There is nothing in this life more tragic, more soul-crushing than the untimely loss of a loved one. Thankfully, we have developed faiths, routines, and rituals to combat this understandable depression. For members of the Jewish faith, that ritual is … Continue reading ONE WEEK AND A DAY (שבוע ויום)
Just what is Israeli cuisine? When Michael Solomonov sits down at a Tel Aviv restaurant and asks for something small, something special, he gets 17 salads, each one more intriguing than the next, plus hummus and bread. As Solomonov considers … Continue reading IN SEARCH OF ISRAELI CUISINE
Our fathers were our models for God. If our fathers bailed, what does that tell you about God? —Tyler Durden, Fight Club When journalist Bill Moyers interviewed narratologist Joseph Campbell in 1988, he asked why hero stories could be found … Continue reading GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
The Irish have a saying: Is this a private fight, or can anybody join? For noted journalist and city activist Jane Jacobs, there was no such thing as a private fight. Everybody was welcome, and everybody was needed. That’s how … Continue reading CITIZEN JANE
When it comes to high drama, there probably isn’t any time in a person’s life as tumultuous and dramatic as high school. Well, combat, maybe, but not everyone has to face the front lines. They do have to face first … Continue reading MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA
Friendship, much like a marriage, isn’t just a long commitment of support, encouragement, and acceptance; it’s a reflection of you, them, and the world around and the world inside. No matter how similar two friends are in the beginning, their … Continue reading CÉZANNE ET MOI
The colors belong to the French flag, the corresponding ideas of the Republic: blue, white, and red—liberty, equality, and fraternity. For France, these colors, these ideas, are political. They guide the nation the way Jefferson’s decree, “We hold these truths … Continue reading THREE COLORS
When the French writers for Cahiers du cinema coined the term “auteur” in the late ’50s, they envisioned an author of motion pictures—a director who exerted their will, their psychology, over every aspect of the films they made. These directors, almost all … Continue reading A True Auteur: Robert Bresson
Have you ever wondered why memories from your high school and college years always seem the clearest? The fondest? Back in the day, music sounded better, beer tasted crisper, energy was boundless, and you, and only you, really understood how … Continue reading ALL THESE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
Michael J. Cinema 
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