Ahavath Sholom Film Series will open with a bang
And you thought Congregation Ahavath Sholom’s movies were good last season? Wait till you see “Waltz with Bashir” on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 3:30 p.m. at CAS. You will be waiting with bated breath for more of what’s going to be the best season yet.
“Waltz with Bashir” is a fabulous film and shouldn’t be missed. It is a 2008 Israeli animated documentary written and directed by Ari Folman. It depicts Folman in search of his lost memories from the 1982 Lebanon War. This movie, among the first Israeli animated feature-length films, premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival where it entered the competition for the Palme d’Or, and since then has won and been nominated for many additional important awards while receiving wide acclaim from critics.
The film goes back to 1982 when Ari Folman was a 19-year-old infantry soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In 2006 he meets with a friend from his army service period, who tells him of the nightmares connected to his experiences from the Lebanon War. Folman is surprised to find that he does not remember a thing from that period. Later that night he has a vision from the night of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, the reality of which he is unable to tell. In his memory, he and his soldier friends are bathing at night by the seaside in Beirut under the light of flares descending over the city. Folman rushes off to meet another friend from his army service, who advises him to discuss it with other people who were in Beirut at the same time in order to understand what happened there and to revive his own memories. Folman converses with friends, a psychologist and a reporter who was in Beirut at the time. The film ends with animation dissolving into actual footage of the aftermath of the Sabra and Shatila massacre.
This is an important Israeli film and to view it is to help understand an Israeli view of conflict, among individuals as well as nations.
Remember, at Congregation Ahavath Sholom, the movies are free. Popcorn and lemonade are free as well. Cold drinks and candy bars are on sale with the proceeds going to the Shul’s United Synagogue Youth organization. The next film will be “Ajami,” showing on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 3:30 p.m.
CAS thanks the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County for generously funding its film series. Stay tuned to enjoy and be a part of Congregation Ahavath Sholom’s ‘Til 120 and Beyond experience.
Thanks go to the Shul Film Committee for working on this project and when you see Batya Brand, Elizabeth Cohen, Phyllis Gordon, Suzie Herman, Etty Horowitz, Shoshana Howard, Stuart Isgur, Garry Kahalnik, Peter Lederman, Walter Listig, Alex Nason, Marla Owen, Debby Rice, Naomi Rosenfield, Nancy Sheinberg, Nancy Spiegel and Jim Stansbury, tell them how much you enjoy their work. And please keep coming!
Big crowd is on hand for tailgate party and outdoor movie
A large, enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the first-ever Tarrant County community Outdoor Movie event on Saturday, Aug. 7. The successful evening was sponsored by B’nai B’rith Isadore Garsek Lodge No. 269.
Jewish families from all over Tarrant County brought their lawn chairs to the parking lot of Congregation Ahavath Sholom in Fort Worth and enjoyed a cartoon and a screening of “Bye Bye Birdie” on a giant inflatable outdoor movie screen. The event was preceded by a tailgate party with music, food and classic cars.
Dr. Stan Kurtz and wife Marcia displayed Stan’s recently purchased mint condition ‘57 two-door Chevy Bel Air aqua/white hardtop, a high-performance souped-up “muscle car.” Dr. Bruce Weiner and wife Hollace arrived in Bruce’s ‘67 Green Ford Mustang convertible. Bruce is the original owner and has been driving it for over 43 years. This Mustang was the first new car Bruce ever bought.
Concessions were handled by a contingent of BBYO teens who kept 100 percent of the profits, which they will use to subsidize some of their upcoming fall programs.
The event was chaired by Jim and Elaine Stanton and Rich and Terri Hollander. Dozens of B’nai B’rith members showed up to assist with parking, concession supervision and greeting the crowds.
The Tarrant County lodge is the largest in the Southwest and one of the most active in the United States. Lodge activities include sponsoring an annual Jewish Person of the Year Awards Dinner, scholarship awards, Passover seder and Thanksgiving dinner for seniors, Christmas breakfast, lunch and gift distribution for the homeless and dozens of other programs.
News and notes
Recently, Corrine Jacobson was the guest speaker at the Lions Club in Cleburne. She addressed the topics in her book, “A Handbook for Widows,” to the group, who were interested in her concepts.
Congregation Beth Shalom will hold a game night on Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. in the synagogue’s social hall. Admission is $3 per person and includes snacks.