Last week, Booknik fooled around, rewrote history, bought matzo, and celebrated Pesach merrily, and kosher; he tried to master a new profession but then he decided to retire. Booknik Jr. learned that poor results in school cannot hinder a successful career in poetry, so he went for a vacation in Tel Aviv.
The Russian National State. The Vital World of Stalinist Era Historians, by A.L. Yurganov
Despite the proclaimed atheism, the soviet historical science, the author claims, was distinctly religious. The main source of truth for researchers was the quotes from the new “scripture,” the works by classics of the only true doctrine. In the early 1930s, Stalin became a member of this pantheon. Booknik’s literary critic Yevgeny Levin found a parallel to what soviet historians were doing. It was very similar to the exegetic studies of Talmud scholars.
…and many other schools of thought in the Books & Reviews section.
Marranos’ Luminary
Booknik contributor Leya Luyubomirskaya told our readers of the Captain Artur Carlos de Barros Basto (1887—1961), the son of a Christian woman and a Crypto-Jew who initiated the project Obra de Resgate, the struggle for conscientious return of Crypto-Jews to the canonical Judaism.
…and many other crypto returns in the Articles & Interviews section.
Several days before Pesach, a seemingly simple query “matzo Moscow where to buy” Yandex returns with tons of unpredictable results that do not have anything to do with the searched item. In particular, they suggest buying mono blocks, a lawnmower, facing tile, legal mixes (obviously, not nutritional but quite festive), cosmetics, and even a groin guard called “Matsa.” Pesach is coming, and the Russian internet does not even smell matzo. Nevertheless, our insistent reporter Mila Dubrovina decided that no one is going to rob her of merry and kosher Pesach.
…and many other kosher decisions in the Events & Reports section.
Facts about Jesters
Some Jewish wisecrackers were fairly freethinking. Shmerl Snitkover who lived in the Vilno Province was especially famous for this, and they even called him “a Godless jester.” When he was asked if it was possible to travel by train on Yom Kippur, he said, “Of course you can. Either you can meet a rabbi on the train, and he will have to keep silent about it, or you will not meet him. And who else is there to be afraid of?” There are more zany facts about jesters from Booknik contributors Marina Karpova and Yevgeny Levin.
Merry Pesach
Our culinary contributor Keren Pevzner found out that Pesach could be just as merry as Purim. The main thing is to keep a good company. Moreover, we know from Winnie the Pooh that a good company is the one where they could treat you to something nice.
I Was a Dishwasher in the Land of Israel
Booknik contributor Elisha Zinde, our special reporter in kibbutz, had a special task from the editors, to master some new profession. It turned out that washing dishes and pans was much more interesting than brains. He now does not wish to see many of his former media colleagues, with some exceptions, of course. Nevertheless, in the kibbutz eatery he liked all people with no exceptions.
In the Land of Blood and Honey, directed by Angelina Jolie
The film is shot accurately, narrated verbosely, and as film director, Jolie uses Michael Winterbottom’s techniques. However, without his soft irony, the effect is somehow blurred. When showing violence, Jolie stops halfway between the esthetically presented cruelty and journalistic photography in the category “The Best Pictures of the Year.” Her emotional impact ends up in viewers’ uncomfortable cringing, for they ambiguously wish a situation to come to some honest graphic pornography or they demand their due portion of tear jerking. Booknik film critic Masha Tuuborg’s hanky was not even remotely wet.
Raj’s Helmet
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, directed by John Madden
“Teenagers suck, retired people rule,” our movie critic in his prime Ivan Pervertov claims. This is how the entertainment industry is going to develop in the nearest future, and do not tell me any different. I am getting further and further from pimply kids myself, and closer to the earth. For the third week now, the dream of my own garden, and my own orange jam has been haunting me. Since recently, I have been watching only films about retired people.
…and many other real retirements in the Columns & Columns section.
The Initial Position
Our contributor Pavel Zhuravel shares his Pesach reminiscences: “Just imagine, midges and dog flies, Egyptians wore coats and hats of insects. People scratched themselves to death, and fell from all their blood loss.” We started scratching ourselves instinctively. “Relax!” he growled. “Only Egyptians scratched. Jews were not covered by the plagues.” “Jaysus, when will that Pharaoh let those Jews go, finally?” we moaned, with Vadim and Lenchik Torbin. “When Jews get wiser. The plagues were for you, not Egyptians.” And the rabbi pointed his expressive finger at the bodies in our group.
…and many other remarkable remembrances in the Stories & Essays section.
Hebrarium, the Lexicon of Jewish Whatnots, E2
In this installment of our E-Hebrarium, you will find answers to these burning questions. How does Kirill Chichayev overcome Shabbat prohibitions? Where did the Jews come from to Ethiopia? What celebration did they have in honor of Queen Esther?
Rumeynishe Fantasia by Mark Kovnatsky. To the Memory of Adrienne Cooper
Rumeynishe Fantasia was written by Joseph Solinsky in the early 20th century, and it is one of the oldest transcriptions of klezmer music preserved to these days. The title does not mean that the piece is actually Romanian, at all. That was the time when all Romanian music was very much in popular demand, so Solinsky titled the piece this way in order to sell it better.
…and many other pieces of music in the Video Blog section.
He had not finished even seven years of secondary education, however he taught in six British and American universities. His teachers and professors were books. Especially, he valued ancient authors. He considered his students and the young generation in general illiterate. He compiled the list of one hundred books that everyone should read.
A Multicolored City. Routes for Children
You probably know this saying, “In Jerusalem people pray, in Haifa they work, and in Tel Aviv, you are right, they entertain themselves.” This is a joke, of course, for in Jerusalem people successfully work, too, as they pray in Haifa. But the fact remains, in Tel Aviv you could find entertainment for all tastes, ages, and, which is more to the point, at any time of day or night. Booknik Jr. suggests where you could go there with kids.
A Housing Problem
A Squash and a Squeeze, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
The book is the philosophical fable of the relativity of everything existing. It is the visual illustration to the piece of advice that if you cannot change your circumstance, you should be able to change your attitude. And the book is, of course, the story of how long and convoluted a road might be for the one who wishes to convert to Judaism.
…and many other somethings at Booknik Jr., also known as Family Booknik, our own web site for kids and their parents.
We have a new record. Cue the cheesy inspirational music. Booknik and Family Booknik are supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation.
