Winter 2023
Play on! // Cards, casinos & Purim carnival in Venice
In southern Italy, new discoveries of ancient Jewish life are creating interest in the pre-Inquisition world. We delve further into the topic, exploring the region's fascinating history and meeting members of the present day communities. Yolanda Ropschitz-Bentham talks about Ferramonti, the largest internment camp in Italy, where her father was imprisoned, while Rabbi Barbara Aiello shares stories about setting up a new synagogue in the tiny Calabrian village of Serrastretta. Elsewhere, Tracy-Ann Oberman speaks to Henry Goodman to discuss her new role as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice 1936; Susan Martha Kahn discovers the 'Freud of the dog world'; we get stuck into Purim prep; plus much more.
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Etgar Keret © Roman Maerz
“Live your life like a kite in the sky”
Etgar Keret had been trying to write about his mother since her death three years ago. But it wasn’t until he was offered the chance to create an exhibition for the Jewish Museum Berlin that he was finally able to bring her to life on the page. Rebecca Taylor speaks to the Israeli writer about the show, which features nine new stories from Keret, and his mother’s distinctive and defiant worldview. Photo © Roman Maerz
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YOUR SAY… Readers’ rants, raves and views on the autumn issue of JR.
WHAT’S NEW Lives changed forever – Ukraine one year on; Mike Leigh on why Hampstead Theatre matters.
FEATURE Unveiling Iran: Elham Gheytanchi on growing up in Tehran.
FEATURE Gerald Jacobs explores the fine line between Holocaust justice – and revenge.
PASSPORT Southern Italy: David Abulafia uncovers the hidden world of Italy’s Sephardi heritage; Lara Feigel on the writer Natalia Ginzburg; the camp at Ferramonti; Serrastretta’s mountain synagogue; the food of the glorious south.
THEATRE Tracy-Ann Oberman and Henry Goodman discuss Oberman’s new, female Shylock, Cable Street and protest on the eve of a new production of The Merchant of Venice.
FILM Naomi Gryn speaks to Bianca Stigter about her powerful new film Three Minutes – A Lengthening.
MUSIC The Jerusalem Orchestra East & West is coming to London. Get ready for the sound of the ‘new Middle East’, says Danielle Goldstein.
ART Shaul Bassi celebrates Venice as a centre of gambling, carnival and a re-telling of the Purim story of Esther.
BOOKS Etgar Keret on his mother, Berlin and Steven Spielberg, plus a new short story; Hugh Brody’s Arctic journey; Rudolphina Menzel, the Freud of the dog world; the Kindertransport heroes.
THE YIDDISHISTS Our series that uncovers the YIVO archive. This issue: The dolls from Italy’s DP camps.
SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE Queen Shoshana reigns on; Michael Frank uncovers the vanished world of Jewish Rhodes.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.
FAMILY Purim is here! Dani Silver rounds up activities for all the family.
MEET THE READER Guila Vaz Mouyal in London’s Hendon.
