Wednesday, Dec. 16, 7 pm
The 23rd annual Simon Family JCC Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by Alma* and Howard Laderberg, begins next month with a pre-event film.
A film festival extra, Rosenwald, will screen at the Naro Expanded Cinema. It is the incredible story of Julius Rosenwald, who never finished high school, but rose to become the president of Sears. Influenced by the writings of the educator Booker T. Washington, this Jewish philanthropist joined forces with African American communities during the Jim Crow South to build more than 5,300 schools during the early part of the 20th century.
After the movie, a discussion will take place with Aviva Kempner, the film’s director, along with and a professor from Norfolk State University. Joel Rubin, president of Rubin Communications Group, will moderate the discussion.
“Researching my own family roots in 1979 inspired me to become a filmmaker,” says Kempner. “I am dedicated to making films that span the years prior to and during World War II , since they so scarred my family.”
For information on the film, call 625‑6276 or go to www.narocinema.com.
The 23rd Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by Alma* and Howard Laderberg begins Saturday, Jan. 16.
*of blessed memory