PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC

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PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
PROGRAM BOOK
PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
THE UNORTHODOX
OPENING NIGHT
PAGE 4

PICTURE OF HIS LIFE
PAGE 8

THOSE WHO REMAINED
PAGE 15

THE SPY BEHIND
HOME PLATE
                                                                        WELCOME
PAGE 18                                                                 Welcome to the 2020 Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film
THE PASSENGERS                                                          Festival. This year’s program offers a diverse selection of films
PAGE 21                                                                 that engage with current discussions that are important to our
NIGHT OF SHORT FILMS                                                    common humanity. Speakers and organizations will bring these
PAGE 23
                                                                        topics off the screen, showing their relevancy and connection to
LOVE IN SUSPENDERS        The Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film        home. We look forward to another year of building community
PAGE 31                 Festival presents a diverse, inspiring lineup   and increasing understanding.
AULCIE                     of award-winning films, and engaging,
PAGE 33                 educational programming that connects to        We are grateful for the continued support of our sponsors,
                       the Jewish and Israeli stories. Our 2020 film    partners, and attendees with and for whom this festival is
LEONA                   lineup explores the importance of striving
PAGE 35
                       for connection and understanding. We make
                                                                        created. This community that gathers together every winter
FAMILY IN TRANSITION   progress, we create community, we become         sustains the Festival year after year. We look forward to seeing
PAGE 40                              better, together.                  you around the city at the movies!
WORKING WOMAN
PAGE 46                                                                 Please read on to learn about the Festival and all of the fantastic
                                                                        events and opportunities to come. Enjoy the 2020 Mayerson JCC
THE MAMBONIKS
PAGE 49                                                                 Jewish & Israeli Film Festival!
WITNESS THEATER
PAGE 52
                                                                        Frances Kahan             Stacey Schimberg       Marc Fisher
FIDDLER: A MIRACLE                                                      Cultural Arts Manager     Committee Chair        Mayerson JCC CEO
OF MIRACLES
CLOSING NIGHT
PAGE 55
                           For questions or information,
PARKING & VENUE
INFORMATION             please email arts@mayersonjcc.org
PAGE 60                         or call 513.722.7258.
MEET THE COMMITTEE
PAGE 62
                             These films are not rated and are
SPONSORS                   recommended for mature audiences.
PAGE 64                  Times listed include length of films only.
PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
OPENING NIGHT                                                                                                                                    FILM EXTRAS
                                                                                                                                                   DIRECTOR’S NOTE                                 humor, and a whole lot of rage. The film
                                                                                                                                                                                                   raises questions about the real core of the
                                                                                                                                                   This film takes place in the Jerusalem of
                                                                                                                                                                                                   political game, about religious coercion
                                                                                                                                                   the 80s. In those days, orthodox Sephardic
                                                                                                                                                                                                   and about the DNA of Sephardic Jews and
                                                                                                                                                   Jews (immigrants from Arab countries)
                                                                                                                                                                                                   their inability to truly assimilate into Israeli
                                                                                                                                                   tried unsuccessfully to assimilate into a
                                                                                                                                                                                                   “Western” society without losing.
                                                                                                                                                   society of Ashkenazi Jews (immigrants
                                                                                                                                                   from Russia and Europe) and institutions        ELIRAN MALKA
                                                                                                                                                   in their hold. They were always considered      Director
                                                                                                                                                   second-rate, even when they were                A graduate from Ma’ale
                                                                                                                                                   the majority. It wasn’t even outright           School in Jerusalem in
                                                                                                                                                   discrimination – just the basic assumption.     2010, his thesis film 71
                                                                                                                                                   This film is a street movie; like its heroes,   Square Meters was screened
                                                                                                                                                   it’s dynamic and practically hyperactive,       at numerous festivals and won awards
                                                                                                                                                   with a voice-over supplying us with a           and honorable mentions. In 2011, Malka
                                                                                                                                                   bridge into a world we can no longer            received a development grant from the
                                                                                                                                                   see: a crowded, warm, Sephardic world,          Jerusalem Film Fund for the TV drama
                                                                                                                                                   without the suit-wearing type characters        series “The Shababniks,” of which he is the
                                                                                                                                                   you are used to seeing running in               creator. The series was produced by Dori
                                                                                                                                                   elections.                                      Media Darset for HOT TV, and aired to
                                                                                                                                                                                                   great acclaim in 2017. The Unorthodox is

                                                    THE UNORTHODOX
                                                                                                                                                   Yaakov’s operation is characteristic of
                                                                                                                                                                                                   his first feature film.
                                                                                                                                                   the people he presented: informal, with
                                                                                                                                                   love for their fellow man, a great sense of
                                                    THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 • 7:30PM • MAYERSON JCC

                                                    2018 • Comic Drama • 92 minutes • Hebrew • Eliran Malka

                                                                                                                                                                              THANK YOU
                                                    SYNOPSIS                                         OPENING NIGHT includes one
                                                    Yakov Cohen has no political experience,         complimentary drink per person
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                    no money, and no connections. But when           and enjoyment of a reception.
                                                    his daughter is expelled from school             SPECIAL FEATURE                                                                           to the
                                                    because of her ethnic origin, he decides to      Experience what it’s like to vote in Israel
                                                    fight back. Yakov bands together with two        and engage in discussion with Amnon
                                                                                                                                                                                  generous supporters
                                                    friends to run in the city elections, starting
                                                    the first ethnic political group in Jerusalem,
                                                                                                     Maggid, Community Shaliach (Emissary)                                   of the 2020 Mayerson JCC
                                                                                                     from Israel at the Jewish
                                                    Sfarad’s Guards. These political rookies         Federation of Cincinnati,                                              Jewish & Israeli Film Festival
                                                    improvise along the way, capturing voters’       and Jackie Congedo,
                                                    hearts and forever changing the face of          Director, & Justin                                                      for bringing award-winning
                                                    Israel. This exhilarating, moving, laugh-out-
                                                    loud film based on a real story highlights
                                                                                                     Kirschner, Associate
                                                                                                     Director of JCRC.
                                                                                                                                                                       stories of Jewish life to Cincinnati.
                                                    the power one person can yield to create
                                                    real social change.

                                                       In partnership with the We Need to Talk series, presented by Jewish
                                                      Federation of Cincinnati and its Jewish Community Relations Council.

             4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         5
PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
AMNON MAGGID                                  the Jewish community and Israel, fights
                                                                                                                                                     Speaker                                       antisemitism, and promotes social
                                                                                                                                                                                                   justice. She has over a decade of strategic
                                                                                                                                                     Amnon Maggid has been in
                                                                                                                                                                                                   communications, public relations, current
                                                                                                                                                     the field of education for
                                                                                                                                                                                                   affairs, and award-winning journalism
                                                                                                                                                     more than 20 years, focusing
                                                                                                                                                                                                   experience.
                                                                                                                                                     on promoting Jewish culture and heritage
                                                                                                                                                     in Israel. Maggid completed his Master’s      JUSTIN KIRSCHNER
                                                                                                                                                     in Jewish Education at The Schechter          Speaker
                                                                                                                                                     Institute in Jerusalem. He arrived in         Justin Kirschner is the
                                                                                                                                                     August 2018 for a three-year stay in          Associate Director of
                                                                                                                                                     Cincinnati. He is serving as an official      the Jewish Community
                                                    LIFELONG                                                                                         representative of Israel, strengthening
                                                                                                                                                     connections between Cincinnati and Israel
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Relations Council of

                                                    FRIENDSHIPS                                                                                      through education and advocacy, working
                                                                                                                                                     with Jewish and non-Jewish community,
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Cincinnati. He’s a community connector
                                                                                                                                                                                                   who has a passion for using reflective

                                                    THAT THRIVE                                                                                      civic organizations, schools, universities,
                                                                                                                                                     and religious institutions. His position
                                                                                                                                                                                                   conversation, civic engagement, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                   partnerships to co-create just and
                                                                                                                                                                                                   vibrant communities. Justin has been
                                                    Campers form lifelong friendships, supporting                                                    is funded by the Jewish Federation of
                                                    and cheering each other on as they try new                                                                                                     involved with various social justice, youth
                                                    activities and gain independence.
                                                                                                                                                     Cincinnati.                                   mentoring and leadership development
                                                                                                                                                     JACKIE CONGEDO                                endeavors, facilitating cross-cultural
                                                                                                                                                     Speaker                                       exchanges and teaching experiential
                                                    SAVE THE DATE!                                   REGISTRATION NOW OPEN                                                                         education. He is a double graduate of
                                                                                                                                                     Jackie Congedo is the
                                                    100th Year Alumni Reunion Weekend                      FOR SUMMER 2020                           Director of the Jewish
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Ohio University with a B.A. in Political
                                                    August 14 - 16, 2020
                                                                                                                         Visit camplivingston.com                                                  Science, Minors in Business and Global
                                                    Register at camplivingston.com/alumnireunion
                                                                                                                              for more information
                                                                                                                                                     Community Relations
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Leadership and a Master’s in Public and
                                                                                                                                                     Council, which builds bridges
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Nonprofit Administration.
                                                                                                                                                     between the Jewish and non-Jewish
                                                                                                                                                     communities, advocates on behalf of

                                                                                                JCRCJewish Community
                                                                                                     Relations Council
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                            In our 80 year history, we have been on the front
                                                                            lines, building relationships to safeguard Jewish
                                                                            Cincinnati and pursue a more just community for
                                                                            all people. In the midst of an alarming rise in
                                                                            antisemitism, JCRC is meeting new challenges
                                                                            with new strategies and the same steadfast
                                                                            commitment to this work.

                                                                            LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED                                                            PROUDLY SPONSORS THE
                                                                            jewishcincinnati.org/jcrc                                                              MAYERSON JCC JEWISH &
                                                                                                                                                                    ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL
                                                                                                            Cincinnati JCRC           @cincyjcrc

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PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
with sharks, orcas and eventually polar
                                                                                                                                                                                                     bears, but mostly by his will to expose
                                                                                                                                                                                                     his most private and inner feelings to the
                                                                                                                                                                                                     camera and let us and the world see his
                                                                                                                                                                                                     vulnerabilities and pain. We believe that
                                                                                                                                                                                                     at the end of the day, like Leonard Cohen
                                                                                                                                                                                                     said: “There is a crack in everything, but
                                                                                                                                                                                                     that’s how the light gets in.”
                                                                                                                                                       Amos’s photography has won Nikon,
                                                                                                                                                       Communication Arts, and BBC Wildlife          DANI MENKIN
                                                                                                                                                       Photographer of theYear awards.               Writer/Director

                                                                                                                                                       DIRECTORS’ NOTE                               Dani Menkin is a two-time
                                                                                                                                                       Following our award-winning film Dolphin      Israeli Academy Award-
                                                                                                                                                       Boy, we have reunited to create another       winning filmmaker for 39
                                                                                                                                                       special film that explores the powerful       Pounds of Love and Is That
                                                                                                                                                       relationship between man and nature,          You?. 39 Pounds of Love has

                                                    PICTURE OF HIS LIFE
                                                                                                                                                       father and son, violence and peace. Picture   been sold to HBO and was
                                                                                                                                                       of His Life was more than 10 years in the     shortlisted for the Oscars. Menkin’s award-
                                                                                                                                                       making. We were determined to bring this      winning film Dolphin Boy (co-directed by
                                                    TUESDAY, JAN. 28 • 7:30PM • KENWOOD THEATRE                                                        special story to life, in the most honest     Yonatan Nir) was sold to over 20 countries
                                                                                                                                                       way possible. We were inspired not just by    around the globe and was bought by
                                                    2019 • Documentary • 71 minutes • English, Hebrew, Inuit               opening night               Amos’s ability to push the envelope and       Disney for an adaptation. Dani Menkin is
                                                                                                                                  film                                                               a speaker and film juror at international
                                                    Dani Menkin, Yonatan Nir, Exec. Producer Nancy Spielberg
                                                                                                                            israeli competition
                                                                                                                          2019 docaviv film festival   break the boundaries, to swim side-by-side

                                                    SYNOPSIS                                     a changing climate, he contemplates the
                                                    World-renowned wildlife photographer         series of unspoken events that drove him
                                                    Amos Nachoum has developed a unique          here, to the end of the world.                                   Shomrei Olam is the only Jewish organization
                                                    approach that puts him face-to-face
                                                    with his subjects. Fascinated by the most
                                                                                                 SPECIAL FEATURE                                                     in the Cincinnati region dedicated to
                                                                                                 Short film screening of Layam by Assaf
                                                    fearsome creatures on Earth, he is about     Machnes. Discussion led by Dan Marsh,
                                                                                                                                                                          protecting the environment
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                    to face his ultimate challenge: to swim,     Director of Education at Cincinnati Zoo &
                                                    unprotected, with a polar bear. As Amos      Botanical Garden.
                                                    dives into a world being rapidly erased by                                                                    Greening our temples and synagogues
                                                                                                                                                                      Greening our children’s education
                                                               In partnership with Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
                                                                                                                                                                                 Greening our homes
                                                    FILM EXTRAS
                                                    AMOS NACHOUM                                 Le Figaro, Terra Sauvage, Airone, Mondo
                                                    Amos Nachoum’s                               Somerso, Der Spiegel, Unterwasser,
                                                    photos and essays                            and many more. His work has also been
                                                    have appeared                                included in several books, including The
                                                    in hundreds of                               Living Ocean, The World of Nature, and
                                                    publications around                          Oceans. He has appeared on National
                                                    the globe, including                         Geographic Explorer, Today, and Good
                                                    National Geographic, Time, Life, The         Morning America and has been featured
                                                    New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler,         in People, Esquire, and Money magazines.
                                                                                                                                                                                        shomrei-olam.org
             8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9
PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
festivals around the world, as well as a        filmmaking, working on
                                                    film professor at universities in the U.S.      her brother Steven’s early
                                                                                                    films as cast and crew.
                                                    YONATAN NIR
                                                                                                    She attended Arizona
                                                    Writer/Director
                                                                                                    State University and UCLA
                                                    Yonatan Nir’s multiple                          and, after moving to
                                                    award-winning                                   New York in 1978, studied film at Sarah
                                                    documentaries have been                         Lawrence College and the New School.
                                                    broadcast and screened in

                                                                                                                                                   MAZEL TOV TO
                                                                                                    An accomplished businesswoman and
                                                    over 40 countries worldwide. Dolphin Boy        philanthropist, she has turned her energy
                                                    (2011) premiered at Hot Docs, and remake        and talents to producing documentary
                                                    rights were acquired by Disney. My Hero         and feature films. One of her priorities is
                                                    Brother (2016) is the winner of the Entre
                                                    2 marches at the Cannes Film Festival,
                                                    winner of the DocEdge IFF, winner of
                                                                                                    to help preserve stories and make them
                                                                                                    into educational tools for the benefit of
                                                                                                    younger generations.
                                                                                                                                                  THE JCC AND THE
                                                                                                                                                   FILM FESTIVAL
                                                    the 2 main awards at the Santa Barbara
                                                                                                    Ms. Spielberg served as consultant on the
                                                    International Film Festival, and many
                                                                                                    Oscar-winning documentary, Chernobyl
                                                    more. His other films include Cutting the
                                                                                                    Heart, and is executive producer of
                                                    Pain and The Essential Link - The Story of

                                                                                                                                                  COMMITTEE FOR
                                                                                                    Elusive Justice: The Search for Nazi War
                                                    Wilfrid Israel.
                                                                                                    Criminals, which aired nationally on
                                                    NANCY SPIELBERG                                 PBS. She produced Above and Beyond,
                                                    Executive Producer

                                                                                                                                                  ANOTHER GREAT
                                                                                                    winner of the audience award at more
                                                    Nancy Spielberg grew up immersed in             than 20 film festivals. Spielberg is the

                                                                                                                                                      FESTIVAL!
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                    MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                        3074 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio
                                                                                 Attorneys at Law

                                                                          David Lefton & Mark Newman

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             10                                                                                                                                                     11
PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
executive producer of Sophie Sartain’s         Dan received a Bachelor
                                                    documentary, Mimi and Dona, which was          of Arts in Biology from the
                                                    broadcast nationally on PBS in 2015. She is    University of Louisville and
                                                    executive producer of Who Will Write Our       a Master’s in Education in
                                                    History, which tells the story of the secret   Curriculum and Instruction
                                                    buried archive of the Warsaw Ghetto,           from the University of
                                                    and of On the Map (2016), a documentary        Cincinnati. He began as a Trainer and
                                                    by filmmaker Dani Menkin, which has            Naturalist with the Zoo’s bird show and
                                                    screened all over the world and received       worked his way up through the department.
                                                    multiple festival awards.                      Dan currently serves as the Director of
                                                                                                   Education and Volunteer Services at the
                                                    DAN MARSH
                                                                                                   Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
                                                    Speaker

                                                    SHORT FILM: LAYAM
                                                    2018 ∙ Short Drama ∙ 17 minutes ∙ Hebrew ∙ Assaf Machnes

                                                    SYNOPSIS                                       DIRECTOR’S NOTE
                                                    Shai used to be a tough commander and          LAYAM (La-Yam, ‫ ) לים‬in Hebrew means “to
                                                    Kedem used to be his tormented rookie.         the sea.” That’s what the film is about – a
                                                    Things change.                                 little piece of painful history drifted to
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                        MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                                                                 Inbar Shahak
                                                                                                                                                 Kibbutz Maagan Michael
                                                                                                                                                 Israel

                                                                                                                                                   1511 Race Street | Over-the-Rhine | Cincinnati, OH
                                                                                                                                                           ombregallery.com | @ombregallery

                                                          Host your next                             CONTACT JCC EVENTS:

                                                          event with us!
                                                                                                    events@mayersonjcc.org or
                                                                                                       513.761.7500 x1289
             12                                                                                                                                                                                         13
PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
the sea, an unpleasant river spilled into a    ASSAF MACHNES
                                                    rather stormy sea.                             Director
                                                    In Israel, where military service is           Assaf Machnes is a writer-
                                                    compulsory for all, there’s life during        director based in Tel Aviv.
                                                    the army and life outside the army. Each       He graduated from the Met
                                                    reality has completely different rules and     Film School (London), specializing in
                                                    sets of values. However, in such a tiny        cinematography. Assaf’s graduation short
                                                    country like Israel, these realities meet      film was selected for more than 150 film
                                                    quite often, creating encounters full of       festivals, won 7 awards, and was broadcast
                                                    drama. Therefore, “What goes around,           on ARTE, Mediaset Italy and more. In late
                                                    comes around” stories are very common in       2014, Machnes received a development
                                                    Israeli society.                               grant from the Israeli Film Fund for the
                                                                                                   writing of his debut feature, along with a
                                                    My favorite element in storytelling is the
                                                                                                   special grant from the Polish Film Institute.
                                                    absurd humor derived from disturbing
                                                    pain that cannot be fully digested. I try to   Machnes was chosen to participate in the
                                                    implement this tone in almost every story      2015 Berlinale Talent Campus and the
                                                    I tell. At the end of the day, I want the      2016 Locarno Filmmakers Academy. Seven

                                                                                                                                                     THOSE WHO REMAINED
                                                    audience to decide whether this piece of       Minutes premiered at the 2017 Berlinale
                                                    humiliating history is over or not, and what   and Machnes is now developing several
                                                    each character can do about it.                projects both for the small and big screens,
                                                                                                   including a new web series for YNET and a         THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 • 7:30PM • ESQUIRE THEATRE
                                                                                                   TV drama for HOT Israel.
                                                                                                                                                   2019 ∙ Drama ∙ 83 minutes ∙ Hungarian ∙ Barnabás Tóth                      official entry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Hungary - Best International Feature
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2020 academy awards

                                                                                                                                                   SYNOPSIS                                         in the midst of conflict, loss, and trauma
                                                                                                                                                   Aldo lives a solitary life as a doctor in        reveals the healing process of Holocaust
                                                                                                                                                   Budapest; Klara lives reluctantly with her       survivors through the eyes of a young girl
                                                                                                                                                   great-aunt, holding on to hope that her          in post-World War II Hungary.
                                                                                                                                                   father and mother will return. The two
                                                                                                                                                                                                    SPECIAL FEATURE
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                                                                   meet and soon find something in each
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Discussion led by Jodi Elowitz, Director of
                                                                                                                                                   other that has long been absent in their
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Education & Engagement at Nancy & David
                                                                                                                                                   lives. This lyrical story of the power of love
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.

                                                                                                                                                         In partnership with Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.

                                                                                                                                                   FILM EXTRAS
                                                                       We thank Mayerson JCC                                                       The film is based on the novel by Zsuzsa F.      few have shown us the fate of those who

                                                                           for its ongoing                                                         Várkonyi, published in 2004.
                                                                                                                                                   DIRECTOR’S NOTE
                                                                                                                                                                                                    remained with us, those who came back.
                                                                                                                                                                                                    BARNABÁS TÓTH
                                                                       work and support in the                                                     For me, this film is, first of all, a hymn, an
                                                                                                                                                   ode to a man who is totally wrecked but
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Writer/Director

                                                                        cincinnati Community!
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Born in 1977 in Strasbourg,
                                                                                                                                                   pulls himself together for one last time to
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barnabás Tóth studied at the
                                                                                                                                                   save another half-destroyed soul. We’ve
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Film and Television Academy
                                                                                                                                                   seen so many films about what happened
                                                                                                                                                                                                    of Budapest. He wrote and directed
             14                                                                                                                                    before and during the Holocaust, but so                                                                          15
PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
two feature films, Camembert Rose            is in artistic representation
                                                                                            (Rózsaszín sajt) in 2009 and Those Who       of the Holocaust in the
                                                                                            Remained (Akik maradtak) in 2019. His        visual arts with an emphasis
                                                                                            recent short film Chuchotage (Susotázs)      on work done in the
                                                                                            from 2018 was selected to the shortlist      camps and ghettos. Jodi
                                                                                            by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts        provided content for a
                                                                                            and Sciences for the 2019 Academy            large archival project and contributed
                                                                                            Awards. It won 23 awards at 62 different     articles about Holocaust representation
                                                                                            film festivals. His short film My Guide      in film for the Center for Holocaust and
                                                                                            (Újratervezés) from 2013 has been            Genocide Studies at the University of
                                                                                            viewed over 1.8 million times on Vimeo,      Minnesota. Prior to that, Jodi was the
                                                                                            making it one of the most successful         Executive Director for the Tennessee
                                                                                            short films ever made in Hungary. As         Holocaust Commission and the
                                                                                            a director, he directed episodes of          Director of Holocaust Education for the
                                                                                            “Született lúzer” for HBO in 2007, “Csalfa   Jewish Community Relations Council
                                                                                            Karma” for Life Network in 2011, and “A      of Minnesota and the Dakotas. Jodi
                                                                                            mi kis falunk” for RTL Klub in 2018.         received her Bachelor of Arts degree
                                                                                                                                         and her Master of Liberal Studies degree
                                                                                            JODI ELOWITZ
                                                                                                                                         at the University of Minnesota. Jodi
                                                                                            Speaker
                                                                                                                                         serves as the Director of Education and
                                                                                            Jodi has a wide range of experience in the   Engagement at The Nancy & David Wolf
                                                                                            field of Holocaust studies; her expertise    Holocaust & Humanity Center.
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                    MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                    THEIR
                                                    HISTORY
                                                    OUR STORY              “An
                                                                       Inspiration”
                                                                        — Cleveland
                                                                        Plain Dealer

                                                            museum open daily, 10am - 5pm
                                                                holocaustandhumanity.org

             16                                                                                                                                                                     17
PROGRAM BOOK - Mayerson JCC
Proud Sponsors of the Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival

                                                    THE SPY BEHIND HOME PLATE
                                                    MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 • 7:30PM •
                                                    MAYERSON HALL IN THE SKIRBALL MUSEUM ON THE HISTORIC CAMPUS
                                                    OF HEBREW UNION COLLEGE-JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION                                                     Archie Rand: Sixty Paintings from the Bible
                                                                                                                                                  Opens Tuesday, February 18, 5:30PM at the Skirball Museum
                                                    2019 ∙ Documentary ∙ 101 minutes ∙ English ∙ Aviva Kempner                                   Upcoming HUC-JIR Events
                                                    SYNOPSIS                                       from the worlds of history, sports, and       Wednesday,      “Bound and Unbound: In Search of the Jewish Poem”
                                                    Brilliant scholar-athlete Moe Berg was         spy craft reveal the unlikely story of this
                                                                                                                                                 January 15       with Dr. Norman Finkelstein, 7PM at the Klau Library
                                                    a Princeton and Columbia Law School            incredible Major League Baseball player-
                                                    graduate fluent in a half-dozen languages,     turned-spy.                                   Sunday,         The Chazzan’s Tale: Cantorial Concert, 4-5:30PM
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                    and a beloved player and coach for five                                                      March 1         in the Scheuer Chapel
                                                                                                   SPECIAL FEATURE
                                                    MLB teams during baseball’s Golden Age.                                                      Tuesday,        Curator’s Lecture: Archie Rand’s Sixty Paintings
                                                                                                   Check out a selection of art and artifacts
                                                    Upon the acceleration of WWII, Berg                                                          March 10        from the Bible, 7PM at the Skirball Museum
                                                                                                   from the Skirball Museum’s collection
                                                    began spying overseas. Rare historical
                                                                                                   related to Moe Berg’s life and times.         Thursday,       Tsevat Memorial Lecture, 12:15PM in Mayerson Hall
                                                    footage and revealing interviews drawn
                                                                                                                                                 March 12        Honoring our late Professor Matitiahu Tsevat
                                                                  In partnership with Hebrew Union College-Jewish                                Thursday,       Lunch and Learn: Archie Rand’s Sixty Paintings
                                                                        Institute of Religion Skirball Museum.                                   April 2         from the Bible, noon at the Skirball Museum
                                                                                                                                                 Sunday,         Spring Student Concert, Dapper, Flapper, and
                                                    FILM EXTRAS                                                                                  April 26        Tapper, 4-5:30PM in the Scheuer Chapel
                                                                                                                                                 Monday,         Collecting Stamps from Israel with Dr. David Alden,
                                                    DIRECTOR’S NOTE                                home’s staircase. Businessman William
                                                                                                                                                 May 4           7-8:30PM at the Klau Library
                                                                                                   Levine asked me after seeing The Life and
                                                    Life-size wall hangings of my three favorite
                                                                                                   Times of Hank Greenberg: “Do you want to
                                                    Jewish baseball players—Sandy Koufax
                                                                                                   make a film on an unusual major league         Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
                                                    pitching to Hank Greenberg and Moe Berg
                                                                                                   baseball player?” I jumped at his generous       3101 Clifton Avenue | RSVP: jashton@huc.edu, 513- 487-3098
                                                    as catcher—adorn the curved wall of my
             18
                                                                                                   offer to support a Berg biopic. The Spy                                                                               19
Behind Home Plate fits perfectly into my    The child of U.S. Army officer Harold
                                                    goal to make historical documentaries       Kempner and Polish Holocaust survivor
                                                    about less-well-known Jewish heroes and     Helen Ciesla, Kempner was born in post-
                                                    my career focus on exploring courageous     World War II Berlin, Germany. Her family
                                                    tales about those who fought the Nazis.     history inspired her to make films about
                                                                                                less-known Jewish heroes: television
                                                    AVIVA KEMPNER
                                                                                                pioneer Gertrude Berg, Hall of Fame
                                                    Director/Producer/Writer
                                                                                                baseball superstar Hank Greenberg,
                                                    Aviva Kempner’s mission is to               philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, and
                                                    make films that investigate                 the Jewish resistance to the Nazis. Her
                                                    non-stereotypical images                    films have received top honors from The
                                                    of Jews in history and celebrate the        National Society of Film Critics, the New
                                                    untold stories of Jewish heroes. Based      York Film Critics Circle, the Broadcast Film
                                                    in Washington, D.C., Kempner is a           Critics Association, and CINE Golden Eagle
                                                    director, writer, and producer whose        and Peabody Awards.
                                                    resume includes critically acclaimed and
                                                                                                Kempner is a member of the Academy
                                                    award-winning documentaries, including
                                                                                                of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She
                                                    Rosenwald, Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, and
                                                    Peabody winner The Life and Times of Hank
                                                    Greenberg. She also produced another
                                                                                                writes film criticism and feature articles for
                                                                                                numerous publications.                             THE PASSENGERS
                                                    WWII documentary, Partisans of Vilna.                                                          WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 • 7:30PM • MARIEMONT THEATRE

                                                                                                                                                 2019 ∙ Documentary ∙ 70 minutes ∙ English, Hebrew, Amharic ∙ Ryan S. Porush

                                                                                                                                                 SYNOPSIS
                                                                                                                                                 Telling the story of more than 9,000 Jews
                                                                                                                                                 surviving within a temporary and harsh
                                                                                                                                                 reality in Ethiopia, Demoz and Gezi take
                                                                                                                                                 a fateful trip to America as spokesmen in
                                                                                                                                                 a grassroots advocacy campaign for their
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                                                                 abandoned community to immigrate to
                                                                                                                                                 Israel. The campaign soon finds itself at
                                                                                                                                                 the center of a deteriorating political
                                                                                    Proudly Supports the                                         relationship. As forces in Israel mobilize
                                                                                                                                                 on their behalf, Demoz and Gezi must
                                                        2020 JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival                                                  reconcile unexpectedly diverging paths.
                                                                                                                                                 SPECIAL FEATURE
                                                                                                                                                 Discussion led by Megan Iverson, Program
                                                                                                                                                 Director at RefugeeConnect.

                                                                       Congratulations on another great year of                                  FILM EXTRAS
                                                                         innovative and entertaining cinema!                                     RYAN S. PORUSH                               He has produced, filmed, and edited
                                                                                                                                                 Director                                     documentaries and short films around
                                                                                katzteller.com | 513.721.4532                                                                                 the world, with an emphasis on telling
                                                                                                                                                 Ryan S. Porush is a
                                                                                                                                                                                              dynamic, character-driven stories. He is
                                                                                                                                                 documentary filmmaker
                                                                                                                                                                                              an alumnus of UC Santa Barbara and New
             20
                                                     THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
                                                                                                                                                 based in Los Angeles.                                                                   21
York University. Ryan’s award-winning             families find a home in the Cincinnati area.
                                                    first short film, Two Hundred Percent,            Having previously worked in a highly
                                                    about one young man’s journey to Israel           diverse Cincinnati Public Schools
                                                    to reunite with his forgotten father 15           elementary school created a lasting
                                                    years after a tragic accident, screened at        impression that schools are the hub of
                                                    film festivals in 2016. His next film, titled     the American cultural experience for new
                                                    A School Grows in Watts, tells the story of       families in the U.S. She works with school
                                                    a unique, overachieving school, and those         staff, partners, and volunteer mentors to
                                                    using education to improve the vibrant,           create welcoming environments across
                                                    often distraught communities of South             the city.
                                                    Los Angeles. The Passengers is his feature
                                                    directorial debut.                                Iverson is the Program Director at
                                                                                                      RefugeeConnect. RefugeeConnect helps
                                                    MEGAN IVERSON                                     refugees and asylees navigate often
                                                    Speaker                                           unfamiliar systems, new cultural norms,
                                                    Megan Iverson studied                             and language barriers. RefugeeConnect
                                                    abroad in Ghana while                             promotes coordinated services so that
                                                    studying History at Xavier                        this specific population of new Americans,
                                                    University and learned first-                     who may be unaware of the patchwork of
                                                    hand that being new in a
                                                    country can be an isolating
                                                    experience. She brings this
                                                                                                      crucial resources already in place, reach
                                                                                                      their full potential as individuals, families,
                                                                                                      and civic and community leaders.
                                                                                                                                                         NIGHT OF SHORT FILMS
                                                                                                                                                         THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 • 7:30PM • ESQUIRE THEATRE
                                                    to her work in helping newly resettled

                                                                                                                                                                                      ORDER OF FILMS
                                                          Jewish Book                                                                                       I HAVE A MESSAGE                                MY PLAYGROUND

                                                           Series                                                                                               FOR YOU
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    GEFILTE
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                                                                                HOW TO SWIM
                                                           Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein
                                                                                                                                                                                                            BENEATH THE INK
                                                           Jamie Bernstein
                                                           April 1, 2020 • 7pm
                                                                                                                                                       An evening of short films, both                 SPECIAL FEATURE
                                                                                                                                                       documentary and narrative, that will make       Panel discussion featuring community
                                                           Perfect Flavors: Creative Easy-to-Prepare
                                                                                                                                                       you think, laugh, and possibly even shed a      member, filmmaker, and Jerusalem Film
                                                           Recipes Inspired by My Family and Travels
                                                                                                                                                       tear. From moving stories of relationships      Workshop participant Seth Friedman,
                                                           Naomi Nachman
                                                                                                                                                       past and present, to personal growth and        and Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film
                                                           May 14, 2020 • 6pm
                                                                                                                                                       changes of heart, to the absurdities of life,   Festival committee members.
                                                                                                                                                       these films showcase the best of short-
                                                           The Altruists
                                                                                                                                                       form storytelling.
                                                           Andrew Ridker
                                                           May 27, 2020 • 7pm

                                                           learn more & register                      This event is in      Jewish
                                                                                                                            Book
                                                           MAYERSONJCC.ORG                          partnership with:       Council
                                                                                                                                                                              In partnership with Cincinnati Hillel.
             22                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 23
FILM EXTRAS
                                                    SHORT FILM: I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU
                                                    2017 ∙ Documentary Short ∙ 13 minutes
                                                    French ∙ Matan Rochlitz
                                                                                                                                  nominee
                                                                                                                                Outstanding New Approaches:
                                                                                                                                       Current News
                                                                                                                                 emmy awards 2018
                                                                                                                                                                        SAVE
                                                    SYNOPSIS                                         course, also one of the defining chapters                   CINCINNATI HILLEL PRESENTS

                                                                                                                                                                           THE
                                                    On April 4, 1943, a young woman finds            of humanity’s recent history. The mind
                                                    herself on a train. A decision she makes         still struggles to make sense of What
                                                    that day saves her life, but leaves her with     Happened. But one commandment, one
                                                    a huge burden on her conscience. Twenty          kernel of a logical response, seems to be
                                                    years later she meets a stranger with a          expressed by all who have lived through
                                                    message for her.                                 the horror: Never forget.
                                                                                                                                                              THE 5TH ANNUAL CAMPUS SUPERSTAR
                                                    DIRECTOR’S NOTE                                  We are the last generation who will

                                                                                                                                                                        DATE
                                                                                                     be able to meet Holocaust survivors in
                                                    My grandmother once told me a story
                                                                                                     person, and I consider this a tremendous
                                                    about the woman who lived next door
                                                                                                     responsibility.
                                                    to her in Tel Aviv. It was a tale of love,
                                                    loss, guilt and redemption, with a truly         MATAN ROCHLITZ
                                                    extraordinary epilogue. I never forgot it.       Director
                                                    The Holocaust looms impossibly large             Matan is an Emmy-                                             SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020
                                                    in my family’s shared narrative. It is, of       nominated documentary
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                          MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                        www.qbcincy.com
                                                                             513.271.5400

                                                                                         In the Heart of Mariemont
                                                                                                   6904 Wooster Pike
                                                                                                 Cincinnati, Ohio 45227
                                                                                                                                                                   hillelcincinnati.org/campussuperstar
             24                                                                                                                                                                                           25
filmmaker and musician born and raised
                                                    in Rome, Italy. Matan cut his teeth as a
                                                                                                  about insomnia, Roman cuisine, and the
                                                                                                  end of capitalism. His most recent film,    SHORT FILM: MY PLAYGROUND
                                                    journalist, but transitioned to short-form    I Have a Message for You, premiered on      2019 ∙ Documentary Short ∙ 7 minutes ∙ Hebrew
                                                    documentaries. He has made films on           The New York Times Op-Docs. He is also a
                                                    topics such as mozzarella, running, and the   musician, currently focusing on old-time    SYNOPSIS                                        SETH FRIEDMAN
                                                    Shoah, and is currently working on films      banjo music and Italian folk songs.         Dr. Saar Hashavaya is the head of the           Editor
                                                                                                                                              pediatric emergency room at Hadassah
                                                                                                                                                                                              Seth Friedman is an award-winning
                                                                                                                                              Hospital in Ein Kerem, Israel. During his
                                                                                                                                                                                              student filmmaker from Cincinnati. His
                                                                                                                                              regular routines, his inner child interacts
                                                                                                                                                                                              work includes Red Ink (an original feature
                                                                                                                                              with his patients.
                                                                                                                                                                                              film about a screenwriter trying to get his
                                                    SHORT FILM: HOW TO SWIM                                                                   Created during the 2019 Jerusalem Film
                                                                                                                                              Workshop, a six-week summer program
                                                                                                                                                                                              name off of the Hollywood blacklist), All
                                                    2018 ∙ Narrative Short ∙ 15 minutes ∙ Hebrew ∙ Noa Gusakov                                                                                That You Love Will Be Carried Away (a short
                                                                                                                                              in Israel designed for talented young           film based on the short story by Stephen
                                                    SYNOPSIS                                      premiere at the 2018 Palm                   filmmakers from around the world.               King, for which he was a featured speaker
                                                    In the last few days of her pregnancy,        Springs ShortFest and
                                                                                                                                              Director: Obett Motaung (South Africa)          at the Rochester Halloween Film Festival
                                                    a terrified mother-to-be kidnaps a            went on to be selected at
                                                                                                                                              Editor: Seth Friedman (USA)                     at the George Eastman Museum). Seth
                                                    comforting partner-in-crime for one           other festivals, including
                                                                                                                                              Cinematographer: Mica Bernhard (USA)            was one of 24 filmmakers selected from
                                                    afternoon. How else is a person supposed      Encounters, Hamptons, and
                                                                                                                                                                                              around the world to participate in the
                                                    to get some honest advice?                    Aspen. It was awarded Best Narrative        Producer: Amanda Halfen (Brazil)
                                                                                                                                                                                              Jerusalem Film Workshop.
                                                                                                  Short in Annapolis, ahead of its online
                                                    NOA GUSAKOV                                   premiere as a Vimeo Staff Pick. Noa
                                                    Writer/Director                               works as a screenwriter and editor for TV
                                                    How To Swim had its international             productions in Israel.                      SHORT FILM: GEFILTE
                                                                                                                                              2018 ∙ Documentary Short ∙ 11 minutes ∙ English ∙ Rachel Fleit

                                                                      JEWISH
                                                                                                                                              SYNOPSIS                                        childhood, joy and family all wrapped
                                                                                                                                              Each year, the Hermelin family of Detroit       up in the smell of fish.” As we made the
                                                                                                                                              comes together to celebrate the Passover        film, the gefilte fish, of course, became

                                                                   COMMUNITY
                                                                                                                                              holiday—honoring the liberation of the          a lightning rod, into which we project
                                                                                                                                              Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt—by           all of our feelings about family, identity,
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                                                              eating Gefilte fish.                            traditions, struggle, joy, loss, and as
                                                                                                                                                                                              always, love. Gefilte. It’s not

                                                                       NIGHT
                                                                                                                                              DIRECTOR’S NOTE
                                                                                                                                                                                              about the fish.
                                                                                                                                              When I learned about the Hermelin
                                                                                                                                              family’s remarkable gefilte fish tradition, I   RACHEL FLEIT

                                                                        at the Reds game
                                                                                                                                              immediately knew there was a film there.        Director
                                                                                                                                              Sloane Klevin, my editor and trusted            Rachel Fleit is a writer
                                                                                                                                              creative collaborator agreed, so I flew         & director who lives in
                                                                                                                                              to Detroit, fancy lenses in tow, and we         Brooklyn, NY. Her short documentary
                                                                                                                                              set out to make a beautiful film about          films, Barbara & Stanley: A Modern
                                                                                          MAY 26, 6:40PM                                      the single most unattractive fish ball. My
                                                                                                                                              favorite thing to do as a filmmaker is to
                                                                                                                                                                                              Romance and Gefilte, can be seen on
                                                                                                                                                                                              NOWNESS. Gefilte is currently slated
                                                                                        REDS VS. PIRATES                                      find the beauty in what most find to be
                                                                                                                                              ugly. I love a good metaphor and I am
                                                                                                                                                                                              to play at almost every single Jewish
                                                                                                                                                                                              Film Festival in the US and UK. Fleit is a
                                                                                                                                              fascinated by the phenomenon of sense           2019 grant recipient from the New York
                                                         Made possible by support
                                                       from Jimmy & Lauren Miller
                                                                                                                                              memory – as Julie Hermelin describes            Foundation for the Arts, Women’s Fund
                                                                                                                                              perfectly in the film, “that’s innocence,       for Film, TV, & Theatre for her upcoming

             26                                                                                                                                                                                                                             27
short documentary, Ava & Bianca, about
                                                    the unique relationship between two
                                                    female cinematographers who happen to
                                                    be transgender.
                                                    Fleit is on the director’s roster at Good
                                                    Story Films. She has developed and
                                                    directed branded content for UBS Bank,
                                                    Cadillac, Veuve Clicquot, Peanut, BRIDES,
                                                    Physique 57, Bumble, Ohlin/D, Paskho,
                                                    Eileen Fisher, Ad Council & #SheCanStem.
                                                    Frances Hermelin’s Gefilte Fish Recipe can
                                                    be found here: www.thegefiltefilm.com

                                                    SHORT FILM: BENEATH THE INK                                              nominee
                                                                                                                             Outstanding Short
                                                                                                                              Documentary
                                                    2018 ∙ Documentary Short ∙ 13 minutes ∙ English ∙ Cy Dodson             emmy awards 2019

                                                    As society’s belief systems are seemingly      Beneath the Ink was shot in Dodson’s
                                                    changing, or even reverting in time, one       hometown of Zanesville, Ohio. Although
                                                    Ohio artist is challenging his community       he was raised by loving and non-racist
                                                    by saying, “bring me your mistakes.”           parents, it wasn’t uncommon to hear
                                                    Inspired by recent events, Billy Joe White     various racial slurs in his community. At
                                                    and his Red Rose Tattoo Studio are             a young age, Dodson knew the adults
                                                    promoting one simple concept: Erase            that he did, or did not, want to become.
                                                    the hate. Beneath the Ink is a timely          Beneath The Ink is now an Emmy-
                                                    look at hate and racism in the western         nominated and Academy-qualified
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                 MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                    foothills of this Appalachian region that      film. Dodson sends special thanks to
                                                    reveals heartfelt stories of change and        everyone at Red Rose Tattoo, especially
                                                    redemption.                                    Billy White, who made this film possible.
                                                                                                   Dodson currently resides in Minnesota,
                                                    CY DODSON
                                                                                                   where he is the owner/operator of
                                                    Director/Cinematographer/
                                                                                                   production company Triumph Pictures,
                                                    Editor
                                                                                                   LLC, specializing in documentary-style
                                                    Cy Dodson has been in the                      marketing and branding content.
                                                    storytelling business for
                                                    over two decades. Beneath
                                                    the Ink is his third film in five years, and
                                                    the one which he considers his most
                                                    compelling and inspiring film to date.
                                                    Dodson’s past two films, My Last Breath
                                                    and The Ragman - A Hobo’s Story Untold
                                                    garnered a total of Seven Film Festival
                                                    Awards and a Midwest Regional Emmy for
                                                    Best Documentary.
             28                                                                                                                                  29
LOVE IN SUSPENDERS
                                                                                                            SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 • 3PM • KENWOOD THEATRE

                                                                                                          2019 ∙ Romantic Comedy ∙ 102 minutes ∙ Hebrew ∙ Jorge Weller

                                                                                                          SYNOPSIS                                        a tough front, but suffers internally
                                                    AgeWell Cincinnati is a central solution that links   Tami and Beno, both widowed, confront           from the loss of his wife. An encounter
                                                      older adults, their family members, friends,        their losses in very different ways.            between two people with such different
                                                      and caregivers to community resources for
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                          MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                          Optimistic Tami still talks to her husband,     lifestyles and personalities has to result in
                                                                                                          years after his death; Beno puts up             a nightmare...but love has its own rules.
                                                            aging well in Jewish Cincinnati.

                                                                     Contact us:                          FILM EXTRAS
                                                       513-766-3333 | agewellcincy.org                    JORGE WELLER                                    series, feature films, documentaries and
                                                                                                          Director                                        instruction films, some going on to win
                                                                       Our providers                                                                      international awards.
                                                                                                          Jorge (Johanan) Weller holds
                                                                                                          academic degrees from both                      He made his first film in Super 8 at the
                                                                                                          the National Film Institute in                  age of 13 years old, and his passion for
                                                                                                          Buenos Aires, Argentina (1978) and Tel          filmmaking has only grown with every
                                                                                                          Aviv University’s School of Film & Television   passing year. He believes as Charlie Chaplin
                                                                                                          (1982). Over his career he has created,         once said, that the secret of success, in
                                                                                                          directed, and produced dozens of TV             both movies and life, is enthusiasm.
                                                                       Our funders
                                                                                                                    In partnership with Cedar Village Care & Community
                                                                                                                                  and AgeWell Cincinnati.
             30                                                                                                                                                                                           31
Senior Living
                                                                                         that never goes
                                                                                                 out of style.

                                                                                                                              AULCIE
                                                                                                                              TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 • 7:30PM • MARIEMONT THEATRE

                                                                                                                            2019 ∙ Documentary ∙ 120 minutes ∙ English, Hebrew ∙ Dani Menkin
                                                    A True Sense of Community
                                                                                                                            SYNOPSIS                                      remarkable athlete captured the spirit of a
                                                       Cedar Village provides an inspirational lifestyle designed           Content Warning: Drug references              nation, became victorious against all odds,
                                                     to cater to the specialized needs and wants of our residents.          The highly anticipated follow-up to On the
                                                                                                                                                                          and put Israel on the map.
                                                     Throughout our campus, you’ll find a difference in philosophy          Map, this inspiring film tells the story of   Attendees will have the opportunity to
                                                        that embraces the balance between home and care —                   Aulcie Perry, the last to be cut from the     win Club Level tickets to the University
                                                       we know family comes first and we live by that. Touching
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                                            NY Knicks in 1976 who soon found himself      of Cincinnati Men’s Basketball game on
                                                     every aspect of life at our community, we work together with           playing for Israel. He became a basketball    February 19, courtesy of Jewish Cemeteries
                                                          loved ones to create a plan for enriching each day                legend, playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv. This    of Greater Cincinnati.
                                                         and maximizing independence as much as possible.
                                                               Simply put, life is better at Cedar Village.
                                                                                                                            FILM EXTRAS
                                                                                                                            DANI MENKIN                                   shortlisted for the Oscars. Menkin’s award-
                                                                                                                            Writer/Director/Producer                      winning film Dolphin Boy (co-directed by
                                                                                                                                                                          Yonatan Nir) was sold to over 20 countries
                                                                                                                            Dani Menkin is a two-time
                                                                                                                                                                          around the globe and was bought by
                                                                                                                            Israeli Academy Award-
                                                                                                                                                                          Disney for an adaptation. Dani Menkin is
                                                                                                                            winning filmmaker for 39
                                                                                                                                                                          a speaker and film juror at international
                                                                         www.CedarVillage.org                               Pounds of Love and Is That You?. 39 Pounds
                                                                                                                                                                          festivals around the world, as well as a
                                                    5467 Cedar Village Dr         Mason, OH 45040           513-754-3100    of Love has been sold to HBO and was
                                                                                                                                                                          film professor at universities in the U.S.
                                                        F A M I LY- F I R S T S E N I O R L I V I N G F R O M C A R D O N
                                                             INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING
                                                                                                                                       In partnership with Jewish Cemeteries of Greater
                                                      REHABILITATION • LONG TERM CARE • MEMORY SUPPORT                                         Cincinnati – Guardians and Friends.
             32                                                                                                                                                                                                         33
LEONA
                                                      THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 • 7:30PM
                                                      CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM, FATH AUDITORIUM

                                                    2018 ∙ Drama ∙ 95 minutes ∙ Spanish ∙ Isaac Cherem

                                                    SYNOPSIS                                     and struggles to find the right path on
                                                    Content Warning: Nudity and sexual content   this journey of self-discovery and female
                                                                                                 empowerment.
                                                    A young woman from Mexico City finds
                                                    herself torn between her Syrian-Jewish       SPECIAL FEATURE
                                                    family and forbidden love in this intimate   Short film screening of The Outer Circle
                                                    drama. She is forced to negotiate the        by Adam Baroukh. Discussion led by
                                                    labyrinth of familial pressure, religious    Valerie Weinstein, Associate Professor of
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                              MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                    precedent, and her own burgeoning            Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at
                                                    sentiment as she discovers the world         the University of Cincinnati.
                                                    outside the bubble of her community

                                                                      In partnership with Cincinnati Art Museum.

                                                    FILM EXTRAS
                                                    EMILY BAUMAN                                 assisted in research and implementation
                                                    Introduction                                 for CAM’s 30 Americans and Ragnar
                                                                                                 Kjartansson: The Visitors and Scenes from
                                                    Emily Bauman is Curatorial Assistant
                                                                                                 Western Culture. In her role as Moving
                                                    for Photography and Film Programmer
                                                                                                 Images film programmer, she collaborates
                                                    for Moving Images at the Cincinnati
                                                                                                 with CAM curators as well as film-centered
                                                    Art Museum (CAM). She has curated
                                                                                                 organizations across Cincinnati to create
                                                    photography special features including
                                                                                                 points of connection to artworks on view
                                                    The Poetry of Place: William Clift, Linda
                                                                                                 in the museum through the democratic
                                                    Connor, and Michael Kenna and Personas:
                                                                                                 medium of film.
             34
                                                    Color Portraits, 1979–1985, and she                                                       35
DIRECTOR’S NOTE                              VALERIE WEINSTEIN
                                                    Through a portrait of the Jewish             Discussion Facilitator
                                                    community in Mexico City, I try to
                                                                                                 Valerie Weinstein is Associate Professor
                                                    establish a bridge of communication
                                                                                                 in the Department of Women’s, Gender,
                                                    between generations that have different
                                                                                                 and Sexuality Studies and affiliate faculty
                                                    points of view with respect to the same
                                                                                                 in German Studies, Judaic Studies, and
                                                    subject. The story of Leona is a personal
                                                                                                 Film and Media Studies at the University
                                                    reflection on my process of self-
                                                                                                 of Cincinnati. She is the author of
                                                    knowledge and maturity.
                                                                                                 Antisemitism in Film Comedy in Nazi
                                                    ISAAC CHEREM                                 Germany (Indiana University Press, 2019),
                                                    Director                                     co-editor, with Barbara Hales and Mihaela
                                                    Isaac Cherem graduated from                  Petrescu, of Continuity and Crisis in German
                                                    Los Angeles Film School in                   Cinema 1928-1936 (Camden House, 2016)
                                                    2011. In 2015, he founded                    and co-editor, with Barbara Hales, of
                                                    Fosforescente, a production company          forthcoming volume Rethinking Jewishness
                                                    focused solely on Mexican cinema. In         in Weimar Cinema (Berghahn Books,
                                                    2016, he produced Two Times You. In 2018,    2020). Weinstein has authored articles and
                                                    he shot his directorial debut, Leona, and    book chapters on topics including gender,
                                                    he is currently working on the production    sexuality, and Jewishness in German film
                                                    of the film King of the Party, directed by   between the two world wars.
                                                    Salomon Askenazi.

                                                                In Loving Memory
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                 of Lucille “Twink”
                                                                     Carothers
                                                                    (1924 - 2018)
                                                               …a longtime supporter
                                                                of the JCC Jewish &
                                                                Israeli Film Festival

             36                                                                                                                                 37
SHORT FILM: THE OUTER CIRCLE
                                                                                                 2017 ∙ Short Drama ∙ 13 minutes ∙ Arabic, English ∙ Adam Baroukh
                                                                                                 Midway through a gruelling Orthodox          and direct his own work. Through
                                                                                                 conversion, Daniel and his fiancée           Superplex he has directed hundreds of
                                                                                                 Katherine are eager to gain the blessing     commercial films for some of the world’s
                                                                                                 of his intimidatingly large and loud Iraqi   biggest brands and a number of award-
                                                                                                 Jewish family. At their annual Rosh          winning short dramas.
                                                                                                 Hashanah feast, Katherine’s natural          Adam works both in visual art and
                                                                                                 elegance and ‘English English’ heritage      cinematic traditions. In 2015, he was
                                                                                                 immediately endears her to them, but it      funded by the British Arts Council to
                                                                                                 soon becomes apparent that beneath the       create the performance film The Silent
                                                                                                 warm and welcoming atmosphere, some          Wild at the Bronte Parsonage, and The
                                                                                                 are not ready as others to accept her.       Brush and The Sword - an audio-visual
                                                                                                 ADAM BAROUKH                                 installation for the Shangri-La at the Shard.
                                                                                                 Director                                     The same year, he produced his first
                                                                                                                                              written film Just Desserts, which played
                                                                                                 Adam Baroukh spent his
                                                                                                                                              at numerous BAFTA- and Oscar-qualifying
                                                                                                 formative years working as
                                                                                                                                              festivals internationally, was featured at
                                                                                                 a photographer and self-
                                                                                                                                              the 2015 BFI London Film Festival, and
                                                                                                 shooting short documentaries. In 2011,
                                                                                                                                              won the Discovery Award at London
                                                                                                 Adam co-founded Superplex Pictures as
                                                                                                                                              Comedy Festival and Best Comedy at Isle
                                                                                                 a platform from which to write, produce
                                                                                                                                              of Man Film Festival.

                                                    The New: 1203 Sycamore
                                                    The Original: 4381 Reading
                                                    The Delicious: Wispy Thin Pancakes                       Thank you to the Mayerson
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                              MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                              JCC and the Film Festival
                                                                    Serving Cincinnati since
                                                                                                               Committee for another
                                                                    1941! We are excited to                      great film festival!
                                                                    bring Sugar n’ Spice Diner
                                                                    to OTR/Pendleton in the
                                                                    Spring of 2020.                                    Law Office of
                                                                    Follow @eatsugarnspice                           Paul H. Spitz LLC
                                                                    #snsducks #snsdiner
                                                                                                                   “We help you start and
                                                                                                                     run your business”

             38                                                                                                                                                                               39
FAMILY IN TRANSITION
                                                    MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 • 7:30PM • ESQUIRE THEATRE

                                                    2018 ∙ Documentary ∙ 70 minutes ∙ Hebrew ∙ Ofir Trainin                     winner
                                                                                                                               best israeli film
                                                                                                                                 docaviv film
                                                                                                                                 festival 2018
                                                    SYNOPSIS                                     most of all, it is a story
                                                    The lives of a family in small-town Israel   about a family that redefines the limits of
                                                    change completely after their father         recognition, acceptance, and love of those
                                                    announces that he’s transitioning to         closest to us.
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                    become a woman. But one journey of
                                                                                                 SPECIAL FEATURE
                                                    identity leads to another. This family
                                                                                                 Discussion led by Jessica Cicchinelli,
                                                    story changes what we thought we knew
                                                                                                 Founder of Living With Change.
                                                    about gender, parity, and parenthood. But                                                                         A M AY E R S O N J C C F U N D R A I S E R

                                                                In partnership with Over-the-Rhine International Film                                                                 T H U R S D AY, J U N E 1 1
                                                                          Festival, organized by LADD, Inc.                                                                           L O S A N T I V I L L E C O U N T RY C L U B

                                                    FILM EXTRAS
                                                                                                                                                     ADAMS G OLF T O URNAM E N T | T E NNI S | RAFFL E
                                                    ABOUT THE FILM PARTICIPANTS                  my masculinity through my son and my
                                                    AMIT TZUK, 44 YEAR-OLD WOMAN,
                                                                                                 femininity through my wife Gili, living in a         CANASTA | M AH J O NG | C O UR SE O F CAT E RE R S
                                                                                                 masquerade ball, trying to be as masculine
                                                    TRANSSEXUAL
                                                                                                 as possible, hiding, never being exposed.
                                                    At the age of 42, I fulfilled my dream,                                                        R E G I S T E R & P U R C H A S E R A F F L E T I C K E TS :
                                                                                                 The film Family in Transition is a delicate
                                                    got out of my costume and became a
                                                    full-time wife and mother. As long as I
                                                                                                 human document, a documentation of                M AY E R S O N J C C . O R G / J C L A S S I C
                                                                                                 the most difficult process a person can
             40                                     can remember, I lived in disguise, living
experience, being reborn in the middle of      A life of equality. I began to act on the     for the most sensitive documentary, and         transition that she gradually began to
                                                    life into a brave family that overcomes any    national and local level, giving lectures     that you have allowed us to be swept into       question who she really wanted to be.
                                                    challenge and difficulty.                      throughout the country and turning            your world and you equally swept into our       During filming it became apparent that,
                                                                                                   thousands of people into colorful             world.                                          despite a wave of mainstream attention
                                                    I managed to get through this process
                                                                                                   ambassadors of the community in the                                                           into the acceptance of the transgender
                                                    thanks to my family – my flock, who                                                          DIRECTOR’S NOTE
                                                                                                   world.                                                                                        community, many traditional, more
                                                    stood by me all the way, helping me over
                                                                                                                                                 The main goal of Family In Transition is to     conservative towns, like the one where
                                                    and over again, giving me the strength         GALIT TZUK, 43 YEARS OLD, MOTHER TO
                                                                                                                                                 expose a unique family that can teach us        the Tsuk family lives, are still less tolerant.
                                                    to continue, to be born again, stronger,       YUVAL, YARDAN, AGAM, AND PELEG
                                                                                                                                                 all how to accept the differences in one        By embracing the different, I hope we
                                                    happier, fulfilled. My family who allowed
                                                                                                   I chose to be filmed in the documentary       another. The Tsuk family breaks social          can work towards creating a world where
                                                    me to become better for me, for them.
                                                                                                   Family in Transition to promote awareness,    conventions and helps change what we            transgender people can live a normal life
                                                    During the process I realized that I           inclusion, and acceptance of members of       thought we knew about gender, parity,           and be accepted by their communities.
                                                    must give my amazing community the             the gay community in society.                 parenthood, and transgender issues. Most
                                                    opportunity to live a better life in Israel.                                                                                                 OFIR TRAININ
                                                                                                   From this I chose to publish the              of all, this close-knit family re-expands the
                                                                                                                                                                                                 Director/Producer
                                                                                                   autobiographical travel diaries, Love in      limits of recognition, acceptance, and the
                                                                                                                                                 love of those closest to us. While making       Ofir Trainin is an award-
                                                                                                   Trance and Now is My Turn, that I wrote
                                                                                                                                                 the documentary, I was most surprised by        winning director and
                                                                                                   following my husband, Amit’s decision
                                                                                                                                                 the story arc and transformation of Galit,      scriptwriter. His films
                                                                                                   to become a transsexual woman. For the
                                                                                                                                                 the wife and matriarch of the family. Galit     include My Shabbat (2015)
                                                                                                   children of the transgender community in
                                                                                                                                                 and Amit were married at a very young           produced by Prometheus and supported
                                                                                                   Israel, I published the book I Only Want to
                                                                                                                                                 age, and she was immediately drawn into         by Yes Docu, Appolonia (2015) produced
                                                                                                   Be Me.
                                                                                                                                                 becoming a wife, mother and caregiver.          by Micha Shagrir and supported by
                                                                                                   I would like to thank the director of the     She seemingly lost much of herself in           Channel 1 which premiered at the Haifa
                                                                                                   film Family in Transition, Ophir Trainin,     the process. It was only following Amit's       International Film Festival, Wandering Eyes
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                                                                            Schimberg Financial Group
                                                                                                                                                     is proud to be a supporter of the
                                                                                                                                                       Mayerson JCC and Jewish and
                                                                                                                                                           Israeli Film Festival!
             42                                                                                                                                                                                                                                43
(2010) supported by Keshet TV-Channel        and acceptance through collaborative
                                                    2 and The New Israeli Foundation for         relationships, LGBTQ+ specific trainings,
                                                    Cinema & Television which won Best Film      and intersectional educational/
                                                    Award at Docaviv Festival 2010 and was       programmatic initiatives that center
                                                    nominated for the Israeli Academy Awards     around the holistic wellness of our
                                                    2010.                                        community.
                                                    JESSICA CICCHINELLI                          Founders Chris and Jessica Cicchinelli
                                                    Speaker                                      realized how necessary it was to start
                                                                                                 Living With Change after experiencing
                                                    Living With Change (LWC)
                                                                                                 first-hand the uncertainty and adversity
                                                    supports a commitment
                                                                                                 many parents of transgender children
                                                    to fostering collaborative
                                                                                                 face. While seeking care and treatment for
                                                    relationships on a local,
                                                                                                 oldest daughter LC, the couple recognized
                                                    national, and global scale with particular
                                                                                                 many families didn’t have that same
                                                    respect to sexual/romantic/emotional
                                                                                                 luxury—going without puberty-delaying
                                                    attraction, and gender identities. LWC
                                                                                                 treatments and even being placed on
                                                    is an inclusive non-profit that provides
                                                                                                 waitlists hundreds of patients long. Chris
                                                    education, support, resources, and
                                                                                                 and Jessica hope the foundation will act
                                                    advocacy for the LGBQ+ and Transgender
                                                                                                 as a stop gap for families with transgender
                                                    community in the Greater Cincinnati area

                                                                                                                                               Performance
                                                                                                 children in need of relevant medical care,
                                                    and beyond. LWC facilitates LGBQ+ and
                                                    Transgender visibility by promoting and      transgender programs, and more.
                                                    enhancing awareness, understanding,

                                                                                                                                                without the drama!
                                                                                                                                                When you or someone you know has a
                                                                                                                                                   real estate need please call me.
                                                                                                                                                 You can count on my knowledge and
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                            MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                                                                                                                 experience to get results without the
                                                             Thank you to the JCC                                                                       dramatics or suspense.

                                                         Jewish & Israeli Film Festival
                                                         Committee and the JCC Staff                                                                             Mark Mayer
                                                                                                                                                                 513.702.8219
                                                         for all you do producing this                                                                           mmayer@comey.com

                                                           wonderful Film Festival!
                                                                   – Suzette & Michael Fisher                                                      I am proud to support the JCC’s
                                                                                                                                               Jewish & Israeli Film Festival. Mazel Tov!

             44                                                                                                                                                                             45
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE!

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                                                                                                                                    winner                           as safely and quickly as possible.
                                                    2018 ∙ Drama ∙ 94 minutes ∙ Hebrew ∙ Michal Aviad                                best actress
                                                                                                                                   ophir awards 2019

                                                    SYNOPSIS                                       boss. This nuanced
                                                    Trigger Warning: Sexual harassment & assault   portrayal of gray work-place scenarios offers             Offering 3 Convenient Locations
                                                                                                   thought-provoking insight during the era of
                                                    Ambitious and capable thirty-something
                                                    Orna takes to her new job in the high-         #MeToo.                                                              @ Mayerson Jewish
                                                    end real estate business with zeal and         SPECIAL FEATURE                                                      Community Center
                                                    thrives, despite the challenges facing her     Discussion led by Ronna Greff Schneider,                                   8485 Ridge Road
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                    at home. As she proves her worth and her       who is a Professor of Law at the University                              Cincinnati, OH 45236
                                                    professional fortunes rise, so do unwanted     of Cincinnati College of Law and President                                  513.766.3398
                                                    advances from her older, high-powered          of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
                                                                                                                                                                Blue Ash                      Groesbeck
                                                    FILM EXTRAS                                                                                              9419 Kenwood Road              2475 W Galbraith Road
                                                                                                                                                             Cincinnati, OH 45242            Cincinnati, OH 45239
                                                    DIRECTOR’S NOTE                                My first fiction film, Invisible (2011), is                  513.792.0777                    513.729.1798
                                                                                                   directly about the trauma of rape. But in
                                                    I started working on Working Woman in
                                                                                                   Working Woman, I wanted to make a film
                                                    2012. Like other women around me, I
                                                                                                   on the more grey areas of seuxal abuse. I                Call us today and we’ll get you started right away!
                                                    heard stories of sexual harassment on a
                                                                                                   collected stories from my life, my friends,
                                                    daily basis, especially in the workplace.
                                                                                                   the internet and court cases. While each
                                                    I was fascinated by the change I was
                                                                                                   incident differs in its details, they all see
                                                    witnessing from the generation before
                                                    me in which society was blind to the
                                                                                                   usage of authority and power to coerce                           Mazel Tov to the Film Festival
                                                    phenomena, to my generation and the
                                                                                                   women into sexual relations.                                      Committee on a great year!
                                                    younger generations who seek a deep            Working Woman is about the ways
                                                    change in the ways women and men               in which the powerful at work can
             46                                     relate sexually to each other.                 exploit and abuse their subordinates                                                                                47
and endanger their livelihood. More
                                                    often than not, it is the woman who
                                                    pays the economic, reputational, social,
                                                    psychological and familial price.
                                                    I tried in the film to understand the harsh
                                                    consequences of sexual harassment on
                                                    the victim and her entire context: her
                                                    relationships with her husband and her
                                                    children, and her ability to find work,
                                                    set against the blindness of the abuser         RONNA GREFF
                                                    and the social environment. In the              SCHNEIDER
                                                    middle of shooting the film, the #MeToo         Speaker
                                                    movement came into being. I knew then           Professor Schneider is an
                                                    that the film will continue to serve as a       expert in constitutional law,
                                                    reminder that sexual harassment at work         with a focus on the First
                                                    is not unique to famous people.                 Amendment and education law. She is
                                                                                                    a frequent speaker and commentator
                                                    MICHAL AVIAD                                    on issues involving constitutional law,

                                                                                                                                                   THE MAMBONIKS
                                                    Co-Writer/Director                              education law, and educational policy
                                                    An acclaimed and award-                         and is the author of the two-volume legal
                                                    winning documentary and                         treatise, Education Law: First Amendment,
                                                                                                    Due Process and Discrimination Litigation
                                                                                                                                                   SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 • 3PM • MAYERSON JCC
                                                    narrative filmmaker, Michal
                                                    Aviad was born in Jerusalem, Israel. She        (Thomson Reuters), and its annual
                                                    studied literature and philosophy at            supplements (available in print and online   2019 ∙ Documentary ∙ 90 minutes ∙ English, Spanish ∙ Lex Gillespie
                                                    Tel Aviv University, and began making           in Westlaw). Professor Schneider is also
                                                                                                    the co-editor of Education Law Stories       SYNOPSIS                                     SPECIAL FEATURE
                                                    films in San Francisco in the 1980s.
                                                                                                    (Foundation Press). She has published        In the 1950s, a group of free-spirited,      Community introductory mambo class
                                                    Since returning to Israel in 1991, she has
                                                                                                    law review articles and a book chapter on    mostly Jewish dancers from New York          led by Salsannati.
                                                    continued to write, direct and produce
                                                                                                    topics that include sexual harassment,       City fell in love with a sultry dance from
                                                    films. Aviad is a senior faculty member                                                                                                   Pre-event reception and tickets available
                                                                                                                                                 Cuba called the mambo, earning them
MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          MAYERSON JCC JEWISH & ISR AELI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
                                                    at Tel Aviv University’s Tisch School of        hate speech, and religion and schools.                                                    for Create Your Jewish Legacy and Jewish
                                                                                                                                                 a nickname: the mamboniks. Set in New
                                                    Cinema. Her critically acclaimed films          Professor Schneider received her BA                                                       Federation Silver Circle donors. Please
                                                                                                                                                 York, Miami Beach, the Catskills and
                                                    include Acting Our Age (1987), Jenny and        from the University of Michigan and                                                       contact Reagan Kuhn, 513.985.1526, for
                                                                                                                                                 Havana, this little-known story reveals
                                                    Jenny (1997), Invisible (2011), and Dimona      her JD from Boston College. She is                                                        information and to RSVP.
                                                                                                                                                 the power of music and dance to bring
                                                    Twist (2016).                                   an elected member of the American            people together, bridging cultures and
                                                    After many award-winning documentary            Law Institute. She is also an affiliated     communities.
                                                    films, Michal Aviad’s first fiction Invisible   faculty member of the University of
                                                    won the Ecumenical Prize at the 2011            Cincinnati’s Department of Women’s,             In partnership with Jewish Federation of Cincinnati – Silver Circle
                                                    Berlin International Film Festival, Best        Gender and Sexuality Studies. Professor
                                                                                                                                                                 Society and Create Your Jewish Legacy.
                                                    Israeli Film and Best Actress at the 2011       Schneider has been actively involved
                                                    Haifa Film Festival and the Grand Prize at      in the Association of American Law
                                                    the 2012 Creteil Women Film Festival in         Schools Section on Law and Education,        FILM EXTRAS
                                                    Frances. Invisible was released theatrically    having served as its Chairperson and as a
                                                    in Israel and France, and was the MOMA          member of its Executive Committee.           DIRECTOR’S NOTE                              had been an aspiring mambo dancer: “I
                                                    choice for a limited release in NYC.                                                                                                      simply thought there was a story there:
                                                                                                                                                 In an interview with the Edlavitch DCJCC,
                                                    Working Woman is her second fiction film.                                                                                                 why did a nice Jewish grandmother from
                                                                                                                                                 director Lex Gillespie noted that he was
                                                                                                                                                                                              New Haven, Connecticut want to learn the
                                                                                                                                                 inspired to make the film after his Jewish
                                                                                                                                                                                              cha-cha-cha?” The challenge of the film
                                                                                                                                                 wife mentioned that her grandmother
             48                                                                                                                                                                                                                           49
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