SPRING 2023


Welcome to Brazil // Cowboys, samba and rainforest rabbis

This season we head to the tropical climes of Brazil to meet Jewish samba musicians, cowboys, Amazon adventurers and a rainforest rabbi, who braves caiman-infested waters to reach his congregation. Plus, hear from cultural activists across the country bringing new life to ancient traditions. Elsewhere, we mark the end of Tel Aviv's historic Ohel Theatre; investigate freedom of speech on UK college campuses with Baroness Ruth Deech; go behind the scenes with Sean Penn and Volodymyr Zelensky on the set of new film Superpower; spotlight the feisty New York matzah bakers, who fought for better working conditions – and won – plus much more.


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© Alamy

Call of the wild

For almost 200 years, Jews have been making inroads – for business or prayer – into one of the remotest corners of the world: the Amazon rainforest. Today, many are also involved in protecting this unique place. Alan Grabinsky reports. Photo © Alamy

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BROWSE THE FULL CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE BELOW

YOUR SAY… Readers’ rants, raves and views on the winter issue of JR.

WHAT’S NEW What we learned from Lineker; a seminal trip to Saudi Arabia; Shalom Auslander rips into religion.

FEATURE Tel Aviv’s Ohel theatre has been reborn as a boutique hotel. Edna Nahshon uncovers its radical past.

FEATURE Ruth Deech explores how free speech is faring at UK colleges.

FEATURE Six students report on Jewish life on campus.

PASSPORT Brazil: from cowboys to samba musicians and Amazon adventurers, Jews have played an integral part in Brazilian life. Hear their stories and meet the new crop of cultural activists.

FILM Peter Watts goes behind the scenes to reveal the making of Sean Penn’s new film about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

MUSIC Come to the (Yiddish) cabaret, old chum.

THEATRE Judi Herman speaks to Julia Pascal about her latest, most personal, play set in Manchester.

ART Nicole Waldner explores the radical underground art movement that flourished in Budapest after the war.

BOOKS Simon Parkin and Susan Wider spotlight the artists at the heart of their prize-winning books; Haji Jabir on Eritrean migrants; émigrés in their own words; Judith Kerr on fleeing Berlin; where are the Jews in Arthur Miller’s plays?

THE YIDDISHISTS Our series on the YIVO archive.This issue: matzah bakers of the world, unite!

SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE Alex Brummer uncovers the reclusive banker, Edmond J Safra; Rabbi Abraham Levy remembers his Gibraltar childhood.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.

FAMILY The sibling code-breakers and secret agents.

MEET THE READER Corinne Rosenberg in Philadelphia, USA.