Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

Its a cooperative building project, like a barn-raising, that gets artists Rick and Laura Brown to bring together more than 300 students and building professionals from 16 countries over 10 years in Sanok, Poland.

Together, theyre reconstructing the Gwozdziec Synagogue, with its elaborate roof and painted ceiling one of many 18th-century wooden Jewish houses of worship destroyed or desecrated during the Holocaust.

The exhaustive and detailed work logging, hewing, sawing and carving, as well as building and re-creating the synagogues ornate, colorful murals are captured in the film Raise the Roof, to be shown Saturday at 7:30 as part of Temple Israels Embracing Diversity Film Feastival.

The film showing, which is free and open to the public, will be preceded by a 6:30 nosh and chat.

The dedication in restoring by hand the magnificent structure using old tools and techniques to revive Gwozdziecs history, culture and science reflects the work of Temple Israels Cultural Programs Committee to build not only the Greenfield synagogues community, but the greater Greenfield community as well, says an organizer of this second festival presentation.

Temple Israel, with an internal Israel Dialogue Project, a refugee resettlement effort and a new program to build a sustainable-neighborhood community, in December launched what Culture Programs spokesman Daniel Yalowitz called an inclusive kind of a film series for the wider community to view films that really told a story about inclusiveness, the challenges to inclusiveness, what does diversity mean, what are the conflicts embedded in diversity, the struggles and also the joys of bringing people together.

We wanted to bring anyone whos interested together, first for a social hour of connection, with refreshments, the film showing, and then a discussion afterwards based on themes and issues brought up, so that people can really focus on listening to one another, hearing different points of view and perspectives and bringing the larger community to look at what diversity means and how we talk about it ourselves, at a time when there are all kinds of splinter groups and so on.

Yalowitz added, We want people to feel comfortable and safe talking about diversity in all of its aspects, both the comfortable and safe aspects and the challenging and difficult ones, where conflict comes up.

That was certainly the case in Poland, which prior to World War II was home to 3.5 million Jews, more than 90 percent of whom perished in the Holocaust.

Poland is a country where many folks have history and heritage, said Yalowitz, speaking for not only the Jewish community but also Franklin County as a whole. We want to take time on one evening to really remember that and bring it forward. The meta-story were going for is what does it really take to build a community, to come together to raise a building?

The film focuses on the metaphor of the Gwozdziec synagogues reconstruction, with a magnificent roof that was unveiled in 2014 as the centerpiece of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.

We selected this film because of its beauty, poignancy and relevance to so many in the Greater Greenfield community with roots in Poland, says a flier for the event, to which the Rev. Stanley Askamit of Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church and church members have been invited, in particular. Its message and visuals are potent reminders for us today, of our need to live in peace, of the importance of building and maintaining our communities and our need to remain open to one another.

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Film 'feastival' features Polish synagogue's rebuilding - The Recorder

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

Israel Hayom

Tuesday February 28, 2017 Israel Hayom The first-ever Prime Minister's Prize for the Study of Sephardic and Oriental Jewry was awarded to three recipients on Monday. The 150,000 shekels ($41,000) in prize money was divided among Levana Zamir, Dr. Moshe Gavra from Bar-Ilan University's ...

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

Rabbi Mosheh Aziz 17R Brings Passion for Sephardic Heritage and Customs to the Community

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary(RIETS) and the Yeshiva University community will celebrate the ordination of more than 130musmachim[ordained rabbis] at itsChag HaSemikhah Convocationon March 19, 2017. While most will remain engaged in either full-time post-semichaTorah study or religious workJewish education, the pulpit, outreach or non-profit workmany will pursue careers in other professions, including medicine and law.

In the weeks leading up to the celebration,YU Newswill introduce you to several of these remarkablemusmachim.

For as long as he can remember, learning and teaching Torah has been a passion for Mosheh Aziz. As a Mashadi Jew growing up in Great Neck, New York, he served as gabbai in his shuls youth minyan and was already developing Torah programming for other children while still in high school himself. So when Rabbi Eliyahu Ben Haim, Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva and Maxwell R. Maybaum Chair in Talmud and Sephardic Halakhic Codes, encouraged Aziz to pursue semicha at YUs Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in addition to his studies in the Sephardic Community Program at Yeshiva College, the decision felt like the natural next step.

I understood that havingthe solidbackground and training ofsemicha would enable me to transmit Torah more effectively and skillfully, said Aziz. I wasnt sure at the time if I wanted to practice as a full-time rabbi, but was excited at the opportunity to take on the challenge of more rigorous Torah study with Rav Ben Haim.

The personal connection he went on to develop with Rabbi Ben Haim during his years at RIETS has become one of Azizs most cherished experiences and plays a crucial role in informing his own journey as a Sephardic rabbi. It has been the greatest privilege to learn and do shimush [rabbinical apprenticeship] under my mentor, said Aziz. Having received his tradition from greatest Sephardic luminaries of the previous generation, his sheer mastery of Talmud and halacha continues to be awe-inspiring. Rav Ben Haim truly embodies the principles he teaches his students and the path he expects them to follow. There were many students in the shiur who came from diverse Sephardic backgroundsPersian, Syrian, Moroccan, and many othersand everyone felt respected and like an integral part of the shiur.

In particular, Aziz feels he benefited from Rabbi Ben Haims unwaveringly high standards. I always enjoyed the challenge of beingexpected to know the primary halachic sources in everysugya[Talmudic discussion] as well as where to find them inside, he said. If we forgot something which the Rav taught us already, he would sharply rebuke us. The demand was daunting at first; but in this way, Rav Ben Haim instilled in us the seriousness of knowing the Torah we learned.

But Aziz also enjoyed the opportunity to develop close relationships with a wide range of roshei yeshiva at RIETS and their diverse approaches to halacha and hashkafa [philosophy], as well as the comprehensive training that has prepared him for the role he now serves as rabbinic assistant at the United Mashadi Jewish Community of America (UMJCA) under Rabbi Ben Haim.

RIETS provides valuabletraining to prepare a future rabbi with theprofessional skills needed to excel in the contemporary world, said Aziz. The public speaking and drasha [homiletics] workshops gave us necessary tools to develop and deliver effective sermons. The pastoral counseling courses helped us acquire the competencies to identify social needs in the modern-day AmericanJewish community, andprovide pastoral care sensitively and responsibly. The professional track also allowed us to meet some of the most effective people in our field who can help us when we need extra support.

He added, YU and RIETS are the heart and center of the American Orthodox Jewish community, and the ability to meet some of the major players in the community as well as many of my future colleagues in the rabbinate has been very valuable.

As rabbinic assistant at UMJCA, Aziz now manages a minyan of nearly 250 singles and couples on Shabbat, in addition to teaching chatan and kallah classes with his wife, Gabby, for engaged couples in the community and Judaic studies at the Long Island Hebrew Academy in Great Neck; the couple have two daughters, Rivqa and Avigayil. Aziz has also sought to train himself in a wide range of counseling and communal skills, earning a masters degree in social work through Wurzweiler School of Social Works Clergy Program and completing a certificate in Jewish Communal Service at the school as well. In addition, he has been certified by the PUAH Institute and is training to become a shochetunder the guidance of Rabbi Chaim Loike of the Orthodox Union.

Thats because for Aziz, knowledge and action must go hand-in-hand. I believe it is especially important to learn and educate our communities inhalacha lemaaseh, practical halacha, he said. Rav Ovadia Yosef zl began his career by teachinghalacha lemaasehin the local communities and Rav Ben Haim has always advised us to teach the subject in a clear and coherent fashion.

The topic is so important to Aziz that he and his chavruta [learning partner] are close to completing a sefer[book] in the field, a practical and concise guide to the laws of mourning according to Sephardic and Mashadi custom based on the teachings of Rabbi Ben Haim, to be published this summer. This will hopefully be the first of a series ofhalacha lemaasehsefarim we will publish based on the teachings of our mentor and teacher, said Aziz.

As a communal rabbi, though, Aziz is especially passionate about conveying Sephardic tradition and culture to future generations. The Sephardic community has a rich heritagediverse communities always remained together and never branched off, he said. I hope to continue educating Sephardic communities about our heritage and help maintain unity and respect between all Jews. Sephardic communities have a tremendous amount to be proud of, with family and community values which are well worth maintaining and exemplifying.

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

Photo Credit: Rabbi Marc Angel

Rabbi Marc Angel is the rabbi emeritus of Manhattans Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, founder and director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, and the author and editor of over two dozen works, including, most recently, The Wisdom of Solomon and Us and a commentary on Pirkei Avot.

What books are you currently reading?

Aside from ongoing Torah studies, I am currently reading/re-reading the works of S. Y. Agnon, the Israeli author who won the Nobel Prize in 1966, and the works of Ayn Rand.

Whats the best book on Judaism youve ever read?

The primary sources are best: Tanach, Talmud, Rambam. As for the best secondary sources, that depends on what aspect of Judaism one is studying. For psak halakha, Id recommend Mekor Chayim by Rabbi Haim David Halevy; on halacha, Menahem Alons Hamishpat HaIvri; on kabbalah, the writings of Aryeh Kaplan, especially Jewish Meditation; on Rambam, the writings of Menachem Kellner; and on Tanach, the writings of Rabbi Hayyim Angel.

What kind of reader were you as a child? Your favorite books and authors?

I was blessed with a mother who was an avid reader, and she set a magnificent example of love of reading and love of learning. As a child, I was mostly interested in books relating to sports.

Hidden gems: Which Jewish book or author should be widely known but isnt?

I am very fond of the writings of Elias Canetti, a Sephardic Jew who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1981. Although his books do not focus on Judaism/the Jewish experience, they have a tremendous breadth of vision. Ive read his classic Crowds and Power several times, and I find new insights with every reading.

As someone who has written extensively on Sephardic Jewry and culture, what books (other than your own) would you recommend to someone interested in this subject?

Zvi Zohar has written important works on Sephardic chachamim of the modern period; Andre Chouraqui has written on the experience of Jews of North Africa; Jane Gerber has written about Jewish life in medieval Spain; Mair Jose Benardete has written about the Jews of Judeo-Spanish tradition; Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi has written on the experience of Conversos and ex-Conversos the list goes on and on. Sephardic Jewry is a vast topic.

What book hasnt been written that youd like to read?

A first-hand account of life in the days of Mashiach.

Years ago, manyrabbanimthought reading novels was a waste of time. Do you read novels? Or just non-fiction?

I believe in the importance of serious reading, and I frown on frivolous reading. Time is very short, and wisdom is vast. Serious reading might be in the form of non-fiction or fiction, just as frivolous reading can be found in both categories. In the best fiction, one can find important insights, beautiful use of language, and powerful ethical dilemmas. Great fiction can enlarge our minds and expand our horizons.

What book do you plan on reading next?

I tend to be a binge reader. I like to read all the works of one author before going on to another. At present, Im in the midst of reading the works of Agnon. When I finish with that, I plan to read the writings of Hannah Arendt.

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

If the Jewish community is to unite during these troubled times, bridge-building is necessary between the Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities around policy issues and the election of Donald Trump. What I am finding as someone with a foot in each of these communities, is that while a significant majority of my liberal Ashkenazi friends are horrified by the election results, and part of the resistance movement, many of my Sephardi friends and family are equally passionate in celebration of Trumps win, and the implementation of his campaign promises.

Many of us Middle Eastern Jews either were born in the Middle East ourselves, as with many Persian Jews, or are perhaps second-or third generation Americans, more common in the Syrian or Iraqi communities. Typically, there is at least one generation within each family that has personally experienced living as second-class citizens in a Muslim country. Stories we have all heard inevitably include everything from the kind of daily anti-Semitism my mother experienced, walking to school and being called a dirty Jew, and witnessing her schoolmates being beaten, to experiencing actual pogroms involving property damage, violence, rape and forced conversion. In many cases a familys business and assets stolen were stolen, and they were exiled from the countries they called home often for centuries, often dating back to the period before Mohammeds Islamic Conquest.

We Sephardim simply cannot fathom how a policy attempting to protect U.S. citizens from a potential terror attack somehow warrants comparisons to the Holocaust.

To be clear, the experience of Jews in Muslim countries was not distressing all the time. In our home countries, we were friends, neighbors and business associates with Muslims, so of course we do not believe that all Muslims are bad. But we do take quite seriously the threat of radical Islam. We have lived in countries once known as the French Riviera of the Middle East, only to see them disintegrate into war zones with Jews and Christians no longer welcome and Sharia [Islamic law] strictly enforced. We lived in countries that were bastions of culture and education, which were overcome by Islamic Revolutionary zeal, and quickly devolved into theocratic dictatorships demanding all citizens live under the yoke of Sharia.

So when some Muslims state that Islam requires domination of the West, we believe them. When ISIS leaders say they plan to infiltrate refugee populations in the U.S. to commit acts of terror against Americans, we believe them. This threat perception seems to be the heart of the cleavage between the Sephardi and liberal Ashkenazi communities and our diverging responses to the Trump administration.

For many of us Sephardim, a 90-day temporary ban on the entry of citizens of countries that are either state sponsors of terror or overrun by terrorists is only common sense. In contrast, we see many of our Ashkenazi co-religionists react to this same policy by calling it and its supporters racist and Islamophobic, comparing the policy to the U.S. rejection of Holocaust refugees, and even comparing Trump to Hitler, and Jared Kushner to the kapos.

This worldview bewilders many Sephardim. We simply cannot fathom how a policy attempting to protect U.S. citizens from a potential terror attack somehow warrants comparisons to the Holocaust.

Our concerns about Muslim immigration are not limited to the current refugee issue. It is no secret that in Western countries where Muslim populations have seen recent growth there has been a correlating trend of Jews facing violence. Nowhere is this clearer than in France, where attacks by Muslims against Jews includes the torture and murder of Ilan Halimi and the killing of a rabbi and three children at a Jewish school in Toulouse.

We in the U.S. fear not only for the Jewish community, but for society as a whole. One need only read the 2013 worldwide Pew Survey of Muslim Attitudes to find, for example, that 74 percent of Muslims living in the Middle East and North Africa, and 64 percent of Sub-Saharan Muslims wish to be governed under Sharia, which limit the rights of women, including abortion, and support honor killings. (The report notes that many say Sharia should only apply to Muslims, and there is debate about various aspects of Sharia.)

We Middle Eastern Jews wonder what the consequences for American society would be should immigration from Muslim majority countries go unchecked, and the U.S. find itself confronted by large numbers of Muslims unwilling to melt into the American melting pot, a trend evidenced across Europe today.

I believe many in the Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities share the same values, including freedom of religion, womens rights and the rights of members of the LGBT community to live free of violence and harm. For many Sephardim, the perception of the greatest threat to our civil society is radical Islam, while for many Ashkenazim the great threat is the Trump administration. I urge our two communities to engage in open dialogue so that we may reach understanding and peace among ourselves, for without a doubt, we as a people, are in for turbulent times.

Ellie Cohanim is a correspondent for JBS (Jewish Broadcast Service).

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

They waved signs, chanted, sang, hugged, and cried to make a point outside a Jewish community center in Cherry Hill on Tuesday -- to denounce a wave of anti-Semitism that has struck the nation.

About 200 people gathered for a peaceful rally at a busy intersection in front of the Katz Jewish Community Center on Springdale and Kresson Roads. An announcement for the event read, Hate has no home here.

Organizer Christine Berk, 39, of New York City, said she planned the rally in less than 24 hours to send a message to the community and those responsible for bomb threats at the center and elsewhere that forced evacuations Monday.

I felt like I needed to do something, said Berk, an art therapist who grew up in Cherry Hill and whose mother lives there. Everybody should feel safe. The message is that there are more people that care than dont care.

There were parents carrying supportive signs, pushing their children in strollers and toting dogs. The crowd included people of all races and religions - neighbors and strangers who quickly became friends.

Its what America is all about, said Dave Lipshutz, 62, of Voorhees, a lawyer. Everyone has each others back.

Azmatullah Hussaini, who attended the rally with his wife, Afia, and their three children, echoed those sentiments. His son, Sufyan, 8, held up a sign that read, Our Muslim family stands with our Jewish neighbors.

We stand against oppression of any kind, said Hussaini, 36, a physician at Virtua Hospital in Voorhees. We have to fight for each other.

The Katz center was among several Jewish institutions in the region that were evacuated Monday morning because of bomb threats. The Perelman Jewish Day School (Stern Center) and the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood also received threats.

Earlier Tuesday, it was business as usual at the Cherry Hill center, a hub for the Jewish community in South Jersey. Some members vowed to return to resume their regular activities, to make a statement of defiance against Mondays threats.

Life today is a new normal, and we continue to strive for safety and security while continuing to love our lives fully and with full participation in the Jewish community. We are truly blessed, said Jennifer Dubrow Weiss, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, which is housed in the center.

The crowd began arriving shortly before 5 p.m. on a corner across from Temple Emanuel. The event was shared mostly through social media. Cherry Hill police were nearby, but the rally was peaceful. Chief William Monaghan and Mayor Chuck Cahn posed for photos with groups of demonstrators.

Its very unfortunate that we have to be here, Cahn said. Theres no place for hatred and ignorance.

There were no speeches during the rally, which lasted about 90 minutes, until a steady rain put a damper on the event. There were occasional outbursts of chants of deport hate. An interfaith group of women sang religious songs. The crowd joined in for a round of God Bless America.

Theres been an unleashing of bigotry and hateful sentiment, said Farhat Biviji of Cherry Hill, a founding member of the Jewish-Catholic-Muslim dialogue group of South Jersey. The only way we can counteract it is to show love and brotherhood.

Motorists passing during the evening rush hour honked their horns in support. A demonstrator waved a sign that read, Make America kind again.

We want to be a visible sign for the community that we do care about each other, said Pat Sandrow, co-president of the Catholic-Jewish Commission of Southern New Jersey. Were all brothers and sisters and Gods family, no matter what we call each other.

Established in the 1940s, the center is a sprawling complex that promotes Jewish heritage and culture. It has an early childhood center, a fitness center, an indoor swimming pool, and social and recreational programs that attract all ages.

Longtime member Howard Miron, 56, of Cherry Hill, said the bomb threats may have scared some members away. He said he plans to continue to go to the center.

If you live in fear, youre not really living, said Miron, who works in supply management at Cooper University Hospital. Once you stop doing what you normally do, they win.

Nationwide, 31 bomb threats were called into 23 JCCs and eight Jewish day schools, according to the JCC Association of America. Centers in Wilmington, York, Pa., and Harrisburg were also evacuated.

The FBI said that the agency and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with the threats.

The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence, and will ensure this matter is investigated in a fair, thorough, and impartial manner, a spokesman said Tuesday. He declined further comment.

Since January, there have been 90 threats around the country to Jewish institutions. No bombs have been found.

President Trump on Tuesday told attorneys general from across the country that the recent rash of attacks and threats against Jewish institutions was reprehensible, but suggested that it might not only reflect anti-Semitism, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Sometimes, the president said, "the reverse can be true," Shapiro said, recalling the conversation at the White House. "Someone's doing it to make others look bad."

Shapiro said he found the comment a bit curious.

When he addressed a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, Trump had a different position.

Tonight, as we mark the conclusion of our celebration of Black History Month, we are reminded of our nation's path toward civil rights and the work that still remains. Recent threats targeting Jewish community centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last weeks shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms, he said shortly after greeting Congress and its leaders.

Each American generation passes the torch of truth, liberty and justice in an unbroken chain all the way down to the present, he continued. That torch is now in our hands. And we will use it to light up the world.

Published: February 28, 2017 4:15 PM EST | Updated: February 28, 2017 9:41 PM EST

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Hundreds gather to support JCC in Cherry Hill after bomb threat - Philly.com

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

On Sunday, former NBA player and now Israeli basketball star Amare Stoudemire, was awarded Israels Martin Luther King Jr. Award, given to individuals who embody the spirit and ideals of Dr. King.

I am truly honored to be receiving this amazing award, said Stoudemire, who signed a two-year contract with Israels Hapoel Jerusalem club last year. In a video to his Instagram followers, Stoudemire stood against the night skyline of Jerusalem and described the award as honoring my courage to be an Israelite and also to be able to work and talk about equality to all nations.

Every Black History Month, the Jewish National Fund, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and the State of Israel give out this award to individuals who promote diversity and tolerance, a press release read.

Amare Stoudemire paints with children in Chicago last year as part of his In The Paint series, which combines sports and art activities.

Stoudemire runs the Amare and Alexis Stoudemire Foundation with his wife, Alexis which supports at-risk youth around the world, according to the foundationss website.

In Israel, Stoudemire is continuing his philanthropic work. He hosted a basketball peace camp this summer, which drew participants from a range of distinct Israeli communities, including Palestinians, Hebrew Israelites and Ethiopian Jews. Stoudemire also hosted another childrens camp at the Israel Museum, part of an annual series called In The Paint, which joins together basketball and art activities.

Israeli officials lauded Stoudemire.

Stoudemire has again set an example that sportsmanship supersedes nationality, ethnicity, or religious affiliation, said Russell F. Robinson, CEO of Jewish National Fund-USA. Robinson said that all of these qualities are welcome in Israel, a country he called a beacon of democracy in an otherwise turbulent part of the world.

Amare Stoudemire has spearheaded many initiatives that empower the less fortunate and advance important principles like tolerance, peace, creativity and healthy living, said Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York.

Past recipients of Israels MLK Award have included former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, the author Toni Morrison, entrepreneur Russell Simmons and Harry Belafonte.

When Stoudemire signed his deal with Hapoel in early August moving to Jerusalem with his entire family his spiritual and professional paths converged.

Stoudemire has been on a years long journey into religion and heritage, a path that has fascinated, and at times bewildered, American Jews and Israelis. He is not Jewish, as some continue to report, but a Hebrew Israelite meaning he views the Torah as an ancestral record of African Americans, and sees the land of Israel as part of his heritage.

Stoudemire poses in an Instagram photo, wearing a fur and a piece of jewelry modeled on the priestly breastplate of ancient Israelites.

Stoudemire maintains close ties with the Hebrew Israelites of Dimona, and even executive produced a documentary film about that community. Stoudemire regularly peppers his social media with biblical quotes.

If your ancestors were brought to America, or any other part of the world by slave ship, you are from the ancient tribe of the Hebrew Israelites, Stoudemire said in a February 2016 YouTube video alongside a Hebrew Israelite pastor in Chicago. This is black history, this is true black history.

Despite the praise from Israeli officials, since the move to Jerusalem Stoudemire has faced some adversity.

The Stoudemires 12-year-old son, Deuce, was barred from playing games with Hapoel Jerusalems youth team because he is not an Israeli citizen. Deuce was invited to play baseball instead.

Stoudemire has also clashed with Israeli basketball referees on a number of occasions, even taking to social media to rail against the officials. I have witnessed the worst officiating in the world of basketball, Stoudemire wrote on Instagram. Way to discourage other top players from coming to play in Israel.

Email Sam Kestenbaum at kestenbaum@forward.com and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum

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Posted By richards on February 28, 2017

Oscars Jewish news

As expected, the biggest Jewish Oscar haul came in the musical categories. Justin Hurwitz, 32, won for best original score (La La Land) and best song (City of Stars). Lyricists Benj Pasek, 31, and Justin Paul shared the best-song Oscar with Hurwitz. From the stage, Pasek thanked his mom for letting him quit JCC soccer to concentrate on his music. Below youll find highlights of my interview with Hurwitzs mom not long before the Feb. 26 ceremony.

Kenneth Lonergan, 54, won best original screenplay for Manchester by the Sea. And congrats to Jeremy Kleiner, 40, a producer of Moonlight, the best pic winner.Finally, Ezra Edelman, 42, won for directing the best feature length documentary (O.J.: Made in America). Hes the son of Peter Edelman, a (Jewish) law professor, and Marian Wright Edelman, an African American attorney famous for her work defending childrens rights. A 1992 New York Times profile of the Edelman family says their two sons were raised in both parents religious traditions and that their older son, Jonah, now 47, had a bar mitzvah (whether Ezra did, too, isnt mentioned).

Gail Halabe Hurwitz and Ken Hurwitz of San Rafael are the proud parents of Hurwitz, who now owns two Academy Awards.

Gail told me that her father was born in 1903 in Aleppo, Syria, and her mother was born in 1915 in Beirut, Lebanon. Her parents came to the U.S. around 1920 and settled in Los Angeles. Gail married Ken in 1983 in a Los Angeles Sephardic temple, and Justin was born two years later.

At age 6, Justin started piano lessons. It was clear very early that he had an aptitude for this instrument, his mom said. A piano teacher introduced him to composition and [we] bought him a synthesizer, and at age 10 he composed his first tune.

After the family moved to a Milwaukee suburb in 1998, Justin went to a top conservatory in Wisconsin. His sister, Hanna Hurwitz, 31, is an accomplished classical violinist.

Many of the familys relatives live in Israel. We have a very large family on my mothers side residing in Israel because all of her family moved there from Lebanon and remained there throughout their lives, Gail said. Both my children are very proud of their Middle Eastern heritage and culture.

Gail said that Justin went to Harvard in 2003 to study music, where he met Damien Chazelle, the writer and Oscar-winning director of La La Land. Recalled Gail: Both played in Chester French [an indie pop band] for one year, dropped out and began rooming together and collaborating on what would become their first full-length film, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. It got a distributor and was released in 2009.

After college, both Justin and Damien moved to L.A. with the intention of making films. But it was a slow start, and to make a living in Hollywood, Justin got jobs writing comedy, she continued. He put his experience working for the Harvard Lampoon during college to good use, writing for the bro-sitcom The League and one episode of the Simpsons, among others.

The success of Guy and Madeline led to financing for Whiplash(2014). Chazelle wrote and directed, while Justin scored the film and wrote the title song, a big-band number. Whiplash won three Oscars and that opened the door for La La Land.

French actress Isabelle Huppert, 63, nominated for best actress for her role in Elle, gave her first detailed interview about her Jewish background to the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles last month. While she was raised Catholic, she said, she identifies as half-Jewish. She said her Jewish father survived the Holocaust by hiding in North Africa, but many of his relatives died. Finally, the actress, whose husband is Jewish, said shes visited Israel four times (mostly for film screenings) and I think it is a wonderful country.

Table 19 is a romantic comedy starring Anna Kendrick as Eloise, who attends a wedding only to find herself seated with a gaggle of guests who were only reluctantly invited. Co-stars include Lisa Kudrow, 53, Wyatt Russell, 30 (the son of Goldie Hawn, 71) and June Squibb, 87. The film was directed and written by Jeffrey Blitz, 48, who has directed four films and a bunch of TV shows. The movie opens on Friday, March 3.

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Jews go to the Oscars; Justin Hurwitz's proud Marin mom; etc. - Jweekly.com

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