Calendar

APRIL 12, MONDAY Newark Minutemen: A True 1930’s Legend About a Boxer Who Tries to Save a

Nation’s Soul Without Losing His Own. A soon to be released movie, Newark Minutemen is a true 1930’s story about a Jewish boxer who fights for the mob and FBI to stop Nazis from taking over America. This is not a WWII story. It comes well before, and on American soil. The militia of Jewish mafia boxers, the Newark Minutemen, rise-up and fight Hitler’s American Nazi shadow party, as well as the greatest enemy of all—American complacency. Meet Leslie K. Barry a screenwriter, author, and executive producer. Free. 12 pm. For more information and to register, go to JewishVA.org/Bookfest or contact Patty Shelanski, Arts + Ideas manager, at pshelanski@ ujfjt.org or 757-452-3184.

APRIL 12, MONDAY–APRIL 22, THURSDAY

Paintings by Lorraine Fink, Virtual Art Auction and Sale. On view in the Leon Family Gallery at the Sandler Family Campus. Lorraine Fink’s art is rich in color and wonder, evoking feelings of celebration and contemplation. She has generously donated 99 paintings to benefit Visual Arts programming and classes at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC. For more information, contact Kerri Cohen at Kcohen@ujft.org. To view, bid, and purchase art, visit www.JewishVA.org/LFinkArt.

APRIL 13, TUESDAY

Hatikvah: A lecture and concert with Israeli Musicologist Rok Aloni. In celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, join Israeli musicologist Roi Aloni as he presents a live, virtual, lecture, and concert from his home in Israel. Aloni’s refreshing approach to the world of classical music makes this program appropriate for all ages, even those with little to no musical knowledge. Using videos, recordings, and a live performance, he will share the origins and story behind the beautiful and meaningful Israeli national anthem. Presented through a partnership between United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC, Bender JCC of Greater Washington, Pozez JCC of Fairfax, and Weinstein JCC of Richmond. Free and open to the community with pre-registration required. 2 pm. For more information and to register go to JewishVA.org, or contact Jill Grossman, director, Arts + Ideas, at jgrossman@ujft.org or 757-965-6137.

APRIL 14, WEDNESDAY

Celebration of Israel’s 73rd Anniversary with the Israeli Embassy. Join United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, along with the Embassy of Israel and Israel’s diplomatic missions across the United States to celebrate Israel at 73. Tune in for special guests, music, and more at this national Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration. Watch live on ‘Israel in the USA’ on Facebook, on the Embassy of Israel’s YouTube channel, or @IsraelinUSA on Twitter. 8 pm. Sign up to receive updates: bit.ly/IsraelAt73

APRIL 15, THURSDAY

Worldwide celebration of Israel’s 73rd Independence Day. Join Jewish Federations of North America (UJFT’s national partner agency) to bid farewell to His Excellency Reuven Rivlin as he completes his term as Israel’s 10th president. With special appearances by Israeli Olympic gold medal hopefuls who are on their way to Tokyo this summer and Jewish athletes from around the world. 7 pm. Celebrate Team Israel with the global community, virtually, by registering at jewishtogether.org/yom-haatzmaut-2021.

APRIL 18, SUNDAY

Drive-Through Israel, a Community Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration. Hop in the car and take a family road trip through Israel in celebration of her 73rd birthday. Learn, laugh, listen, and lounge on this interactive Yom Ha’atzmaut journey and find fun for all ages. Free and open to the community. Advance registration for timed tickets is required. Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC, taking place at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community. Participants will remain in their cars, COVID precautions in place. 12–2:30 pm. For more information, or to pre-register (required!) and reserve your time to travel through Israel, visit JewishVA.org/IsraelFest or contact Dave Flagler, director of Camp & Teen Engagement, at dflagler@ujft.org. See page 16 Drive-In movie in celebration of Israel@73! United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s Patricia & Avraham Ashkenazi and Alma & Howard Laderberg’s 28th annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film presents Aulcie. Aulcie is an inspiring film that tells the story of Aulcie Perry, an athlete who captured the spirit of a nation, triumphant and victorious against all odds, and put Israel on the map. This movie has mature themes and is appropriate for adults. Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community. Parking begins at 6:30 pm. Cars must be in place by 7:30 pm. The film begins at 8 pm. Participants will remain in their cars, COVID precautions in place. Conversation with director Dani Menkin directly following the movie. Drive-In Tickets: $12 per person.

Virtual Screening is available to view beginning on April 18 for 72 hours. Tickets: $12 per household. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to JewishVA.org/FilmFest or contact Jill Grossman, director, Arts + Ideas, at jgrossman@ujft.org or 757-965-9134. See page 16.

APRIL 22–MAY 27, THURSDAYS The Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning presents OMG, Can You Believe?! In this 6-week course, taught by Rabbi Marc Kraus of Temple Emanuel, students will seek answers to the BIG questions around G-d and G-d’s relationship to humankind. This course will offer the tools to continue asking deep questions, probing personal beliefs, and rethinking the “G-d-question” that confronts everyone. Course cost: $179, scholarships are available. The Melton School of Tidewater is a part of the Konikoff Center for Learning at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. 9–10:30 am. For more information about the Konikoff Center of Learning or to register, visit www.jewishVA.org/ KCL or contact Sierra Lautman, director of Jewish Innovation, at slautman@ujft.org or 757-965-6107.

APRIL 26, MONDAY

Camp JCC Virtual Open House. Camp JCC is returning to in-person programming this summer. Join this informational session to learn about Camp JCC 2021 and the plans to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Dave Flagler, director of Camp and Teen Engagement, will present and answer questions about what is in store for an amazing upcoming summer at the Simon Family JCC. 8 pm. Visit tinyurl.com/wtk6pczb or contact Dave Flagler, at dflagler@ujft.org.

APRIL 26, MONDAY–APRIL 28, WEDNESDAY

Virtual Cinema: Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles. In collaboration with the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s Patricia & Avraham Ashkenazi and Alma & Howard Laderberg Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, present a virtual screening of Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles. Join a conversation about food and film with Deborah Krohn, Ottolenghi’s academic guide, Bard Graduate Center associate professor, chair of Academic Programs, and coordinator for History and Theory of Museums, and Betsy DiJulio, nourish exhibiting artist, accomplished writer, and master educator on Wednesday, April 28 at 8 pm.

Tickets are $12 per household for virtual cinema with pre-registration required. If purchased by April 23, ticket includes sweet treats and tickets to see Nourish exhibit at MOCA. For more information on the 28th Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, and to register, go to JewishVA.org/Film Festival or contact Jill Grossman, director, Arts + Ideas, at jgrossman@ujft.org or 757-965-6137.

Send submissions for calendar to news@ujft.org. Be sure to note “calendar” in the subject. Include date, event name, sponsor, address, time, cost and phone.

Helen Mirren to play Golda Meir in upcoming film Golda

It’s a Meir moment.

Academy Award winner Helen Mirren will portray Golda Meir, Israel’s only female prime minister, in an upcoming biopic set during the Yom Kippur War.

Production on Golda will begin later this year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The news follows the announcement last month of another star-powered production on Meir, a series titled Lioness led by Israeli actress Shira Haas of Unorthodox fame.

While Lioness will follow Meir from “her birth in Kiev to her American upbringing in Milwaukee, her role in the formation of Israel and her rise to become the new nation’s first and only female prime minister,” according to a report in Deadline, Golda will focus on the turbulent Yom Kippur War period.

Along with the rest of Israel, Meir and her all-male cabinet were taken by surprise by the attack on the eve of the holiday in 1973 by Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian forces. The ensuing bloody conflict—chronicled in the recent acclaimed Israeli production Valley of Tears on HBO Max—shattered the nation’s growing sense of confidence at the time in an embattled region.

Golda will be directed by Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv, who won the 2018 Academy Award for best short for Skin, a film involving neo-Nazis that he later made into a feature.

“As someone who was born during the Yom Kippur War, I am honored to tell this fascinating story about the first and only woman to ever lead Israel,” Nattiv said in a statement. “Nicholas Martin’s brilliant script dives into Golda’s final chapter as the country faces a deadly surprise attack during the holiest day of the year, a core of delusional generals undermining Golda’s judgment.

He added: “I could not be more excited to work with the legendary Miss Mirren to bring this epic, emotional and complex story to life.”