Autumn 2023
Beyond the GDR // Jewish life in Eastern Germany
Shortly after we went to press with our autumn issue, the terrible events of the Israel-Hamas War began unfolding in the Middle East. The magazine features two of Israel's most eminent novelists – Ayelet Gundar-Goshen and Eshkol Nevo – in an insightful, moving and – what has turned out to be – most pertinent conversation. Elsewhere, in another piece that also feels particularly prescient, journalist Rafael Behr talks about being a Jewish journalist in times of tension and introduces our Emerging Journalists Programme. We also travel to Germany's eastern regions to explore the huge cultural flourishing that took place in Berlin and cities such as Dresden before World War II; hear from those who lived in the GDR during the Cold War; and meet the Jews living in Germany's eastern states today. Lift your spirits with Anna Nyburg's piece on the fabulous Fashion City exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands; chuckle over the new biography of funny man Mel Brooks; and uncover the extraordinary life of the Ladino-speaking porn queen of New York, whose life is the subject of a new film at London's UK Jewish Film Festival. We wish you a peaceful read…
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Corbyn & brexit taught me to be vigilant
As JR launches its initiative to support emerging journalists, leading political columnist Rafael Behr explores how the recent upheavals in British life have forced him to reassess his identity. Photo © Alamy
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BROWSE THE FULL CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE BELOW
YOUR SAY… Readers’ rants, raves and views on the summer issue of JR.
WHAT’S NEW David Herman asks if money for the Holocaust memorial should be used to fund a museum instead.
FEATURE A new exhibition explores the role of Jewish tailors, designers and retailers in creating London’s fashion legacy.
FEATURE Rafael Behr on Brexit, Corbyn and Jewish identity.
FEATURE Helga Abraham tours the new National Library of Israel.
PASSPORT Germany’s east: delve into the Jewish history of the country’s eastern region, from bourgeois 19th-century Dresden to GDR Berlin to life in rural Brandenburg today.
ART Chaim Soutine and Leon Kossoff never met but they shared a deep empathy for the human condition.
FILM The story of New York’s Ladino-speaking porn queen; a new short on Liverpool’s antisemitic riots.
ART From the KKK to Kafka: the unflinching eye of Philip Guston.
THEATRE Aviva Dautch speaks to Lemn Sissay and Scott Graham about their new staging of Metamorphosis.
MUSIC Judi Herman reviews a new novel on the Italian Renaissance composer Salamone Rossi.
BOOKS Ayelet Gundar-Goshen and Eshkol Nevo: we are proud to be Israeli; new fiction from Israel; Andrew Pulver on Mel Brooks; Michelene Wandor rounds up the latest poetry writing.
THE YIDDISHISTS Our series that uncovers the YIVO archive. This issue: We wish you a merry nitl.
SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE A new film tells the story of Egyptian singer Souad Zaki; Hephzibah Anderson meets Iraqi artist Michael Rakowitz, whose Gateshead show features hanging gardens – and food packaging.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.
FAMILY Girl power in Liz Kessler’s new wartime book.
MEET THE READER Michael Sharp in Bowdon, Manchester.
