One hundred and fifty years of Jewish history and culture come to life in this joyous exploration of the famous tune that represents both Jewish kitsch and continuity, “Hava Nagila.” Grossman traces the roots of the song from its Eastern European Hasidic melody, through its journey to the kibbutzim of Palestine and the song’s enormous popularity in America. Through lively film clips and interviews featuring such diverse personalities as Regina Spektor, Connie Francis, Harry Belafonte, Larry David, Mary Tyler Moore, Mel Brooks, Julie Andrews, Danny Kaye, Roberta Peters, Bob Dylan, and more, HAVA NAGILA offers a spirited and intelligent look at the shaping of postwar American Jewish identity. (75 mins.)
FOLLOWED BY
CARRYING THE LIGHT
UK, 2012
DIRECTOR: GUY NATANEL
A London rabbi makes a spiritual journey on foot from the Frankfurt Synagogue in Germany, where his father was the rabbi before the Holocaust, back to London so the eternal light of one sacred place can light another. (56 mins.)
Sponsored by Oregon Jewish Museum and Portland Chapter of Hadassah.
HAVA NAGILA and CARRYING THE LIGHT are being presented as part of the 21st Portland Jewish Film Festival on Wednesday, June 19 at 7p.m. in our Whitsell Auditorium (located in the Portland Art Museum).
Special thanks to our Festival sponsors: Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation; BedMart; Cedar Sinai Park; Portland Chapter of Hadassah; Hasson Realty; the Holzman Foundation; Honest Tea; the Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest, San Francisco; Jerry Eckstein, CPA; Jewish Federation of Greater Portland; Paul and Joan Sher; J Street Portland; Mittleman Jewish Community Center; Oregon Israel Business Alliance; Oregon Jewish Museum; Oregon Israel Community Foundation; Portland Jewish Academy; Diane Solomon Family Fund; Wieden+Kennedy; and Ruben J. and Elizabeth Menashe.
Advanced tickets are available for purchase here.
Festival passes available here.
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