Anti-Gematria Word from: David

Primo: I refuse to discuss this Broadway play in a glib way, especially as it has been given the most respectful reviews from the likes of NPR. Leave it at this: Primo Levi. 'If This Is A Man'. Sir Anthony Sher. Playing through August 7th. Seeing this production or reading the book on which it is based is a must.

Two Truths: A figure I should have mentioned in my previous post on Art & Religious Zionism is the late poet Uri Zvi Greenberg. His writing may be the missing link between the mystical writings of Rabbi A.I Kook and the earthly enterprises of his son Rabbi Z. Y Kook, leader of 'Gush Emunim'. Greenberg was something of an extremist Amos Oz notes how he had talked about killing Menachem Begin after he made a peace treaty with Egypt. (Oz, as readers of 'A Tale of Love and Darkness' will know, was raised in a Revisionist household, left it for a kibbutz, where he edited 'The Seventh Day: Soldiers Speak Out', which included a blistering essay that encaspulates his political views to this day.) Greenberg too is a harsh read-he is emotional to the point of messianism, but articulates some of the deepest collective fears that other contemporary writers would have dismissed as 'vestiges of the diaspora.'

Three Weeks: Bein HaMeiztraim or as I translate it: Dire Straits.

3:28: Length of 'Exodus', which beat out 'The Ten Commandments' and Abba Eban's 'Israel: A Nation Is Born' as my 17th of Tammuz entertainment. Other DVD prospects included 'General Idi Amin Dada' (seeing him training the Ugandan Army for an invasion of Israel is surreal) and 'Fear of A Black Hat' , which is a mockumentary parodying early 90's Californian rap groups-not Haredim.

Page 39: In his loosely autobiographical novel 'Shosha' Isaac Bashevis Singer has a character say 'Don't spare the schmaltz. Today's Jews like three things-sex, Torah, and Revolution, all mixed together.'

47th Grammy Awards: Miri Ben-Ari, Israeli 'Fiddler In Da Hood' wins a Grammy for her writing contributions (and virtuoso violin playing) in Kanye West's hit 'Jesus Walks.' Only in America...

$!?: How much was Williamsburg resident Busta Rhymes bribed to collaborate with the Pussycat Dolls, a Tznius (and talent) Free group that includes actress Carmit 'Foxy' Bachar?