May 14, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Snitching to the IRS The Kosher Gourmet by Jill Wendholt Silva: Spring greens with fennel and herbs JWisdom: A Righteous Gentile by Rabbi Mordechai Becher May 13, 2008 Jonathan Mark: For pro-Israel voters, Obama's middle name should be the least of their concerns Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: The Leaker Shield Act JWisdom: Why You & I Never Die: A Jewish View of Immortality, Part II by Rabbi David Aaron May 12, 2008 Chosen Words: A newsletter for personal and spiritual growth gleaned from classic biblical and other sources that will help you enhance your day to day life. Likely the most constructive three minutes you will spend today Mark Steyn: Israel's 'doom' could also be Europe's JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: When Faith Meets Fate, Part One May 9, 2008 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Reverence, Yes; Worship, No Mona Charen: Did Israel Drive Out the Arabs 60 Years Ago? JWisdom: Ultimate opportunities by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky May 8, 2008 Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Israel at 3,500+ Jonathan Tobin: Still Fighting the Same War Steven Plaut: How ‘nakba’ proves the fiction of a Palestinian Nation JWisdom: Taking Israel for Granted? by Rabbi Mordechai Becher May 7, 2008 Rabbi Hillel Goldberg: Israel is irrelevant to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Dion Nissenbaum: Latest Olmert scandal could derail efforts to force Israel's compromises JWisdom: My Inner Ventriloquist by Sara Yoheved Rigler May 6, 2008 Caroline B. Glick: Anti-Zionism at 60 The Kosher Gourmet By Ethel G. Hofman: In honor of Israel's 60th anniversary, the former president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, whose members included the likes of Julia Child, is back with a smorgasbord featuring the taste and essence of the Jewish homeland JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Jewish Deer in Nazi Headlights May 5, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Busy work Jonathan Mark: Remarkable half-century old Mike Wallace interview with Abba Eban puts current anti-Israel sentiment into perspective May 2, 2008 Rabbi Berel Wein: Rote religiosity Caroline B. Glick: Whitewashing Hamas JWisdom: Parent trap? May 1, 2008 David Zwiebel: Faith communities can learn from Orthodox Jews in stimulating private philanthropy for religious education George Friedman and Peter Zeihan of Stratfor: The Shift Toward an Israeli-Syrian Agreement JWisdom: It's time to wake up by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis April 30, 2008 Jonathan Tobin: Pennsylvania's Democratic slugfest may leave some Jewish votes up for grabs The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Fresh herbs, sauteed veal and tiny creamer potatoes makes a light spring dinner JWisdom: How to Build a Mentch by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 29, 2008 Daniel Pipes: Barack Obama's Muslim Childhood Joel Brinkley: On human rights, the U.N. once again strikes out JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: When The Truth is Unbelievable April 28, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: I'm often stuck in the doctor's waiting room for hours! Doesn't he owe me something for my wasted time? Steven Emerson: New U.S. government policy advises agencies to avoid using some of the very same words that make up terror groups' names JWisdom: Why You & I Never Die: A Jewish View of Immortality, Part I by Rabbi David Aaron April 25, 2008 Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg: Schadenfreude isn't kosher for Passover --- or at any other time Rabbi Berel Wein: The secret of how the data bank of memory is transferred from one generation to the next JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen, Part III April 24, 2008 Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: The successful failure Fred Burton and Scott Stewart of Stratfor: Placing the terrorist threat to the food supply in perspective JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen, Part II April 23, 2008 Connie Ogle: An intricate game of a novel Jonathan Tobin: Making Sense of the 'J Street' Jive JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen April 22, 2008 Jonathan Rosenblum: Why Israel's 'Leaven law' matters Caroline B. Glick: Obama the Savior April 18, 2008 Rabbi Harvey Belovski: Multimedia tool of antiquity Caroline B. Glick: Revealed Truths vs. revealed lies JWisdom: More than miracles by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky April 17, 2008 Rabbi Avi Shafran: Deconstructing Dayeinu Rabbi Elazar Meisels: Is innovation at the Seder a slap at tradition? JWisdom: Discovering Your Divine Mission, Part III by Rabbi David Aaron April 16, 2008 Jonathan Tobin: A Prayer for Sderot's Children Ethel G. Hofman: Sumptuous Seder JWisdom: The Divine is in the details by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 15, 2008 Rabbi Dovid Zauderer: Let Charlton Heston Go! Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Jimma, tyranny's enabler JWisdom: Relationships: Beyond Mars & Venus, Part IV by Dr. Lisa Aiken April 14, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: The Snitching Supervisor Jonathan Tobin: Forget the Fun and Games! JWisdom: Sincerity is Valued Most by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. April 11, 2008 Rabbi David Gutterman: A Mystery in the Middle East Caroline B. Glick: Why Ahmadinejad smiles JWisdom: Elevated illness by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky April 10, 2008 Stratfor Intelligence Briefing by George Friedman: A Mystery in the Middle East The Kosher Gourmet By Steve Petusevsky: The spring elegance of asparagus JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: The Power of Rational Lies April 9, 2008 Michael Feldberg: An all but forgotten Colonial doctor who put his Jewish values before his life Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkel's "Everything's Relative" gets philosophical JWisdom: Four Rabbis in Bnei Brak by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 8, 2008 Caroline Glick: Covering for the enemy Elliot B. Gertel: 'House' goes Hasidic JWisdom: Relationships: Beyond Mars & Venus, Part III by Dr. Lisa Aiken April 7, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: I have a translating business. Recently someone asked me to translate some financial documents that are clearly forged. Should I agree? Jonathan Rosenblum : Israel is unwittingly helping to fuel the international campaign of delegitimization against it JWisdom: Matzah and leaven as a life philosophy by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. April 4, 2008 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The Mystery of Suffering Caroline B. Glick: Fear of democracy JWisdom: Dirty Jews by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky April 3, 2008 Rabbi Y. Y. Rubinstein: Parents --- and the children who would be them The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Manweiler: Tempted by restaurant dressings? Don't be. Here are recipes that can be made at home, healthier! JWisdom: The importance of retaining a 'slave mentality' by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 2, 2008 Mitch Albom: Child abuse, disguised as faith Jonathan Tobin: Unreasonable Accommodations JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith with Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Eliminating Jewish Influence over Germans March 22, 2007 J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !) Oct. 29, 2003 Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review April 6, 2005 /26 Adar II, 5765 Old, new, borrowed... and jazzy By Paul Wieder Nine new Klezmer CDs http://www.jewishworldreview.com | The Jewish wedding music known as Klezmer has traveled, evolved and interacted with many other genres without losing its distinctive Jewish "ta'am," or flavor. Many new releases explore klezmer's ongoing journey: Yikhes: Early Klezmer Recordings (1911-1913) "Yikhes" means "lineage." And here is an hour's worth of yikhes, tracing the journey klezmer and its practitioners made from the Old Country to the New World. A third of the 18 tracks feature Naftule Brandwein's incomparable clarinet; the rest includes luminaries from Abe Schwartz to Dave Tarras. The recording quality is surprisingly solid, and the music still sounds innovative nearly a century later. Sandra Layman: Little Blackbird The subtitle illustrates the variety offered here: "Klezmer, Romanian, Greek, Turkish, and Hungarian music." Layman's quartet- her sprightly violin, two guitars, and a quick-witted cimbalom- ranges through 35 live songs and medleys. Fewer than half of the songs are klezmer or Chasidic in origin, but placing them in the context of their neighboring musics is enjoyably educational. It is especially interesting is to hear how the modes of Asia Minor have affected klezmer, often thought of as primarily Eastern European. TO ORDER ... OR SAMPLE THE AUDIO Yikhes: Early Klezmer Recordings, 1911-1939 Sandra Layman: Little Blackbird Burning Bush: Music of the Old Jewish World Veretski Pass Introducing Sukke Golem: Homesick Songs Margot Leverett & The Klezmer Mountain Boys Click on title. Sales help fund JWR The Burning Bush: Music of the Old Jewish World Britain's leading klezmer ensemble also dabbles in those forms outside klezmer that inform it. In order to recreate the music of Turkey, Morocco, and Greece, they incorporate both klezmer and Mizrachi instruments. Violinist Lucie Skeaping sings the ancient words- in Yiddish, Hebrew, Turkish, and English- adroitly altering her phrasing to the style in question. The playing throughout is spirited, and the production is crystalline. Veretski Pass A klezmer supergroup of sorts. Bassist Stuart Brotman, whose background is in international folk, anchors Brave Old World. Joshua Horowitz's cimbalom is a cornerstone of his old-school klez band Budowitz, but he also taught jazz alongside Stan Getz. And Cookie Segelstein is a classical violinist who has played with big-time klezmer outfits. Together, they make "Traditional East European Jewish Music" that is as head-spinning as Mozart and gut-punching as MC5. This is an intellectual and emotional workout that demands and deserves attention. The liner notes contain photos, ruminations, and chicken recipes. Introducing Sukke Clarinet, bass, accordion... keep it simple as a succah, a shelter designed for wandering tribes. This is the philosophy of Sukke, which also unites three major klezmer players, although this time from Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Placing standards alongside new Yiddish song-poems, they weave a sound as delicate and elegant as a spider web... and as hard to leave. Golem: Homesick Songs Klezmer music, garage-rock attitude. Golem is six people who have no business being this talented this young. Here, they present a dozen songs mostly named for places in the Old Country: Belz, Zlatopol, Odessa... which they long for with a twisted nostalgia. The characters in the tunes prefer the deep passions, as bitter as they were sweet, of the homeland's shtetls and fields to the unending drudgery of the "Goldena Medina's" slums and sweatshops. In one track, the sweet-faced "Greener Cousin" loses her bloom, damning her new land and its false promises. At least Golem enjoys wallowing in all the delicious angst. Juez: Shemspeed Alt Shul In Europe, "Alt" meant "old," and here it is short for "alternative." Both senses of the word come into play for this excursion of "breakbeat klezmer jazz." Juez takes klezmer and runs it through a hard-jazz processor. They use a trumpet and sax where most klezmer bands use a violin and clarinet, the two horns twining like vines on a chain-link fence. The electric bass sometimes decides that rock or funk is what is called for, and the drummer tries- but only casually- to hold it all together. Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys "Jew-grass" fans-- whether pre- or post "O Brother, Where Out Thou?"-- will enjoy traveling this bridge between the Carpathians and the Ozarks. Most of the tracks are klezmer, with a sprinkling of bluegrass, and a few medleys (one called "Lonesome Fiddle Blues & Sid's Bulgars") in which one style slides seamlessly into the other. Clarinetist Leverett was a founder of the Klezmatics; bandmate Frank London sits in, as does Brave Old World's Michael Alpert. The sound is danceable, upbeat and endlessly surprising. Celebrate Series: Celebrate Klezmer The latest in the endless run of the Celebrate Series compilations, this one offers a klemer-copia of some of the finest acts in the klezmer revival: The Kelzmatics, the Klezmer Conservatory Band, the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, and (gotta love the name) The Klez Dispensers. Veretski Pass is here, too. For this outing, producer Craig Taubman hands the reins to some experts, Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg. This is probably the best one-disc klezmer introduction since Itzhak Perlman's "In the Fiddler's House." Klezmer, which dates back more than a century and a half, has the gravitas of all that is ancient. But in the hands of musicians both studious and playful, it never grows old. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. JWR contributor Paul Wieder is a public relations associate at the Jewish United Fund and a columnist for JUF News. Contact the author or the magazine by either clicking here, or calling (312) 444-2853. © 2004, Paul Wieder