ISRAEL AFFAIRS TIMELY TOPICS & TASTY TREATS: Lens on Israel: A Society through its Cinema

On May 7, at Senior Source in Riverside Mall, we welcomed back Dr. Eric Goldman, noted film historian, nationally-televised broadcaster, producer, director and author. Dr. Goldman writes and lectures extensively about the Jewish experience in film. His most recent book is “The American Jewish Story through Cinema,” and he is currently writing a book on Israeli society through the lens of film.

With the aid of video clips of a selection of Israeli movies (listed below), he provided us with context and insight into the changing nature and challenges facing Israel’s society and how this is reflected through its cinema. A discussion ensued of these and other Israeli movies, including A BORROWED IDENTITY 2015 about the complex interrelated identities of Jewish and Palestinian Israelis—two peoples divided by a shared culture —  that many of our audience had seen at our recent screening.

HILL 24 DOESN’T ANSWER 1955
Story of four Jewish volunteers who relate their life histories while defending an important hillin 1948 during the Israeli-Arab war.

SALAH 1964
Satirical story of new immigrants, starring Chaim Topol.

KAZABLAN 1973
An embittered gang leader seeks the respect of his neighbors and the love of a young woman.

GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANNE AMSALEM 2014
A woman appeals to her husband’s compassion to obtain the desirable divorce document in front of a court, which proves to be more challenging than she would expect.

THE WEDDING PLAN 2016
When her fiancé bows out on the eve of her wedding, Michal refuses to cancel the wedding arrangements.

Click here for a list of other Israeli movies that Dr. Goldman recommends.  Most are available at our local libraries or can be rented or purchased online.  He also suggested we watch his nationally-televised monthly series, “Jewish Cinematheque”, which can be seen on JBS, The Jewish Broadcasting Service. On this program, Dr. Goldman interviews filmmakers and film artists about their recently released films. Our thanks go to Dr. Goldman for another absorbing and memorable lecture.

Dr. Eric Goldman center with NCJW members L-R: Bari-Lynne Schwartz, co-VP of Advocacy; Ginny Wasserman, Chair of Timely Topics & Tasty Treats; Carole Benson, Chair of Israel Affairs; Marilynn Friedman, co-VP of Membership