We're in the NY Times...
Dear all,
I am floating on air from the wonderful article in the New York Times today, October 29th about me, my friend Mohammad, my friend Joy and most of all the Other Israel film festival. Read it. There is a link at the bottom of this blog.
Last Saturday and Sunday I sat outside of Zabar’s and told anyone who would listen about what the festival is about and what it is trying to accomplish. In the end it boils down to “loose the attitude”. Meaning don’t think you know something when all you really have is a collection of prejudices, defensive stands and gossip. My festival is about “loosing the attitude” and seeing for yourself.
A man came up to me on Saturday and when he found out that the festival was about Israeli Arabs he became very agitated, told me that he was a survivor or the holocaust and Stalin and that I should not be showing Arab Israeli films because I was insulting him. He started to shout and was quite abusive.
Afterwards, I thought to myself that all of us who champion civil rights in Israel have to be sensitive to and hear the voices of those in his position. Not to change our stance in the least but to understand the horrors that a generation suffered and how it has altered its perspective of the world.
On Sunday Robin Pogrebin of the New York Times came to sit with me outside of Zabar’s while I did my shpiel- my husband got us coffee and since I know half the people on Broadway we all had a good time schmoozing and spreading the word. As Casey says “catch you later”.
Comments:
Caroleeeeeeeeeeee , I read both the NY Times and the Jewish Week articles , they areboth great but I loved the NY times sooooooooooooooooooooooooMUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHgod bless youInchallah best festival this year(: LoVe . A
Dear Adam, thank you so much. did you like what your father had to say in the new york times article. what did you read in haaretz today.? yallah bye
Congratulations!!!! This is truly an amazing and worthwhile endeavor.I am going to to hit both venues. You know my son Mike own a bar diagonally across the corner from the East Village Cinema (12th Street Ale House).Ask Jesse about it. Might be a cool place to have a drink or organize something or other. I'm also going to let my daughter know about this event. She's back in New York but worked for two years at the Australian Jewish News in Sydney. She might be able to get in an article. So, MAZEL TOV. All the best, Linda
Just realized that you are showing at the Cinema Village (12th off of University) NOT the East Village Cinema (12th and 2nd). We'll be there! Linda & Steve B.
I'm in santa fe, nm. What are the possibilities of having a follow-up festival out here??? I'd be glad to work on it.
I have been following the progress of the Other Israel Film Festival for a few weeks now, ever since my parents back in Connecticut informed me of it. Shortly thereafter, the organization I work for, Mossawa Center, which advocates for Israel's Palestinian Arab community from Haifa, wanted me to get the details of the event.I just read The New York Times article and I think it very bold and forward thinking of you to pursue such an endeavor, and I hope it will be a successful one.I'm a recent college graduate and quite a typical New York-area Jew, except I work for the rights of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel in Israel.Except not really. When my Jewish associates criticize me for what I do, I tell them I'm not working for Arabs, I'm working for Israel. Because Israel can't survive in the state that it is in (just look at Acre). It needs to be a nation that all its citizens can participate in. And if Jews really care about Israel, they need to care about Arabs, too.Good luck with the festival. When I return to New York in a few months, I hope I can still find a way to pursue this sort of work.
Dear Bill, thank you so much for your kind email. I have heard speakers from Mossawa at the New Israel Fund. Maybe you can help me with ideas of how I can interest the palestinian community to participate in the festival. Any ideas?
Hi Carol, I just commented on your posting about the election not knowing my son commented on this one about the film festival. He should have given credit to his grandfather for pointing out the small blurb in the NY Times and then the article last week. I was about to write about the organization he is working for at the present time, but I see he did that already. I expect to come into the city on Saturday or Sunday to see a film or two. Will look to see if we can meet. Best Fran Glucroft