mum) review No Buts Becky by José Patterson
FOOD
A Sweet Passover Recipes from our contributors for chocolate mousse, carrot cake, matza fritters and lemon melts. Mmmm...
LAST WORDS
Dos Fertsnte Yor A soldier's lament from World War I – a Yiddish poem
