Last week, Booknik had a fight with the chief karate mater in the country, sent out valentines to his beloved readers, learned the whole truth about Rabinovitch, and hid the whole truth about himself from his mom; he also courted ladies, told Talmudic jokes, went to the movies, and was totally happy, compared to Romeo and Juliet. Meantime, Booknik Jr. was too serious for his years, so he spent days and night in a museum.
From Gallipoli to Transjordania
The History of the Jewish Legion, by Ze’ev Jabotinsky
National military units were usually created from below. As a rule, a purposeful fanatic was needed for it who could be able to overcome bureaucrats’ and diplomats’ conservatism, to convince generals, and, more importantly, to inspire his compatriots to fight. The Polish had their Józef Klemens Piłsudski. The Irish might have had their Roger Casement, and the Jewish legion was the brainchild of Vladimir (Ze’ev) Jabotinsky. He later described its history in his autobiographical narrative.
The Fall: Book 2 of the Strain Trilogy, by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan.
We do not believe in fiery angels if we are not told that they are the products of a nuclear catastrophe. We do not believe in apocalypse yet we feel that the end of the world is not that improbable, considering. We believe it would be a good thing to receive some semblance of an answer to the question, what to do, sometime before we really need one. If one has to write a vampire crime story with some mystics thrown in, excellent, let it be so. Even a graphic novel will do, Booknik’s literary critic Masha Tuuborg believes. The main thing would be to have someone to say “thanks for surviving” in the end.
Thirteen Naked Truths
Le Livre des Rabinovitch, by Philippe Blasband
The experimental form of The Book of Rabinovitches itself suggests a film script or a play for a documentary theater. There are four generations of one family, and the entire history of the 20th century, from Jewish pogroms in the Russian Empire to AIDS victims in tolerant Belgium. Our book reviewer Yevgeniya Ritz was not at all superstitious, and she looked at all thirteen photographs, and read all thirteen monologues.
…and many other superstitious superlatives in the Books & Reviews section.
Raffi Liven is one of the most famous martial arts masters in Israel, Europe, and all over the world. He established his own fighting style, called Sho Shin Karate Do, and he perfected the self-defense technique used in the Israeli army, Krav Maga. Booknik reporter Katerina Kudryavtseva who has the Kyokushinkai black belt herself interviewed him.
…and many other martial Martians in the Articles & Interviews section.
Mommy Did Not Know This. The Memoir by Rakhil Gladshteyn, Part 1
Rakhil Gladshteyn (1888–1978) was a doctor, a revolutionary, and a Communist. She took an active part in the Russian Civil War, and her memoir tells of her childhood, her mother, and the revolution.
Silence is Impossible. Ten Facts about Love
Booknik contributors proclaimed their love for cities, books, animals, children Jews, and champignons. This is why Booknik, who is amorous, passionate, and tolerant, could not keep silent on the Day of Lovers. However, he withstood the temptation to gossip about love life of his contributors, and decided to stick strictly to facts.
The Whole Chicken Broth
On the Lovers’ Day, Booknik’s culinary expert Keren Pevzner decided to declare her love for chicken. Read her column, and you will see that you actually share her feelings.
The Anatomy of a Conflict
The well-known ladies’ man Talmud scholar Reuven Kipervasser tried to please the beautiful stranger Booknik readers, and untangled a rather complicated Talmud story.
Young Adult, directed by Jason Reitman
The question that inevitably arises in the fourth decade of one’s life, who am I and what have I accomplished, frequently becomes the reason of depression, not pride. There are always lost opportunities, annoying failures, and topics for long ruminations. Nevertheless, for Jason Reitman, the return to one’s past is not a means to acquire the meaning of being but just an attempt to look into the eyes of someone you would never become. Booknik’s film critic Natalia Krayner watched the movie, shrugged her shoulders, and decided to live on.
…and many other watchable watches in the Columns & Columns section.
Captains of Streets
Booknik contributor Tatiana Rosselevich writes about her love for Israel, compassion to the destitute, and hatred of bus stations.
…and many other lovable laughs in the Stories & Essays section.
Never Was a Story of More Woe
On the Valentine’s Day, everyone speaks about happy love. However, we decided to present the quiz about unhappy, and even tragic love. The first reason for this was to add more variety to the tired theme, and the second one was to make you believe that everything is positively shiny in your life, compared to Romeo and Juliet.
…and many other laughable loves in the Contests & Quizzes section.
Hebrarium, the Lexicon of Jewish Whatnots, Sh-4
What do they call a Jewish loser? How many shekels are there in Kirill Chichayev’s pockets? Who sits the shiva? Watch our Hebrarium, and Booknik’s video genius will tell you.
The Flickering Jew 15: Two Films about the Holocaust
In the soviet times, the Holocaust was forbidden to mention. However, when the perestroika started, the list of taboos in cinema dwindled fast, and as soon as 1990, soviet moviegoers could see their favorite actor Innokenty Smoktunovsky as a Jew in Ladies’ Tailor that told about the tragedy of Baby Yar. Polish Jews had a no less terrible tragedy in Kielce, when people who survived the Holocaust believed again that they were “the cursed people,” and hid their children in Polish families. Booknik’s editor-in-chief and film critic Sergey Kuznetsov shows and tells.
…and many other filigree films in the Video Blog section.
Excursions into the Jewish Childhood
All children love to ask their parents about their childhood. All parents love to tell about their childhood. In the Russian Museum of Jewish History, they speak not only about childhood, but the Jewish childhood in particular. They start with the Russian empire, and continue with the soviet country. In that museum, they are very scientific, for the present day humanitarian tradition demands to listen attentively to soft voices of women and children. Without them, any history would be incomplete. Moreover, the Jewish childhood give an unusual angle to look at history.
…and many other angular uncles at Booknik Jr., also known as Family Booknik, our own web site for kids and their parents.
Some people are widely read. Booknik and Family Booknik are supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation.
