Haven: Issue 1 (March – May 2021)

ISSUE 01

MARCH-MAY 2021

Haven The GPJFF quarterly resource for upcoming news!

In This Issue

Lindy CineMondays Announced GPJFF New Young Friends Sponsorship March Women's Day Event

Who is Jews In All Hues?

Lindy CineMondays Virtual Film Festival Coming April 2021 The Gershman Philadephia Jewish Film Festival (GPJFF)

Filmmaker Spotlight: Rachel Harrison-Gordon

announces its first virtual Lindy CineMondays, beginning April 5th. The CineMondays spring series has a long-time reputation for showcasing the world’s best Jewish stories through cinema. Every Monday night from April 5th-May 10th, you can enjoy the festival in the comfort of your own

The Haven, GPJFF p. 215-545-4400 e. info@pjff.org a. 1613 Walnut Street, 2nd Floor

homes!

While GPJFF just completed its first Virtual Fall Fest and New Media Day, one can only wonder ...

Philadelphia, PA 19103 w. PJFF.org

cont'd p.3 01

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The Young Friends Sponsorship will bring young adults together to influence the Jewish film narrative while seeking to elevate young voices by creating a sense of community.

GPJFF encourages young adults to share their experiences as they navigate their Jewish culture and how film and media can help them connect and maintain their understandings. Knowing that history is constant and always happening, each member can truly learn and create history together.

GPJFF New Young Friends Sponsorship Becoming a Young Friend with the Gershman Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival truly has its perks, but the proof is in the pudding. Those ages 21-39 will enjoy

With this sponsorship, GPJFF hopes to bring in more young professionals and hold events relevant to younger generations.

Visit PJFF.org to learn more and become a Young Friend Sponsor and be a part of an influential growing community.

Get involved today!

discounts, special events and so much more as GPJFF celebrates 40 years of meaningful cinema! Joining means connecting with young professionals, movie lovers, and creatives to create lasting relationships.

"The programming for the entire festival is always interesting, featuring an eclectic assortment of films around the world relating to the Jewish experience."

-Ryan Silberstein, MovieJawn

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Lindy CineMondays Virtual Film Festival Coming April 2021 ...how they plan to outdo themselves this time around.

Celebrating its seventh annual spring series, GPJFF will be bringing you fantastic new films and additional content through its very own online channel. If you haven't experienced the new virtual platform, you will find it to be an easy experience.

This season, GPJFF turns up the heat Opening Night with Love It Was Not! Although we won't be together, that won't stop the show. This season's experience is no different from any other and you can still expect some goodies. As GPJFF continues to celebrate its 40th season, Sponsors will receive a special gift delivered right to their doors.

If you want to support an organization you love that gives back, become a GPJFF Sponsor today! Visit PJFF.org or email info@pjff.org for more information.

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Photo Credit:Tori Avey Photo Credit: David Lebovitz

Photo Credit:Smitten Kitchen

Caramel Matzoh Crunch Recipe From: Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking By: Marcy Goldman

Ingredients 4-6 unsalted matzohs 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter or unsalted Passover margarine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3/4 cup coarsely chopped chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate

Variation: You can also use coarsely chopped white chocolate (or a combination of white and dark) and chopped or slivered toasted almonds (sprinkled on top as the chocolate sets).

You can also omit the chocolate for a caramel-alone buttercrunch.

Prep Time: 5-10 MINS Cook Time: 10-20 MINS Total Time: 15-30 MINS

Great Passover Recipe!

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Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a large (or two smaller) cookie sheet completely with foil. Cover the bottom of the sheet with baking parchment — on top of the foil. This is very important since the mixture becomes sticky during baking.

2. Line the bottom of the cookie sheet evenly with the matzohs, cutting extra pieces, as required, to fit any spaces.

3. In a 3-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the butter or margarine and the brown sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil (about 2 to 4 minutes). Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and pour over the matzoh, covering completely.

4. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil and stir until sauce is thick and shiny, about 2 minutes. Set aside 1/3 cup strawberry sauce; cool. Cover and refrigerate the remaining sauce for serving.

5. Place the baking sheet in the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 350°. Bake for 15 minutes, checking every few minutes to make sure the mixture is not burning (if it seems to be browning too quickly, remove the pan from the oven, lower the heat to 325°, and replace the pan).

6. Remove from the oven and sprinkle immediately with the chopped chocolate or chips. Let stand for 5 minutes, then spread the melted chocolate over the matzoh.

While still warm, break into squares or odd shapes.

Chill, still in the pan, in the freezer until set.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

March 2021 MONDAY | March 8 at 7 pm The Secret History of Women In History A Century of Jewish Pioneers Onscreen and Behind the Scenes. A FREE International Women’s Day Event!

REGISTER ON ZOOM

MONDAY | March 22 at 7 pm Philly D.A. A Special FREE Indie Lens PopUp Screening. PHILLY D.A. Episode 1 + LIVE Discussion w/ Philly D.A. Larry Krasner himself, Co-Director Yoni Brook & More!

RSVP ON OVEE

April 2021

May 2021

MONDAY | April 5 at 7 pm Love It Was Not $15

MONDAY | May 3 at 7 pm If You See My Mother $15

Directed by Maya Sarfaty Documentary Feature | Israel/Austria| 2020 | 86 min Hebrew and German w/ English subtitles

Directed by Nathanaël Guedj Narrative Feature France | 2019 | 90 min French with English subtitles

MONDAY | April 12 at 7 pm Here We Are $15

MONDAY | May 10 at 7 pm Mish Mish $15

Directed by Tal Michael Directed by Nir Bergman Documentary Feature Narrative Feature | Israel/Italy 2020 Israel/France | 2019 | 73 min | 94 min English, Hebrew and French with Hebrew w/ English subtitle English subtitles

MONDAY | April 19 at 7 pm Shtetlers $15 Directed by Katya Ustinova Documentary Feature Russia| 2020 | 80 min English, Russian, Ukrainian, and Yiddish with English subtitles

ALL Lindy CineMondays films will be shown on the CineSend Platform at watch.PJFF.org.

MONDAY | April 26 at 7 pm Outremont and the Hasidim $15 Directed by Eric Scott Documentary Feature Canada | 2019 | 52 min English, French, and Yiddish with English subtitles

Be sure to visit PJFF.org for more information on upcoming events and to purchase tickets. See you at the virtual movies!

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ISSUE 01

DID YOU KNOW?

MARCH-MAY 2021

In 1875, the Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA) was established in Philadelphia in response to the critical need to create a Jewish community center that represented a haven and resource for Jewish immigrants.

This was the very beginnings of what is now GPJFF! cultural and artistic innovators, so many of them have been Jewish women, yet too many have been forgotten over time.

In her beautifully illustrated book Renegade Women In Film &TV, film critic Elizabeth Weitzman reveals the accomplishments of groundbreakers who have graced the big and small screens, worked behind the scenes and opened doors we are still walking through today.

Join us as Elizabeth shares unknown stories and ultrarare clips from the last century of pioneering Jewish women in Hollywood. And yes, there will be Yentl!

Join us for a ONE-NIGHT ONLY, FREE webinar on the history of Jewish women in Hollywood with Elizabeth on International Women's Day, Monday, March 8 at 7 pm. Sound too good to be true? Don't worry, you can leave a donation if you wish!

If you're looking for a great night in, then look no further. GPJFF has got you covered! We hope to see you there!

Visit PJFF.org for more information on the GPJFF Women's Day Event.

GPJFF's Women's Day Celebration March 8th!

How much do you really know about essential Hollywood trailblazers like Elaine May, Nora Ephron, and Barbra Streisand? What about Alla Nazimova, Irna Phillips, and Hedy Lamar? Among a century of 06

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staff feels this will be a great tool for the community to stay in touch with GPJFF and reference when making plans to enjoy the festival. COVID hit hard just one year ago and in that time, GPJFF was able to curate events for the community to enjoy. One year later, Haven is born.

HAVEN releases its FIRST issue

Haven, the Gershman Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival's ALL-NEW newsletter, releases its very first issue. Haven will include insights into the organization, upcoming events, fun facts, spotlight filmmakers and even trivia!

The organization has been wanting to produce its own newsletter for some time and finally is able to do so. The

This issue gives some insight into the new and improved Young Friends Sponsorship and GPJFF shares why it's so important to keep young adults involved. On March 8, we will finally be able to talk about the impact of Jewish women in Hollywood. This event was originally scheduled for last year, but COVID had other plans. GPJFF is pleased to be offering this virtual event this March. Lindy CineMondays begins on April 5th and Sponsors can expect their thank-you gift in their homes by Opening Night.

As one of the longest-running Jewish film festivals in the country and Philadelphia’s first film festival, GPJFF will truly benefit from this resource. Haven will be a quarterly FREE newsletter available to all with subscriptions.

"In a lecture given by Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky, a renowned educator living in Jeruslaem, he laments, “Most people do not live the life they really want, they live life as it happens.” The message is chilling, but it serves as a necessary reminder that as Jews, we are required to reflect on our lives and strive for constant growth and character development. We must not let life pass us by in the passenger seat! As the Lubavithcher Rebbe once said, “Nobody finds themselves in a

situation. You put yourself in a situation. And if you put yourself in that situation, you can put yourself in another situation.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

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ISSUE 01

MARCH-MAY 2021

DID YOU KNOW?

Jews of Color make up 12-15% of the Jewish population in the United States and are chronically undercounted and underrepresented in Jewish censuses.

They have relatively fewer resources compared to the larger mainstream Jewish community.

The leadership of the organization is composed of multi-heritage, multi-ethnic and multi-generational researchers, consultants, trainers, policy analysts, and program managers.

Jews in ALL Hues Jews in ALL Hues (JIAH) is an education and advocacy organization that supports Jews of Color and multi-heritage Jews. Their goal is to build a future for the Jewish people where intersectional diversity and dignity are normative. JIAH is one of the only independent Jewish social justice organizations in existence founded by a biracial, multi-heritage, Jew of Color millennial. Founder

JIAH provides consulting, coaching, and strategic diversity planning in Jewish cultural, institutional, and religious contexts. Using an anti-bias framework allows them to offer tools grounded in time-tested pedagogy, Jewish wisdom, and effective modern strategies around diversity. JIAH's goal to help you achieve your vision of vibrant and diverse Judaism.

JIAH understands there is a gap in representation which is mainly attributed to the pervasion of racism and bigotry within our Jewish ecosystem. JIAH treasures Jewish values and is one of a few independent 501(c)(3) organizations in the Jewish world founded and led by Jews of Color, MultiHeritage Jews, and allies.

JIAH aims to shift the narrative to one where intersectionality, dignity, and diversity are essential to our collective future.

Jared Jackson is an internationally renowned Jewish diversity leader and consultant and is deeply

Email: info@jewsinallhues.org || 215-469-1967

committed to both his faith and heritage.

JIAH has been in the service of social justice and equity and is committed to seeing each community organization grow as diverse and equitable as possible. "We recognize that affecting change requires an investment from top to bottom, inside and outside, personally and institutionally."

Visit www.jewsinallhues.org for more on how you can help TODAY. 08

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Rachel considers herself a storyteller and uses film, digital design, mechanical engineering, and more to challenge the norms. She strives to make people think deeper and harder about life and the way they tell stories, all while pushing past her own creative barriers.

Rachel's interest in storytelling evolved through pursuits of perspectives in journalism and government, America and abroad. She has studied people through quantitative behavioral data and their stories in hopes to create films, commercials, and music videos that highlight the different ways people come of age. Her work challenges expectations of race, family and addiction.

For more information on Rachel and her upcoming projects, visit RachelHG.com.

Filmmaker Spotlight:

Rachel Harrison Gordon During GPJFF's fall festival, award-winning filmmaker Rachel Harrison-Gordon blessed our screens with her short, Broken Bird. This award-winning film, Broken Bird was Rachel's first film and celebrated its World Premiere at the Berlinale International Film Festival in 2020. She earned Best Directorial Debut from the Heartland Indy Shorts Film Festival and is excited to expand this story into her first feature.

When she first got into NYU, she figured she’d learn the skills required to perhaps create a production company. “I did not see myself as [an artist] until I got to make this movie,” she says.”

Rachel Harrison Gordon, The Pennsylvania Gazette

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This is an audience photograph from the GPJFF33 city premiere of Red Flag, written and directed by Alex Karpovsky.

Can you guess what genre this film was?

A. Romance B. Action C. Comedy D. Thriller E. War

A BLAST FROM THE PAST!!

Because Of YOU....

Since September 2020

We have completed 30 programs this year.

Why Haven?

One thing I really wanted us to have was a name that meant something not just to us, but to the future, present, and past of the organization. We needed to find a way to represent all three phases of what made the Gershman Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival what it is. While doing research, I came across this name and knew right away that this would be a name that long-lasted me and all the staff.

64 filmmakers, actors, and writers participated in GPJFF events.

7827 patrons attended GPJFF's virtual programs & events We are presenting our second Virtual Festival.

When the Young Men's Hebrew Association was established, it was made to be a safe haven for Jewish immigrants, full of resources. This is exactly what this newsletter is all about. Here you'll find a safe place to sit back and enjoy the resources you need.

Next Issue June 2021

-Ainyae Stratton Development and Administrative Coordinator 10

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