The legendary Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (above 😆)
coined the term "עזות דקדושה" (ezut d'kidusha). And Israeli Rabbi Menachem Froman (who passed in 2013) resurrected it, translating it loosely as "holy chutzpah".
Our Holy Chutzpah project:
Consists of us presenting exciting events showcasing our original short videos about many masters of holy chutzpah - including Rabbi Froman (sometimes known as the "settler rabbi for peace"), American-Israeli solar energy visionary Yosef Abramowitz, Israeli activist/comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi, and in the future, many others. These heroes use everything from humor to outrage to stir things up with their activism.
Most of our videos until now were shot in the Holy Land
(where director Harvey Stein lived most of the last 18 years).
Our short videos tell positive Israel stories - providing hope in these tough times.
Here are our sizzle reels: of the holy activism of Rabbi Froman and his Palestinian partners (who worked hard building bridges of peace in the Holy Land); and Yosef Abramowitz and his African partners (who have been working to build large solar fields in Central Africa - up to 600 million Africans have no home electricity!):
coined the term "עזות דקדושה" (ezut d'kidusha). And Israeli Rabbi Menachem Froman (who passed in 2013) resurrected it, translating it loosely as "holy chutzpah".
Our Holy Chutzpah project:
Consists of us presenting exciting events showcasing our original short videos about many masters of holy chutzpah - including Rabbi Froman (sometimes known as the "settler rabbi for peace"), American-Israeli solar energy visionary Yosef Abramowitz, Israeli activist/comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi, and in the future, many others. These heroes use everything from humor to outrage to stir things up with their activism.
Most of our videos until now were shot in the Holy Land
(where director Harvey Stein lived most of the last 18 years).
Our short videos tell positive Israel stories - providing hope in these tough times.
Here are our sizzle reels: of the holy activism of Rabbi Froman and his Palestinian partners (who worked hard building bridges of peace in the Holy Land); and Yosef Abramowitz and his African partners (who have been working to build large solar fields in Central Africa - up to 600 million Africans have no home electricity!):
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Our American premiere Holy Chutzpah Screening/Discussion Event
Sunday, Oct. 25, in Buffalo, NY
You are invited (it will also be watchable live from anywhere in the world).
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WHEN:
October 25, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon WHERE: Temple Beth Zion, Broder Center Auditorium, 700 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst, NY No cost. And you can sign up now to make sure you have reserved seats for you and friends: here. |
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We are also planning many more Holy Chutzpah events later this Fall and Winter - in New York City, Toronto, and across the United States; as well as in Europe, the Holy Land, and elsewhere. And your community can host such an event!
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In our unique
"Holy Chutzpah" Screening/Discussion Events - - we play excerpts of many of our heroes. And then we lead very fun, interactive discussions with people in the room, talking honestly about all the complex (and sometimes controversial) issues in the excerpts we have watched together. Face-to-face events are so much better than social media - they inspire real communication and humanization between "sides". Would your community like to host a "Holy Chutzpah" event? Our Events can take place in synagogues, churches or mosques, NGO's, businesses, conferences, universities, and elsewhere. They can also be co-hosted by two organizations - for example by a synagogue and a mosque community or a Black church community - to create a wonderful mixed group of viewers, who can get to know each other and even build bridges together, in their shared event. These events can galvanize communities in many ways - for example, bringing large audiences to synagogues struggling for attendance, sometimes especiallly targetting younger community members - who tend to love watching short videos. These events include participation by “Holy Chutzpah” director Harvey Stein, as well as by a range of other religious and community leaders (and can of course include participation by leaders in your own community). These impact events can even focus their discussions on local inter-ethnic (such as Black/Jewish conflicts) or inter-religious conflicts, inspired by Rabbi Froman’s work in Israel/Palestine. What local struggles and conflicts can members of your community bring their own holy chutzpah to, in trying to improve life for all? We believe that in our current very challenging times, each of us needs to tap into our own holy chutzpah - and try to steer our reality into a more holy place - with less suffering and stress. We like to say: Impact screening/discussion events invite maximum participation. And - our unique, exciting events can thus bring large audiences, including stimulating attendance at struggling religious institutions these days. By the way, in early 2027, both "Froman's Way" and "Green Rebels" will be finished feature-length documentaries, available for distribution worldwide. |
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"There is something magical about Froman's Way, and it conveys a picture of hope." - Head of the Political Section, Embassy of Israel in Ireland |
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"Green Rebels infuses people with a new sense of pride in the only Jewish country on the planet." - Roz Rothstein, CEO, StandWithUs International |
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Rav Froman believed no one should be forced from their home. Besides fighting for Palestinian equality, he went to Gaza in 2005, to protest the evacuation of the Gush Katif settlement. Above, he rescued a Torah from a Gush Katif synagogue about to be destroyed by the Israeli army. |
We have presented over 20 previous"Froman's Way" Screening/Discussion Events - throughout the United States, Europe and Israel. Some testimonials from those screening/discussion events:
Director Harvey Stein'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 'balanced" film project, and a very good basis for a dialogic, peace building program.
- Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener, Temple Israel (and Compassionate Listening Project), Greenfield, MA
“Froman's Way” drew a diverse audience in what is otherwise a very politically divided campus. Students were amazed to see the strides that the featured individuals have made in coexistence. The story broke down the dichotomy of "us and them" that too often prevails here. Our discussion with director Harvey Stein was extremely thought provoking, and exposed students both to tough questions and innovative ways forward. Kol Hakavod for this inspiring film project!
- Marissa Young, Aryeh (Columbia University Students Association for Israel).
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
Some press on our previous "A Third Way" documentary about Rav Froman:
- "Prayer as Performance" - a Times of Israel article by director Harvey Stein
- i24 Video interview with Harvey Stein
- Haaretz article
- Jewish Week article
WHO WE ARE:
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Vered Post 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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Harvey Stein 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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Rabbi Riqi Kosovske, Community Advisor - is Head Rabbi at Beit Ahavah Reform Synagogue in Northampton, MA. She is a spiritual leader and educator, ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in 2007. Rabbi Riqi has brought her creativity, expertise and commitment to issues of feminism, ecology, artistic and musical spiritual expression, social justice, building a progressive Israel, LGBTQ celebration, and other areas. She has spent much time in Israel, and has presented events in the U.S.A. with several organizations focusing on peace between Israelis and Palestinians, including Standing Together and others.
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TO CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO
about our HOLY CHUTZPAH EVENTS (or to inquire about supporting them in any way, including investing in our subsidizing events):
Email: [email protected]
Phone/WhatsApp: 646-640-7887
about our HOLY CHUTZPAH EVENTS (or to inquire about supporting them in any way, including investing in our subsidizing events):
Email: [email protected]
Phone/WhatsApp: 646-640-7887
