Judaism

Hidden Hollywood: David O. Selznick, American or Jew?

January 23, 2019 by Robert J. Avrech 1 Comment

Producer David O. Selznick lived a large Hollywood life.

Most famously, he produced Gone With the Wind. His memos to directors are legendary for their exhausting length and minutely detailed analysis of scripts and dailies. He was married to Irene Mayer, L.B. Mayer’s brilliant and accomplished daughter. But he blew up that splendid relationship with multiple affairs and finally a sad marriage to the fragile actress Jennifer Jones.

Selznick gobbled amphetamine and was constantly short of money even as he spent vast sums on a luxurious life style.

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on Chanukah, The Triumph of Monotheism

December 5, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech 1 Comment

Families on Hanukkah gather together and celebrate around dreidels, chocolate coins, and presents. Yet the holiday’s most profound meaning is in its core symbol and ritual: the lighting of the menorah. Rabbi Meir Soloveichik takes us through Hanukkah’s two pivotal historical stages, the age of the Temple and the age of Diaspora, teaching us about the triumph of monotheism and Judaism, and the lessons Hanukkah’s miracles hold for anyone who cares about Jewish survival.

Succot 2018

September 23, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech 3 Comments

A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species— in a succah, Jerusalem, 1939. — A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species—in a Sukkah, Jerusalem, 1939.

As Jews all over the world make last minute preparations for the holiday of Sukkot, which begins this evening, here are a few wonderfully evocative pictures of Jews celebrating this joyous holiday in Israel — and a rare photo of Jews in Samarkand.

You will dwell in booths for seven days; all natives of Israel shall dwell in booths.

—Leviticus 23:42

On the first day, you will take for yourselves a fruit of a beautiful tree, palm branches, twigs of a braided tree and brook willows, and you will rejoice before the L-RD your G-d for seven days.

—Leviticus 23:40

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Rosh Hashanah 2018

September 9, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech Leave a Comment

Tonight the holiday of Rosh Hashanah begins. Seraphic Secret will be offline until Wednesday. Lielle, Maayan and Livia hope that all our friends and relatives be inscribed and sealed for a good year. שנה טובה.

Live: Jackie Danicki Delivers the Ariel Avrech Memorial Lecture

June 25, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech 2 Comments

Every lecture delivered in memory of our son Ariel Chaim ZT’L is special. But this year’s lecture by our good friend Jackie Danicki is extraordinary.

Fifteen years ago Jackie and I met online after she wrote a beautiful comment on one of my earliest blogposts about our beloved son who had passed away.