Rutgers Jewish Film Festival Arrives in New Jersey November 7 through November 21

The Rutgers Jewish Film Festival’s 25th year is coming to New Jersey next month. The festival will feature fourteen thought-provoking and entertaining films, dynamic discussions with filmmakers and special guests, and numerous New Jersey premieres on dance, music, American Jewish history, and Israeli society. 

Twelve films will be screened at the Regal Cinema Commerce Center, North Brunswick (November 7–17), and five films will be available virtually (November 15–21). In-theater and virtual tickets are $15.

The full schedule is posted on the festival website. Among the films shown will be the 86 minute documentary The Catskills, on Sunday, November 10 and Tuesday, November 12 at the Regal Cinema. 

This charming documentary pays tribute to the summer resorts and bungalow colonies that became Jewish-American vacation destinations during the 20th century when hotels and resorts discriminated against Jews. Lovingly nicknamed the Borscht Belt, this film explores the Catskills not only as a hot spot for lavish meals and hilarious entertainment, but also as a refuge from social antisemitism.

Here's the trailer for The Catskills. If you can't get to the theater, the film will probably be shown at other Jewish Film Festivals around the USA next winter.

Enjoy!

16th Annual Rutgers Jewish Film Festival Opens October 28 With David Broza Musical Film

For the 16th year in a row, the Bildner Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, will be sponsoring a Jewish Film Festival. This year's program, running from October 28 through November 8, will feature 15 new films with a variety of Jewish themes.

We will be attending the opening night film, East Jerusalem West Jerusalem, starring Israeli singer/songwriter David Broza. In this film, Broza journeys to East Jerusalem to record his latest album with Israeli, Palestinian, and American musicians. Broza hopes that bridging cultures through music can be one small step toward peaceful coexistence. The film weaves together soulful music and personal conversations of hope in a time and a place where hope is most needed.

Other films shown at the festival will be Apples From the Desert, a film adaptation of an award-winning Israeli play, documentaries about the rise of Zionism, the lost wooden synagogues of Poland, and Julius Rosenwald, the philanthropist and top executive at Sears and Roebuck.

David Broza will appear on opening night which will have a question and answer session as well as Broza performing live music. Ticket information is available at the Rutgers website. Last year tickets sold out early for many of the films, so don't wait until the last minute if you plan to attend. 

Here's the trailer for East Jerusalem West Jerusalem, featuring Broza and Haitian musician and actor. Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)