BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Area Jewish Community will once again celebrate the diversity of Israel's fast-growing film industry by presenting its fifth Annual Israeli Film and Food Festival, offering four award-winning Israeli films. The film festival provides a fun summer activity that gives people the chance to see the creative film work coming out of Israel while raising money for the synagogue in Brattleboro.
On Sunday, Aug. 21, Blood Relation and 2048 will be shown at the Mountain Park Cinema in West Dover starting at 1 p.m.
Blood Relation tells the story of a Jewish family's attempt at reconciliation when it discovers that a long-lost member is alive and living in in the Palestinian Territories. 2048 postulates Israel not existing in the year 2048.
On Saturday, Aug, 27, two documentaries by renowned Israeli filmmaker Micha Shagrir will have their New England premiere screenings at the New England Youth Theater in Brattleboro starting at 7 p.m.
Just Like the Queen of New England tells the story of David Bergman as he retraces his escape from the Nazis at age 11 in France, hiding with Christians, escaping over the border to Switzerland, and eventually landing in pre-state Israel and becoming a founding member of a kibbutz.
When Israel Went Out retraces the journey of Jewish Ethiopians who walked more than 120 miles though unforgiving desert to the still-hostile Sudan where secret IDF airlifts shuttled them to Israel.
At both venues, doors will open a half-hour before the films begin. Raffle tickets for interesting prizes from local merchants will be offered, and light fare of traditional Israeli and Middle-Eastern desserts and snacks will be served during the intermission.
The synagogue of the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, called Shir Heharim (Song of the Mountains) is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the largest Jewish movement in North America. While the synagogue building is located at 151 Greenleaf St. in Brattleboro, its members come from a wide surrounding circle - from West Dover to Chester to southwestern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts.
The congregation welcomes participation from second-home owners, snowbirds, skiers and summer visitors in the area.
Information about the festival and summaries of the films can be found at the congregation's website: www.bajcvermont.org. Ordered in advance, tickets are $18 for each day. Tickets purchased at the door are $25 (if there are seats available).
You can order tickets for either or both days by calling 802-257-1959. Checks made out to BAJC can be mailed to P.O. Box 2353, Brattleboro, VT 05303. Tickets will either be mailed when payment is received or held at the door.