THE JCA CULTURAL ARTS FESTIVAL By Beth Milograno Berry, Jewish Community Alliance
Excitement is in the air as we prepare for our Cultural Arts Festival! Featuring award-winning Jewish producers, authors, artists and films, November 1 will kick off a year-long celebration of the arts at the JCA! Without further delay, an exclusive look at the three Jewish-themed films that will be presented in the JCA auditorium throughout the festival. Kiss Me Kosher
A laugh-out-loud comedy about acceptance, love and family drama. After a string of ex-girlfriends, Shira found real love with Maria, a German
who uproots her life to live with Shira in Tel Aviv. As their families awkwardly overcome cultural and religious differences, Shira’s grandmother, who disapproves of the marriage, goes to great lengths to break up the couple. Join us on Thursday, November 4 at 7 pm as Shira and Maria learn that the road to happiness is a minefield with plenty of traps along the way. Neighbours
A look at the villagers living with the oppressive tyranny of the Syrian government in the seventies. In northeastern Syria, Sero and his uncle act as the Sabbath goy’im for their Jewish neighbors and their spinster daughter. With a growing state of antisemitism, the situation becomes precarious for the Jewish family when they are stripped of their Syrian citizenship and unable to leave the country. When Sero’s mother is
accidentally shot by a border guard, the Jewish family asks Sero’s father to help their daughter flee using his dead wife’s papers. Neighbours will play Sunday, November 7 at 3 pm.
Tiger Within Starring Ed Asner in one of his last performances, Tiger Within showcases the unlikely friendship between Sam, a Holocaust survivor and Casey, an angry 14-year-old runaway. On Wednesday, November 17 at 7 pm, join us for this inspiring film about the power of forgiveness and unconditional love. As the story unfolds, we learn how the relationship provides Casey support and guidance, as it offers Sam a glimpse of fatherhood. Visit jcajax.org/jcafest for more details about our festival events, which are free and open to the entire community, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful sponsors. Advanced registration is required, please call (904) 730-2100 ext. 228 or visit www.jcajax.org.
