Feature Archives | Hadassah Magazine

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maccabiah

American View
Feature

Female Athletes Make History at This Year’s ‘Jewish Olympics’

by Hilary Danailova

These American women have the potential to write new chapters of Maccabiah history during this summer’s games.

American View
Feature

As Refugee Crises Intensify, Jews Aid in U.S. Resettlement

by Rahel Musleah

Synagogues and other Jewish groups have historically mobilized to help resettle refugees—most recently from Afghanistan, and soon from Ukraine.

American View
Feature

Transforming the Rabbinate Over 50 Years

by Debra Nussbaum Cohen

From scholarship to spirituality, women reshape Jewish leadership.

Being Jewish
Personality

Being Jewish
Personality

Then and Now: Challenges for the Jewish Community

The 'Four Firsts' ordained in their respective denominations weigh challenges to the Jewish community.

Being Jewish
Feature

Being Jewish
Feature

Battling Antisemitism on Campus

by Rahel Musleah

by Rahel Musleah

As antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment heat up on college campuses, new strategies emerge.

American View
Feature

Covid’s Collateral Damage: Women

by Debra Nussbaum Cohen

Women are paying a disproportionate price, at work and at home.

American View
Feature

Jewish Suffragists, White Dresses and Yellow Roses

by Hilary Danailova

As America celebrates the centennial of female suffrage this year, what’s striking is how much today’s female leaders have in common with their Jewish activist foremothers.

American View
Feature

Prayer Shawl Donations Pour in for Free Burial Association

by Shira Hanau | JTA

Usually, the Hebrew Free Burial Association has enough prayer shawls on hand to last for months—but not in the age of the coronavirus.

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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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