A grief-stricken cantor in a crisis of faith finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher re-enters his life as his new adult Bat Mitzvah student. The two forlorn souls develop a special connection in this unorthodox comedy from Nathan Silver.
Narrated by Tony-and Academy Award-winner Joel Grey, this entertaining documentary mingles cultural history with illuminating perspectives on the origins and meanings of some of Broadway's most beloved songs, stories, and shows. With performances by Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara, Zero Mostel, Nathan Lane, Barbra Streisand, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, and many more!
A single, independent woman is caught in a romantic quandary when her grandmother hires a Jewish matchmaker to find her a husband.
A woman returns to the community that shunned her for her attraction to a childhood friend. Once back, their passions reignite as they explore the boundaries of faith and sexuality.
Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see The Greatest Show on Earth. Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.
Brisket! Blintzes! Bagels! Jewish families in America have been cooking up delicious dishes for centuries. But there's much more to this vibrant tradition than delis and diners. From the tang of Iraqi kubbeh soup, to the richness of Ethiopian red lentil stew, to the comfort of Eastern European blintzes, Jewish American food is as varied as it is tasty. Enjoy a feast for the senses and the soul as we embark on a historical, genealogical and culinary journey through the Jewish American diaspora. Direct from kitchens across America, we uncover the personal stories and the history behind the mouthwatering meals that we call home cooking in Family Recipe: Jewish American Style.
This musical, based on the stories of Shalom Aleichem, takes place in pre-revolutionary Russia and centers on the life of Tevye (Topol), a milkman who is trying to keep his family's traditions in place while marrying off his three older daughters. Yet, times are changing and the daughters want to make their own matches, breaking free of many of the constricting customs required of them by Judaism. In the background of these events, Russia is on the brink of revolution and Jews are feeling increasingly unwelcome in their villages.
A musical film that follows the early career of stage comedienne Fanny Brice.
Tells the story of the 550,000 Jewish Americans who fought in World War II. In their own words, veterans both famous and unknown bring their war experiences to life, how they fought for their nation and their people, struggled with anti-Semitism within their ranks, and emerged transformed.
"When her best friend and roommate abruptly moves out to get married, Susan (Melanie Mayron), trying to be an artist while making ends meet as a bar mitzvah photographer on Manhattan's Upper West Side, finds herself adrift in both life and love. A wonder of American independent cinema by Claudia Weill (who, when she was admitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a director in 1981, was one of only four women ever to have received that honor), Girlfriends is a remarkably authentic vision of female relationships that has become a touchstone for makers of an entire subgenre of films and television shows about young women trying to make it in the big city. This 1970s New York time capsule captures the complexities and contradictions of women's lives and relationships with wry humor and refreshing frankness"--Container.
On October 6th, 1973, under cover of darkness, on Israel's holiest day and during the month of Ramadan, the combined forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan begin a surprise attack on the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. Outnumbered and outgunned, Israel's only female Prime Minister, Golda Meir, confronts the immediate, clear, and present danger of a ticking timebomb that she hoped never to face. Surrounded, isolated, and frustrated by the infighting of her all-male cabinet, with little hope of rescue, one woman is in a race against time to save millions of lives on both sides of the conflict.
During World War II, a group of Jewish-American guerilla soldiers, led by Lt. Aldo Raine, become known as "The Basterds." They are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish woman who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers. A plot is set in motion to kill the Nazis at the theater's movie premier, including Adolph Hitler.
Chronicles the 350 year saga of immigrants who gradually wove themselves into the fabric of American life without abandoning their cherished traditions.
Narrated by Martha Teichner, the film follows the trajectory of Jewish American life from the earliest arrivals in the mid-17th century through the impact of the Nazi regime in World War II, the creation of Israel, and the new challenges of 21st century assimilation.. Explore the personal stories many faced as they migrated to America, whether for economic opportunity or to escape persecution.
This unique documentary is composed entirely of archival footage and photographs, accompanied by the voice of Stanley Kubrick. Taken from a series of rare interviews, the film provides an opportunity to understand the work of a master filmmaker, giving voice to one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema, as well as one of the most controversial and enigmatic.
Long before the iPhone, another inventive device allowed everyone to instantly chronicle their lives--the Polaroid camera. The product, and the company's unique culture, would launch not only instant photography mania, but also become the model for today's Silicon Valley tech culture. MR. POLAROID tells the little-known story of the man behind the camera, Edwin Land. From AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
Based on Philip Roth's acclaimed novel, this limited series brilliantly imagines an alternate American history during WWII. Told through the eyes of the Levins, a working-class Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey, the six-part limited series charts the political rise of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, a xenophobic populist who captures the presidency in 1940 and turns the nation toward fascism.
A look at the life and work of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The loving tribute to Gene Wilder celebrates his life and legacy as the comic genius behind an extraordinary string of film roles, from his first collaboration with Mel Brooks in The Producers to the enigmatic title role in the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to his inspired on-screen partnership with Richard Pryor in movies like Silver Streak. It is Illustrated by a bevy of touching and hilarious clips and outtakes, never-before-seen home movies, narration from Wilder₂s audiobook memoir, and interviews with a roster of brilliant friends and collaborators like Mel Brooks, Alan Alda, and Carol Kane. It shines a light on an essential performer, writer, director, and all-around mensch.
A near college graduate, Danielle, rushes to meet her neurotic parents at a shiva. Danielle's day takes an unexpected turn when she discovers her ex-girlfriend, her sugar daddy, his wife, and their crying baby are also in attendance. As the day unfolds, Danielle struggles to keep up different versions of herself, fend off pressures from her family and confront her insecurities without losing it.
Simon Schama presents this epic series exploring the extraordinary story of the Jewish experience from ancient times to the present day. Both deeply historical and utterly contemporary, this is a compelling film about distinctiveness and difference, separation and isolation, tolerance and prejudice. It is also a celebration of the ways in which Jewish thought, imagination, and achievement have transformed the world for us all.