What’s Going On In NYC This Week

SHAKESPEARE’S ‘MERCHANT OF VENICE’ AND THE HISTORY OF ANTI-SEMITISM
Ever wonder how some of the existing anti-semitic tropes were born? In an online class, Rabbi Peter Rubinstein shares his own analysis on the cultural and historic context in which Shakespeare’s stereotypical money-lender “Shylock” originated and how it has persisted through time. — Tuesday, July 21, 4:30 p.m., 92Y, 92y.org/event/merchant-of-venice. $18.

DAPHNE MERKIN WITH MEGHAN DAUM
“22 Minutes of Unconditional Love” follows Judith Stone, a young book editor in New York City, through her descent into an all-consuming sexual obsession with Howard Rose, a lawyer thirteen years her senior. Recounted by Judith years after the end of this dangerous entanglement, Daphne Merkin’s new novel tells the story of a woman determined to reclaim her autonomy in the aftermath of a destructive relationship. Merkin is joined in a virtual book talk by the New York Times bestselling author Meghan Daum. — Tuesday, July 21, 7:30 p.m., Greenlight Bookstore, greenlightbookstore.com/event/daphne-merkin. The talk is free; use code UNCONDITIONAL for a 15% discount on the book.

MAIDA FEINGOLD IN CONCERT
Maida Feingold will “Sing Out for Peace and Justice!” from her living room, in both Yiddish and English. She has entertained audiences around the country with her unique interpretations of folk songs with a special emphasis on songs of social significance. — Wednesday, July 22, 1 p.m., Folksbiene!LIVE, nytf.org/live/. Free.

THE LATIN AMERICAN JEWISH FOOD STORY: FROM THE INQUISITION TO THE MISHIGUENE RESTAURANT
Take a virtual culinary tour of Jewish Latin America with food and culture writer and cookbook author Jayne Cohen (“The Gefilte Variations”). The journey will begin during the Inquisition and travel all the way to today’s Mishiguene (a Spanish take on meshuggeneh), the highly-rated Jewish restaurant in Buenos Aires. And then Cohen will take a look at how Latin American Jewish immigrants are changing Jewish cuisine in the U.S. — Wednesday, July 22, 4 p.m., Center for Jewish History, mishiguene.bpt.me. $5.

COURTNEY MAUM WITH JULIE ORRINGER: ‘COSTALEGRE’
One of Glamour’s Best Books of the Decade and a Best Book of Summer 2019 at AM New York, Moda Operandi, GOOP, Publishers Weekly, TIME, Southern Living and Thrillist, “Costalegre” is now available in paperback. Join author Courtney Maum for an online discussion about her novel inspired by the real-life relationship of the heiress Peggy Guggenheim and her daughter Pegeen. It’s 1937 and Dadaist sculptor Jack Klinger, along with other outcasts from Hitler’s list of most-wanted “cultural degenerates,” finds refuge, via Guggenheim, in a mysterious Mexican jungle. — Wednesday, July 22, 7-8 p.m., Strand Book Store, strandbooks.com/events/event42?title=courtney_maum_with_julie_orringer_costalegre.

THE ACCIDENTAL RISE OF MODERN JEWISH THEATER
What accident of history lies at the intersection of the particular social, commercial, cultural, linguistic and historical circumstances that kickstarted the global cultural phenomenon that became the modern Yiddish theater? Find out in a live, online lecture by Alyssa Quint, author of “The Rise of the Modern Yiddish Theater” (2019). — Thursday, July 23, 4:30 p.m., YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, yivo.org/YCLS2020-Quint. Free.

‘SELF CARE’: LEIGH STEIN
“Highbrow, brilliant,” says New York Magazine.“‘Self Care’ proves Leigh Stein’s status as a great ‘demolition expert’ (Kenneth Tynan’s term for Bernard Shaw) of the influencer era,” says The New Republic. A Vulture Best Book of Summer 2020, the new novel is about Maren Gelb’s company-imposed digital detox. She tweeted something terrible about the president’s daughter, and as the COO of Richual, “the most inclusive online community platform for women to cultivate the practice of self-care and change the world by changing ourselves,” it’s a PR nightmare. Stein appears in an online conversation with Jess Barron. — Thursday, July 23, 7 p.m., McNally Jackson Independent Booksellers, mcnallyjackson.com/event/self-care-leigh-stein-virtual-event-conversation-jess-barron. Free.

INON BARTANON, PIANO: ‘TIME TRAVELER SUITE’
The New York Times has called the Tel Aviv-born Inon Bartanon “one of the most admired pianists of his generation. ” In this live-streamed recital, he will bring together Baroque dance suites by Bach, Handel and Rameau with movements from more modern works, including Thomas Adès’ “Blanca Variations” (2015), which are based on the Ladino folk tune “Lavaba la blanca niña.” — Thursday, July 23, 7:30 p.m., 92Y, 92y.org/event/inon-barnatan-piano. $10.

ROBIN WASSERMAN WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: ‘MOTHER DAUGHTER WIDOW WIFE’
“An enthralling, gritty, and altogether unpredictable read that holds nothing back … You will be utterly riveted” (Buzzfeed). From the author of “Girls on Fire,” an NPR Best Book of the Year, comes a new novel centered on a woman with no memory, the scientists invested in studying her — Dr. Benjamin Strauss and his ambitious student Lizzie Epstein — and the daughter who longs to understand. Wasserman and guests will appear in an online discussion. — Friday, July 24, 7-8 p.m., Strand Book Store, strandbooks.com/events/event48?title=robin_wasserman_with_special_guests_mother_daughter_widow_wife_a_novel. Free.

SANDCATCHERS
Featuring original music by Tzadik recording artist Yoshie Fruchter that is inspired both by maqam and the Appalachian Trail, Sandcatchers blends the sound of the oud, which has a deep history in the Middle East and tradition spanning centuries, with the lap steel, a much younger entity. A live online concert by the band will feature Yoshie Fruchter (oud), Myk Freedman (lapsteel), Michael Bates (bass) and Tim Keiper (drums/percussion). — Saturday, July 25, 6 p.m., Live on Télé-Barbès, facebook.com/events/3402548389796837/. Donation requested.

‘CRIP CAMP’ Q+A
If ever there were a film about fun, resilience and tikkun olam, “Crip Camp” is it. No one at Camp Jened, a camp for disabled teens just down the road from Woodstock, could have imagined that those summers in the woods together would be the beginnings of a revolution. The campers-turned-activists shaped the future of the disability-rights movement and changed accessibility legislation for everyone. Join a virtual, live-captioned Q+A with filmmakers. — Monday, July 27, 8:30 p.m., Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, eventbrite.com/e/crip-camp-qa-tickets-111044448936. Free. Watch the film on Netflix, netflix.com/title/81001496.

JUDY GOLD ON ‘YES, I CAN SAY THAT’ WITH ROSIE O’DONNELL
Join comedian Judy Gold and Emmy Award-winning Rosie O’Donnell online for a laugh-out-loud conversation about Gold’s new book, “Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble.” Over the last few years, with the dramatic rise in political correctness and “cancel” culture, we’ve seen a dangerous increase in censorship of comedians who cover controversial issues. What are the uncomfortable truths that comedy reveals about our culture and society? Why is free speech the core value of our democratic society and what can be done. — Tuesday, July 28, 7 p.m., 92Y, 92y.org/event/judy-gold-and-rosie-o-donnell. $10.

BERNARD-HENRI LÉVY IN CONVERSATION WITH THOMAS FRIEDMAN
A French philosopher, activist and filmmaker, Bernard-Henri Lévy is the author of more than 30 books, including “The Genius of Judaism.” Few moments in modern history are riper than this one for his sharp lens and iconoclastic insight. Join Lévy in discussion with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman about his latest book, “The Virus in the Age of Madness,” which lays out a complex collision of catastrophes and whether they will lead to the humiliation of democracies. — Wednesday, July 29, 5-6:30 p.m., Virtual Streicker, temple-emanu-el-streicker-center-classes.ticketleap.com/bernard-henri-lvy-in-conversation-with-thomas-friedman/dates/Jul-29-2020_at_0500PM. Free.
emanuelnyc.org.

STAND UP NY IN THE PARK
Most comedy clubs offer a lot of Jewish humor (and why shouldn’t they?), but Stand Up NY has long presented an especially heavy rotation of Jewish comedians. The club’s Upper West Side location is closed until it’s safe to reopen, but never fear, Stand Up NY is producing comedy shows in parks across New York City. Showtimes and locations are released daily at 10 a.m. on the club’s website, and capacity is limited to ensure the safety of both audience members and performers. — Stand Up NY, standupny.com. Free.

‘ABOUT A TEACHER’
When it comes to movies about inner-city schoolteachers, “few have approached the subject with the impressive realism and naturalism as Hanan Harchol’s semi-autobiographical feature directorial debut,” says the Hollywood Reporter. The L.A. Times says “About a Teacher” is the “the rare ‘inspired by’ movie that actually inspires.” The filmmaker will join a live, online discussion about the Jewish values that are embedded in the film. It is recommended, but not required, that you watch the film prior to the event. —  Amazon Prime, amazon.com/dp/B0874KD6QF, or Vimeo, vimeo.com/ondemand/aboutateacher.

‘MENTSHUN-FRESSER’ (PEOPLE-EATERS)
New video, old song! Berlin-based Yiddish music stars Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird have released a brand new video of Solomon Small’s 1916 Yiddish ballad about pandemics that killed so many Jews who had escaped pograms to gather in crowded urban communities. Some lyrics have been updated, Kahn told The Times of Israel, “to make it sharper in terms of its relevance.” The stellar performers, who include Kahn, Sveta Kundish and Patrick Farrell, were filmed in June 2020 at an estate in Brandenburg, Germany. — Ongoing on YouTube, youtube.com/watch?v=RaYmQNgCtnQ&feature=youtu.be. Free.

‘BULLY. COWARD. VICTIM. THE STORY OF ROY COHN’
Filmmaker Ivy Meeropol, granddaughter of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, takes an unflinching look at the life and death of infamous attorney Roy Cohn, who first gained prominence by prosecuting the Rosenbergs in what came to be known as the “atomic spies” case. The documentary draws on extensive, newly unearthed archival material to present the most revealing examination of Cohn to date. — Available on demand through Thursday, July 23, HBO, hbo.com/documentaries/bully-coward-victim-the-story-of-roy-cohn.

‘THE TOBACCONIST’
Seventeen-year-old Franz journeys to Vienna to apprentice at a tobacco shop. There he meets Sigmund Freud (Bruno Ganz), a regular customer, and over time the two men form a friendship. As political and social conditions dramatically worsen with the Nazis’ arrival in Vienna, they are swept into the maelstrom of events and forced to decide whether to stay or to flee. — Stream the film through Friday, July 24, $12. Israel Film Center, israelfilmcenterstream.org/film/virtual-cinema-the-tobacconist/.

MILTON GLASER: TO INFORM & DELIGHT’
For many, Milton Glaser is the personification of American graphic design. Best known for co-founding New York Magazine and creating both the enduring I♥NY campaign and an iconic Bob Dylan poster, the full breadth of Glaser’s remarkable artistic output is revealed in this documentary portrait. — Now available to purchase or rent, Kino Now, kinonow.com/film/milton-glaser-to-inform-delight/5d4c5ab24b32993829637fb9. $4.99-$9.99.