24 Mar 2025
Jewish artists have been ostricized since Oct. 7. Will it lead to a renaissance of Jewish art?
In the face of rising cultural boycotts and antisemitism, Jewish artists in Canada confront significant challenges in the arts community. Some artists remain hopeful that these struggles might lead to a renaissance of Jewish art, driven by increased support and solidarity within the Jewish community.
27 Jan 2025
Daniel Pelton transformed Holocaust tattoos into orchestral jazz. This is what it sounds like
Daniel Pelton, a musician from Calgary, was inspired by his exploration of Holocaust history to transform tattoo numbers from a Holocaust narrative into orchestral jazz. Utilizing the violins from the "Violins of Hope" collection, Pelton created a trio of songs released to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, thereby intertwining Holocaust memory with contemporary musical expression.
14 Jan 2025
See the world through the eyes of an autistic poet in a new exhibit by Adam Wolfond and Estée Klar
Adam Wolfond, an autistic nonverbal artist, showcases his unique artistic approach in a new exhibition at Toronto's Koffler Arts Centre, emphasizing neurodiversity and alternative communication. Together with his mother Estée Klar, they share their journey and highlight the challenges and triumphs of creating inclusive spaces for neurodivergent individuals.
30 Dec 2024
Erez Zobary dives into her Yemenite heritage with R&B soul
Erez Zobary, a Toronto R&B artist, explores her Yemenite heritage and Jewish identity in her latest album, influenced by family history and cultural soundscapes. The album, released post-October 7, blends personal stories with contemporary musical elements and touches on themes of resilience, identity, and community.
28 Nov 2024
'My Dead Mom' gives the nagging Jewish mother trope a haunting twist
Wendy Litner's web series "My Dead Mom" humorously explores the continuing presence of her late mother's critical voice, addressing Jewish mother stereotypes with a feminist angle. Hosts Ilana and David share personal stories on processing grief through art and discuss current Jewish art events in Canada.
13 Nov 2024
Yosl and the Yingels balance classic klezmer with modern jazz in their debut EP
Joseph Landau discusses his Yiddish swing and folk band, Yosl and the Yingels, and their efforts to revive Yiddish music with their debut EP, Zikhroynes. Landau shares his journey learning Yiddish and how his music bridges classic klezmer and modern jazz influences to reach both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences.
31 Oct 2024
Live from the Toronto Holocaust Museum: Talking zombies on Halloween Eve
Michael Fraiman, producer of the Culturally Jewish podcast, discusses his audio drama 'Justice: A Holocaust Zombie Story,' which combines Holocaust education with a zombie narrative to engage a younger audience. Recorded live at the Toronto Holocaust Museum, this episode explores the creative motivations and public reception of blending the Holocaust with an unconventional, fictional genre.
8 Oct 2024
Jacob Samuel wants audiences to know he's Jewish—and to make that tension funny
Jacob Samuel, a Juno award-winning comedian, discusses the challenges and importance of asserting his Jewish identity in comedy amidst increasing antisemitism. He highlights the shifts in audience reactions over the past year and his commitment to maintaining visibility and humor about Judaism despite these challenges.
24 Sep 2024
A new exhibit of dreamlike family portraits recall bygone Jewish life, tinged with trauma
Arnie Lipsey showcases a captivating series of 30 paintings titled "The Past Is Before You" at the Museum of Jewish Montreal, inspired by archival family photos and blending memory with surreal and traumatic backgrounds. The exhibit explores themes of Jewish identity, family history, and the juxtaposition of innocence with historical traumas, reflecting on the precariousness of Jewish life across generations.
24 Sep 2024
A new exhibit of dreamlike family portaits recall bygone Jewish life, tinged with trauma
Arnie Lipsey, a former animator, discusses his new art exhibit at the Museum of Jewish Montreal, exploring the juxtaposition of familial memories with underlying historical trauma through surreal, colorized portraits. Lipsey's work beautifully captures the ongoing presence of Jewish history's darker elements amidst scenes of everyday life, using humor and artistic innovation to engage with his family's story of escape from Nazi Europe.
9 Sep 2024
A new Winnipeg staging of 'Tuesdays with Morrie' brings the menschdom
A recent episode of Culturally Jewish explores a new Winnipeg Jewish Theatre production of "Tuesdays with Morrie," highlighting Jewish themes and personal introspections on life and death. The conversation transitions from theater insights to a discussion on Jewish cultural events like the KlezKanada retreat and the Ashkenaz Festival, alongside reflections on anti-Semitism and Jewish community dynamics post-October 7.
9 Sep 2024
A new Winnipeg staging of 'Tuesdays with Morrie' brings the menschdom
Winnipeg Jewish Theatre is staging 'Tuesdays with Morrie', starring David Sklar, delving into Jewish themes of life, love, and legacy through Mitch Albom's beloved story. The episode also explores Jewish artistic communities and examines the broader cultural impacts of the theatre's historical narratives.
30 Jul 2024
Talia Schlanger spent years interviewing professional musicians—then became one herself
Talia Schlanger, known for her career in broadcasting with CBC Radio and NPR, discusses her transition to a professional music career with the release of her debut album 'Grace for the Going.' She shares the influence of her Jewish heritage, specifically her grandparents' Holocaust survival, on her music and addresses the complexities of visible Jewish identity in today's cultural climate.
30 Jul 2024
Talia Schlanger spent years interviewing professional musicians—then became one herself
Talia Schlanger, known for her work in hosting music programs and interviewing artists on CBC Radio and NPR, recently shifted her focus to becoming a professional musician with the release of her debut album, "Grace for the Going." Despite her broadcasting background aiding her creatively, she found herself unprepared for the business aspects of the music industry. In an interview on The CJN's podcast, Culturally Jewish, Schlanger discusses her personal journey and Jewish identity, drawing inspiration from her Holocaust-survivor grandparents and sharing how she started wearing a Magen David necklace.
9 Jul 2024
'I could not stop crying': Holocaust survivor Maxwell Smart on his life story being made into a movie
Maxwell Smart, a Holocaust survivor who spent 18 months hiding in the woods after being separated from his family, discusses his life story and its adaptation into the feature film "The Boy in the Woods". Director Rebecca Snow elaborates on the unique narrative style of the film, which blends historical reality with elements of Yiddish folklore and magic realism to explore imagination and survival.
9 Jul 2024
'I could not stop crying': Holocaust survivor Maxwell Smart on his life story being made into a movie
Maxwell Smart, a prominent Holocaust survivor, discusses his harrowing story of escape and survival as depicted in the new film "The Boy in the Woods," emphasizing the impact of historical narratives on promoting empathy. Filmmaker Rebecca Snow and Smart explore the movie's creative decisions, such as using folklore elements to convey more than just trauma, making it accessible to younger audiences without diluting historical truth.
25 Jun 2024
Danila Botha's new book of short fiction wants to break the mold of Jewish Orthodoxy
Canadian author Danila Botha discusses her latest book, "Things That Cause Inappropriate Happiness," featuring Jewish stories that challenge traditional Orthodox narratives. Botha, who is openly Zionist, shares her experiences navigating the complexities of identity in literature and discusses how current social climates impact reception to her work.
25 Jun 2024
Danila Botha's new book of short fiction wants to break the mold of Jewish Orthodoxy
Danila Botha discusses her new book, "Things That Cause Inappropriate Happiness," which explores diverse Jewish identities and challenges traditional narratives through fictional stories. She navigates the complexity of being an openly Zionist author in a climate that's increasingly hostile to her views, while integrating imaginative storytelling with cultural and historical insight.
27 May 2024
Meet the singer who performs Yiddish opera from Holocaust survivors—and also Wagner
Jaclyn Grossman, a Toronto-based soprano, explores the tension between performing Wagner's operas, despite the composer's antisemitic legacy, and Yiddish works by Holocaust survivors through her co-founded Likht Ensemble. Grossman argues that engaging with Wagner's music is an opportunity to address antisemitism in the arts, rather than dismissing it outright.
27 May 2024
Meet the singer who performs Yiddish opera from Holocaust survivors—and also Wagner
Jaclyn Grossman, a soprano opera singer, explores the complexity of performing works by antisemitic composer Richard Wagner alongside music by Holocaust survivors. As co-founder of the Likht Ensemble, she aims to create dialogue around these tensions through art, arguing against canceling Wagner and instead using his music to spark necessary conversations about Jewish representation and antisemitism in the arts.