Jewish Film Festival 2021 Featured Films - Temple Beth Torah, Ventura

FESTIVAL FEATURE FILMS
APRIL 4-25, 2021

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit –Based on Judith Kerr’s auto-biographical novel, this lovely film is suitable for ages ten and up. Cliff Wilcox and Gary Feldman will be joined by special guest, Judith Iklé whose mother, Doris Eisemann Iklé’s story as a young refugee from Nazi German parallels events portrayed in the film. 2019, German with subtitles. 119 minutes

Viewing window: April 4-6; Conversation, 7 PM, April 6th.

A Cantor’s Head –Special Guest, Cantor Jack Mendelson on Saturday, April 10, at 4 PM. Gifted and charismatic, Cantor Mendelson is the subject of this inciteful film about cantorial music and Temple politics in a changing. We are thrilled to be hosting Cantor Mendelson’s guest appearance and can’t think of a better way to spend a Shabbat afternoon. 2020, 86 minutes.

Viewing Window: April 8-10; Discussion featuring Cantor Jack Mendelson, 4 PM, April 10th

THE OTHER STORY – Award winning writer-director, Avi Nesher, in this entertaining drama, skillfully balances characters and storylines, to explore different kinds of Israelis and their varied connections to Jewish life, culture, and practice. 2018. 1:52 hr, Hebrew w/English subtitles

Viewing Window April 11-13; Discussion Guest Rabbi Mike Lotker, April 13, 7 p.m.

Mossad – This hilarious spoof pairs an operative of the Israeli Mossad with a CIA agent in an action laugh-out-loud movie guaranteed to entertain you and your bored teenagers. Cliff Wilcox and Gary Feldman will lead the conversation and will invite your participation, 2019, 95 min, English/Hebrew

Viewing Window: April 15-17; Discussion 7 PM, April 17th.

Broken Mirrors – Shira Haas (UnOrthodox and Shtisel) won the Ophir award for her role in Broken Mirrors, a searing 2018 Israeli drama about a seventeen-year-old who unwittingly uncovers a secret in her strict, military father’s past. . 104 minutes 2020 Hebrew/English subtitles.

Viewing Window: April 17-19; Conversation led by Cliff and Gary, 7 PM, April 19th

Shared Legacies: The African American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance – A valuable reminder the of the cooperation and friendship between the Jewish and African-American communities during the Civil Rights Movement in this well-researched documentary which was released in February 2020. Special guests, URJ speaker, Chris Harrison and Reverend Benjamin Thomas of the AME church in Oxnard join Rabbi Lisa to discuss the film and contemporary issues surrounding the shared experiences of the Black and Jewish communities in our county and country. 97 minutes.

Viewing Window: April 20-22; Discussion Guests Mr. Chris Harrison, Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller, and Rev. Benjamin Thomas, Jr., April 22, 4:00 – 5:30 PM

Here is An Appreciation of an American Troublemaker by Rabbi Abraham Copper which appeared in the Jewish Journal

Here are detailed instructions for accessing the film through the Zoom Link.

Those Who Remained – A beautiful story of the healing power of love even in the midst of conflict and searing loss suffered by Holocaust survivors. The uplifting film is seen through the eyes of a young girl in post-World War II Hungary. Dr. Ron Bale, respected psychologist and Temple member, will be our special guest to lead us in a discussion of the film and the issues raised by the film. 2019 1:28 hr Hungarian w/English subtitles

Viewing Window: April 23-25; Discussion Guest Ron Bale, April 25, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.