freelancer

freelancer

Gotta Sing! 2019 registration

photo - Gotta Sing! registration

(photo from JCCGV) For the past 24 summers, Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! has attracted hundreds of enthusiastic and talented participants from throughout Canada, the United States and Israel, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the performing…

Adding to Einstein Archives

photo - A newly acquired photograph of Albert Einstein, left, with his lifelong friend Michele Besso

A newly acquired photograph of Albert Einstein, left, with his lifelong friend Michele Besso. (HU photo courtesy Ashernet) One hundred and ten pages of Albert Einstein’s handwritten notes and other documents and photos have been added to the Albert Einstein…

Why Purim costumes?

photo - Purim in Tel Aviv last year

Purim in Tel Aviv last year. (photo by Igor Zed) What is the origin of wearing costumes on Purim? One theory relates to the fact that the Jews in the Purim story live in the galut (“exile,” outside of Israel).…

אנדרו שייר קורא לג’סטין טרודו להתפטר

photo - Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer

  (Andre Forget/OLO) ראש האופוזיציה, אנדרו שייר ראש ממשלת קנדה, ג’סטין טרודו, הסתבך ולא ברור כלל אם יצליח להיבחר שוב בבחירות הכלליות שיערכו בחודש אוקטובר. זאת לאור טענת שרת המשפטים והיועצת המשפטית לשעבר, ג’ודי ווילסון-רייבולד, כי הוא, אנשי לשכתו ושר האוצר,…

Using absurdity to illuminate

photo - Left to right are GOLDRAUSCH actors Tebo Nzeku, Gray Clark, Karthik Kadam, Matthew Rhodes and Hannah Everett

Left to right are GOLDRAUSCH actors Tebo Nzeku, Gray Clark, Karthik Kadam, Matthew Rhodes and Hannah Everett. (photo by Javier Sotres) GOLDRAUSCH is described as “a comedy with music that journeys through film director Oskar’s efforts to make a film…

Audiences share own stories

photo - Brian Linds reminisces about his bar mitzvah in Reverberations, which is at Presentation House Theatre until March 17

Brian Linds reminisces about his bar mitzvah in Reverberations, which is at Presentation House Theatre until March 17. (photo from Courtesy PHT) “There are so many wonderful, heartfelt moments in the stories that are told,” Brian Linds told the Independent…

Self-inflicted troubles

photo - Justin Trudeau, June 13. 2017

There are few political leaders who can rest easy these days. Movements are sweeping the world, upending existing assumptions and bringing or threatening major change. In Venezuela, the leadership is still contested between the far-left incumbent President Nicolás Maduro and…

Can only live in the now

It’s sunny today as I write this, and there is a lovely breeze fluttering the leaves on a tree outside my window. I am reacquainting myself with myself, pleasuring in the solitude. Writing this story for you (and myself) is…

Accountant in Seattle

photo - Auschwitz survivor Eva Kor forgives former SS officer Oskar Gröning

Auschwitz survivor Eva Kor forgives former SS officer Oskar Gröning. (photo from TLNT Productions) The Accountant of Auschwitz is more than the latest documentary to successfully convey the horrors of antisemitic genocide to an audience 75 years removed from those…

Architect of bestselling book

photo - Daniel Libeskind designed the Jewish Museum in Berlin

Daniel Libeskind designed the Jewish Museum in Berlin. (photo ©Hufton+Crow) A gifted musician turned world-renowned architect, Daniel Libeskind can now add bestselling author to his list of accomplishments, with his unique book Edge of Order (Clarkson Potter, 2018), written with Tim…

Raising Jews with Israel literacy

photo - Tal Grinfas-David of the Centre for Israel Education speaks with educators at Vancouver Talmud Torah last month

Tal Grinfas-David of the Centre for Israel Education speaks with educators at Vancouver Talmud Torah last month. (photo from VTT) Educators at Lower Mainland Jewish day schools had the opportunity to consider the relevance of Israel literacy last month, when…

Helping Rose’s Angels

photo - Some of the 70 volunteers who helped out at Rose’s Angels Feb. 17. Event founder Courtney Cohen is holding the bags and Kehila Society executive director Lynne Fader is standing in the front, with the long sweater

Some of the 70 volunteers who helped out at Rose’s Angels Feb. 17. Event founder Courtney Cohen is holding the bags and Kehila Society executive director Lynne Fader is standing in the front, with the long sweater. (photo by Lianne…

Local CTeens join Shabbaton

photo - A contingent from Richmond Chabad CTeen joined the 11th annual CTeen International Shabbaton that took place in New York last month

A contingent from Richmond Chabad CTeen joined the 11th annual CTeen International Shabbaton that took place in New York last month. (photo from Chabad Richmond) Teens from around the world celebrated Jewish unity, heritage and pride at the 11th annual…

A visit to Jewish Portland

photo - Nessim Menashe, born on the Isle of Rhodes in 1887, came to Portland in 1909. By 1914, he had established a shoe repair shop in northwest Portland, which he operated until 1921

Nessim Menashe, born on the Isle of Rhodes in 1887, came to Portland in 1909. By 1914, he had established a shoe repair shop in northwest Portland, which he operated until 1921. (photo from Oregon Jewish Museum and Centre for…

Helsinki’s many places to see

photo - Helsinki Synagogue, in the heart of the city, was built in 1906

Helsinki Synagogue, in the heart of the city, was built in 1906. (photo by Dave Gordon) Helsinki’s a city where you can experience high adventure, or simply chill, by taking in the sites on an easygoing walking tour. Elements of…

Jewelry that’s easier to wear

photo - This necklace uses snap fasteners instead of clasps

This necklace uses snap fasteners instead of clasps [see below]. (photo from Deborah Rubin Fields) Diane von Furstenberg is attributed with saying: “Jewelry is like the perfect spice – it always complements what’s already there.” Some of us would say…

Quality, affordability

photo - Gaby Aghion started the fashion line Chloé in 1952

Gaby Aghion started the fashion line Chloé in 1952. (photo from Chloé Archive) Antisemitism was increasing in Egypt in 1945. Among the 80,000 Jews forced to leave their homes was Gabrielle (Gaby) Hanoka. Her birth name may not be recognizable…

Revisit the Jewish fabric arts

image - Jewish Threads book cover

When I was very young, I learned to embroider. My mother was a fabulous seamstress, but sewing was not my thing. Later, around middle school, an aunt taught me how to knit. I picked up crocheting but never really liked…

Personal robots help at home

photo - Can’t be home for bedtime? Temi lets you read a story to your child remotely

Can’t be home for bedtime? Temi lets you read a story to your child remotely. (photo from Temi) In the fourth season of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, theoretical physicist and all-around nerd Sheldon decides that he no longer…

Samaritan neighbourhood found

photo - An inscription (top of above photo and below), written in Greek, was translated by Prof. Leah Di Segni of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dated to the early fifth century CE, it says, “Only God helps the beautiful property of Master Adios, amen”

An inscription (top of above photo and below), written in Greek, was translated by Prof. Leah Di Segni of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dated to the early fifth century CE, it says, “Only God helps the beautiful property of…

פרשת וואווי

photo - Meng Wanzhou

מאנג וואנז’ו סין יוצאת בחריפות נגד ארה”ב וקנדה לאור החלטת משרד המשפטים הקנדי, לפתוח בהליכי הסגרתה של סמנכ”ל הכספים וסגן יו”ר מועצת המנהלים של ענקית התקשורת הסינית וואווי, מאנג וואנז’ו, לארה”ב. הסינים טוענים כי ארה”ב פועלת נגד וואנז’ו וואווי משיקולים…

Mizrahi to perform here

photo - Isaac Mizrahi’s cabaret show, which is at the Rio Theatre on March 18, is a preview of his new book I.M.: A Memoir

Isaac Mizrahi’s cabaret show, which is at the Rio Theatre on March 18, is a preview of his new book I.M.: A Memoir. (photo by Britt Kubat) Celebrated fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi is bringing his multiple talents to Vancouver. On…

Dance explores our relationships

photo - Noam Gagnon’s Vision Impure performs Pathways at the Roundhouse, as part of the Vancouver International Dance Festival, which runs March 4-30

Noam Gagnon’s Vision Impure performs Pathways at the Roundhouse, as part of the Vancouver International Dance Festival, which runs March 4-30. (photo by Erik Zennström) “It’s important that dance and art ask questions, even without necessarily explicitly spelling out the…

Monster brings back Jesus

photo - Ryan Gladstone is co-writer of Jesus Christ: The Lost Years, which opens at Havana Theatre March 13, 8 p.m.

Ryan Gladstone is co-writer of Jesus Christ: The Lost Years, which opens at Havana Theatre March 13, 8 p.m. (photo from Monster Theatre) Scholars have pondered the question of the unknown, or missing, years of Jesus. In the Christian Bible,…

IsraAID helps around world

photo - This picture of Molly Bernstein, right, was taken last year at the School of Peace, a program run in partnership by IsraAID and the Israeli Hashomer Hatzair Youth Movement on Lesbos, Greece

This picture of Molly Bernstein, right, was taken last year at the School of Peace, a program run in partnership by IsraAID and the Israeli Hashomer Hatzair Youth Movement on Lesbos, Greece. (photo from IsraAID) “I say crisis with air…

Don’t dismiss findings

image - IJV-UJPO EKOS survey cover

A survey of Jewish Canadians indicates that we are not a Zionist monolith. This will be news to no one who has enjoyed a family seder or logged onto social media in recent years. However, it is useful to have…

A need for order in our lives

I’ve never seen my sister-in-law’s house look cluttered. Every piece of curated furniture and even the magazines are placed just so. I just couldn’t understand it, even though my mother told me that she was raised this way because her…

Successful launch

photo - Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the Israel Aerospace Industries control room to witness the launch of Israel’s first attempt to put a lander on the moon

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the Israel Aerospace Industries control room to witness the launch of Israel’s first attempt to put a lander on the moon. (photo from IAI courtesy Ashernet) In the early hours of Feb. 22, Bereishit, which…

מאוטווה לניו יורק: קלי קראפט

photo - Conservative party leader Andrew Scheer with then-U.S. ambassador to Canada Kelly Knight Craft, in Ottawa, Jan. 9, 2018

בתמונה: יו”ר מפלגת השמרנים, אנדרו שייר, ביחד עם שגרירת ארה”ב לקנדה לשעבר, קלי נייט קראפט, באוטווה: ינואר 9, 2018. (Andre Forget) השגרירה של ארצות הברית בקנדה, קלי קראפט, מונתה לפני מספר ימים לשגרירה של המדינה באומות המאוחדות. כך החליט נשיא…