Three-part documentary that uses personal stories to explore what it means to be Jewish in America. The video is structured so that individual teachers can use any portion separately or view the three as a whole. Note: The individual segments are ideal for classroom use in exploring themes of Jewish identity – the middle segment is a good choice for discussions about interdating. A study guide is available.

46 min.  AGE:  12 to Adult

The first segment focuses on Jewish identity and the summer camp experience. The setting is Camp Interlaken in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Jewish life at camp is profiled with numerous interviews with counselors, CITs (counselors-in-training), campers and the camp director. Scenes highlight teen campers celebrating Shabbat, singing Jewish songs and discussing values and the part Judaism plays in their lives. Campers and counselors also contrast their home Jewish experience with their Judaism at camp. Note: Milwaukee viewers may recognize familiar faces.

16 min. (with intro to film)

FAYE RUTH FISHER “I KNOW THIS PULL”

The second segment follows the personal story of a 23-year-old Jewish woman in Boston who feels torn between her Judaism and her love for a Catholic man. Faye Ruth has been dating John since their senior year in high school and never expected the relationship to become serious. Faye Ruth is also extremely close to her family. Her parents feel strongly about her marrying a Jew and her sister is engaged to a Jew. Faye Ruth’s parents and roommate express varying viewpoints on the situation. Viewers see Faye Ruth in a number of environments: her job (for a social action group), at shul, and with a Jewish group she’s involved with. The conclusion of this segment is open ended, with the viewer not knowing what Faye Ruth’s ultimate choice will be. Note: Her boyfriend is not part of this film, outside of a few photographs. The focus is on Faye Ruth’s dilemma and how she and those closest to her feel about it.

15 min.

The final segment focuses on Rachel, a Jewish woman in Baltimore, and her journey back into her Jewish faith. As a young person, Rachel was turned off by Judaism and dated non-Jews. Ultimately, she married a Jewish man, had children and she and her husband both started to re-explore their Judaism through shared Judaic classes. Slowly, they began to practice Jewish customs again. The video illustrates how Rachel and her family build a sukkah and celebrate Shabbat together. Both she and her husband describe the place Judaism holds in their lives.

15 min.

Television-made documentary which examines what it means to be a Jew in America in the 20^th century. Through vintage film footage, family photos and individual experiences, the film explores many different ways American Jews understand and practice their Judaism. A wide variety of Jews are interviewed and share their experiences as American Jews. These include entertainer Alan King; author Erija Jong; and singer, Marilyn Michaels. Current issues are addressed such as the challenges of assimilation and the changing role of women in Judaism. Above all, the film shows the great strength many Jews find in their Judaism today relative to family, Torah, a quest for truth and a shared history. This video was created as a companion piece to the film “A Laugh, A Tear, A Mitzvah” which focused more on the Jewish immigrant experience and how it has influenced American Judaism today.

1 hr. 30 min.  AGE:  12 to Adult

296

A CHANUKAH MITZVAH  (Alef...Bet...Blast-Off!  Episode 5)  (1995)

Ale

Part of a children’s video series in which puppets and real people illustrate how traditional Jewish values apply to modern life. In this episode the entire family is preparing for Chanukah—except David, who wishes he could celebrate Christmas. He plans to play Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the school play. Mitzvah Mouse takes David and Rachel back in time to meet Judah Maccabee (played by Don Diamont), who shows them the importance of fighting for your beliefs. The Chanukah song Maoz Tsur is sung, and the Hebrew letter j (Het) is introduced.

Approx. 30 min.  AGE: 4 to 8

296.442

THE DISCOVERY  (1988)

Dis

Produced by the Jewish Theological Seminary, this made-for-TV drama deals with the significance of Bar Mitzvah. Its story line centers on David, a Jewish boy (played by Josh Saviano) who doesn’t want to have a Bar Mitzvah. His Bar Mitzvah lessons interfere with baseball practice, and he is experiencing doubts about his Jewish identity. Conversations with his friends and family about Judaism convince him of the significance of Bar Mitzvah and the importance of Judaism in his life. Note: The film has a forced quality and is plagued with trying to cover too much in an hour. Numerous questions about basic Jewish beliefs and customs are addressed—which means the characters have constant unnatural conversations to explain reasons for Jewish beliefs. It even touches on the significance of the Holocaust. The video is accompanied by a lengthy study guide prepared by JTS which provides essays dealing with issues raised by the script—as well as a section of questions and answers on basic Jewish beliefs and customs. Teachers dealing with the subject of Bar Mitzvah should preview and may wish to use the video The Journey instead.

58 min.  AGE: 12 to 14

296.4

ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS  (1993)

End

The Jewish Theological Seminary produced this video which looks at many different aspects of the Jewish religion, arriving at a composite of what it means to be Jewish. The film begins with a focus on the different beginnings and endings in Judaism found in the holidays and Jewish life cycle. A wide variety of Jews are interviewed on Jewish subjects including: “Midrash,” “Covenant,” “What it Means to be a Jew,” “Exodus,” “Land,” “Law,” and “How Judaism has Survived.” Main interviewees include Emily Bilski, curator of the Jewish Museum, and Rabbi Neil Gillman of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Note: The film is loosely organized and skips quickly from topic to topic in a somewhat random fashion. Therefore, it is not recommended for classroom use, although it is suitable for individuals or for small group discussions.

1 hr.  AGE: 14 to Adult

296

FORMS OF JEWISH EXPRESSION  (1982)

For

A collage of images and general questions about identity begin this program which moves into a discussion of Jewish identity. "Is Judaism a culture, heritage, nationality or religion?" "Are they the same?" Many different Jews respond to the question, "What makes you Jewish?" Study guide available.

16 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

Created to instill Jewish pride, this film highlights some of the great achievements Jews have made in a wide variety of fields. The film is divided into five separate sections (listed below) showcasing a total of 425 Jewish achievers including diverse talents such as Albert Einstein, Sandy Koufax, Bob Dylan, Houdini and Levi Strauss. The sections can be shown independently or in groups, but it is not advised that the entire documentary be shown in one sitting. This lively and upbeat production utilizes two modern teenagers to narrate the documentary and provide brief commentary. Note: Great Jewish Achievers is ideal for classroom use or family education settings and may be used to stimulate further research into noteworthy Jews – or as a springboard for discussions on Jewish identity. Study guide available.

Part I:  Music, Art and Literature – 13 minutes.

Part II:  Stage, Screen and Television – 11 minutes.

Part III:  Business, Politics and Law – 9 minutes.

Part IV:  Great Jewish Athletes – 10 minutes.

Part V:  Inventions, Science and Medicine – 12 minutes.

56 min.  AGE:  11 to Adult

JHVC

296.833

In Her Own Time  (1985)

In

When Barbara Myerhoff, whose life as an anthropologist has been dedicated to the studies of community, learns that she is dying of lung cancer, she decides to document her own search for solace in the spiritual community of Jewish religious observance. Myerhoff engages in a journey through the pathways of Judaism while studying the life of an Orthodox community in Los Angeles. A secular academic accustomed to a life of individuality and independence, she nonetheless feels herself drawn to living in a way that is more intensely Jewish, more bound by rituals and traditions. Her quest for a place for her soul is the basis of In Her Own Time, as much about life as about dying.

50 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

909.04

INTO THE FUTURE (1945-Present)  (Heritage: Civilization and the Jews, Chapter IX)  (1984)

Her

Part of the “Heritage” series which chronicles over 3,000 years of Jewish history, thought, and culture. This chapter looks at the birth of the State of Israel; the plight of Soviet Jewry; relations between the Jews of Israel and those in other parts of the world; the meaning of Jewish identity today. Topics covered include “Israel,” “Oppressed Jewry” and “In the Western World.” Study guide available.

1 hr.  AGE: 12 to Adult

910.03

ISRAEL AND THE DIASPORA: ARE WE ONE PEOPLE?

Isr

A challenging, controversial trigger film which forces Israeli and Diaspora Jews to ask themselves, "What do we have in common?" "Are we one people, or are we moving in two very different directions, creating radically different cultures and mentalities?" Produced by the AZYF Education Department and The Melitz Centers for Jewish Zionist Education.

20 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

915.694

THE JEWISHNESS OF THE JEWISH STATE  (1982)

Jew

This trigger film—which is best seen as a follow-up to Forms of Jewish Expression, but which can also stand as an independent unit—focuses on the Jewish identity of the state/society of Israel. It challenges the viewer to clarify his/her own perception of contemporary Israel in the context of the historical dreams and visions of the return to Zion. Produced by The Melitz Centers for Jewish Zionist Education. Study guide available.

20 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

296.442

THE JOURNEY  (1989)

Wur

A 13-year-old Russian boy and an American Jewish engineer meet in Leningrad during World War II and form a relationship that changes both their lives. The engineer, Jewishly ignorant, accepts the task of teaching the boy the meaning of Bar Mitzvah and Judaism. Contrasts Soviet and American Jewry, as well as explores the relationship between Jewish education and identity. Study guide available.

34 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

Beautifully filmed production about Chaja, a modern young Jewish women in 1970s Belgium who takes a job as a nanny for a Hasidic family, the Kalmans. Chaja is a rebellious philosophy student who has a strained relationship with her parents, both Holocaust survivors. Her mother tends to nag and push food while her father is constantly digging holes in the ground, searching for the luggage he buried with family photos and heirlooms during the Holocaust. When she begins working for the Kalmans, Chaja has a rather negative attitude towards Judaism which changes as she learns to respect aspects of their way of life. Chaja also forms an attachment to the Kalman’s youngest son – a boy who doesn’t speak. Through her experiences and involvement with the Kalman family, Chaja grows as an individual and is first able to have more of an understanding and appreciation of her parents. A sensitive and moving film with a wonderful performance by Isabella Rosellini as Mrs. Kalman. Also stars Maximilian Schell, Laura Fraser, Topol and Jeroen Krabbe (who also directs).

1 hr. 40 min.  AGE:  12 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

Three parts of a compilation of five short films produced at the Ma’ale School, an Orthodox film school in Jerusalem.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 10 min. total.  AGE: 14 to Adult

I Thee Wed. In this film, 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. This award-winning film is 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.)

Purim. In this film, 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.)

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.)

309.1

REFLECTIONS

Ref

Highlights issues of Jewish identity and Israel-Diaspora relations. A young American Jew confronts his Israeli counterpart in the mirror, and they touch on the differences between Israeli and American Jewishness, including Jewish life in the Diaspora.

14 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

Controversial, high-charged drama which takes a harsh look at women’s roles in Hasidic Jewish society. Renee Zellweger plays Sonia, a high spirited young Hasidic woman in Brooklyn who is deeply frustrated by her role as wife and mother and longs for something more from life. When her husband’s brother, Sender, offers her a job in his jewelry business, Sonia jumps at the change to escape the monotony of her life. As her parents were gemologists, Sonia has an extensive knowledge of the diamond industry and does well in business. Sonia’s husband (a flat character) is a Torah scholar who exalts his studies, Torah and devotion to the Rebbe above anything else (including Sonia). His brother, Sender, on the other hand, is unscrupulous, cynical and dishonest. He takes advantage of Sonia’s need and emotional instability and actually rapes her (and maintains a sexual relationship). Later in the film, Sonia discovers a Puerto Rican jewelry maker who makes exquisite and artistic pieces. Her relationship with him causes her to eventually be excommunicated from her society – and from her child. Note: Zellweger gives a passionate and intense performance as Sonia. The filmmaker, Boaz Yakin, gives a biased and two-dimensional portrait of Hasidic society. The men are self-centered and the women are oppressed and not viewed as individuals by the men. Viewers should know that this is far from an objective portrayal of Hasidic Jews – and evaluate it accordingly. A highly discussable film. Rated R. Contains partial nudity and mature subject matter.

2 hrs. 56 min.  AGE:  17 to Adult

JHVC

917.3

Return Trips  (1991)

Ret

In embracing the freedom and opportunity of their new homeland, many Jewish immigrants abandoned, distorted, or watered down their spiritual heritage. To many of their children and grandchildren, Judaism held no particular interest. Against all odds, however, a remarkable resurgence of Jewish identity began in the late 1960’s. Using archival material, music, and memories, Return Trips chronicles both the Americanization of early Jewish immigrants and the "return" of a generation formed by the counterculture movement. It charts the scope of revitalization through visits to Jewish communities in a number of American cities and interviews with leaders of the chavura, Jewish renewal, and Orthodox return movements. The filmmakers share their personal stories—from their families' eager assimilation to their own halting steps back: curiosity leading to discovery and study, then to tentative practice and, finally, commitment.

1 hr.  AGE: 12 to Adult

Unusual and touching drama about a young boy, Steven Lidz, with a most unusual family. Steven’s father (John Turturro) is a scientist and an inventor who has two extremely eccentric (and possibly crazy) uncles played by Michael Richards and Maury Chaykin. When Steven learns that his mother (Andie MacDowell) is dying from cancer, he chooses to live with these two unconventional uncles. Although the uncles may seem crazy to many, they are warm, loving and creative (one uncle is paranoid and thinks Nazis are spying on him all the time). The uncles’ apartment is stacked to the ceiling with old newspapers and their closet is filled with balls. Immediately, Steven’s uncles set about trying to improve his self image. They begin to call him “Franz” instead of Steven to give him a name of more distinction (like the composer, Franz Liszt). They teach him to be a proud individual, not to be afraid to speak his mind. The uncles also teach Steven a respect for his Jewish background – something of which his atheistic father disapproves. When disaster strikes – in more than one way – this very odd family illustrates what really being a family is all about. Directed by Diane Keaton, Rated PG.

1 hr. 33 min.  AGE:  12 to Adult

296

YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE  (Alef...Bet...Blast-Off!  Episode 1)  (1995)

Ale

Part of a children’s video series in which puppets and real people illustrate how traditional Jewish values apply to modern life. This video deals with Jewish identity and taking pride in one’s Jewish heritage. David is troubled about how his Judaism makes him different from his friends. He and Rachel meet Mitzvah Mouse, who takes them back in time to meet Abraham, the first Jew (played by Elliott Gould). David learns to take pride in being Jewish. The song Am Yisrael Chai is sung, the Hebrew letter t (Alef) is introduced, and kids are interviewed, answering the question, “What do you like about being Jewish?”

Approx. 30 min.  AGE: 4 to 8

CHOSEN, THE

CROSSING DELANCEY

DRIVING MISS DAISY

HESTER STREET

HOMICIDE

JAZZ SINGER, THE  (1927, 1952, 1980)

LEON THE PIG FARMER

MISS ROSE WHITE

OUTSIDE CHANCE OF MAXIMILIAN GLICK, THE

QUARREL, THE

SCHOOL TIES

Identity

Intermarriage & Interdating

Jewish-Black Relations

Jewish-Christian Relations

Life Cycle

Religion