Phyllis Goldberg will be having an Art Show opening at Cue Art Foundation on September 6th.
Image: O.O.-1 [detail], 2001,Anita Kushner, a member of the shul, has an art opening this weekend, Saturday, August 25th, 5-8pm.
"Carribean Storm" 1998 oil on canvas 31" x 45"It was a pleasure to help run the New Shul’s summer film series and thank you to everyone who came out and participated in what were three interesting and thought provoking movies.
The first of our films was Michael Moore’s new documentary “Sicko” and was followed by a lively discussion about the nature of political discourse and whether or not the “left” needs to be more or less beholden to “accuracy” than outlets like Fox News on the other end of the spectrum. However, more fundamentally, this conversation was about the real responsibility that each of us has (as Jews and as Americans) to work to repair a health care system that fails to provide affordable health care for everyone.
The second movie, was Angelina Jolie’s “A Might Heart,” which is based on Marianne Pearl’s book describing the events surrounding the kidnapping and murder of her husband, Daniel Pearl, the Jewish journalist for the Wall Street Journal. In addition to a discussion about the distracting nature of Jolie’s presence (including several long, and seemingly unnecessary, tight shots of her lips), we also discussed the role that Pearl’s Jewish identity played in the motivating the terrorists as well as a book put together by Pearl’s parents. That book – “I am Jewish” – is a compilation of essays assembled by Ruth and Judea Pearl in which Jews (some well-known) are asked to provide their explanation to Danny’s final words which were – “My father is Jewish, My mother is Jewish, I am Jewish.”
For our final movie “The Fountainhead,” we had the neat opportunity to watch Ayn Rand’s 1949 film starring Gary Cooper (Rand wrote the screenplay) outside in Battery Park at the Elevated Acre. Personally, I couldn’t help look away from the screen at times and stare at the tall buildings of the New York Skyline which play such an important role in the film itself. (which, being from NY, is something I never do!) Our discussion dealt with the nature of artistic expression and communal verses individual responsibility. And, there was a little bit of disagreement about whether or not we agreed with the final speech (see an earlier post for youtube clip) of Howard Roark (Cooper’s character) in which he outlines Rand’s philosophy.
Thank you again for this great opportunity to be a part of your community. These conversations where fun, thought provoking, and challenging in the best possible way. I look forward to many more in the upcoming year, which will include a trip to the “Hall of Origins” at the Museum of Natural History on Oct. 28th to discuss the ever-popular battle between Darwin and the Book of Genesis; a three-part series - “God’s Law: Made to be Broken?” (starting Oct. 22nd) – dealing with the interplay and/or conflict between Jewish Law and personal belief; as well our 6 @ 6 “Happy Hour” discussions and Presidential Primary Debate viewing parties. Just to name a few.
Keep checking back here as we will continue to post new and interesting thoughts and links and feel free to suggest your own!!
- Dan
By Rabbi Niles E. Goldstein
Most everyone these days--whether they are hedge fund managers or average investors--has been (at least a little) unnerved by the volatility in the financial markets. These are not only dangerous times, but anxious ones. Yet much of that anxiety is the result of our own misplaced priorities.
Yes, we need to save for ourselves and for our children. Yes, we need to plan for the future. But do we tend to our souls as much as we do to our stock portfolios? Do we keep in check our desire to grow our personal wealth, and focus at least as much energy on growing our characters, our values, our spirituality? Now--the Hebrew month of Elul--is the perfect "Prep Time" to get ready for the High Holy Days. Forget the Dow and the S & P. Focus instead on your inner life.
You owe it to yourself. And to all the rest of us.
By Rabbi Niles E. Goldstein
I had the privilege of traveling through Bulgaria recently, right as the Libyan government released the nearly half dozen Bulgarian nurses, and a Palestinian doctor, after keeping them in prison for eight years on absurd charges. Once they landed in the capital, Sofia, they were all immediately pardoned, in a complicated strategy that involved international diplomacy--and plain and simple extortion.
It was amazing, and beautiful, to bear witness to this small country celebrate the return of its citizens. It reminded me of when I lived in Israel, where everyone knows everyone, people are treated like family the land over, and the pain (or joy) of one person is felt by everybody else as if it was his or her very own. If there was only some way to capture or create that sense of intimacy, of emotional interconnectedness, in a nation as large--and largely self-centered--as the United States. How can we achieve something so powerful in our own culture?
Craving a good read? Check out Rabbi Niles' suggestions for the rest of summer:
1. SHADOW OF THE SILK ROAD By Colin Thubron
A great nonfiction read about a vast and exotic part of the world and therole that it played in history. Having traveled though much of it myself, Ican say that Thubron's insights about the region today are astute and well-written. It is important to note that The Silk Road led not only to advances in the secular West, but to profound influences on Judaism and Jewish life.
2. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS By Khaled Hosseini
If you prefer fiction, try out this wonderful new novel by the author of THE KITE RUNNER. This novel brings the author's compassionate storytelling skills, as well as his sense of deep personal and national tragedy, to a moving tale of two women that is weighted equally with despair and grave hope.
3. THE GOD DELUSION By Richard Dawkins
One of the many bestselling "anti-religion" religion books. For Dawkins and his contemporaries, God is just a made-up fantasy. This idea is not new (think of Freud, Marx, etc.), nor is it not without its own problems. Yet Dawkins offers, in my view, one of the more intelligent arguments to challenge those of us who DO believe in a higher power--and who do NOT think we are just deluding ourselves.
4. GOD IN SEARCH OF MAN By Abraham Joshua Heschel
A classic testament to Jewish faith--and an argument against books such as the one above--Heschel is a poetic, powerful and evocative rabbi and writer who tries, not to "convince" us of God's reality in our lives, but to awaken in us a sense of enchantment, mystery, and awe that makes such belief even possible.
Have any suggestions? Post below to share them with The New Shul Community.
Join us next Tuesday, August 7th, for a showing of "The Fountainhead" starring Gary Cooper.
This film is being shown as part of "Movie Nights at the Elevated Acre" at 55 Water St. in Battery Park (between Broad & William Sts.)
Please arrive at 7pm for the pre-film discussion...bring a blanket and something to eat! The movie will start at sundown.
Although the following clip doesn't explain any of Ayn Rand's philosophy (nor do justice to the story itself), I did think it was interesting to see the original trailer for the movie and how the studio sought to advertise it on the heels of her tremendous publishing success.
Pretty funny, considering that this movie/book is about "the life of an idealistic young architect, Howard Roark, who chooses to struggle in obscurity rather than compromise his artistic and personal vision by pandering to the prevailing taste in building design." Link
Also, "One of the most interesting things about the film is the courtroom speech that Howard Roark gives at the end of the film. Ayn Rand wrote the entire speech, and demanded that it was read exactly as she wrote it. The director, King Vidor, initially agreed, but when shooting commenced on the scene, decided to tighten it up a bit. Upon hearing this, Rand called the head of the studio demanding the whole speech be filmed. Rand won out, and Vidor filmed the entire speech. The scene goes on for nearly 6 minutes. It is one of the longest speeches ever in a feature film." Link
In case you can't wait for Tuesday night, here's that speech (given by Gary Cooper) in its entirety:
Look forward to seeing you there for what should be a fun experience and a lively discussion,
Dan
