Kehilath Israel Synagogue, in partnership with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, will host a special Tisha B’Av screening of the documentary “Among Neighbors” on Thursday, July 23 at 6 p.m., open to everyone in the Jewish community.
Following the screening will be a moderated panel discussion featuring Rabbi Rachel Rothstein of B’nai Jehudah, Rabbi Moshe Grussgott of Kehilath Israel, and Dr. Shelly Cline, historian and director of education at the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education.
Combining magical realism with traditional documentary techniques, “Among Neighbors” examines the mystery of a small, rural town where people of two different faiths lived side by side for centuries until the killing began. The film reveals both love and betrayal as it zeroes in on a crime committed among neighbors: the murder of Holocaust survivors in Poland, six months after the end of World War II. The chilling facts revealed in this documentary led the office of Poland’s nationalist president to call for a ban on the film.
“‘Among Neighbors’ offers a nuanced exploration of complex relationships between victims, perpetrators and bystanders,” Cline said. “It compels us to look beyond simple narratives and grapple with difficult questions that continue to resonate decades after the Holocaust.”
Held on Tisha B’Av, the Jewish day of mourning that commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples and tragedies throughout Jewish history, this program invites participants to reflect on the enduring consequences of hatred, indifference and communal brokenness.
“This movie hit me very personally,” Rabbi Grussgott said, “since my mother’s parents (z”l) were Polish Shoah survivors. Much of what the film shows is accurate based on what I heard from my grandmother. Its somber and serious themes are exactly what one should spend their Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the year, reflecting upon.”
This event is open to the entire Jewish community and is free of charge. Registration is required for security and available online at kisyn.eventsmart.com/tisha-bav.
