Several years ago, we saw the documentary, “The Case for Israel,” based on the Alan Dershowitz book. The film was produced by Gloria Z. Greenfield, president of Doc Emet Productions (founded in 2007) and Field Advocacy and Advancement Strategy Manager for the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education in the Greater Boston Area.
Once again, she has produced a winning documentary, “Unmasked: Judeophobia, The Threat to Civilization,” which was shown recently at the Jerusalem Cinemateque.
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel opens the documentary stating, “Since 1945, I was not so afraid as I am now. I am afraid because anti-Semitism, which I had thought belonged to the past, has somehow survived. I was convinced in ’45 that anti-Semitism had died with its Jewish victims at Auschwitz and Treblinka, but I see now the Jews perished, but anti-Semitism in some parts of the world is flourishing.”
For 81 minutes, prominent writers, academics and leaders including Former Minister of Justice from Canada Irwin Cotler, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, human rights activist Natan Sharansky, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, Harvard professor Ruth Wisse, Wall Street Journal columnist Bret Stephens and 33 other experts discuss this political assault against Israel and the attempts to isolate and delegitimize the state of Israel.
Prior to its January 2012 premiere in Winnipeg, Greenfield was interviewed by Dr. Catherine Chatterley, director of the Canadian Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism. Greenfield explained that she intentionally chose the term Judeophobia because “it is a more suitable term to convey the intellectualized and ideological hatred of Jews that is encompassed in the anti-Jewish phenomenon flourishing in many parts of the world today.”
What was Greenfield’s purpose in producing this film? To state the clear and impactful message “that all decent people — Jews as well as non-Jews — would muster the determination and commitment to both recognize the reality of the situation and to find ways to squash it.”
This film exposes and vividly illustrates the increase in Jew hatred that is threatening Western civilization.
One sees how anti-Israel and anti-American is the Islamist Arab and Muslim world. The message about the history of this “lethal obsession” is vivid and those who view this film need to address the problem and articulate it. Andrea Levin, executive director of Camera (Committee or Accuracy in Middle East Reporting which monitors anti-Israel coverage) says: “The mainstream media does not cover the story of the resurgence of anti-Semitism. Many media outlets contribute to the problem.”
In an Arutz 7 (an Israel media network) op-ed article by Professor Phyllis Chesler, author of the book, “The New Anti-Semitism,” she writes, “Even if you are not Jewish, even if you do not support Israel, you should see Gloria Greenfield’s ‘Unmasked: Judeophobia.’ It directly concerns you. ... It is the visual antidote to this false hatred, which visually through the internet, in films, in the media, emblazoned on T-shirts and signs at every rally (no matter the topic) scapegoats Jews for the world’s every sorrow. ...”
“One cannot stop watching the film,” says Chesley. “The music engages us, the manuscripts, lithographs, film footage, stills, are shocking, tragic, illuminating, beautiful, important, haunting. We have not seen many of these images before. Taken all together, they are entered into evidence. The amount of information packed into this fast-paced documentary is astounding.”
These include Medieval images of the Crucifixion; covers of the forgery, “The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion,” Christian anti-Semitism through the ages; the Mufti of Jerusalem and Hitler; anti-Semitism in the Arab world including “Palestinian” cartoonists portraying Jews in vicious ways; hate speeches on American campuses; anti-Semitism in France; and the violations of international law by the Mavi Marmara heading for Gaza.
Professor Chesley adds, “Gloria Greenfield, her production company, Doc Emet, and her supporters are to be commended for bringing such eloquent voices together.”
This DVD can be purchased online from Doc Emet Productions for $14.95 and needs to be viewed by Christians and Jews alike, especially in view of the forthcoming Israel apartheid week activities.
