SUMMER 2021
MANGA & PLASTIC MATZAH // WELCOME TO JAPAN
As the Olympics kicks off in Tokyo this summer, we head to Japan to uncover the country's Jewish stories. From 16th-century merchants fleeing the Inquisition to wartime refugees and Anne Frank manga, the country has surprisingly enduring Jewish connections. We'll meet some of the present-day community, hear from the Japanese activists behind the country's Holocaust education projects and speak to Chiune Sugihara's son about his father's wartime legacy. Elsewhere, the author Dara Horn interviews the great American writer Cynthia Ozick; Anne Sebba unpicks the case against Ethel Rosenberg; and we tune into the first Jewish Psychedelic Summit. Here's to a great summer!
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Liraz. ©Ronen Fadida
BOOKS: IS THIS THE END FOR THE GREAT MALE NOVELIST BIO?
The reverberations of the scandal over the latest Philip Roth biography might just sound the death knell for the era of doorstopping biographies of American Jewish male writers, says David Herman
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BROWSE THE FULL CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE BELOW
YOUR SAY…
Readers’ rants, raves and views on the April issue of JR.
WHAT’S NEW
Manchester’s new museum; on the streets of East Jerusalem; Israel’s pioneering doctor Dia.
FEATURE
Tune in to the first Jewish Psychedelic Summit.
FEATURE
Adrian Whittle meets the Israeli athletes heading to Tokyo.
THE JR LONG READ
Featuring an exclusive extract from Gabriel Josipovici’s new book, 100 Days.
PASSPORT
Japan: From 16th-century merchants to wartime refugees, Japan has many surprising Jewish connections. We meet the present-day community and hear from the Japanese who are illuminating Jewish history.
MUSIC
Norm Guthartz speaks to the jazz broadcaster Ruth Fisher.
ART
The discovery of an old family photo album is the inspiration behind Sara Davidmann’s striking new work.
FILM
Shiva Baby channels bisexuality, money and dating through a darkly funny Jewish lens; comic Alex Edelman on the joy of Blazing Saddles.
THEATRE
Judi Herman speaks to David Lan about his latest project – a giant puppet that will walk across Europe.
BOOKS
Dara Horn interviews the American writer Cynthia Ozick; Maria Stepanova in conversation; and is this the end for biographies of the ‘great’ male novelists? Plus reviews of The Netanyahus, and a book on the life of Orthodox women.
THE YIDDISHISTS
This issue: The workers’ Olympiad.
SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE
Gail Carson Levine’s new novel features a Sephardi teenager under the Inquisition; the Mosul blogger turns his eye to Jewish history.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.
FAMILY
As the ‘pink rabbit’ turns 50, we flag up recent books on refugees.
MEET THE READER
Rachel Knightley in Putney, London.
