From ‘October 8’ to ‘The Encampments,’ these new documentaries illuminate the post-Oct. 7 American experience

A host of new documentaries are showcasing a wide array of experiences stemming from Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and its aftermath, particularly in the United States. Three of the movies — including one in wide release — interview Jewish Americans about their experience with antisemitism on campus and beyond. Another documentary takes […]

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Jewish Theological Seminary, Conservative Judaism’s flagship, launches an MFA for writers

The Jewish Theological Seminary, best known for training Conservative rabbis as well as Judaic scholars and communal workers, hopes to raise a new kind of crop: Jewish fiction writers.  The Manhattan seminary is launching a new Master’s in Fine Arts in Creative Writing, a two-year, low-residency program to be directed by the prize-winning Israeli author […]

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All her life, she sang other people’s songs. Now Sheila Dardashti is releasing her own music for the first time.

Sheila Dardashti has spent her lifetime making music — but until recently had never written any of her own. Raised in Queens by Jewish lovers of folk music, Dardashti studied classical guitar in high school. As a young woman, she toured as half of an international folk music duo with her husband, Farid Dardashti, who had […]

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Maya Rudolph, James Schamus among filmmakers calling to protect ‘No Other Land’ team after director’s arrest

A number of Jewish filmmakers are among thousands who signed a petition in support of Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” who was arrested this week by Israeli troops. Ballal was released Tuesday, a day after he was beaten by West Bank settlers before being arrested. He is one […]

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