Leah F. Finkelshteyn, Author at Hadassah Magazine

Hanukkah Gift Guide 2022

Hanukkah Gift Guide 2022

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

From charming animal menorahs and delicore to acrylic Judaica and gourmet desserts, our gift guide has something for everyone.

New Kids Books About Trailblazing Jewess Designers

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

Two picture book biographies tell the stories of the feminist innovators behind Lane Byrant and American Doll.

In ‘Leopoldstadt,’ a Jewish Story of Success and Devastation

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

Legendary playwright Tom Stoppard’s latest production follows two affluent Jewish families in Vienna who lose everything under the Nazis.

Jewish Teens Bare All in New Anthology

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

From jGirls+ Magazine comes “Salt & Honey,” a collection of poems, essays, short stories and visual art.

high holidays

Books for the High Holidays

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

Seeking repentance, forgiveness and hope through Jewish tradition, text and liturgy.

New Haggadot for Your Seder

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

Themes of change, renewal and the resiliency of Jewish tradition run through the latest crop of Passover titles.

The Latest Kids Books for Passover

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

New titles for the holiday explore different periods in Jewish history, from Inquisition-era Spain and 1950s Iran to contemporary times

Books
Non-fiction

Calling Out Jew Hatred

by Leah F. Finkelshteyn

Several new books explore the scourge of antisemitism.

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Dec 6

Dec 6, 1889: #onthisday in #jewesshistory, Celia Feinman Adler Forman, known known as the "First Lady of the Yiddish theater” was born in New York City. ⁠
⁠
Born as Tzirele Adler to British actress Dina Shtettin, who left her Orthodox family to join the theater world, and Jacob P. Adler, the Yiddish theater star who founded a theatrical dynasty. Among her half-siblings were noted actors Jay Adler, Luther Adler and Stella Adler. ⁠
⁠
In 1919, Adler, a Zionist, helped open the first Yiddish Art Theater and wrote the two-volume study, “The Yiddish Theater in America." When “the Dybbuk” came to the New York Yiddish Art Theater, Adler starred as Leah, the woman who is possessed by a dybbuk. ⁠
⁠
In 1937, Celia starred in the Yiddish film “Where Is My Child?” ("Vu iz mayn kind?”). She also gave one of the earliest theatrical portrayals of a Holocaust survivor in her half-brother Luther Adler’s 1946 Broadway production of “A Flag is Born.” ⁠
⁠
Three men were fortunate enough to wed the “dramatic soubrette”—so called by Carl Van Vechten. In 1915 Adler married actor Lazar Freed and later said “I do” to her manager, Jack Cone, in 1930. After her second husband’s death in 1959, she married New York businessman Nathan Forman. He died a week before Adler. ⁠
⁠
Her last film was “Naked City” (1948) and the actress’ last Broadway show was the 1961 drama “Women in Horseradish.” In the aftermath of World War II, Adler gave performances to American troops in English and Yiddish. �⁠
⁠
“Mrs. Forman was sustained by an enormous creative energy throughout her life and an unflagging devotion to Jewish drama, becoming its foremost female exponent,” Joan Cook wrote in a 1979 New York Times obituary. ⁠
⁠
Celia died on January 31, 1979 after suffering a heart attack. A week before she died at the Hebrew Home, Adler performed a one-act monologue and was already preparing for her next act. She is buried in the Yiddish Theater Section of Mount Hebron Cemetery in NYC.

Dec 6, 1889: #onthisday in #jewesshistory, Celia Feinman Adler Forman, known known as the "First Lady of the Yiddish theater” was born in New York City. ⁠
⁠
Born as Tzirele Adler to British actress Dina Shtettin, who left her Orthodox family to join the theater world, and Jacob P. Adler, the Yiddish theater star who founded a theatrical dynasty. Among her half-siblings were noted actors Jay Adler, Luther Adler and Stella Adler. ⁠
⁠
In 1919, Adler, a Zionist, helped open the first Yiddish Art Theater and wrote the two-volume study, “The Yiddish Theater in America." When “the Dybbuk” came to the New York Yiddish Art Theater, Adler starred as Leah, the woman who is possessed by a dybbuk. ⁠
⁠
In 1937, Celia starred in the Yiddish film “Where Is My Child?” ("Vu iz mayn kind?”). She also gave one of the earliest theatrical portrayals of a Holocaust survivor in her half-brother Luther Adler’s 1946 Broadway production of “A Flag is Born.” ⁠
⁠
Three men were fortunate enough to wed the “dramatic soubrette”—so called by Carl Van Vechten. In 1915 Adler married actor Lazar Freed and later said “I do” to her manager, Jack Cone, in 1930. After her second husband’s death in 1959, she married New York businessman Nathan Forman. He died a week before Adler. ⁠
⁠
Her last film was “Naked City” (1948) and the actress’ last Broadway show was the 1961 drama “Women in Horseradish.” In the aftermath of World War II, Adler gave performances to American troops in English and Yiddish. �⁠
⁠
“Mrs. Forman was sustained by an enormous creative energy throughout her life and an unflagging devotion to Jewish drama, becoming its foremost female exponent,” Joan Cook wrote in a 1979 New York Times obituary. ⁠
⁠
Celia died on January 31, 1979 after suffering a heart attack. A week before she died at the Hebrew Home, Adler performed a one-act monologue and was already preparing for her next act. She is buried in the Yiddish Theater Section of Mount Hebron Cemetery in NYC. ...

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