OCTOBER 2016

WHAT'S NEW

True Blues? As American Jews gear up to cast their ballots along with the rest of their country on 8 November, Armin Rosen asks whether Donald Trump can yet win over their allegiance

SOAPBOX

Safe space versus free speech As students around the country prepare for university this autumn, we examine the increasingly contentious issue of freedom of debate at UK campuses

FEATURES

One Step Beyond Leo Baeck College opened its doors 60 years ago this autumn, the first institution in Britain to train Reform and Liberal rabbis, and to ordain women, lesbian and gay rabbis. Judi Herman talks to its teachers and students – past and present

PASSPORT

East African Zion Early in the 20th century, a scheme was proposed to create a Jewish homeland in East Africa. Adam Rovner finds evidence to show this ambitious plan was scuppered by an act of sabotage. • Beans and mashed bananas: Friday night dinner in Uganda Nabugoye’s Jews have reason to celebrate, finds Amy Guttman as she joins them to mark the Sabbath beneath the stars and acacia trees. • Entebbe: 40 years on Former Israeli soldier Noam Tamir recalls the deadly rescue mission • Village of hope Amy Guttman visits a remarkable Rwandan community, which draws on an Israeli initiative to help orphans overcome the trauma of genocide. • Ethiopia’s hidden Jews In the isolated mountains of northern Ethiopia, an ancient community has observed Jewish customs for hundreds of years. Filmmaker Irene Orleansky was given a glimpse into their unique and secret world. • Under African skies… Jewish communities are scattered across East Africa. Some can trace their roots back thousands of years; others are composed of recent converts. Rebecca Schischa reports on the year she spent with the Nairobi community, and we highlight three other, very different groups from across the region. • Waiting for Jerusalem Despite dozens of airlifts from Ethiopia to Israel, there are still many Ethiopian Jews who have been left behind. Sybil Sheridan reports

THEATRE

Chickenshed flies high Pioneering children’s theatre company Chickenshed has a new director, Lou Stein – and a new production of Diane Samuels' Kindertransportto open its latest season. David Conway is inspired by the company’s renewed ambition

ART

Bauhaus to our house A new show at London’s Jewish Museum brings together the work of Jewish émigré ceramicists alongside pieces from a generation of British-born post-war potters. Julia Weiner, co-curator of the show with Agi Katz, picks favourite pieces by Ray Silverman, Edmund de Waal, Hans Coper, Lucie Rie and Margaret Marks, and examines how contemporary Jewish ceramicists are expressing their identity through their work today. • Russian revolution The work of artists Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid caused a sensation when it was first exhibited in the Soviet Union in the 1970s. As a show of their installation Yalta 1945 opens at London’s Ben Uri Gallery, Zinovy Zinik says their art still has the power to shock

FILM

Everything but the nose #TheJews is one of this year’s most controversial films. Jason Solomons speaks to director Yvan Attal. • JR’s 20 best Jewish films The results of our readers’ poll; Mike Leigh, Judy Ironside, Judi Herman and others reveal their favourites

MUSIC

The merchant’s long journey As André Tchaikowsky’s opera The Merchant of Venice receives its British première, David Conway takes a look at the life of the late great Polish composer

BOOKS

Spice of life Sarit Yishai-Levi’s bestselling saga The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem paints a warts ‘n’ all picture of Sephardi family life, says Maureen Kendler. • Plus reviews of: Modern Girls by Jennifer S.Brown; How Come Boys Get to Keep Their Noses by Tahneer Oksman; The Dark Lady’s Mask: A Novel of Shakespeare’s Muse by Mary Sharratt; Self as Nation by Tamar S Hess; Let There be Laughter by Michael Krasny and Chasing Portraits by Elizabeth Rynecki

FAMILY

Looking for a Chanuka gift? We round up the best children’s books, including: My Aunt Manya by José Patterson; Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan Campbell Bartoletti; Sammy Spider’s First Hannukkah by Sylvia A Rouss; Jeremy’s Dreidel by Ellie Gellman and Rivka Takes a Bow by Betty R Perlov

UNEXPECTED ISRAEL

Snow An excerpt from Ruth Corman’s book on the Israel you never hear about

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Listings Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel

Try this!

Caroline Porter's Hebrew class will have you speaking like a sabra

SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE

The Jewish Syrian who dreams of home It’s estimated there are just 18 Jews left living in Syria. Sweden’s The Local Voices newspaper speaks to Alanov, one of the last of Syria’s Jews who has fled his home to live in Sweden – but hopes to rebuild his country one day. • Shul by the pool Michelle Huberman reports on a London synagogue for the Adeni community that has an unusually tropical view. • From Persia with love Iran’s immigrant Mashadi community found life in London difficult at first but they soon learned to live – and love – in the new western ways, says Michelle Huberman. • A desert childhood Born into the small Jewish community in Sudan, Regina Ishkenazi has happy memories of her youth. She tells Dr Bea Lewkowicz about life growing up along the banks of the Nile