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Jewish RENAISSANCE A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON JEWISH CULTURE SPONSORED BY DANGOOR EDUCATION OCTOBER 2018 £7.25 VIVAVIVA MEXICO!MEXICO! A UNIQUE CULTURE AT THE HEART OF LATIN AMERICA IT’S A MIRACLE! WHO OWNS JEWISH CULTURE? THE LSD LIBRARY The rise of the brachot party Iraq, the US and the hidden archives Popping the religion pill JR Pass on your love of Jewish culture for future generations Make a legacy to Jewish Renaissance ADD A LEGACY TO JR TO YOUR WILL WITH THIS SIMPLE FORM WWW.JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK/CODICIL GO TO: WWW.JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK/DONATIONS FOR INFORMATION ON ALL WAYS TO SUPPORT JR CHARITY NUMBER 1152871 OCTOBER 2018 CONTENTS WWW.JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK JR YOUR SAY… Reader’s rants, raves 4 and views on the July issue of JR. WHAT’S NEW First service in 500 6 years for Lorca synagogue; chocolate menorot (yum); YIVO opens in London. FEATURE Marseille’s unsung hero: 10 Elisabeth Blanchet uncovers the wartime story of Varian Fry. FEATURE When the nun met the 12 rabbi: Deborah Freeman visits the German Bible study centre where Christians, Muslims and Jews debate together. PASSPORT Mexico: We uncover 14 a history of secret villages; fiery revolutionaries and Yiddish activists; meet Mexico City’s first woman – and Jewish – mayor; and hear from the cultural movers and shakers who are putting this Latin American country on the map. CONTENTS FILM The UK Jewish Film Festival is 32 coming to town! We review the top docs that are set to make waves this year. CAROL ISAACS; FROM ALTERED STATES, PUBLISHED BY ANTHOLOGY EDITIONS ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHED BY STATES, FROM ALTERED CAROL ISAACS; © THEATRE Canada is the setting 34 for Old Stock’s story of immigration 14 and love. Judi Herman meets the husband- and-wife team behind the show. VARIAN FRY INSTITUTE; INSTITUTE; FRY VARIAN 36 MUSIC Vivi Lachs uncovers the © 36 story behind Soviet Zion, a musical about the Jewish region in Siberia; a concert marks Kristallnacht 80 years on. ROB GREIG; © ; BOOKS Peter Watts pops the 38 religion pill; Mike Witcombe speaks to Ariel Kahn about his debut novel and we revisit Maureen Kendler’s seminal series on British Jewish writing. Plus David Herman on Saul Bellow; Liz Cashdan on Kinder Scout; and Seymour Hersh’s biography. THE MODERNISTS Adrian 10 46 Whittle on Haifa’s iconic shuk. SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE 47 47 Rebecca Taylor on the Wolf of Baghdad; Michelle Huberman on the parties promising miracles; Lyn Julius asks: who owns Jewish culture? CLAUDIA CRUZ BARIGELLI; COURTESY OF THE DOCUMENTATION CENTER OF THE DOCUMENTATION BARIGELLI; COURTESY CRUZ CLAUDIA WHAT’S HAPPENING Our © 54 three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel. BEATRIZ SOKOL; SOKOL; BEATRIZ © FAMILY Alumot gives Cambridge : 65 Israelis a warm shalom. 38 MEET THE READER This issue: ON THE COVER 66 Basil Mann in Hounslow. OCTOBER 2018 JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK 3 YOUR SAY… JR Jewish Thanks to our supporters EDITOR Rebecca Taylor RENAISSANCE PRESIDENT David Dangoor SPONSORS •Prof Joan Freeman A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON JEWISH CULTURE CEO Janet Levin SPONSORED BY DANGOOR EDUCATION JULY 2018 £7.25 •David Dangoor •Jonathan Glass ART DIRECTOR Becky Redman •The Mirisch & •Chris Godbold LISTINGS EDITOR Danielle Goldstein Lebenheim Charitable •Stephen Goldman POETRY EDITOR Liz Cashdan Foundation •Ed and Trish Kessler ARTS EDITOR Judi Herman MUSIC EDITOR Danielle Goldstein TEARING UP •Icky Kurgan THE RULES FILM EDITOR Jason Solomons PATRONS •David & Annie Lass OUTLOUD EDITOR Judi Herman •The Shoresh •Bernard & Sylvia OPERATIONS MANAGER Lorraine Sheridan VIENNA’S CULTURE Foundation Marder SUB EDITORS Agi Erdos, Judi Herman, REVOLUTION Stephen Herman, Patti Langton, •Dee and Leslie •Prof Simon Diane Lukeman, Judith Mirzoeff Bergman Majaro MBE ILLUSTRATIONS Thomas Fournier •Stanley Cohen OBE •Stephen Moss CBE PHOTOGRAPHY Rob Greig, Charlotte Mayhew •Anthony Coren •Lesley Paiba WEBMASTER Becky Redman •Walter Goldsmith •Harry Perovetz SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Danielle Goldstein •Lionel Gordon •Rosalind Preston MARKETING CONSULTANT Ricky Coussins •Ian Lancaster OBE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Monica Bohm-Duchen, David Conway, Raphael •Hilary & James Leek •Sarah Rose Gee, Judi Herman, Shoshi Ish-Horowicz, Liz Ison, IS THERE LIFE AFTER ROTH? AMOS OZ MOROCCO MEETS VENEZUELA •Brian Linden •David L Rubin Bea Lewkowicz, Michael Mail, Irene Newton, The future of Jewish fiction Peace is still possible The restaurant that’s defying the crisis •Colette Littman •Anne Sebba Judith Mirzoeff EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD •Judy Weleminsky •Naomi & Victor Geraldine Auerbach MBE Reactions to our July issue Stone Alex Brummer City Editor, Daily Mail FRIENDS •Marlene Sutton Monica Bohm-Duchen Art historian TEARING UP THE RULES: Max Dunbar CEO, Jewish Museum Manchester •Gretha Arwas •Karen Trew David Glasser Chair, Ben Uri Art Gallery VIENNA’S CULTURE •Janice & Charles •Lady Watson Judy Ironside MBE Founder & President of REVOLUTION Bloom (Betty P Skolnick) UK Jewish Film Jennifer Jankel Chair, Jewish Music Institute LETTERS •Susan Cresswell •Bencie Woll, FBA Clive Lawton OBE Senior Consultant, Limmud Vienna in New York •Julian Dawes & •And thanks to our Maureen Lipman Writer and actor As a footnote to your terrific coverage of Ann Rau Dawes anonymous donors Claudia Rubinstein Director Jewish Book Week Raymond Simonson CEO, JW3 secessionist Vienna, I wanted to let you Nitza Spiro Director, Spiro Ark know about New York’s Neue Gallerie, which Lena Stanley-Clamp Director, European features world-class early 20th-century gave protection to their Jewish subjects Association for Jewish Culture German and Austrian paintings and design. – Mohammad V refused to surrender BOARD OF TRUSTEES Janet Levin, Ian Lancaster (Chair), There is also furniture and silverware from them to the Nazis (unlike other occupied Martin Motz, Judy Weleminsky, Brian Harris, the fin-de-siècle period, in particular, from North African countries). Jews were killed Lady Collins, Diane Lukeman (Volunteer the Viennese Werkstatte movement. It has a following the establishment of Israel; in Coordinator) Viennese restaurant called Cafe Sabarsky – 1967 and from 1959 to 1961, emigration to HON LEGAL ADVISOR Richard Rampton QC when you enter you might think you are in Israel was banned. The publisher, editor and members of the Vienna. JANOS FISHER However, persecution varied by committees of Jewish Renaissance wish to make it clear that the views in the articles are region. Jewish communities in the Berber those of individual authors and should not be Morocco: haven or hell? region of the south lived in harmony with taken to reflect their own opinions. The rights of copyright holders are recognised. Copyright In Saul Zadka’s review of Uprooted by their neighbours. The late Hananiyah holders we failed to locate should contact us at Lyn Julius (JR April 2018) he writes, Elfassie, whom we met on our first JR the address below. “Throughout the 19th century thousands tour, told us of the night that Mossad, in Printed in Wales by Pensord. Published by Renaissance Publishing [of Jews] were murdered by mobs in an undercover operation, had arrived in a company limited by guarantee Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech and his village and persuaded all (except him) Registered Charity Number 1152871. Tetouan,” and “entire communities were to leave. In cities, such as Casablanca, CONTACT INFORMATION 353-359 Finchley Rd, wiped out by King Idris I and 6,000 Fez, Rabat and Marrakesh, Jewish and London NW3 6ET Jews were murdered in Fez as early as Muslim communities lived side by side in +44 20 7794 5254 1033”. This is at odds with what we learned friendship. While emigration continued, WEBSITE from Raphael Elmaleh, our guide when we factors such as poor economic and www.jewishrenaissance.org.uk EMAIL were in Morocco on a recent JR tour. Rafi educational opportunities also played [email protected] stressed that Jews did not leave Morocco a part. In 2011 King Mohammed VI [email protected] because of persecution, as was the case in introduced a new constitution stipulating [email protected] many other Arab countries. Can you clarify that the Moroccan national identity [email protected] SOCIAL the situation? EVE KUGLER had been “nourished and enriched by Twitter: @JewishRen its African, Andalusian, Hebraic and www.facebook.com/JewishRenaissance © Copyright Jewish Renaissance Janet Levin, JR’s CEO and organiser of Mediterranean tributaries”. ISSN 1476 1769 JR Tours, replies: There were terrible massacres, particularly Please send your letters to: in the 11th and 19th centuries – which were [email protected] or by post to: happening in European as well as Arab Editor, Renaissance Publishing, Office 2, countries. But the kings of Morocco often 353-359 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6ET 4 JEWISHRENAISSANCE.ORG.UK OCTOBER 2018 OUR To show the To celebrate To nurture 1 vitality of 2 the diversity of 3 understanding AIMS contemporary Jewish experience between Jewish FROM JR’S and traditional in the UK and and other PRESIDENT Jewish culture. around the world. cultures. e are now through the busiest part of the Jewish year, with its festivals, FROM THE EDITOR W holidays and time for family. I hope it has been a happy and healthy period for all our JR readers. But the momentum continues in an exico has never been far from the autumn packed with activities. headlines this year: whether it was One of those I am supporting and which is Mthe heartbreaking stories of migrant particularly exciting is the screening of Carol parents being split from their children as they Isaacs’ graphic novel, Wolf of Baghdad (p48). tried to cross the US-Mexican border, or the Isaacs has produced a beautiful cartoon account continuing toll from drug-related violence. of her family’s life in Baghdad in the first part But one name dominated Mexican news of the 20th century, and this will be screened in more than any other: Amlo: the nickname November at JW3 alongside Sephardi music from given to Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the left-wing politician her band 3yin.