Russia’s invasion of Ukraine inadvertently sparks a Jewish renaissance — in Armenia

YEREVAN, Armenia (JR) — It’s just after sunset on a chilly February evening as Mama Jan begins filling up with customers. The cozy little café, located on Alexander Speniaryan Street — one block from Yerevan’s Freedom Square — lures passersby with its traditional khashlama (Armenian meat stew), dolma (stuffed grape leaves) and grappa (homemade brandy). […]

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A ‘Tiny House’ at Berlin’s film festival offered a safe space to talk about the Israel-Hamas war

BERLIN (JR) — Two weeks ago, Shai Hoffman and Ahmad Dakhnous didn’t even know each other. Now the Israeli and Palestinian in Berlin have completed an audacious three-day experiment in trying to help their fellow Germans talk more constructively about the Israel-Hamas war. Hoffman and Dakhnous brought a Tiny House — a one-room shed on wheels […]

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How Jewish journalist Ruth Elkrief wound up in the middle of France’s debate over antisemitism and Islamophobia

(JR) — The Jewish French-Moroccan journalist Ruth Elkrief — who has delivered TV news in France for over 30 years — found herself at the center of the story when she was placed under police protection in December. Elkrief received the security detail after an online attack from the far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon. In a post […]

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‘Emigré,’ a musical drama about Shanghai’s Jewish community during WWII, makes its US premiere

(New York Jewish Week) — In the days after Kristallnacht in 1938, two German Jewish brothers flee their Berlin home for a place halfway across the world: Shanghai, where they join a community of thousands of other Jewish refugees — and confront a Chinese population devastated by their own war with Japan.  One brother, Otto, […]

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In new documentary ‘God and Country,’ Rob Reiner shines a light on Christian nationalism

((JR)) — Rob Reiner, best known for his acting role in the 1970s sitcom “All in the Family” and for directing a series of beloved comedies — including “This is Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally” — is getting serious in his latest project. “God and Country,” which hits theaters this week, […]

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2 Matisyahu concerts in the Southwest are canceled after pro-Palestinian activists protest

((JR)) — Two concerts by Matisyahu, the American Jewish singer famous for his peace anthem “One Day,” have been canceled after pro-Palestinian protesters targeted venues where he was set to perform. Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, New Mexico, canceled one concert on Wednesday. The Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona, canceled a second on Thursday, after […]

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Trailblazing Canadian cyclist removed from Ottawa International Women’s Day event over past IDF service

(JR) — Leah Goldstein seemed like a natural fit to be the keynote speaker at an International Women’s Day event in Ontario, Canada, next month. A Canadian cyclist, she made history as the first woman to win a grueling 3,000-mile bike race across the United States. But in January, five months after accepting the invitation, […]

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