Autumn 2024


Radicals, singers, bakers & spies // Jewish life in Philadelphia

With the 2024 US election on the horizon, we headed to the City of Brotherly Love – Philadelphia – to take in its vibrant Jewish past and present. Hear how the city's Jews shaped the country's first constitution, meet its current cultural activists and peek into the cafes and kitchens of Philly's chefs to get a taste of the budding Jewish food scene. We also mark one year since the 7 October attack, with features by Israeli novelist Ayelet Gundar-Goshen and British writer Rafael Behr, who spoke to Amir Tibon, a journalist who escaped the kibbutz carnage and wrote about his experience in his latest book. Elsewhere, discover a new book on the Israeli Black Panthers; writer Nathan Englander, director Patrick Marber and actor Joshua Malina discuss the latest stage adaptation of What we Talk About When we Talk About Anne Frank; Vivien Goldman delivers punk rock tales through a Jewish lens; and much more.


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© Matt Crocket

“This is the conversation that needs to be had”

From marriage and parenting to the Holocaust and Hamas, nothing is off limits in a startling new play about Jewish identity. Aviva Dautch speaks to its writer Nathan Englander, director Patrick Marber and lead actor Joshua Malina to find out more. Photo © Matt Crocket

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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 Ayelet Gundar Goshen explores how one survivor has been dealing with the trauma of 7 October.

FEATURE As Americans prepare to go to the polls, Matthew Shipe revisits Philip Roth’s most overtly political novel, The Plot Against America.

FEATURE Writer Nathan Englander, director Patrick Marber and actor Joshua Malina come together to talk about Englander’s provocative new play.

PASSPORT Philadelphia: discover how the city ’s Jews helped shape the first US Constitution, delve into Philly’s rich history, take a tour of its best Jewish food stops and meet today’s cultural movers and shakers in the City of Brotherly Love.

FILM A Good Jewish Boy is one of the films to watch out for at this year’s UK Jewish Film Festival. Naomi Gryn speaks to its director Noé Debré.

MUSIC ‘Punk Professor’ Vivien Goldman on her new book, which spans her career from the anarchic 1970s.

THEATRE Josh Azouz’s new play has been dubbed Beckett meets Mean Girls. Samantha Ellis finds out more.

ART Matthew Reisz speaks to the artist Barbara Loftus about her candid chronicle of life in pre-war Berlin.

BOOKS Rafael Behr meets the journalist Amir Tibon to discuss his book about 7 October; Kafka’s inner life; Shalom Auslander’s memoir; Ottó Komoly’s diaries; and whiskey and matzah in Ireland.

THE YIDDISHISTS Our series that uncovers the YIVO archive. This issue: Reds to the rescue!

SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE Keith Kahn-Harris speaks to the author of a new book on Israel’s Black Panthers; the mystery Jews of Hervás.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Our three-month guide to cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.

FAMILY A new book tells the tale of the children hidden in a Paris mosque.

MEET THE READER Sharon Gubbay Helfer in Montréal, Canada.