Documentaries focus on Israel and Mid-East issues

The son of an Arab terrorist and a Jewish mother raises a family in Jaffa, Israel. Miriam Weissenstein, 96, and her grandson, Ben, join forces to save a shop. A young warder is assigned to guard the most famous prisoner held in Israel — Nazi leader Adolph Eichmann. A national park in Israel, known by its Arabic name, Sakhne, is undergoing changes.

All are subjects of documentaries that will be shown at the free Israeli Film Festival at Tulane University on Saturday (Oct. 26) and Sunday (Oct. 27).

“We want to show the diversity of society that is Israel, trying to avoid stereotypes that exist about the country, both on the right and on the left,” said Brian Horowitz, chair of the Tulane Jewish Studies Department. “These documentaries do that with aplomb.”

“We're aware students want to know the situation behind the headlines.”—Brian Horowitz, Jewish Studies chair

Horowitz said the documentaries were chosen because “we"re aware students want to know the situation behind the headlines.”

“The historical conflict is eating away at their souls,” he said of the diverse Israeli population, with Jews and Arabs living side-by-side. “It"s impossible to escape this tragic embrace.”

Shai Ginsburg, the Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor for Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Duke University, who teaches Contemporary Israeli Cinema there, will lead discussion following each film.

Here"s the line-up:

Life in Stills (2011)
Oct. 26, 5 p.m.
Lavin-Bernick Center, Stibbs Conference Room (203)

The Hangman (2010)
Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
Lavin-Bernick Center, Stibbs Conference Room (203)

The Garden of Eden (2012)
Oct. 27, noon
Jewish Studies Conference Room
7031 Freret St.

Life Sentences (2013)
Oct. 27, 2 p.m.
Jewish Studies Conference Room
7031 Freret St.

The Jewish Studies Department presents the Israeli Film Festival with support from the Stacy Mandel Palagye and Keith Palagye Program for Middle East Peace.