Melting Point: Family, Memory, and the Search for a Promised Land, by Rachel Cockerell, reviewed by Ann S. Epstein If we cannot get the Holy Land, we can make another land holy. (Israel Zangwill, 1906) So begins Melting Point, Rachel Cockerell’s account of the search for a Jewish homeland. The story is a family saga;…
By Ari Smith At the July 17 book launch for Ann Arbor resident Ken Wachsberger’s memoir Thumbs Up: Memoir of a Joyful Organizer, Wachsberger lived up to the title of his newest book, chatting with each attendee with such excitement that it was difficult to tell who he’d already known beforehand. Wachsberger is a well-known…
By Ari Smith At an event for a book written by a world-famous journalist, you expect to hear stories about their career. Perhaps what sparked their interest in the profession, how they became leaders in their field, awards they’ve won, the celebrities and politicians they’ve interviewed. At the May 20 event at Zingerman’s Roadhouse for…
By Candace Bulkley and Trina Fuller Candace and Trina became friends in the Temple Beth Emeth adult b-mitzvah class that graduated in 2022. They will be honing their palates, visiting, and writing about a variety of independent, locally owned Washtenaw County restaurants, catering to a variety of dietary preferences. Introduce your tastebuds to their new…
By Candace Bulkley and Trina Fuller Candace and Trina became friends in the Temple Beth Emeth adult b-mitzvah class that graduated in 2022. They will be honing their palates, visiting, and writing about a variety of independent, locally owned Washtenaw County restaurants, catering to a variety of dietary preferences. The Metro Detroit area is home…
Reviewed by Amiel Handelsman The turmoil in Israel around judicial reform is tearing apart the country. Hundreds of thousands of citizens, fearing the demise of Israeli democracy, protest in the streets. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak calls Netanyahu’s project the “assassination of the Declaration of Independence.” At stake is the state’s very reason for being….
Modern Judaica: Today’s Makers, Today’s Sacred Objects by Jim Cohen Reviewed by Janet Kelman Modern Judaica, by Jim Cohen, is a book to treasure. Included are works by over 50 of the most talented contemporary Judaica artists. While most of the artists reside in the United States, several others live in Israel, the Netherlands, England,…
Sinister Wisdom 119 reviewed by Molly Kraus-Steinmetz What does it mean to be a Jewish dyke, a Jewish lesbian, a queer Jewish woman, right now? It’s not a question any one person can answer. Who would be the authority on such a subject, and who would claim to speak for such a notoriously argumentative crowd?…
Art Review by Idelle Hammond-Sass During Passover I had an opportunity to go to Detroit to view a temporary art installation at MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit) by Detroit artist Olivia Guterson. Her piece, “At Our Table,” was one of the installations for REBOOT’s “Plastover: An Exodus from Plastic Waste” initiative and was installed…