AUTUMN 2021


20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE // HAPPY BIRTHDAY JR

It’s been 20 years since the very first issue of JR dropped through letterboxes across the UK… To celebrate this landmark birthday we've launched our first book, Age of Confidence: The New Jewish Culture Wave, along with our new issue, which is packed with great features. Clapham-born musician Jessie Ware talks tells us about reconnecting with her Jewish heritage; we hear from artists, actors, writers and activists about life south of the Thames; Julia Neuberger uncovers the brief but brilliant life of writer Amy Levy; and JR's editor Rebecca Taylor retraces her teenage travels on the 159 bus. Grab a drink and join the celebrations!


DOWNLOAD A TASTE OF THE AUTUMN JR…

Serge Gainsbourg at 5 bis rue de Verneuil in Paris, January 1972. ©Alamy

MUSIC: THE HOUSE THAT SERGE BUILT

Two decades after the death of chansonnier Serge Gainsbourg, his Parisian home is set to open as a museum. Dorian Lynskey takes a dive into the complicated, musical and Jewish roots of the great man

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SUBSCRIBER ACCESS: OUR ENTIRE ARCHIVE

Have you tried our app? It's an easy and convenient way to read JR on the go. Simply search for Jewish Renaissance in the App Store to download it. You'll need to be a subscriber in order to gain access, but once you are, you can visit Exact Editions to create your app log-in details. Not only does the app have our current magazine, but every single back issue, too, so you can pick up a copy of JR no matter where you are.


BROWSE THE FULL CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE BELOW

YOUR SAY…

Readers’ rants, raves and views on the Summer issue of JR.

WHAT’S NEW

It was 20 years ago today… JR founder Janet Levin celebrates two decades of a unique magazine; Tsitsit fringe festival; Hatzalah.

FEATURE

Sonya Barber speaks to singer Jessie Ware about her Clapham childhood, passing on her love of lox and her upcoming adult batmitzvah.

FEATURE

Happy birthday, JR! We kick-off our 20th celebrations with 20 musicians, artists, writers, actors and activists at the forefront of UK Jewish culture. Grab a drink and join the party…

PASSPORT

South London: uncover a wealth of culture from 18th-century Sephardi Richmond to Amy Levy’s Victorian Clapham and Brixton’s Windrush photographer.

FILM

A new film asks why so many Nazis escaped justice. Kurdish director Mano Khalil on the Czech film, The Shop on Main Street.

MUSIC

Dorian Lynskey explores Serge Gainsbourg’s Jewish roots.

THEATRE

Judi Herman speaks to Cordelia Lynn, whose explosive new play opens at the Donmar Warehouse.

ART

Frédéric Brenner turns his lens on Jewish life in Berlin.

BOOKS

Jessica Cohen and Sasha Dugdale on the art of translation; 20 years of an American writing revolution; Daniel Snowman’s memoir; the Habima artist; Sue Vice on a Sheffield family saga.

THE YIDDISHISTS

Our series that uncovers the YIVO archive. This issue: The postcard craze.

SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE

A new film tells the story of Morocco’s Jews; musician Ana Silvera returns to her Manchester roots.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.

FAMILY

Meet DC Comics’ first Jewish superhero in over 40 years.

MEET THE READERS

We hear from our readers across the world.