The Congregation B’nai Israel Library Committee will host “Summer Shorts,” a series of award-winning short films on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. Screenings will include:
• “In Search of the Bene Israel.” The story of the filmmaker’s journey to reconnect with her maternal grandmother’s Bene Israel community of Western India, The film follows a group of 3,500 Jews in and around Bombay whose members believe it was shipwrecked in India 2,000 years ago and are in the process of a community-wide migration to Israel. 38 minutes
• “My Olympic Summer.” Against the backdrop of the hostage crisis at the 1972 Munich Olympic games, filmmaker Daniel Robin, looks at home video footage of his parents when they were young in hopes of understanding how they kept the magic. 12 minutes.
• “Song of Slomon.” Rabbi Yosef Slomon’s life has become very ordinary. The once vibrant rabbi has become ineffectual until a catchy, ubiquitous pop tune invades his soul and threatens to send him scrambling to the dance floor or back to the Torah. 16 minutes.
• “The Tribe” What can the most successful doll on the planet show us about being Jewish today? Narrated by Peter Coyote, the film weaves together archival footage, graphics, animation, Barbie dioramas and slam poetry to take audiences on an electric ride through the complex history of both the Barbie doll and the Jewish people from Biblical times to present day. The film sheds light on the questions: What does it mean to be an American Jew today? What does it mean to be a member of any tribe in the 21st century? 18 minutes.
The movie night is open to the public. There is an $8 fee for the program and reservations are required by Aug. 5. RSVP to [email protected]. Congregation B’nai Israel is located at 171 Ridge Road. For more information, call 732-842-1800 or visit www.cbirumson.org.