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JERUSALEM U

Jerusalem U is committed to strengthening the emotional and intellectual

connection of young Jews to Judaism and Israel. It is breaking old molds and

forging new approaches to Jewish and Israel education. All this is accomplished

through the creative use of f i lm and technology and is distributed via the Internet,

social media, television, grassroots campaigns and partnerships with mainstream

pro-Israel and Jewish organizations.

Jerusalem U merges the power of f i lm with some of the Jewish world’s most

revered thought leaders, and is currently offering f ive online courses on the

topics of Israel, Judaism, Leadership, Cinema and Positive Psychology.

Headed by Founder and CEO Rabbi Raphael Shore and President Amy Holtz, Jerusalem U was founded in 2007 by its parent company, Imagination Productions, and today has off ices in Jerusalem, Florida,

New York and Philadelphia.

Jerusalem U has established a noteworthy Advisory Board, with representatives from academia, Jewish education, Hollywood, business and polit ics. Members include:

§ Ambassador Michael Oren

§ David Sacks

§ David Shore

§ Diane Troderman

§ Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

§ Leon G. Cooperman

§ Len Leader

§ Russell F. Robinson

§ Michael H. Steinhardt

§ Rabbi Joseph Ptashik

§ Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1 SERIES OVERVIEW CINEMA: THE JEWISH LENS MINI-SERIES.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

FEATURED SPEAKERS.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

MODERATOR GUIDELINES.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

PART 2 EPISODES AND DISCUSSIONS EPISODE 1. THE JEWISH PICTURE.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

EPISODE 2. AT FIRST SIGHT.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

EPISODE 3. THE COMEDY OF CONFLICT.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

EPISODE 4. HEROES IN ACTION..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

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CINEMA: THE JEWISH LENS MINI-SERIES

From Woody Allen to the Coen Brothers, and from Gone with the Wind to The Godfather,

Jewish writers, actors, directors and producers have unabashedly interwoven Jewish wisdom,

values, traditions and their unique sense of humor into some of the movies we love best.

Cinema: The Jewish Lens Mini-Series takes you behind the scenes, introducing you

to Hollywood stars, film critics, screen writers, professors, rabbis and Biblical scholars who

shed light on the ancient wisdom and Jewish traditions that find expression in Hollywood

today.

Cinema: The Jewish Lens Mini-Series is original, entertaining, and easy-to-use. The package

includes:

DVD with four 35-minute films

One-year license to show the films in a group setting

Comprehensive Moderator’s Guide with explicit directions

Marketing and promotional materials

These episodes are perfect for engaging your audience in meaningful discussions

about core Jewish teachings , such as Jewish identity, love , suffer ing, and leadership.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of Cinema: The Jewish Lens Mini-Ser ies , participants will:

Gain a deeper understanding of film by examining it through the lens of Jewish

wisdom.

Learn new perspectives on film genres and the making of film from Hollywood

filmmakers and actors.

Explore fundamental Jewish concepts through a cinematic medium.

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lens EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS

EPISODE 1. THE JEWISH PICTURE

Since the days of silent film, Jews have graced the silver screen both in front of the

camera and behind the scenes. With such a strong presence in Hollywood, the question

resonates, “Can movies be Jewish?”

EPISODE 2. AT FIRST SIGHT

Judy Garland once said, “It was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.” Love

is more than a walk on a sunset beach; it is the driving force that unites our souls. Find

out where Judaism places love in the narrative of our lives.

EPISODE 3. THE COMEDY OF CONFLICT

Seinfeld, Stiller and Jack Black will make you laugh until you have tears in your eyes

and knots in your stomach. Yet, if you look beyond the obvious, comedies are complex

and built around conflict and pain. Why? Discover the Jewish perspective on pain and

suffering while unraveling the mysteries of the conflict of comedy.

EPISODE 4. HEROES IN ACTION

On the surface, Spiderman is a hero in a red costume, who swings from buildings and

saves the day. However, his inner struggles and drive are constantly brewing. Explore

the psyche of action heroes from the Jewish perspective and discover what transforms

ordinary people into great leaders.

Ser ies Overview

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FEATURED SPEAKERS

The following are some of the fi lm exper ts featured in this ser ies .

MICHAEL A. HELFANTFormer President &

COO, Marvel Studios

MITCH JULISBusinessman &

Film Enthusiast

MICHAEL MANNProducer & Director,

The Insider, Public Enemies,

Heat

MICHAEL MEDVEDFilm Critic , Bestselling

Author & Talk Radio

Host

DAVID SHORECreator & Executive

Producer, House M.D.

GARY SINISEActor, CSI-NY,

Forrest Gump

DAVID N. WEISSWriter, Shrek 2,

The Smurfs, Jimmy Neutron:

Boy Genius

ETAN COHENWriter, Tropic Thunder,

Men in Black 3

MARIA ELENA DE LAS CARRERASUCLA Film School

Professor & Film Critic

STEPHEN FARBERFilm Critic

JEREMY GARELICK Director & Screenwriter,

The Break Up, The Hangover

JENNIFER GIBGOTProducer, 17 Again,

Step Up I, II & III, Hairspray

HOWARD GORDONExecutive Producer , 24

ELLIOTT GOULDActor, Oceans 11

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RABBI SHAUL ROSENBLATTFounder, Tikun UK

REBECCA SHORE Relationship Coach

& Creative Director,

Jerusalem U

RABBI DANIEL ROWEInternational Lecturer & Senior Educator, Forum for Jewish Leadership

RABBI MOSHE ZELDMANConsultant & Founder, Core 18 Leaders Lab

RABBI MARK ZELNUKA Educational Consultant

RABBI NACHUM BRAVERMANExecutive Director,

Academic Exchange

RABBI SHALOM DENBODirector, AEPi Jerusalem

Roadtrips

JACKIE ENGELPsychologist & Director,

Jewish Student Leaders

Foundation

JON ERLBAUM Executive Director,

The Chevra

TALI GOLDBERGJewish Educator

FEATURED SPEAKERS, CONT.

The following are some of the fi lm exper ts featured in this ser ies .

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The following general guidelines are recommended for leading discussion groups.

GROUP SESSION FORMAT

Each group session is comprised of three sections:

1 Play the film for the group. Each film runs approximately 35 minutes.

2 Moderate a discussion based on the questions provided. Ideally, approximately

30 minutes should be allotted for these discussions.

3 Conclude by summarizing the discussions and briefly mentioning what will be

discussed in the following session.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

The purpose of the discussion questions is to provoke thought and dialogue in response

to each film. Keep in mind that there are many different possible answers for every

question.

The discussion questions are designed to encourage a group conversation in which all

members are equal participants. The role of the moderator is to lead the group and

optimize participation. The conversation will be most beneficial to the group when the

moderator acts as a facilitator and does not provide the answers.

For each film, we provide multiple questions. The moderator may select the questions

he or she feels are the best fit for the group.

Ser ies Overview

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lens EPISODE 1. THE JEWISH PICTURE

1 The film states that Jewish culture alone cannot define an individual’s Jewish identity,

since no culture is innately Jewish.

Do you agree with this statement?

Is it important for you to identify culturally as a Jew? How do you accomplish

that? What does Jewish culture add to your Jewish identity?

2 Rabbi Daniel Rowe says that, “Judaism isn’t neatly a religion," because individuals are a

part of the Jewish nation whether or not they ascribe to the Jewish religion. Do you

consider Judaism to be a religion? Is religious practice important to being Jewish?

3 How do you define your Jewish identity? What aspects of your life , values and

practices do you feel are crucial to your Jewish identity?

Do you bring these elements into your family life? How?

Are these elements of your Jewish identity as important to your children

as they are to you?

4 Elliot Gould says, “I am a Jewish actor, that’s what I am.” At the end of the film, the

narrators conclude that while religion, culture, family and values all contribute to

Jewishness, no one of them can fully define a person's Jewish identity. What really

defines a person's Jewishness is the Jewish lens, the perspective, through which they

view their lives.

What does this concept mean to you?

Do you agree with this perspective?

Which elements (religion, culture, family, values and perspective) do you

see as most defining your Jewishness?

5 What Jewish value or contribution do you think has had the greatest impact on the

Western world? What Jewish values impact your life the most?

6 Does your Jewish identity and value system ever conflict with other areas of your

life? How do you balance the competing interests?

7 Are movies and movie analysis a useful tool for helping children, teens or adults

relate to Jewish ideas? Have you used this tool before? What makes it effective?

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Episodes and Discussions

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EPISODE 2. AT FIRST SIGHT

1 According to the film, we can actually choose to love another person by investing

in and giving to them.

Do you believe that you can choose to love another person?

Have you ever made the choice to like someone, perhaps someone you

didn’t like before?

Can you think of someone in your life with whom you have a difficult or

negative relationship? Do you think you could make the active choice to like

them?

How does this wisdom apply to our relationship with ourselves? How can

parents and teachers use this knowledge to help children and students

boost their self-esteem?

2 The film defines infatuation as a transient love based on two factors: (1) what you

gain from the relationship, and (2) factors external to the other person.

Have you ever experienced infatuation? Were you aware that you were

infatuated?

Is it easier to discern when others are infatuated? How can you tell?

Does infatuation only occur in romantic relationships? What about in

relationships with children, students, friends, etc.?

3 Though the age-old adage states that knowledge breeds contempt, Rabbi Moshe

Zeldman explains that in a relationship, knowledge of the other person actually

enhances love.

Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

Is this applicable to all relationships?

4 Love is a common theme in movies, songs and all l iterary forms. The film states

that the reason love is “everywhere,” and the reason we universally relate to the

construct of love, is because a loving relationship is the ultimate means of bettering

ourselves and finding fulfil lment.

Do you agree with this statement?

Do you see your relationships (with your spouse, children, friends, students,

mentors, etc.) as being a catalyst for growth?

Does having this belief in mind change your perspective on your relationships?

How would someone with this perspective act differently from a person

whose relationship is based on infatuation?

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1 The narrator poses the question, 'Why do audiences enjoy conflict in film, if the

purpose of film is to escape from life?'

Why do you watch movies?

What do you find funny in film?

2 Jeremy Garelick was inspired to write the lemon fight scene in his film The Breakup

by finding humor and irony in his life challenges.

Are you able to do find humor in your life challenges? Can you think of examples?

If so, what helps you to do so?

3 The film explains that we relate to different aspects of God at different times, such

as aspects of mercy (Ado-nai) and judgment (Elo-haynu) .

Is it your belief that both the very good and the very bad in our lives come

from the same source?

4 Rabbi Shalom Denbo states that the point of life’s struggles are for us to learn from

them, and Rabbi Nachum Braverman explains that challenges are opportunities to

realize our inner potential.

What have you learned and how have you grown from difficult experiences

and challenges?

What have you learned and how have you grown from positive experiences?

How have you seen others, such as your peers, children or students, grow

from difficult experiences and challenges?

5 Rabbi Daniel Rowe illustrates the benefits of feeling pain with the analogy of the

benefits of physical pain. For example, if we put our hand on a hot stove, we feel

pain and understand we need to move our hand. Rabbi Moshe Zeldman goes a step

further and explains that the only reason we experience pain and suffering is for

our benefit, though we may not always understand how we benefit.

How do you relate to this concept?

If you agree, do you find that you are able to apply this knowledge to the

hardships in your life?

Episodes and Discussions

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1 When you think of leaders, in both your personal life and the wider world, who do

you think of? What qualities do they exhibit that define them as leaders?

2 According to the film, Jewish leadership is defined by taking responsibility.

What are the top five areas of responsibility in your life?

Do you see yourself as being a leader in those areas?

Does leadership need to be on a grand scale or can you be a leader in a

smaller capacity? Can you be a leader in personal relationships? In your

family? Within your community?

3 The film states that the willingness to question the status quo is a Jewish value, and

a quality that is important in a leader.

Do you agree that wil l ingness to question the status quo is an important

quality in a leader? Why or why not?

Does your past experience with Judaism demonstrate that challenging the

status quo is a Jewish value? If so, explain.

4 The film describes Abraham’s understanding that, to be an effective leader, he

needed to empower other people with his message.

Do you see contemporary leaders who embrace this concept?

Do you personally know a leader who empowers others?

Do you know teachers who empower their students? How do they accomplish

that? Are they leaders?

5 In the film, the interviewees explain that to be a true leader you need to care

deeply. This is because if you care, you'll find a solution to the problem.

Is this trait evident in the leaders you know?

How does this trait manifest in their actions?

What people, ideas or causes are important to you? Do you care enough

to take responsibility for them? Why or why not? Do you want to? How

might you do that?

6 Ethics of our Fathers writes, “In a place where there is no one, be the one” [2:5].

Have you ever faced a situation or a problem where no one else was taking

responsibility?

Did you step up and address the problem? If so, what gave you the courage

to do so?

Even if you did take responsibility, was there anything that made you hesitate?

Alternatively, if you didn't take responsibility, what held you back?

Episodes and Discussions

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