Short trigger film which uses clips from Palestinian Authority TV to show Arafat’s duplicity – how he promises peace for world while on Palestinian Television he demands the destruction of Israel. To his own people, he calls for Jerusalem as the capitol of a Palestinian State, and says that they promised Israel “peace – not security.”  Arafat asks Palestinian parents to send him their children – for the “new generals are kids.” Footage is given to some of the inflammatory programming on Palestinian TV – including children’s programs, a weekly show of terrorist biographies, and a speaker advising viewers to kill Jews – “kill them wherever you find them.” Note: Includes some of the same film clips as the film, “Jihad for Kids.”  Opinion on suitable ages for this will vary from person to person.  Adults must preview before using this trigger film with groups or with young people – and be well prepared for discussion following viewing.

7 min.  AGE:  14 to Adult

956.94

ARAFAT’S MESSAGE TO HIS PEOPLE AFTER THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE (1995)

Presents Arafat’s view of the peace process after he received the Nobel Peace Prize in December, 1994. Includes clips broadcast on the PLO’s PBC TV in January, 1995. Basically, in clip after clip, Arafat praises those who are willing to “martyr” themselves for Jerusalem, naming individuals who died while killing Israelis. Arafat uses the words of Mohammed and the Moslem faith to urge Palestinians to “martyr” themselves for the Palestinian cause, inciting Palestinians towards further violence.

In Arabic with subtitles.  18 min.  AGE:  14 to Adult

F

THE ASSISTANT  (1997)

Ass

Based on the novel by Bernard Malamud, the story deals with anti-Semitism, ethics and romance, and takes place during the Depression. Frank is a young man who assists his friend in robbing the grocery store of an elderly Jewish man. Both robbers wore masks. Horrified by the anti-Semitic outburst of his friend, who beats the old man, Frank looks for a way to repent. He decides to go to work for the grocer and dedicates all his time and energy to the job. While working, he falls in love with the grocer’s beautiful daughter—doubly problematic since Frank is not Jewish and since he has never revealed his part in the crime. Stars Armin Mueller-Stahl and Joan Plowright. Note: Includes a few disturbing scenes with violent acts. This film does not include public performance rights and may only be used for home or classroom.

`

1 hr. 45 min.  AGE: Adult

323.2  

 THE BELIEVER (2001)

Highly controversial film based on a true story. Danny Balint, a 22-year-old ex-Yeshiva student, becomes a neo-Nazi skinhead and rises in the ranks of a neo-Fascist political movement. Danny becomes an articulate speaker for the movement, spewing violent anti-Semitism and calling for the destruction of the Jewish people. He becomes involved with the daughter of the leaders of the neo-Fascist group, who convinces him to teach her about Judaism and the Hebrew language (Danny claims he knows about Judaism as one must understand his enemy). Throughout, Danny is both repelled and drawn to his Jewish roots. The plot takes a series of unexpected twists and Danny must ultimately find a resolution for the many contradictions raging within him. The film is based on the true story of Daniel Burros, a 28-year-old Ku Klux Klan member who threatened murder or suicide if his Jewish origins were publicly revealed. He committed suicide after the NY Times printed an article stating his roots. Note: This is an extremely disturbing film which will be offensive to many, particularly due to the intense Jewish self-hatred of its protagonist. Particularly disturbing are scenes of Danny beating up a passive Yeshiva student and a scene in which he accuses Holocaust survivors of not fighting back when atrocities were committed against them and their families. Some film reviews rave about its merits – others caution that Danny becomes a hero and that viewers may be drawn to the hatred he spews rather than being repelled by it. Highly charged discussions will follow a viewing of the film. Discussion leaders must preview “The Believer” and be well prepared for the questions that will follow.

1 hr. 40 min.  AGE:  Adult

Biloxi Blues is the second of Neil Simon’s trilogy of autobiographical plays which appeared on Broadway and the big screen (the first was Brighton Beach Memoirs). This wry comedy follows the continuing story of Simon’s alter ego, a young Jew from Brooklyn named Eugene Jerome, who enlists in the army toward the end of World War II. While in boot camp, Eugene discovers that many of the same soldiers who are eager to fight the Nazis are also anti-Semitic.

In the steamy heat of Biloxi, Mississippi, budding writer Eugene (Matthew Broderick) encounters the absurdities of army life, including endless drills, dense bunkmates and chipped beef on toast. But he also discovers that his compulsive wisecracking grates on his tough drill sergeant, who just happened to be psychotic. Will Eugene survive ten grueling weeks in fatigues? Rated PG-13.

1 hr. 45 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

956.94

THE BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT  (The Return: The Saga of the Zionist Movement

Ret

and the Rebirth of the Jewish State, Part 1)  (1998)

Part one of a three-part video series produced by Willy Lindwer which covers the story of the Jewish peoples’ return to their ancestral homeland, culminating in the establishment of the State of Israel. This section covers the late 19th century to 1904. Jews come to Palestine in response to anti-Semitism and persecution in Europe. Shows how the Dreyfus Affair influenced Herzl to create Zionism as a political movement.

52 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

While open discrimination against Jews did not exist in post-World War I England, anti-Semitism could be found in more subtle and genteel forms. “I’m semi-deprived,” says Harold Abrahams in Chariots of Fire, based on a true story. “They lead me to water, but they won’t let me drink.” Called arrogant and defensive, he is a Cambridge student and the son of a Lithuanian Jew who can provide his sons with everything – except total acceptance.

Chariots of Fire tells the story of the British runners competing in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Abrahams and the Scotsman Eric Liddel run in the 100 meter race, each driven by personal passion: Liddel, a devout Christian, runs for the glory of God; Abrahams runs in anger and defiance – to prove that he is “as good an Englishman as any of them.” Each ultimately finds his assumptions challenged as they prepare for the race of a lifetime. Rated PG.

2 hr. 4 min.  AGE:  12 to Adult

JHVC

F

Commissar  (1967)

Com

Following the 1917 Russian Revolution, a bitter Civil War was fought between the Red Army Bolsheviks and the White Army. Many of the battles raged in areas of Jewish settlement, resulting in great devastation and, often, in widespread massacres by reactionary elements. Commissar, set against these events, was banned by the Soviet government for 21 years and was only given new life with the coming of Glasnost. A tough Red Army commander's military career is disrupted by an unwanted pregnancy. Forced to stay with a poor Jewish family until her child is born, she comes face-to-face with a different culture and finds herself transported by the warmth and compassion of her hosts. Ultimately, she is forced to make a most difficult decision—to rejoin her troops or stay with her child. Note: Suitable for adults only due to the subject matter and a violent scene involving children.

In Russian with subtitles. B&W. 1 hr. 45 min.  AGE: Adult

Holocaust documentary which examines the role of the Church and Christian leaders during the Holocaust. Directed by John Michalczyk, a former Jesuit priest, the film look at some of the anti-Semitic doctrine found within Christianity and explores the influence these may have on Nazi policy. The film questions why there wasn’t more of an outcry from Christian leaders and neighbors while the Nazis persecuted the Jews. Through documentary film footage, photos and numerous interviews, the film also briefly retells Holocaust history. Interviews include Protestant, Catholic and Jewish scholars and clergy, as well as Holocaust survivors. Examples of Christians who protested Nazi policy and aided Jews, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Schindler, Wallenberg and Pastor Trochme and the Village of LeChambon, are highlighted. America’s stance and the position of the Vatican during the Holocaust are also discussed. Last, there’s brief mention of how the Vatican aided Nazi war criminals after the war. The film ends by describing ways the church has formally re-evaluated their traditional positions of anti-Semitism and developed more of a Christian-Jewish dialogue. Includes graphic footage. Note: This film offers a mixed view of Pius XII’s action – or inaction – during the war. It neither totally defends or condemns him. Rather than condemning the Pope for not taking a strong stand, the film shifts the blame to the collective guilt of Christian bystanders.

52 min.  AGE:  16 to Adult

JHVC

F

Crossfire  (1947)

Cro

Crossfire was the first major American film to deal with anti-Semitism. It appeared shortly after World War II, when many people believed sympathy for the Jewish people, after the Holocaust, had rendered the subject irrelevant. Crossfire stars Robert Young, Robert Ryan, and Robert Mitchum. It begins with the murder of a Jew, who is brutally beaten in a hotel room. The finger of suspicion points to a troubled young soldier and to another soldier who openly admits his bigotry. It's up to a detective with a strong moral conscience to solve the mystery. Utilizing flashbacks, cryptic dialogue, and menacing shadows, Crossfire's dark tone deals with a serious social issue in a compelling way.

B&W. 1 hr. 25 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

JHVC

F

Daniel  (1983)

Dan

Jewish activists in the Old Left became ready targets for the witch-hunts of the McCarthy era, and many of those accused as communists (rightly or wrongly) were Jews. Among the most famous casualties of the time were the Rosenbergs, executed as spies in a judgment that has long been the subject of controversy. Daniel fictionalizes the story of the Rosenbergs, intertwining it with the story of their grown children, who are haunted by the legacy of their parents. The daughter (Amanda Plummer) has taken the social activism of her parents to heart in a series of failed causes, while the son (Timothy Hutton) is driven to learn the truth behind his parents' death. A complex and challenging film, Daniel examines the importance of confronting the past, shows the political environment of both the Old and New Left, and quietly indicts American anti-Semitism.

2 hrs. 10 min. Rated R.  AGE: Adult

956

THE DHIMMIS: TO BE A JEW IN ARAB LANDS  (1975)

Dhi

Black and white film footage is used to depict the life of Jews in Arab countries. This film shows how Jews were evicted from their homes in Arab lands and how they fled to Eretz Yisrael, often with only the clothing on their backs. Traced here is the too-often-untold history of the centuries of persecution Jews survived while living in Arab lands. A total of 821,000 Jews were forced to flee Arab countries, with 590,000 arriving in Israel. It is interesting to note that under Omar the second caliph, Jews were confined to ghettos and forced to wear a yellow patch on their clothes.Through film footage, photos, maps and interviews, this documentary provides a country-by-country description of Jewish life as it existed in Arab lands. Note: This is a valuable vehicle for depicting the Jewish historical experience in Moslem civilization.

B&W. 29 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

305.8

THE EYE OF THE STORM  (1970)

Eye

Award-winning documentary of an experiment in prejudice conducted in 1968 in a third grade all-white classroom. Students were taught to discriminate against classmates based on eye color. One group was arbitrarily assigned privileges, while the other had rights restricted. The children’s behavior and abilities changed based on whether they felt superior or inferior. Study guide available. Note: Film is a bit dated, but still has value. It can be used with Holocaust units, or to discuss how prejudice and scapegoating can escalate, even among children.

25 min.  AGE: 9 to Adult

F

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF  (1971)

Gen

Tevye, a poor Jewish farmer in a small Ukrainian village at the turn of the century, must deal with his three marriageable daughters and fight to preserve his Jewish heritage against growing odds. This musical is based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem and stars Topol, Norma Crane and Molly Picon.

3 hrs.  AGE: 12 to Adult

956.94

THE FIFTY YEARS WAR: ISRAEL AND THE ARABS  (1999)

Fif

This documentary—created by PBS for the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel—attempts an even-handed study of the relationship and conflicts between Israelis and Arabs. The film opens with the 1947 decision of the U.N. to partition Palestine and includes numerous film clips as well as interviews with political and military leaders on both sides, as well as from the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. The first episode includes Israel’s struggle for statehood, the wars of 1948 and 1967, and the history of the Palestine Liberation Organization. The second episode covers the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1978 Camp David Accord, the 1987 Palestinian Intifada Uprising, and the Oslo Agreement in 1993—and reconciliation attempts which followed. Officials interviewed include Benjamin Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Shamir, King Hussein, Yasir Arafat, Hafez al-Assad (Syria), Jafaar Numeiry (Sudan), and Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush and Jimmy Carter.

2 cassettes. 2 hrs. 30 min. ea.  AGE: 12 to Adult

Drama based on Bernard Malamud’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel of a young Jewish handyman in turn of the century Czarist Russia who was falsely accused in the ritual murder of a Christian boy. The novel was loosely based on a true story, the Mendel Beilis case of 1911. Alan Bates stars as Yakov Bok, a poor but educated Jew who moves to Kiev looking for a job after his wife abandons him. Yakov poses as a gentile (as this is the time of pogroms) and works for a drunken, anti-Semitic merchant – eventually rising to the position of factory overseer/accountant. Yakov’s identity as a Jew is revealed after a village boy is brutally murdered. Yakov is innocent but he is thrown in jail and tortured to try to force a confession. A lawyer believes in his innocence and urges him to hold out as he looks for evidence. If Yakov confesses, all the Jews in the area could suffer consequences. Rated PG. Note: Includes torture scenes.

2 hrs. 12 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

F

FOCUS (2001)

Arthur Miller story set in early 1940s Brooklyn which examines themes of anti-Semitism, intolerance and the danger of being a bystander. Lawrence Newman (William H. Macy) is a very average sort of man, a meek ordinary businessman who lives with his mother and leads a quiet life. When the film opens, Macy witnesses the rape of a Puerto Rican woman outside his window but takes no action to help her – not even when a criminal investigator is looking for witnesses. Not long after, he becomes the victim as people mistake him for a Jew. Newman starts to wear a new pair of glasses that make him “look Jewish” and he becomes a target for discrimination among his neighbors and associates (Newman couldn’t see well before – both realistically and metaphorically). First, Newman loses the job he has held for 20 years in a publishing company. While searching for a new job, he meets, falls in love with and marries a woman (Laura Dern) who his neighbors think is Jewish. The two become ostracized and must decide whether to stand up to racism or try to fit in. Also starring David Paymer and Meat Loaf. Note: Based on Arthur Miller’s first novel, this work does not have the polish and power of some of his later pieces. William H. Macy is a fine actor, but it may be difficult for some viewers to believe that he would be mistaken for a Jew in this role. Rated PG-13 for thematic material, violence and some sexual content.

1 hr. 44 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

F

GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT  (1947)

Gen

A journalist is assigned to write a series of articles on anti-Semitism. Searching for an angle, he decides to pose as a Jew—and soon discovers what it is like to be a victim of religious intolerance. Adaptation of Laura Z. Hobson’s bestseller and winner of three Academy Awards. Stars Gregory Peck.

B&W. 2 hrs.  AGE: 12 to Adult

JHVC

F

The Great Dictator  (1940)

Gre

In 1940, America was ambivalent about intervening in the conflict in Europe. Despite reports of German mistreatment of Jews, many Americans still believed Hitler could be appeased. But as the isolationist streak prevailed within the U.S., Charlie Chaplin chose to speak out against Nazism in the best way he knew—through brilliant parody. In The Great Dictator, Chaplin plays both a humble Jewish barber and the egomaniacal dictator Adenoid Hynkel of Tomania. As the anti-Jewish climate worsens, the barber finds himself an unlikely hero to his compatriots, who have been resisting deportation to a concentration camp. When the barber is finally sent away, he escapes, and is mistaken for Hynkel. In the shoes of the mad leader, Chaplin ends his film with an impassioned plea for tolerance.

B&W. 2 hrs. 6 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

296.435

THE HANUKKAH SOLDIER  (1992)

Han

Set in southern Tennessee in 1862, this is a short play about racial intolerance and religious prejudice during the Civil War. A Jewish northern soldier is forbidden to light his menorah by a prejudiced sergeant. The company's black cook, a former slave, shows the soldier the importance of standing up for your beliefs.

23 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

F

THE HOLLOW BOY  (1989)

Hol

The story of the uneasy friendship of two young men—one Jewish and one the son of German immigrants—in 1936 New York City. Based on a short story by Hortense Calisher. Note: Excellent adaptation, originally aired on PBS, which can be used for discussions on anti-Semitism, pre-Holocaust, friendship and family life philosophies. It should be pointed out to students that the portrayal of the German family in this video is stereotypical—and this can be used as a springboard for discussions about stereotypes.

1 hr.  AGE: 11 to Adult

Hol

(DVD)

This DVD contains two feature documentaries by Pierre Rehov:  Holy Land: Christians in Peril and The Trojan Horse: Arafat’s Strategy to Destroy Israel. Both have independent full descriptions elsewhere in the catalog. Holy Land: Christians in Peril deals with the persecution of Christians in Israel by the Palestinian Muslims. The Trojan Horse shows Palestinian television footage of Arab leaders openly talking about their goal of taking over the entire land of Israel, as well as lauding suicide bombers and terrorists.

21 min. – Holy Land: Christians in Peril  AGE:  14 to Adult

40 min. – The Trojan Horse  AGE:  16 to Adult

F

I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU NOT (1996)

ILo

(DVD)

Uneven drama about Daisy (Claire Danes), a shy Jewish teen in a New York prep school, who develops a crush on Ethan (Jude Law), the most popular guy in school. Although Daisy is a quiet bookworm, a poem that she writes attracts Ethan’s attention. The two become a pair – much to the disgust of Ethan’s friends. Daisy has an extremely close relationship with her grandmother (Jeanne Moreau), a Holocaust survivor. They share secrets and innermost thoughts, and are inseparable – almost like best friends. Frequently, the grandmother tells Daisy bits about her experiences in the Holocaust, shown through flashback scenes. A repeated scene shows how the grandmother’s best friend rejected her because she was a Jew.

This theme of anti-Semitism is repeated when Daisy’s classmates learn she is a Jew (Daisy is blonde and no on suspected her of being Jewish). First, Daisy finds an anti-Semitic clipping on her locker and eventually, Ethan breaks up with her, telling her that she’s different and “too intense.” Daisy is overwrought with grief but by the end, viewers are led to believe that the love and strength shared with her grandmother will carry her through. Note: The film grapples with many important ideas but doesn’t seem to quite hold it together. A rating of PG-13 was given probably for some obscene language (Daisy has difficulty saying swear words and the grandmother tries to get her to say them aloud as a means to release her anger). Teachers should preview before using this in a classroom.

80 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

944

THE INFAMOUS DREYFUS AFFAIR  (1997)

Inf

From the History Channel’s In Search of History series, this program covers the historic case of Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish French army captain falsely accused of treason in 1895. Dreyfus was a loyal officer who fell victim to a corrupt army and the growing anti-Semitism in France. Accused of selling military secrets to the enemy, Dreyfus was publicly stripped of rank and sent to prison on Devil’s Island. Emile Zola wrote the famous article J’accuse in 1898 when new evidence of Dreyfus’ innocence appeared, exposing the government and defending Dreyfus. It was not until 1906 that Dreyfus’ name was finally cleared, and he was reinstated into the army and inducted into the French Legion of Honor. The film combines documentary footage with commentaries by several historians.

50 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

Set in a 1930’s Polish shtetl, this unique film follows two young friends during turbulent times. Abraham, a Jewish boy, is friends with Ivan, an older Christian boy who apprentices with Abraham’s family. Abraham’s grandfather, Nachman, manages the affairs of a prince who owns the land their village is built on. It is Nachman’s job to collect money from all of the tenants on the land, most of them Polish Christians. When the prince decides to sell his land, it is Nachman who feels the brunt of the peasants’ anger and blame. Anti-Semitism rises, and Nachman forbids his grandson to see Ivan anymore. As a reaction, Abraham and Ivan decide to run away. Abraham’s teenage sister, Rahel, also flees the town with Aaron, the young Jewish communist she loves. Together, the pair searches for the two boys. Filmed deliberately in black and white, the film recreates the world of the Polish shtetl and its inhabitants without romanticizing it. Viewers are drawn into this world from the past; populated by Jews, Polish peasants and occasional Gypsies. One can sense the shadow of the approaching Holocaust as tensions between the different ethnic groups grow.

1 hr. 45 min.  AGE:  17 to Adult

946.9

THE JEW  (1996)

Jew

A chilling tale of the Spanish Inquisition, this drama tells the true story of Antonio da Silva—a Portuguese Jew who converted to Catholicism and was accused of being a Marrano, a hidden Jew. Da Silva, a popular writer in 18th century Portugal, had been tortured by the Inquisition before converting. After becoming a devout Catholic, he is shocked when seized and imprisoned a second time. He must then decide whether to admit to being a Jew (as the authorities wish—even though he no longer practices Judaism) or submit to further torture under a decadent and corrupt monarchy—knowing each path leads to death. Note: Although a bit choppy and uneven, this film provides an authentic picture of the time period. Viewers experience the relentlessness of the Church in its mission to convert or destroy all Jews, and the terrifying atmosphere in which Jews had to live—many courageously practicing Jewish customs in secret, knowing how great the risk. Includes scenes of torture and brief nudity.

In Portuguese with subtitles. 1 hr. 25 min.  AGE: Adult

940.53

JEW-BOY LEVI (VIEHJUD LEVI) (1999)

German drama about Benjamin Levi, a German Jewish cattle dealer in 1935 whose world falls apart when the Nazis gain power in Germany. Levi trades cattle to small villages in the Black Forest area and is generally a well-liked and affable man. He is the only Jew in his village and is a gentle man who sings Yiddish songs to his rabbit. Levi loves Lisbeth, a farmer’s daughter (who also has a non-Jewish suitor). When a Nazi engineer arrives in the village to repair a tunnel, he begins to spout anti-Semitism. Viewers watch as the villagers slowly turn against their old friend, Levi, escalating into cruelty and violence. Contains violence. Note: This film is most effective for its non-compromising depiction of how fast an ordinary community of people can turn on their friends and neighbors once the seeds of hatred have been sown.

In German with subtitles.  1 hr. 30 min.  AGE:  14 to Adult

297.72

JIHAD FOR KIDS (n.d. – probably 1998)

Short trigger film which shows, using excerpts from the official Palestinian network, how young Palestinian children are indoctrinated to wage Jihad – a holy war – against Israel and the Jews. Included are a number of clips from a program that is the Palestinian equivalent of Sesame Street, produced by the Palestinian Ministry for Education. Viewers will see example after example of very young children chanting and singing songs of violence and hatred towards Israel - songs in which suicide bombers are their role models. Film clips are also shown of Arafat’s duplicity, contrasting what he says to the U.S. during peace talks and what he says on Palestinian television to his own people – lauding Jihad and making martyrs of Palestinians who have killed Israeli civilians. Footage is also shown of Palestinian rallies burning effigies of Israeli buses and towns. Note: The content in this film is upsetting and those showing it must preview and be prepared to handle subsequent discussions.  Opinion will vary as to what age this is suitable for – dependent on the teacher and the viewing population.

2 versions available.

11 min. AGE:  13 to Adult – see note above.

297.72

JIHAD FOR KIDS II (n.d. – probably 1998)

Slightly trimmed version of the original Jihad for Kids (see listing above), this one is about 2 minutes less in length and is a visually, somewhat clearer copy. This version does not include the brief section that deals with the bias found in Palestinian textbooks. It also deletes the section covering the training camps where children march with guns, proclaiming the importance of potentially giving up their lives for Jihad.

Approx. 8.5 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult