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A window on to Indonesia

photo - Left to right, Boni Putera, Titi Juwariyah and Bambang “Ho” Mulyono are the charismatic musicians at the heart of Daniel Ziv’s (inset) documentary Jalanan

Left to right, Boni Putera, Titi Juwariyah and Bambang “Ho” Mulyono are the charismatic musicians at the heart of Daniel Ziv’s (inset) documentary Jalanan. (photo from jalananmovie.com) Daniel Ziv’s first feature-length documentary, the multiple-award-winning Jalanan (Streetside), tells the uplifting, engaging story…

Gilbert’s TIFF hat trick

image - Bron Studios home page screenshot

Bron Studios has won multiple awards for its work. (bronstudios.com screenshot) Aaron L. Gilbert had every reason to be smiling broadly at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The Burnaby-based producer had three film screenings: Welcome to Me (starring…

Are we Bolsheviks?

Israel’s Knesset gave preliminary approval to a bill that would make it illegal to distribute free newspapers. On the face, it seems an odd move. Why prevent the (literally) free circulation of ideas? On principle, it is worse. Democratic governments…

The Klinghoffer controversy

Even if you’re not a fan of opera, you may have heard about the worldwide dust-up over the recent staging by the New York Metropolitan Opera of The Death of Klinghoffer by John Adams, an eminent American composer. (The opera…

Enter short film contest

The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) has launched Short Film, Large Subject: The Holocaust Film Competition. This is the organization’s first film contest, and it is open to entrants from around the world. Recognizing the potential…

Chanukah gifts aplenty

photo - Shlomo and Hagar Yekutieli’s tablecloths feature many different designs, including Chanukah and other holiday motifs

Shlomo and Hagar Yekutieli’s tablecloths feature many different designs, including Chanukah and other holiday motifs. (photo from shlomohagar.com) As Chanukah appears on the horizon, our thoughts inevitably turn to two things: gifts, and fatty foods. If you’ve distributed all the…

Building a society together

photo - Hand in Hand was started in 1997, with the goal of creating integrated schools wherein both Arab and Jewish kids could study together in a bilingual (Hebrew and Arabic) framework within the public school system

Hand in Hand was started in 1997, with the goal of creating integrated schools wherein both Arab and Jewish kids could study together in a bilingual (Hebrew and Arabic) framework within the public school system. (photo from Hand in Hand) Starting…

Dogs break down barriers

photo - Ofer Biton with a therapy dog

Ofer Biton with a therapy dog. (photo from Ofer Biton) For years, therapists and other professionals have used animals to break down barriers and achieve breakthroughs in a multitude of situations. Recently, a pair of educators from Israel found a…

Review by OSCE at 10

photo - The Hon. Lynne Yelich, Canada’s minister of state (foreign affairs and consular), right, with two fellow panelists, moderator Melissa Eddy, New York Times correspondent in Berlin, and Miroslav Lajcák, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign and European affairs, Slovak Republic

The Hon. Lynne Yelich, Canada’s minister of state (foreign affairs and consular), right, with two fellow panelists, moderator Melissa Eddy, New York Times correspondent in Berlin, and Miroslav Lajcák, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign and European affairs, Slovak Republic.…

Courage in Motion 2014

photo - Fifty-four cyclists from Toronto, Vancouver, New Jersey and New York City participated in Beit Halochem Canada, Aid to Disabled Veterans of Israel’s annual Courage in Motion bike ride in Israel recently

Fifty-four cyclists from Toronto, Vancouver, New Jersey and New York City participated in Beit Halochem Canada, Aid to Disabled Veterans of Israel’s annual Courage in Motion bike ride in Israel recently. The organization is devoted to helping the more than…

Choices celebrates 10

photo - Left to right are Judith Cohen, Rachel Shanken, Alina Spaulding, Ezra Shanken and Diane Switzer

Left to right are Judith Cohen, Rachel Shanken, Alina Spaulding, Ezra Shanken and Diane Switzer. (photo from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver) Close to 500 women, inspired and united by one cause – strengthening community through tzedakah – gathered at…

Belzberg honored

Samuel Belzberg is being honored as a “leading man” on Nov. 16 in Toronto

Samuel Belzberg is being honored as a “leading man” on Nov. 16 in Toronto. (photo from Weizmann Institute) When Weizmann Canada’s Leading Men Gala is held Nov. 16 in Toronto, Samuel Belzberg will be one of the 10 honorees and…

Bonds survived the Holocaust

In the dystopia of the Holocaust, pregnancy and childbirth were life-threatening situations – for the mother and the child. In Auschwitz, if a woman were able to conceal her pregnancy long enough to come to term, despite malnutrition and epidemics,…

Jewish Book Fest in a week

More than 30 authors are featured in this year’s Cherie Smith JCCGV Book Festival, from the time it opens on Saturday night, Nov. 22, with Israeli author Zeruya Shalev (The Remains of Love) till it closes on Thursday night, Nov.…

Urine the right place

photo - Left to right: Andrew Wheeler, David Adams, Anton Lipovetsky and Chris Cochrane

Left to right: Andrew Wheeler, David Adams, Anton Lipovetsky and Chris Cochrane. (photo by David Cooper) If Saturday night’s performance of Urinetown was any indication, the Jewish community has two rising stars in its midst. Triple-threats Anton Lipovetsky and Andrew…

Easing leadership transition

Change is hard. Ending one thing and beginning another can cause stress, and can even end up feeling like a poignant loss. It’s no different in the realm of synagogue life. When a long-serving rabbi leaves his or her position,…

Narrowing the housing gap

photo - Gil Gan-Mor of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel will be one of the speakers at Gimme Shelter on Nov. 20

Gil Gan-Mor of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel will be one of the speakers at Gimme Shelter on Nov. 20. (photo from Gil Gan-Mor) A condominium used to be a potentially affordable alternative to a home for buyers…

MDA on the front line

photo - An anonymous contribution helped purchase a Magen David Adom ambulance for Israel in honor of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent trip there

An anonymous contribution helped purchase a Magen David Adom ambulance for Israel in honor of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent trip there. (photo from Magen David Adom) Yarin Levi, 16, was moments from death after a rocket exploded near…

Dream into reality

photo - Artist Lori-ann Latremouille at the opening of her solo show at the Zack Gallery on Nov. 6

Artist Lori-ann Latremouille at the opening of her solo show at the Zack Gallery on Nov. 6. (photo from Lori-ann Latremouille) Fairy tales do happen in real life. Take, for example, the story of local artist Lori-ann Latremouille. In her…

Lifelong art student

photo - Toby Nadler

Toby Nadler (photo from Louis Brier Jewish Aged Foundation) On Thursday, Oct. 23, Louis Brier Home and Hospital hosted an exhibit of accomplished artist and resident Toby Nadler’s work. The exhibit was open to all residents. In 1970, Nadler began…

Misdirecting attention

U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a letter to the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei requesting Iran’s support in the battle against ISIS. At a time when Israel’s relationship with the American administration is strained, the letter (which was apparently sent back…

Next gen of theatre artists

image - Tremors poster

From Nov. 12-15, Rumble Theatre’s Tremors presents three different plays – Trainspotting by Harry Gibson, The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide by Sean Graney and This is War by Hannah Moscovitch. They will take place simultaneously in different parts…

Zeruya Shalev opens Jewish Book Fest

photo - Zeruya Shalev

Zeruya Shalev (photo by Naomi Tokatly) In The Remains of Love, her latest novel to be translated into English, Zeruya Shalev once again explores (and crosses) intimate emotional boundaries. In this novel, however, she also overtly explores territory that she…

Preparing for her next role

photo - In Late Company, Kerry Sandomirsky and Michael Kopsa are a couple who has lost a son to bullying

In Late Company, Kerry Sandomirsky and Michael Kopsa are a couple who has lost a son to bullying. (photo by David Cooper) “One year after a tragedy, two couples sit down to dinner. Far from finding the closure they seek, the…

Bigger, better Broken Sex Doll

photo - Co-creator Andy Thompson directs the sci-fi musical that is being remounted at the Cultch’s York Theatre Nov. 12-22

Co-creator Andy Thompson directs the sci-fi musical that is being remounted at the Cultch’s York Theatre Nov. 12-22. (photo from the Virutal Stage) Broken Sex Doll is back. A hit at the Cultch in 2013, it ventured out to Halifax for…