OCTOBER 2018
VIVA MEXICO! A UNIQUE CULTURE AT THE HEART OF LATIN AMERICA
Join us in tropical Mexico for JR’s October issue, where you’ll find Jewish revolutionaries, Ladino novelists, stunning Syrian synagogues and street stalls selling kosher enchiladas. We also unpick some of the documentaries to come out of 2018’s UK Jewish Film Festival. Plus, learn about the role of drugs in the lives of major Jewish thinkers; and ask whether Jewish artefacts and archives belong to their country of origin or to the communities that created them – many of whom may now live elsewhere.
DOWNLOAD A TASTE OF THE OCTOBER JR…
Passport: Elias Fasja, Monica Unikel-Fasja, Isidoro Hamui, Benjamin Laniado, Carlos Metta and Fanny Sarfati ©BeatRiz Sokol; ©Claudia Cruz Barigelli
PASSPORT: “WE ARE CREATING NEW WAYS TO BE JEWISH”
Mexico City has a dynamic and creative Jewish community. Rebecca Taylor meets some of its cultural movers and shakers. Read the full article
for more samples of jr articles, check out a taste of jr
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BROWSE THE FULL CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE BELOW
WHAT’S NEW
First service in 500 years for Lorca synagogue; chocolate menorot (yum); YIVO opens in London.
FEATURE
Marseille’s unsung hero: Elisabeth Blanchet uncovers the wartime story of Varian Fry.
FEATURE
When the nun met the rabbi: Deborah Freeman visits the German Bible study centre where Christians, Muslims and Jews debate together.
PASSPORT
Mexico: We uncover a history of secret villages; fiery revolutionaries and Yiddish activists; meet Mexico City’s first woman – and Jewish – mayor; and hear from the cultural movers and shakers who are putting this Latin American country on the map.
FILM
The UK Jewish Film Festival is coming to town! We review the top docs that are set to make waves this year.
THEATRE
Canada is the setting for Old Stock’s story of immigration and love. Judi Herman meets the husband-and-wife team behind the show.
MUSIC
Vivi Lachs uncovers the story behind Soviet Zion, a musical about the Jewish region in Siberia; a concert marks Kristallnacht 80 years on.
BOOKS
Peter Watts pops the religion pill; Mike Witcombe speaks to Ariel Kahn about his debut novel and we revisit Maureen Kendler’s seminal series on British Jewish writing. Plus David Herman on Saul Bellow; Liz Cashdan on Kinder Scout; and Seymour Hersh’s biography.
THE MODERNISTS
Adrian Whittle on Haifa’s iconic shuk.
SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE
Rebecca Taylor on the Wolf of Baghdad; Michelle Huberman on the parties promising miracles; Lyn Julius asks: who owns Jewish culture?
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.
FAMILY
Alumot gives Cambridge Israelis a warm shalom.
MEET THE READER
This issue: Basil Mann in Hounslow.
