First Minneapolis Jewish Humor Festival will run Feb. 25–March 7 at the Sabes JCC
By ERIN ELLIOTT BRYAN / Community News Editor
Theatre Or at the Sabes JCC has announced the first ever Minneapolis Jewish Humor Festival, a 10-day Fringe-like festival of one-act plays, one-person shows, music performance, stand-up comedy, improv, visual art, workshops, storytelling, film and events [...]

Bulgarian Jewry, which was saved in the Shoah then repressed during the Communist era, is enjoying a resurgence
By MORDECAI SPECKTOR
Dr. Alexander (“Alek”) Oscar, a neuro-ophthalmologist and president of the Sofia, Bulgaria, Jewish community, recently visited the AJW offices. Accompanied by Mort Naiman, campaign coordinator for the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, Oscar came to express his appreciation [...]

LONG AGO ON SECOND AVENUE — Zalmen Mlotek, artistic director of The National Yiddish Theater-Folksbiene, captivated the audience last Saturday night at the St. Paul JCC with his musical lecture about the history of the Yiddish theater in New York City, its stars and songs, and its influence on Broadway composers from Irving Berlin to [...]

The tradition of drinking to excess on Purim is problematic, because Jews are not exempt from alcoholism
By RABBI SHARON STIEFEL
Every Jewish holiday has its associations. When we think of Purim, we think of hearing the megilla reading — the Book of Esther — making noise at Haman’s name, sending gifts to one another of mishloach [...]

Just in time for Purim, the Coen brothers’ whimsical look at Midwest Jewish life in the 1960s is available for home viewing. A Serious Man (Blu-Ray Hi-Def and DVD, from Universal) includes three bonus features: “Becoming Serious,” with commentary about the film by the Coens, actors and crew members; “Creating 1967,” about locations and set design; [...]

The potholes in Twin Cities streets will get deeper and wider in the coming years. This was one conclusion reached by a lobbyist for municipal governments, after Gov. Tim Pawlenty unveiled his proposal on Monday to deal with a $1.2 billion state budget deficit.
In addition to $250 million in LGA (Local Government Assistance) cuts, which [...]