Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.
The German-Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt left her indelible imprint on 20th-century thought by coining the concept of the ‘banality of evil’ when reporting on the 1963 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann. This spirited documentary illuminates that often abused idea and draws a larger picture of Arendt’s often conflicted engagement with the defining phenomena of her era – and maybe ours too.
Richly illustrated with historical footage, Vita Activa offers an intimate portrait of Arendt’s life and work – both deeply informed by the aftermath of World War I, the rise of Nazi Germany and its systematic elimination of European Jews.
“Directed by Israeli documentarian Ada Ushpiz, who has degrees in philosophy and history as well as filmmaking experience, Vita Activa closely examines Arendt’s ‘active life’ with the goal of putting us inside her formative experiences, the better to reveal who she was and where her attitudes came from. There are interviews with old friends and academic experts and extensive use of filmed interviews Arendt herself gave, as well as the effective reading of excerpts from her essays and letters by actress Alison Darcy. Though the talk is smart and constant here, Vita Activa also benefits from the director’s sharp eye for effective, often rarely seen newsreel and home-movie footage.” — Kenneth Turan, LA Times
“There are moments in Vita Activa, an urgent and often startling documentary from Israeli director Ada Ushpiz, where I could feel her trying to reach across the decades and talk to us.” — Andrew O’Hehir, Salon
CANCELLED: Folks, unfortunately recently implemented visa requirements have meant that Stan does not have the necessary visas required to enter Australia. This has meant that the NZ leg of his speaking tour has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The Coming of the Kingdom of Heaven: How God used the ANZAC nations to help prepare the way for the King.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Stan has lived in Israel for half of his life even though he was born to a Gentile couple serving on the mission field in the small kingdom of Swaziland. Following three years volunteering on Israeli collective farms in the 1980s, he worked as a political reporter for the South African newspaper, The Daily Dispatch – where his pen had its training during apartheid’s waning years. He has traveled to various nations, speaking to Christians about developments in Israel. In 2011 he was accredited by the Israel Ministry of Tourism as a tour guide, and takes individuals, small groups, families, busloads and helicopter-loads of Christians around God’s Land. Stan has lived in Israel for half of his life even though he was born to a Gentile couple serving on the mission field in the small kingdom of Swaziland. Following three years volunteering on Israeli collective farms in the 1980s, he worked as a political reporter for the South African newspaper, The Daily Dispatch – where his pen had its training during apartheid’s waning years. He has traveled to various nations, speaking to Christians about developments in Israel. In 2011 he was accredited by the Israel Ministry of Tourism as a tour guide, and takes individuals, small groups, families, busloads and helicopter-loads of Christians around God’s Land.
An unsettling vision of military service pervading everyday Israeli life, Samuel Maoz’s (Lebanon) visceral and startlingly unpredictable film centres on a Tel Aviv couple coping with the death of their son, a soldier stationed in the middle of nowhere.
“Maazo’s marvelous, harrowing drama about death and life in Israel marches boldly through the no-man’s-land between realism and surrealism. It’s prize collection of paradoxes, combining an intimate, eviscerating depiction of parental grief ove ra serviceman’s death with an empathic, absurdist rendering of young Israeli Defence Force soldiers manning a remote and otherworldly roadblock…
Foxtrot carries the excitement and punch of a fearless writer-director tackling contemporary material with a bracing cocktail of potent traditional drama, wild black comedy, and serrated style. [It all] comes together as a complex plea for honesty, openness, frankness, and forgiveness. The movie is also, incidentally, a spectacularly effective antiwar film, focusing on the randomness and cruelty of life lived on military roads… Its final image resters like a blow to the chest. It’s a shot that should be seen around the world.” — Michael Sragow, Film Comment
“[Foxtrot] contains some of themost striking, memorable imagery of the year… It’s a film designed tomove you with its depiction of senseless tragedy but also to spark that part of your thinking process that only moviemaking can tap… This multitalented filmmaker has taken that darkness and turned it into something unforgettable for everyone who sees it.” — Brian Tallerico, RobertEbert.com
Awards: Grand Jury Price, Venice Film Festival 2017
Hebrew, Arabic and German, with English subtitles; 113 minutes.
An unsettling vision of military service pervading everyday Israeli life, Samuel Maoz’s (Lebanon) visceral and startlingly unpredictable film centres on a Tel Aviv couple coping with the death of their son, a soldier stationed in the middle of nowhere.
“Maazo’s marvelous, harrowing drama about death and life in Israel marches boldly through the no-man’s-land between realism and surrealism. It’s prize collection of paradoxes, combining an intimate, eviscerating depiction of parental grief ove ra serviceman’s death with an empathic, absurdist rendering of young Israeli Defence Force soldiers manning a remote and otherworldly roadblock…
Foxtrot carries the excitement and punch of a fearless writer-director tackling contemporary material with a bracing cocktail of potent traditional drama, wild black comedy, and serrated style. [It all] comes together as a complex plea for honesty, openness, frankness, and forgiveness. The movie is also, incidentally, a spectacularly effective antiwar film, focusing on the randomness and cruelty of life lived on military roads… Its final image resters like a blow to the chest. It’s a shot that should be seen around the world.” — Michael Sragow, Film Comment
“[Foxtrot] contains some of themost striking, memorable imagery of the year… It’s a film designed tomove you with its depiction of senseless tragedy but also to spark that part of your thinking process that only moviemaking can tap… This multitalented filmmaker has taken that darkness and turned it into something unforgettable for everyone who sees it.” — Brian Tallerico, RobertEbert.com
Awards: Grand Jury Price, Venice Film Festival 2017
Hebrew, Arabic and German, with English subtitles; 113 minutes.
CHRISTCHURCH:
“ASK ME ANYTHING” (AMA) SESSION
WITH
RABBI ARIEL TAL
RABBI OF THE WELLINGTON JEWISH COMMUNITY
19 SEPTEMBER 2019
Following the massacres, it’s clear that there is a lack of knowledge and understanding of minorities in our community. With that lack comes uncertainty, anxiety and even fear. Unfortunately we humans often respond with prejudice and intolerance. One of those minorities is the Jewish community and those who adhere to Judaism.
We are honoured to host Rabbi Ariel Tal to join us for an “Ask Me Anything” session where he will take questions from the floor.
Rabbi Ariel Tal is an experienced educator, Rabbi and marketing expert, serving in positions in both North America and Israel. Rabbi Tal has a education degree from Ohalo College in the Golan Heights, Israel, Rabbinical Semicha from Israel Chief Rabbinate, and is a Personal Coach through Da’at U’Tevuna School in Rechovot, Israel. He has taught at the Netivot HaTorah Day School in Toronto, Kibbutz Lavi Primary School and the educational organisation Livnot U’Lehibanot.
With such wide experiences, Ariel is well able to answer questions on Judaism, Jewish life in Israel, the Diaspora and New Zealand.
Ever wondered what Judaism stood for? What it says about the meaning of life? What Judaism says about how the world ends?
A Jewish perspective on the Middle East Conflict and Palestinian Arab relations? What Jews outside of Israel think of the Middle Eastern situation?
What impression New Zealanders have made on Ariel and his family? His thoughts on New Zealand culture and what its like to live in Wellington?
That’s just a few questions you could ask him.
A rare opportunity to publicly quiz a Jewish Rabbi in person.
Where: Sumner Community Centre, 14-16 Wakefield Avenue, Sumner, Christchurch.
When: 7.30pm, Thursday, September 19.
Admission: A plate of finger food. Please avoid pork and seafood products. A collection will be taken to help defray expenses.
The four rescued hostages being reunited with their families. Heartwarming.
Hi Folks
Because it looks like our June 7 mail out of our newsletter wasn’t received, we’ve decided to call off tomorrow night’s meeting.
If you are aware of another member who receives the newsletter by snail mail, please get in touch and let them know.
We will be making this announcement on Facebook, Instagram and our website too.
In the meantime, we’ll investigate why the email might be in our “Sent Items” folder, it didn’t make it to our members.
Apologies for the inconvenience
Hi Folks
Our next meeting in Christchurch is on Tuesday, 7.30pm at the Halswell Centre, 349 Halswell Rd, Christchurch.
Our focus will be:
• The inside information about the rescue of the four hostages last weekend and how that gives hope for rescuing more hostages.
• Jordan Peterson and John Spencer on what urban warfare means and how that has shaped the IDF’s conduct in Gaza.
As always, admission is a plate of finger food, please no pork or seafood products.
See you there!
We are also raising funds for Moran (who will speak with us tonight). If you’d like to donate, please go to https://donorbox.org/donate-to-moran-stella-yanai
On the morning of October 7, Kibbutz Be’eri was struck by a devastating tragedy. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists invaded the community, unleashing a wave of unimaginable horror. Ninety-three members of the community had been brutally murdered. This horrific event claimed the lives of women, children, toddlers, and even an infant, amounting to 10% of the farming community’s residents.
Fire and gunfire destroyed thirty percent of the homes, leaving behind tales of survival marked by horror, abandonment, helplessness, and enduring pain. After capturing the kibbutz, the terrorists went from house to house, shooting or capturing residents while setting buildings on fire. They were accompanied by a camera team and a journalist who documented the attack. Many residents tried to hide in shelter rooms, but the attackers blew up the doors and killed everyone inside.
Nine members were taken into the Gaza Strip, five of whom have since died in captivity. 120 people are still held hostage, their fate uncertain.
The kibbutz is currently a closed military zone, off-limits to the general public. Created on February 7th, exactly five months after October 7th, this series has a significant historical value. In an era rife with disinformation, fake news and AI manipulated imagery, these documentary photos serve as a silent testament to that horrific attack.
Attendance by registration only, please click here to register.
Opening event: Saturday, June 22nd, 6-8pm with keynote speaker Juliet Moses
Exhibition Dates: Sunday June 23rd – Friday July 5th, 10am-3pm, excluding Friday, June 28th (public holiday)
Venue: Auckland Hebrew Congregation, 514 Remuera Road, Remuera
Phone: 09-373 2908