Do you want to host a unique and inspiring
IMPACT SCREENING/DISCUSSION EVENT
IMPACT SCREENING/DISCUSSION EVENT
where we show excerpts from our documentary project about the amazing Rabbi Menachem Froman and his followers - both Israelis and Palestinians - following in his unique path of shalom-salaam. And then we lead exciting, honest discussions and workshop activities based on them.
And you are welcome to contribute any amount to our crowdfunding page here.
And you are welcome to contribute any amount to our crowdfunding page here.
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THE UNIQUE, HOPEFUL STORY OF ISRAEL'S "SETTLER RABBI FOR PEACE" |
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"It drew a diverse audience in what is otherwise a very politically divided campus, breaking down the dichotomy of "us and them" that too often prevails here. Our post-screening discussion with director Harvey Stein was extremely thought provoking and exposed students both to tough questions and innovative ways forward. Kol Hakavod for this inspirational film!" - Marissa Young, Aryeh (Columbia University Students Association for Israel) |
"There is something magical about the film and it conveys a picture of hope." - Head of the Political Section, Embassy of Israel in Ireland, at Trinity College (Dublin) screening event "The movie's powerful narrative conveys to us the profound empathy and hopefulness of Rabbi Froman's approach, without losing sight of the profound cynicism and mistrust between the two communities. In this sense, it is a very balanced film, and a very good basis for a dialogic, peace-building program." - Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener, Temple Israel (and Compassionate Listening Project), Greenfield, MA |
WHAT WOULD RABBI FROMAN
SAY AND DO NOW -
IF HE WERE STILL WITH US?
Our impact screening/discussion events:
focus on the groundbreaking ways that Rabbi Froman built bridges and helped create reconciliation and "conflict transformation" between Jews and Muslims, and between religious and secular Jews. Froman (1945-2013) was a founding member of Gush Emunim, and served as the chief rabbi of Tekoa settlement, for more than 30 years. But in the 1990's, he had a realization: the Messiah would not come - unless there was peace and friendship between neighbors in the West Bank (AKA, Judea and Samaria, the "Territories"). So he started to publicly befriend many Palestinians (including notoriously, Yasser Arafat and Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual founder of Hamas); and also, by visiting several West Bank Palestinian towns that had their mosques vandalized by extremist settlers.
But - Froman also went to Gaza in 2005 to protest the expulsion of Jews living there - he believed that simply, "No one should be kicked out of their homes". He courageously, and unique - didn't "take sides". He could hold complex, even contradictory truths.
Froman demonstrated his unique creativity, courage, and boundless humor throughout his life (he sometimes used the phrase, originated by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, “Azut d’kedusha” - often translated into English as “Holy Chutzpah”). We followed him in the last five years of his life, and in more than 50 hours of interviews and other clips, we believe we captured many special moments that can help tell his much needed story to the world.
focus on the groundbreaking ways that Rabbi Froman built bridges and helped create reconciliation and "conflict transformation" between Jews and Muslims, and between religious and secular Jews. Froman (1945-2013) was a founding member of Gush Emunim, and served as the chief rabbi of Tekoa settlement, for more than 30 years. But in the 1990's, he had a realization: the Messiah would not come - unless there was peace and friendship between neighbors in the West Bank (AKA, Judea and Samaria, the "Territories"). So he started to publicly befriend many Palestinians (including notoriously, Yasser Arafat and Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual founder of Hamas); and also, by visiting several West Bank Palestinian towns that had their mosques vandalized by extremist settlers.
But - Froman also went to Gaza in 2005 to protest the expulsion of Jews living there - he believed that simply, "No one should be kicked out of their homes". He courageously, and unique - didn't "take sides". He could hold complex, even contradictory truths.
Froman demonstrated his unique creativity, courage, and boundless humor throughout his life (he sometimes used the phrase, originated by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, “Azut d’kedusha” - often translated into English as “Holy Chutzpah”). We followed him in the last five years of his life, and in more than 50 hours of interviews and other clips, we believe we captured many special moments that can help tell his much needed story to the world.
The Land doesn't belong to us, |
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"Froman's Way", our feature documentary project, is the only feature documentary project on this unique peacemaker.
Rabbi Froman is known by millions of Israelis (including many who loved him, and some who just pushed him away as "crazy"). His work is very relevant now. In this time of war, violence and conflict in the Holy Land and elsewhere, our unique screening/discussion events inspired by Rabbi Froman's path of hope, can be pivotal gatherings. "Froman's Way" also includes powerful footage of Palestinian peace activists such as Ziad Sabateen, Ali Abu Awwad, and Khaled Abu Awwad. |
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Our exciting "Froman's Way" Event, 80-90 minutes in length - includes:
- We will open by singing together at least one of Rav Froman's unforgettable chants he was famous for leading in his many inspiring gatherings
- Screening 4-5 short excerpts from our "Froman's Way" movie project
- After each excerpt, our "Froman's Way" director Harvey Stein, discusses with you the issues you have just watched short videos about. There is nothing better to galvanize a community than the interactive magic of people in a room, together watching and being energized by a powerful movie story. Your community can choose to focus primarily on the religious aspects of Froman's work, or also its political implications (like innovative plans such as a confederation or federation)
- Participation by local authorities or activists that you can choose to invite to your event
- You can even choose for us to spend time on creating an "action plan" - inspired by Rabbi Froman's unique activism - that your community can commit to, after our event is over.
Who might host an Event? - A synagogue, JCC, church, mosque, school or university, NGO or any other organization! You can even decide to co-host with another neighboring institution: imagine a synagogue and a neighboring mosque or church, deciding to co-host an event - where the audience gathered is a mix of members of both institutions? Then the moderated discussion afterwards might be especially meaningful, helping members of the two groups to get to know each other.
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Your event can also include special participation by teens in your community.
Stein, our "Froman's Way" director, is also an experienced teacher of teens, helping them learn to make their own short videos (Stein has led such workshops with Israeli and Palestinian teens, with Kids4Peace and SeedsForPeace - and in the USA, with Black and Jewish teens). If you want, he can also meet on Zoom with your community's teens in the weeks before your event, helping them make their own short videos on various conflicts, maybe pairing teens to work together - e.g. a Jewish teen and a Black or Arab-American teen. Then in the opening of your event, teens can screen their own videos, which is usually very exciting for a community. |
Our Fee:
We are based in Jerusalem and in New York. We are available to present an event for your community in the United States or Canada, anytime in 2024 or 2025.
And if you host an event: included in our fee is a 1-hour zoom, several weeks before the event, where we discuss your specific vision and plan the goals for your event.
To inquire about a powerful screening event, please contact us with any questions:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 646-640-7887
WhatsApp: 972-50-212-8132
We are based in Jerusalem and in New York. We are available to present an event for your community in the United States or Canada, anytime in 2024 or 2025.
- Our cost for director Harvey Stein to present an Impact Screening/Discussion Event is $1000 (plus transportation to your location from New York City).
And if you host an event: included in our fee is a 1-hour zoom, several weeks before the event, where we discuss your specific vision and plan the goals for your event.
To inquire about a powerful screening event, please contact us with any questions:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 646-640-7887
WhatsApp: 972-50-212-8132
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עזות דקדושה = "Holy Chutzpah" |
Rav Froman rescuing a Torah from a Gush Katif synagogue about to be destroyed by the Israeli army, during the expulsion of Jews living in Gaza (2005)
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We can also present "Froman's Way" workshops with other emphases (more information here), including:
How can we use the creativity and playfulness of Rabbi Froman’s way - turning our many leveled, complex crisis, into a path towards a radically new future of freedom for all in the Holy Land? We believe the universal medium of movies can be a crucial catalyst in the struggle for positive social and political change. |
For background, some articles on Rabbi Froman: - From an Israeli Settlement, a Rabbi’s Unorthodox Plan for Peace Tablet Mag article - Menachem Froman, Rabbi Seeking Peace, Dies at 68 - Thousands mourn beloved, controversial West Bank rabbi And some press on our previous "A Third Way" documentary: - "Prayer as Performance" - a Times of Israel article by director Harvey Stein - i24 Video interview with Harvey Stein - Haaretz article - Jewish Week article |
Further Testimonials from Screening Events of earlier versions of our Rabbi Froman story:
The movie's powerful narrative conveys to us the profound empathy and hopefulness of Rabbi Froman's approach, without losing sight of the profound cynicism and mistrust between the two communities. In this sense, it is a very balanced film, and a very good basis for a dialogic, peace-building program.
- Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener, Temple Israel (and Compassionate Listening Project), Greenfield, MA
Extremely moving - a graphic, well-paced, personal visual of both brutality and heartbreak, warmth and friendship, politics and humanity, the possibilities and desire to reach the next/future generations in a constructive manner, not by politics alone, but by friendship and dialogue.
- Ron, audience member
Bring this documentary project to your synagogue, mosque, church, or local community center... We did, and the impact of the story and the opportunity to discuss the film's themes with the director left a lasting impression on the audience that we must support such grassroots efforts to bring a real and lasting peace to all the inhabitants of the Holy Land.
- John Moyle, Pastor, Oakbrook Church, Reston, VA
WHO WE ARE:
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Harvey Stein (director, producer) is an American-Israeli filmmaker/activist who has lived in Jerusalem since 2006, when he moved there from New York City. Co-director of Jerusalem New York Productions. Stein presented over 50 impact screening/discussion events of our earlier version of "Froman's Way", from 2016 - 2020 - in North America, Europe, and Israel, which also had limited theatrical distribution. Stein is also director of the "Green Rebels" impact feature documentary project, about the American-Israeli solar energy visionary, Yossi Abramowitz, who, with his African partners, is bringing large solar fields to Africa (where 600 million people have no electricity).
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Vered Post (producer, co-writer) is an Israeli producer, writer and educator, and Co-director of Jerusalem New York Productions. She has lived and worked in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and New York. She co-produced "A Third Way". She has co-written several produced Israeli feature screenplays, as well as being a lead writer for the Israeli-Palestinian version of “Sesame Street”. She has also produced many short promotional films, for clients such as Ayeka, and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
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