AMERICA’S SYNAGOGUE: A VIDEO PORTRAIT OF TOURO SYNAGOGUE, 

Brief documentary which both gives a tour and tells the history of Touro Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the United States. Dedicated in 1763, this synagogue was established by Sephardic Jews who originated from Spain and Portugal. Rhode Island offered Jews religious freedom, evident in the famous letter written by George Washington to the Jewish community there in 1790 (and read aloud in the film). The film discusses the architecture and fixtures in the synagogue, and tells how Touro was designated a National Historic Site in 1946. Today, Touro’s synagogue remains “a proud symbol of the endurance of the Jews in the face of persecution and of the precious principles of religious freedom that they enjoyed and helped to strengthen here in America.”

12 min.  AGE:  10 to Adult

940.53

THE CROSS AND THE STAR (1994)

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

909.04

FLIEGEL'S FLIGHT  (1988)

Fli

Join Fliegel, the animated bird, on a magical tour through 4,000 years of Jewish history from Abraham through contemporary Israel. Includes photographs and film clips. Study guide available. Note: As comprehensive Jewish history cannot be covered in 28 minutes, the treatment is mainly an overview.

28 min.  AGE: 9 to 13

909.04

FROM CAMBRIDGE TO CAIRO  (1967)

Fro

From the series Eternal Light, this program looks at the discovery of the over 1,000 manuscript fragments found in the Cairo Genizah—brought to light by Solomon Schechter. A Genizah is a storage place Jews have traditionally used to place written materials they no longer need which contain God’s name. Jewish law forbids destroying writings containing the name of God. In 11th and 12th century Cairo, Jews took this to an extreme and didn’t destroy anything for fear it may refer—even in an indirect way—to God. After Schechter was shown a few Hebrew manuscript fragments collected by two ladies in the 1890’s, he traveled to Cairo himself. He traced the fragments to the Ben Ezra Synagogue, whose Genizah contained Hebrew writings from the 11th and 12th centuries. The Jewish community in Egypt was flourishing in this time period, and the study of their writings has enlightened historians about this civilization. Note: Presentation is rather dry and dated and will be of most interest to aficionados of Jewish history and antiquities.

58 min.  AGE: Adult

940.1

JEWISH COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDDLE AGES  (1994)

Jew

This video contains three short films produced in 1990 by Beth Hatefutsoth, the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora in Tel Aviv. The first segment is about the Babylonian Jewish community, for Babylonia became an important spiritual center for Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple. The second covers Spanish Jewry, including important personalities and cultures from the Golden Age of Spain. The third segment looks at the Jews of Ashkenaz, including cities such as Speyer, Worms, Mainz and Paris. The video examines the rise and fall of each of these great centers of Jewish learning. Note: Presentation is rather dry. Teachers should preview prior to classroom use.

30 min. (Three 10 min. segments.)  AGE: 13 to Adult

940.1

JEWISH LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES  (1993)

Jew

Designed by Behrman House as a video mini-course, this film depicts what it was like to be Jewish in medieval times (500 C.E. to 1450 C.E.). It introduces the accomplishments of Jews through their participation in the life of the general community, and it compares Jewish community life with life in Europe at the time. Covers the Crusades and anti-Jewish laws. Study guide available.

14 min.  AGE: 11 to Adult

The aim of this documentary is to discover what happened to the Lost Tribes of Israel – a question that has plagued biblical scholars throughout history. The tribes in question are the ten Jewish tribes that disappeared when the Assyrians conquered the Israelites approximately 2,700 years ago. Some Orthodox Jews believe that reappearance of these tribes could signify the coming of the Messiah. Some Christians believe that finding the tribes could usher in the second coming of Jesus. The film explores the validity of the existence of these lost tribes and looks at the B’nai Yisrael group of 5,000 in Israel.

1 hr. 40 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

Genealogy

General Jewish History