Culture Mavens

Hosted by Rabbi Susan Nanus and author and Temple member Tom Teicholz, Culture Mavens is your all-access guide to one-of-a-kind experiences related to Judaism meant to entertain, enlighten, and educate. Stay tuned for a new episode every Friday. 
Culture Mavens
Streicker Archaeology Series

Time and again, scholars have found stark differences between the images of women in standard texts and information from other sources, and ancient Israel is no exception when we glean our view of Israelite women from archaeology as well as the Bible. Using both these sources, Dr. Meyers will provide a glimpse into women’s roles in both household economy and in household religion, offering some intriguing conclusions about women’s power.

45 Plays for America’s First Ladies

45 Plays for America’s First Ladies leaps from comic to tragic as it surveys the lives of the women who have served (and avoided serving) as the first lady, from Martha to Melania. A biographical, meta-theatrical, genre-bending ride through race, gender, and everything else your history teacher never taught you about the founding of America.

Barak Obama

Inspired by the New York Times #1 bestseller comes Dawn Porter's The Way I See It, an unprecedented look behind the scenes of two of the most iconic Presidents in American History, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as seen through the eyes of renowned photographer Pete Souza. As Official White House Photographer, Souza was an eyewitness to the unique and tremendous responsibilities of being the most powerful person on Earth. The movie reveals how Souza transforms from a respected photojournalist to a searing commentator on the issues we face as a country and a people.

Alter the Hebrew Bible

A masterpiece of deep learning and fine sensibility, Robert Alter’s translation of the Hebrew Bible, now complete, reanimates one of the formative works of our culture. Capturing its brilliantly compact poetry and finely wrought, purposeful prose, Alter renews the Old Testament as a source of literary power and spiritual inspiration. From the family frictions of Genesis and King David’s flawed humanity to the serene wisdom of Psalms and Job’s incendiary questioning of God’s ways, these magnificent works of world literature resonate with a startling immediacy. Featuring Alter’s generous commentary, which quietly alerts readers to the literary and historical dimensions of the text, this is the definitive edition of the Hebrew Bible. 3 maps

Remembrance Film

Inspired by actual events, Remembrance is a remarkable love story that blossomed amidst the terror of a German concentration camp in Poland 1944. In a daring escape, Tomasz rescues his Jewish fiancée Hannah whom he meets while imprisoned in Auschwitz and smuggles her out of the camp. With the Nazis in pursuit, their paths are torn apart after Tomasz rejoins the resistance to fight the Nazis.

Picked by Our Mavens:

💭 The Casden Institute 

The Casden Institute supports research that aims to spur dialogue and achieve greater understanding not only about what it means to be Jewish in America but what it means to be American in a pluralistic society.

🎤 The Temple Emanu-El Stricker Center

Part of Manhattan's Temple Emanu-El, this cultural center strives to create  Jewish experiences with compelling classes, seminars, and special events to challenge, inspire, and entertain.

 🌎 Jewish Council for Public Affairs

A compilation of resources across a variety of media -- from curricula to podcasts -- intended to help you educate yourself and your community.

 📚 Los Angeles Review Of Books

Read Tom's Review of Yair Assulin's recently translated book The Drive, available on Amazon. 

✡️  My Jewish Learning 

A variety of resources for all aspects of Judaism and Jewish life -- from beliefs and practices to food and history.

🎭  Lincoln Center At Home 

Lincoln Center at Home showcases a diverse program of online experiences like daily pop-up classrooms, concerts, and performances by world-class artists.

🎬  ChaiFlix 

Exclusive access to a highly acclaimed library of Jewish and Israeli movies, TV series, and documentaries.

🎨  Arts at AJU 

A Planted Allegory Audio Guide by Artist Jenny Yurshansky is a series of stories about invasive plants deemed as "blacklist."

💻  YIVO Institute for Jewish Research 

Learn about an array of subjects such as Jewish traditions and Yiddish language and literature.