The Jewish-American comedian directed and acted in numerous films starring zany characters. A century after his birth, fans and scholars recall the performer whose manic energy, inventive filmmaking, and decades of philanthropy left an indelible mark on popular culture.
The Living Encyclopedia of Lost Jewish Communities
Moshe Tzinovitz filled page after page with the stories of rabbis and communities that no longer exist. Now, as his scattered archive is finally being organized, a portrait emerges of the man who devoted his life to preserving the memories of others, while leaving little order in his own papers.
The Jewish Chemist Who Dissolved Nobel Prizes to Hide Them From the Nazis
George Charles de Hevesy, a scientist of Jewish origin, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry at the height of World War II while living in hiding as a refugee. But even before that, he had carried out a daring and ingenious operation — using his scientific expertise to conceal Nobel Prize medals from the Nazis. What does all this have to do with a mischievous landlady who served him recycled leftovers? This is the story of a brilliant and resourceful scientist.
Sandy Koufax: A Jewish Baseball Hero Turns 90
Sitting out an important game on Yom Kippur, setting pitching records and retiring young for health reasons combined to make the iconic Dodgers pitcher a legend in the 1960s. He remains so.
The Secret Chord: Leonard Cohen Composes “Hallelujah”
He only began writing songs seriously at the age of 30, and started singing a few years later. A proud Jew who spent time living in a Buddhist monastery in California, he used poetry and music to express both the holiest and the darkest parts of the human soul. His most famous song, whose story we tell here, is likely one you know, even if you’ve never heard Leonard Cohen sing it in his own voice.
Better Together: Colombia’s Macabi Games Tell the Story of a Community
The National Macabi Games, or Macabeada, are held annually in Colombia, with Jewish athletes attending from across the country and even elsewhere. This event is about much more than sport, however. The games are a celebration of Jewish life, community, friendship and love.
Who Was Judah Touro? A Name Etched Into Jewish and American History
Touro’s philanthropy left its mark on Jewish life around the globe, yet, almost paradoxically, few today are familiar with his name.
Walter Trier: The Jewish Illustrator Who Depicted Germany at Its Best
You likely know Walter Trier’s illustrations—even if his name doesn’t ring a bell. For many, the characters and landscapes he brought to life have been etched into memory through countless childhood readings of “Emil and the Detectives,” “Lisa and Lottie,” or “The Flying Classroom.” This is the story of the talented illustrator who breathed life into Erich Kästner’s characters.
The Jewish Mother Who Defeated Emperor Charles V
A Jewish mother will do everything for her children, but in this case – “everything” included taking on the Holy Roman Emperor himself and building a web of intrigue that spanned continents and several royal and noble houses. This is the story of Gracia Mendes Nasi, otherwise known as Dona Gracia.
From Hitler’s Beer Hall to the National Library in Jerusalem
In the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust, a large number of Jewish books were discovered by the Jewish Brigade in a famous Munich beer hall considered to be the cradle of Nazism. How did the books end up there? And after they were discovered, where did some of them disappear to?
