Scottish band Primal Scream draws backlash over concert backdrop of Israeli officials with swastika-eyes

The Scottish rock band Primal Scream is rejecting criticism that it received after displaying Stars of David entwined with swastikas at a concert in London on Monday, as part of an anti-Israel demonstration. The images were projected behind the stage during the performance of Primal Scream’s 2000 song “Swastika Eyes.” It featured images from the […]

Continue Reading

The real story of Marty Reisman, who inspired the new Timothée Chalamet movie ‘Marty Supreme’

It’s the winter holiday season and half-Jewish heartthrob Timothée Chalamet, following his 2024 portrayal of legendary folk musician Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” is once again playing a movie role based on a Jewish celebrity. This time, Chalamet, who is named for his Jewish grandfather, is swapping a guitar for a ping pong paddle […]

Continue Reading

Dancing through Itzhak Perlman’s birthday klezmer concert was a joyous blast from my Yiddish past

When writing a review for a play you haven’t seen, you have to wait until the end of the show to start writing your piece. But when you attend violinist Itzhak Perlman’s 80th birthday klezmer concert — featuring musicians from acclaimed klezmer bands like The Klezmer Conservatory Band and The Klezmatics — your review can anticipate several […]

Continue Reading

Ireland, Spain, Netherlands announce boycott of Eurovision following failed effort to oust Israel

Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia’s public broadcasters said they will boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after a Thursday meeting of the European Broadcasting Union confirmed Israel’s participation. The Thursday General Assembly meeting in Switzerland of the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the annual song competition, was convened to discuss some members’ calls to […]

Continue Reading

Carrie Soloway, inspiration for trailblazing trans Jewish protagonist of ‘Transparent,’ dies at 88

Carrie Soloway, a Jewish psychiatrist in Chicago whose late-in-life coming out as a transgender woman formed the basis for her children’s hit Amazon TV series “Transparent,” died Nov. 21 at the age of 88. Her death was announced this week on social media by Soloway’s children, Joey and Faith, who wrote she passed from natural […]

Continue Reading