Summer 2025
Dogs, art & lovers // The life of Peggy Guggenheim
As the sun radiates this summer, we shine a light on South Africa. Waves of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania arrived there at the end of the 19th century and built thriving societies. Some even became involved in anti-apartheid activities, such as Barney Simon, founder of Johannesburg's Market Theatre, and Joy Coplan, who began her activism as a teenager. Read about their exploits, meet members of the present-day communities and discover the food and art coming out of the country. We also have a special Long Read on our cover star Peggy Guggenheim, renowned American heiress and art collector. Dr Vera Fine-Grodzinski examines her compelling life and we hear from Guggenheim’s granddaughter Karole Vail, director of the Venice museum that celebrates her legacy. Elsewhere, Etgar Keret introduces his new MA course inspired by Jewish storytelling; Jessica Duchen takes a look at Dame Myra Hess, the musician who played through the Blitz; and much more.
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© Courtesy of Kenneth Bonert
From Lithuania to Africa, a family story
Growing up in 1980s Johannesburg, Kenneth Bonert didn’t fully grasp that his grandmother was part of a unique but fading world of Lithuanian immigrants who had settled in South Africa in the early 20th century. Here he reflects on the legacy of these distinctive pioneers © Courtesy of Kenneth Bonert
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BROWSE THE FULL CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE BELOW
YOUR SAY… Readers’ rants, raves and views on the Spring issue of JR.
WHAT’S NEW Etgar Keret leads an MA course inspired by Jewish storytelling; meet the Muslim photographer documenting Bradford’s Jewish community.
FEATURE The YIVO Insitute for Jewish Research celebrates 100 years.
LONG READ Dr Vera Fine-Grodzinski looks at the life of the renowned American heiress and art collector Peggy Guggenheim.
PASSPORT South Africa: learn about the legacy of the country’s Lithuanian immigrants; discover the Jewish playwright and director who challenged the apartheid regime; and get to know members of the present-day Jewish community.
THEATRE Explore the motivations of the Mitford sisters in Amy Rosenthal’s new play; dive into the must-see Jewish shows at Edinburgh Fringe.
ART Enter the world of South African artist William Kentridge as he brings his first sculpture show to the UK.
MUSIC Jessica Duchen delves into the life of the musician who played through the Blitz, Dame Myra Hess.
FILM Go behind the scenes of Claude Lanzmann’s nine-and-a-half-hour epic Shoah; the US comedian Sophie Zucker on Josie and the Pussycats.
BOOKS Exploring the aftermath of 7 October; a big win for queer Jewish writer Yael van der Wouden; and is there a link between Pinochet and the Nazis?
SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE In an Iraqi books special, Jessie Graham speaks to Samantha Ellis about keeping tradition alive; Linda Dangoor tells Anne Joseph about her recipe-filled memoir.
JR EVENTS How we’re hoping to build on our Lyons Learning project.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Your three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.
FAMILY The Jewish Children’s Book Awards launches its final prize.
MEET THE READER Leslie Bergman in St John’s Wood, London.
