F

AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED… (1999)

In Hebrew with subtitles.  60 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

F

THE BIG DIG (1969)

Israeli comedy by Ephraim Kishon which satirizes Israeli bureaucracy. The story focuses on a man who escapes from a lunatic asylum and steals a power drill from street workers. He takes the drill to the center of Allenby, one of Tel Aviv’s central streets, and starts to drill day and night. All around assume this is on official orders, including the Mayor and Department of Transportation. An entire crew comes in to dig up Allenby, each government department justifying it and looking frantically for the master plan from which the orders were generated. In a typically Israeli/Jewish comic twist, the sane and rational becomes “the lunatic” in this lighthearted hilarious comedy.

In Hebrew with subtitles.  1 hr. 29 min.  AGES:  14 to Adult

F

CROSSFIRE (1988)

Set in 1947-1948 Palestine, this drama is based on the true story of the romance between a beautiful young Israeli woman and the Arab man she falls in love with. Miriam works in her mother’s restaurant in Tel Aviv and meets George, a debonair Arab from Jaffa at a security check point. George learns where she works and pursues her – and their mutual attraction and compatibility lead them into a romantic relationship. Unfortunately for the two of them, Miriam’s brother is active in the Haganah and George’s friends want to rid Palestine of Jews. When the UN declares Israel a state, tensions and gunfire erupt, and the pair separate. Eventually, they decide to flee the country together but the Haganah and Lechi movements have been watching them (fearing Miriam is a traitor) and tragedy strikes.

In Hebrew with subtitles.  1 hr. 30 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

JHVC

F

Cup Final  (1992)

Cup

In June 1982, in response to repeated terrorist attacks on its citizens, the Israeli army invaded Lebanon. Cup Final takes place during the second week of that war, which just happens to coincide with the World Cup soccer tournament in Europe. Cohen is an Israeli soldier captured by a group of Palestinian fighters, led by Ziad. Though sworn enemies, the two share a love of soccer; both even root for the same team. During the course of several days, as Cohen is in turn terrorized and protected by his captors, this shared passion helps cut through barriers of ideology, nationalism, and bloody memories, creating an unlikely alliance between the men.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 47 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

Dri

(DVD)

Compilation highlighting the best in contemporary Israeli television.

The programs vary a great deal in tone and subject matter, encompassing a range of programming from talk shows to sitcoms to soap operas to cultural selections. Note: These programs are ideal for Ulpan classes or for showcasing the many aspects of Israeli society. Unfortunately, only 2 volumes of “Drishat Shalom” have been produced. Most programs are approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour in length. Programs are in Hebrew with subtitles available.

                        AGE:  Varies from program to program, but most for age 13 and up (due to subtitles).

                        VOLUME 1 - CONTENTS

                        GIDI GOV HOLECH LE’ECHOL – “GIDI GOV GOING TO EAT”

                        Cooking program in which Gidi Gov cooks Bulgarian and Turkish foods on Sdirot Yerushalayim.

30 min.

                        LAGA’AT BA’OSHER – “TOUCHING HAPPINESS”

                        A big hit on Israeli TV, this “telenovela” follows the story of a wealthy couple who hire a surrogate mother when they are unable to conceive a child.

40 min.

                        PGISHA LAY’IT – “NIGHTLY MEETING”

                        Yoel Dayan is interviewed in April, 2001 by Kobi Maidan. She discusses her father, Moshe Dayan, her political activism and her private life.

36 min.

                        SHEMESH

                        Episode from the longest running sitcom on Israeli television. In this episode, Shemesh, the main character, poses as a religious Jew to avoid his reserve duty in the army.

22 min.

                        TAVERNA

                        Singer/musician Yehuda Poliker is the special guest of host Shimon Parnas for an hour of music with a lightlight on Greek music.

1 hr. 4 min.

                        ZU ARTZAYNU – “THIS IS OUR COUNTRY”

                        A combination of comedy and political satire, this late-night Israeli TV show stars hosts Shai Goldshtein and Dror Raphael, who poke fun at a variety of topical situations in Israel. Note: The opening 3-minute segment about war approaching is particularly humorous and can be used with a class to illustrate humor particular to the Israeli situation.

23 min.

                        VOLUME 2 – CONTENTS

                        AT THE TAVERNA WITH PARNAS

                        Entertainment hour featuring singers Eli Luzon and David Da’or and comedian Yatzpan. Hosted by Shimon Parnas.

1 hr. 6 min.

                        DERECH HA’OCHEL – “THE WAY OF FOOD”

                        Chef/restauranteur Israel Aharoni examines his own Bucharan roots through music and cuisine in this ethnic cooking show segment.

35 min.

                        LITFOS ET HASHAMA’IM – “REACHING FOR HEAVEN”

                        Episode of an Israeli drama that examines the struggles a family encounters when one member decides to become Orthodox. In this segment, Roni tries to convince his wife, Nurit, to go to the onikveh.

26 min.

                        SHOTETUT – “WALKABOUT”

                        “Tongue-in-cheek” series that pokes fun at a Rishon Letzion community television channel. TV personalities Yigal Shilon and Meny Peer are guests in this humorous episode.

24 min.

UVDA – “FACT”

                        Strong documentary about the Duvdevan, the most elite and secret undercover unit of the IDF – covered by journalist Ilana Daya. Note: Contains thematic material unsuitable for children.

35 min.

                        ZINZANA – “BUTTERFLIES”

                        Filmed in Ayalon Prison, the largest jail in Israel, this series looks at the realities of “life behind bars.” The stories are based on real events. In this episode, the new warden is introduced to the inmates and guards.

53 min.  AGE:  Adult

JHVC

F

Fictitious Marriage  (1988)

Fic

In contemporary Israel, Arab and Jew often play familiar roles, each viewing the other through the prism of political and cultural stereotypes. But what happens when an Israeli breaks through these barriers and is mistaken for an Arab laborer? Eldad Natan is a quiet, responsible high school teacher from Jerusalem, a husband and father of two. As he sets out on a trip to New York, Eldad suffers a midlife crisis, which leads him to a small hotel in Tel Aviv. There he discards his previous identities as husband, father, Israeli, and Jew. Fictitious Marriage, a humorous and gently insightful film, explores the ironies of Israeli life and asks what finally defines us and binds us to one another.

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

Ephraim Kishon film is a comical satire about a socialistic government official in Israel. Amitz Dolniker was a loyal public servant for 36 years, working his way up into the system. When the film opens, Dolniker is doing what only he does best – giving a ridiculously long-winded speech (at a new road opening – while all the lined up drivers honk for him to conclude). Eventually, Dolniker collapses during one of his speeches. While in the ambulance, Mr. Dolniker dreams that he is being sent to a rural Israeli village so that he may recuperate. The village is on “Mt. Cumin” which is populated with rather simple, happy people – farmers who cultivate the spice “cumin.” The village has no heads or form of local government whatsoever. In enters Dolniker with his socialistic theories, creating havoc by appointing a dimwitted barber as “head” of the village and telling the inhabitants that they need officials and committees. Havoc reigns as a formerly peaceful place becomes corrupted with greed for power and position. Poor Dolniker totally believes he is doing “good” and serving his country – until he sees the disastrous results. When Dolniker awakes, he awakes with new realization about the dangerous affects of the words he preaches.

1 hr. 30 min.  AGE:  14 to Adult

Curr

THE HERITAGE: AN ETERNITY OF LOVE (1994)

F

Her

Winner of 3 Israeli Academy Awards, this captivating drama follows

Her separate love stories in two distinct time periods. The first story takes place in Toledo during the Spanish Inquisition. It focuses on the Abarbanels, a prominent Sephardic Jewish family. The Abarbanels are eventually imprisoned, with the rest of the city’s Jews, and some members of the community are tortured. The Abarbanel’s beautiful daughter falls in love with a Christian soldier in the prison, a man of mysterious identity (who is not who he seems to be). The film goes back and forth between this story and a contemporary romance.

The second romance is between a 1990’s Israeli whose name is also Abarbanel, and a woman he meets when he travels to Toledo. The modern Abarbanel travels to Toledo for a convention. While there, he searches for a house that may have belonged to his ancestors. The same pair of actors play the two couples in love in both time periods. Note: The primary focus of the film is on the story during the Spanish Inquisition. This story is well done and gives viewers a good sense of the situation of the Marranos. Transitions between the two stories are artfully done. The video is quite informative as well as entertaining, and suitable for school use (grades 8 and up) as it contains no explicit content.

In Hebrew with subtitles.  1 hr. 20 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

JHVC

F

Hill 24 Doesn't Answer  (1955)

Hil

Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer takes place during Israel's 1948 War of Independence. It focuses on the personal stories of soldiers—an Irishman, an American Jew, and a Sabra, who are assigned to defend a strategic hill outside of Jerusalem. Through their diverse stories, Israel's birth and struggle to survive is captured from a distinctly personal perspective. On the way to their last mission—the defense of Hill 24—the soldiers talk of their past battles and what influenced their Zionism. Through a series of flashbacks, the film reveals each soldier's story, until they converge at the hill. There, during a nighttime battle, the significance of their mission becomes apparent as their allegiance and bravery undergo trial by fire.

In Hebrew with subtitles. B&W. 1 hr. 41 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

HITCHHIKERS  (1998)

Hit

Drama which examines different viewpoints found in contemporary Israeli society. A middle-aged Israeli man picks up three hitchhikers on his way to Tel Aviv—an Orthodox soldier, a free-spirited young woman, and a male Israeli Arab. As the journey progresses, their personal lives unfold to shatter stereotypes. A powerful film which is sure to trigger discussions about modern Israeli society and how different segments of that society view each other. Note: Contains explicit language, making it unsuitable for use in classrooms of children. High school teachers should preview.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 47 min.  AGE: 16 to Adult

JHVC

F

THE House on Chelouche Street  (1973)

Hou

Set in Tel Aviv during the turbulent period at the end of the British Mandate, The House on Chelouche Street centers on a family that left a life of comfort in Alexandria to settle in Palestine. Klara, a beautiful young widow, cleans houses to earn a living and finds a job for her fifteen-year-old son, Sami, in a factory owned by her employer. Through Sami's eyes, we see the repression of the people under British rule, the prejudice of Ashkenazi Jews toward Sephardim, and a boy's struggles to make sense of the world around him and to make a better life for himself. His successes, losses, disappointments, and hopes are set against the simultaneous emergence of the State of Israel.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 51 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

I LOVE YOU, ROSA  (1972)

I Lo

Rosa is a young Sephardic widow, beautiful and proud, who lives in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem in 1887. Her husband died and left her alone, surrounded by hostile family members who blame her for his death. According to Jewish law, she is bound to marry her late husband’s brother when he is of age (the brother is 12 years old). Rosa takes care of the young boy in her home, as if he were her own son. The boy loves Rosa and is determined to marry her—against his mother’s wishes—when he comes of age. An unusual love story. Stars Michal Bat Adam. Note: Two brief scenes include nudity.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 30 min.  AGE: 18 to Adult

F

KAZABLAN  (1972)

Kaz

Popular Israeli musical known as the Israeli West Side Story. The film follows a Sephardic gang leader, Kazablan, from Morocco, who falls in love with Rachel—a beautiful, cultured Ashkenazic girl in 1960’s Jaffa. Both Rachel’s father and the community disapprove of the “mixed” dating between the two. Meanwhile, Yanosh, an older Ashkenazic man who is also in love with Rachel, is jealous and frames Kazablan as the thief who stole the village’s money. The community learns to look beyond cultural prejudices and to work together to save their village. The film includes lively, upbeat songs and over 1,000 dancers, actors and singers. Stars Yehoram Gaon and Efrat Lavie. Note: Includes one scene of “backside nudity.”

In Hebrew with subtitles. 2 hrs. 3 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

JHVC

F

Late Summer Blues  (1987)

Lat

The time: June 1970. The place: Tel Aviv, where a group of teenagers are about to graduate. The War of Attrition continues at the Suez. The youths' impending draft looms over them—they cannot conceive of a future beyond it. "There is a feeling," says the narrator of Late Summer Blues, "that this is our last summer vacation… the last summer that we're together." The film, which won first prize at the 1987 Jerusalem Film Festival, is a poignant evocation of universal themes of friendship, idealism, and the confusion of growing up. But it also is about the particular struggle of Israeli youth living under war's shadow to reconcile patriotism with their desire for personal fulfillment—and the deaths that haunt them just as they are ready to burst free.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 41 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

LONGING (Eysh Zarah)  (1998)

Lon

Michal and Oded are a secular Israeli couple who live in Tel Aviv. When Oded, a musician, departs for a 6-month concert tour in the U.S., Michal decides to take their daughter, Shir, and move into the devoutly religious Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim. Michal had first encountered this community when researching a book she was writing about Hasidim and was intrigued. She knew that her mother had been raised in a Hasidic family and became more secular after marriage. Michal finds herself on a personal quest for roots and spirituality. Immersed in this Traditionally religious environment, Michal finds herself more and more drawn to a Hasidic lifestyle. When her husband returns, he finds more than a few surprises. Michal must choose her future course, torn between her husband and a way of life she yearns for. Note: A powerful trigger film for discussion of the current rift between secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews in modern Israel. Much discussion can also be generated about the advantages/disadvantages of different types of Jewish lifestyles, and why it is sometimes so difficult for Jews from various backgrounds to understand each other. Highly recommended.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 50 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

MA’ALE COMPILATION: FIVE FILMS  (1998)

Maa

Consists of five short films produced at the Ma’ale School, an Orthodox film school in Jerusalem.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 49 min. total.  AGE: 14 to Adult

Fragments of a Dream. A futuristic drama which presents a religious Zionist family living on the West Bank who end up being evicted from their home by the Israeli Army. Note: Gives non‑Israelis a more personalized picture of the life of religious settlers in the West Bank.  (19 min.)

I Thee Wed. The filmmaker’s father became an Orthodox Jew after 30 years of marriage. Her mother did not become Orthodox, yet the two remained married. The film presents the alternate viewpoints of both parents and how the father’s lifestyle change has affected both of their lives.  (16 min.)

Ido. Award-winning film about 21-year-old Ido, who has left his rock band to become observant. The film includes interviews with Ido and his friends and family. It explores how he came about to make this major change in his life as well as how this transformation was viewed by those around him.  (28 min.)

Pintele Yid. Chaim comes to Israel from America to celebrate his grandson’s Bar Mitzvah. Chaim is an Orthodox Jew, an African-American who converted to Judaism (with his wife) and raised a Jewish family. His son made aliyah, married an Israeli woman, and they live with their children on a kibbutz. Chaim tells how he became Jewish, and his son describes the difficulties he faces as a Black Jew in Israel. A wonderful portrait of a very unique family, all gathered together for the Bar Mitzvah.  (20 min.)

Purim. Oded, a young Yeshiva student, meets Ruti, a non-observant young woman, and they begin to date. Oded is torn between his attraction to Ruti and his religious convictions. He has difficulty accepting the fact that Ruti follows her own path—Purim is a time of wearing disguises—and the surprise ending will leave viewers thinking. Note: Teachers may wish to discuss which is more important—following the “letter of the law” or the “spirit of the law.”  (26 min.)

F

MA’ALE COMPILATION TWO: THE BEST FICTION FILMS

Four short Jewish films from the Ma’ale School, an Orthodox film school in Jerusalem. Each film deals with modern Orthodox Jews in Israel and most include identity issues. The films can be used independently or the video may be viewed as a whole.

  In Hebrew with subtitles.  1 hr. 25 min. total.  AGE:  14 to Adult

EICHA

Story of Eicha, a modern Orthodox young woman in Israel who is having an identity struggle. Eicha is the oldest in a large family of settlers in Israel. She was named for Eicha, the Book of Lamentations, as she was born on Tisha B’Av (when the book is read). Eicha is tired of being identified and grouped as “right wing Orthodox” and longs for her own identity. As she turns 18, she struggles with the need to feel unique and independent, and she attempts to change her name to express that need, despite her mother forbidding her to do so. (21 min.)

NEWSPAPERS AND FLOWERS

Love story between Miki and Carmel – two young modern Orthodox Jews in Israel. Carmel was just rejected by a young man who felt that she was not religious enough for him because she folk danced and listened to non-religious music. Then Carmel meets Miki, another religious boy. This time, she pretends that she is not religious to test whether Miki cares more about who she is or more about his perception of her religious orientation. (26 min.)

HALEL

Story of Yael, a young Orthodox woman who is unable to become pregnant. Upset at the news of yet another negative pregnancy test, Yael drives the car and gets into an accident with the owner of a small bookstore. They share a love of poetry and become friends (an awkward situation as he is male and non-orthodox). (22 min.)

EVACUATION ORDER

Two soldiers, a man and a woman, are ordered to evacuate a settler living in a trailer on a mountain. In a surprise twist, each soldier discovers love in the area. The settler turns out to be a beautiful free-spirited woman and the plot takes an unexpected twist. (16 min.)

492.4

MASTER DREAMER  (1986)

Mas

A dramatized musical of Eliezer Ben-Yehudah's life and his dream of bringing Hebrew to Eretz Yisrael. The film shows how he changed Biblical Hebrew into the modern Hebrew language. Study guide available.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr.  AGE: 13 to Adult

F

MY MICHAEL  (1975)

My

Israeli classic film based on the book by Amos Oz. The story concerns two young people, Michael and Hanna, who meet, marry and have a child in the divided Jerusalem of the late 1950’s. As time passes, Hanna becomes increasingly unhappy in the marriage, and has passionate daydreams about Arabs she knew when she was young. Michael, a geologist, is a non-emotional man, whose life and routines run as precisely as a clock. As time passes, Hanna becomes increasingly dissatisfied, and longs for something greater in life. Stars Oded Kotler and Efrat Lavie. Note: A disturbing film. Viewers would benefit from prior background knowledge before viewing and may wish to compare the film with the novel. Includes brief scenes of nudity.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 35 min.  AGE:  Adult

F

NEWLAND  (1994)

New

Poignant drama about a young sister and brother who travel alone from war-ravaged Europe to the new land of Israel, hoping to find the mother they lost in a concentration camp. A powerful portrait of life in the refugee camps of early Israel, where survivors from many countries and backgrounds were thrown together to live under poor and crowded conditions. The film presents a stark and dark picture of life in a refugee camp which illustrates the physical and psychological effects the Holocaust had on its survivors. Note: There is a brief scene of a sexual encounter about 18 minutes into the film, as well as a brief scene with partial nudity. Also, portions of the film are extremely disturbing to view due to the nature of the subject matter. Adult groups may wish to first use The Long Way Home for a historical view of this period, and then follow up with Newland or The Summer of Aviya for a more personal perspective.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 47 min.  AGE: Adult

Noa

Complex drama involving the struggles of a seventeen-year-old girl as her family and peers debate over the ideology of the Kibbutz Movement. This follows the historical split in the Kibbutz Movement in the early 1950’s between classical Russian socialism and a more liberal socialism influenced by the West. Noa and her peer group mirror the debate of the adults. Noa must decide whether to finish high school or follow her youth movement friends to kibbutz—whether to conform or stand apart as an individual. A powerful film dealing with the rights of the individual as well as depicting ideological issues from Israeli history.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 26 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

956.94

OPERATION JONATHAN (Operation Thunderbolt)  (1977)

Ope

Israeli-made feature film about the hijacking of “Air France” passengers who were en route from Tel Aviv to Paris on June 27, 1976, and the amazing rescue of the captive passengers by a special commando unit of the Israeli Army. The plane was hijacked by Arab and German terrorists and taken to Entebbe, Uganda. The 103 Jewish and Israeli passengers (joined by the French crew) were separated from the others, who were then freed. The terrorists demanded the release of 43 Arabs held in Israeli prisons for the lives of their Jewish captives. Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Yigal Yadin and others who were involved in planning the Entebbe rescue appear in cameo roles. Starring Yehoram Gaon as Jonathan (Yoni) Netanyahu, the Israeli commander who was killed during this operation, and Gila Almagor. Note: This is without doubt the best of the Entebbe films—a gripping, straightforward dramatization without the “Hollywoodization.” Highly recommended.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 2 hrs. 4 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

JHVC

F

Over the Ocean  (1991)

Ove

Israel or North America? In this dramatic comedy, an Israeli family struggles with the question of where they belong—whether in the land they feel connected to or in a land of opportunity "over the ocean." The winner of nine Israeli academy awards including best picture, the film is told through the eyes of the ten-year-old son, who dreams of becoming a paratrooper. His teenage sister is romantically involved with a neighborhood bully, to the dismay of her parents, Menachem and Rosa, Holocaust survivors who want to create a safe, secure home for the family. Inspired by an old friend from their childhood in Europe, Menachem dreams of closing his modest shop and becoming a real estate tycoon in Canada. To Rosa, their roots in Israel are too strong to sever. A battle of wills ensues, culminating in a crucial decision about their future.

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

F

PASSOVER FEVER (1995)

Gila Almagor stars as Yona, the matriarch of a modern Israeli family who gather together to celebrate Passover. As is typical with many modern families, this family has its share of dysfunction. Yona suspects that Michael, her husband, is having an affair. Yona’s four children each have their own set of problems. Her oldest daughter is allergic to everything. One son is recently divorced and brings a new girlfriend to the Seder – problematic, as his ex-wife is there with their son. Another son comes in with his heavyset wife who doesn’t get along with his family, and the youngest son has an eating disorder. Add to this a group of grandchildren, and viewers will discover that families are the same across cultural boundaries – each with its own share of characters, heartaches and loving, wonderful moments. Note: Includes profanities.

In Hebrew with subtitles.  1 hr. 40 min.  AGE:  14 to Adult

F

PICK A CARD (Afula Express)  (1997)

Pic

Winner of six Israeli Academy Awards, this upbeat romantic comedy depicts a modern relationship between a likable and rather zaftig (substantially built) young couple. David and Batia are representative of ordinary young people who dream of a better life. The two have moved to Tel Aviv from Afula (not the most desirable Israeli city) in an attempt at upward mobility. David dreams of being a famous magician instead of the car mechanic he was in Afula—a trade he learned from his father. This becomes comically problematic, as he is totally devoid of talent in the magic department. Batia works as a checker in a grocery and dreams of getting married and having a family—instead of working in a mundane job to support her loafing boyfriend. Eventually, their dreams collide, and the film takes a few unexpected turns—forcing each to make choices grounded in reality. Note: Includes profanities and an explicit sexual scene.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 35 min.  AGE: Adult

F

THE POLICEMAN (1971)

Academy Award nominated film by Efraim Kishon about a kind hearted policeman, Azulai, who is incompetent at his job. The problem is that Azulai has been a police officer for 20 years and his profession is his entire world. Can Azulai perform an action to promote his rank to sergeant, or will the police force let him go due to his comic level of incompetence? Whatever happens, the audience will meet a man who will touch them with his goodness, sincerity and desire to achieve. A tour de force performance. Originally titled Azulai the Policeman.

In Hebrew with subtitles.  1 hr. 27 min.  AGE:  14 to Adult

JHVC

F

Sallah  (1964)

Sal

The years after independence brought to Israel hundreds of thousands of immigrants—realizing the dream of a return from exile and posing the huge practical challenge of resettling diverse groups of people in a new, struggling nation. Sallah is a hilarious satire of the experiences of one new immigrant who finds less than the promised land. Sallah arrives with his large family from an unnamed Middle Eastern country. Placed in a dilapidated transit camp for new immigrants, Sallah begins scheming to obtain permanent housing. But he is lazy, and his ideas lead him into a series of misadventures. The film presents a wickedly funny portrait of relations between Ashkenazim and Sephardim, new immigrants and the bureaucracy, kibbutzniks, native-born Israelis, and wealthy Americans. Topol stars as Sallah, described by Judith Crist as "warm of heart, shrewd of head, and rascally to the core."

In Hebrew with subtitles. B&W. 1 hr. 45 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

F

SHIV’A  (1996)

Shi

Surrealistic and mystical modern Israeli film. Gaby is a 25-year-old woman who works for a catering service specializing in cooking and giving advice to families during the seven days of mourning after a death. When a young cello player from the Israeli Philharmonic suddenly dies, Gaby is sent to work in his home during Shiv’a. The spirit of the deceased hovers over all who are present in the home, but Gaby is the only one who can see him and connect to him—unknown to the others. A fascinating glimpse into a contemporary Israeli family caught between modernity and tradition. Note: Contains partial nudity and some content that may not be suitable for young viewers.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 50 min.  AGE: 16 to Adult