| DISTANT RELATIVES (1995) |
Three chapters' series, each one 52 minutes long |
| Narration and subtitles: English |
| CO-Producer: American Jewish Committee |
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Historians tend to view Jewish history in tragic terms. History books describe Jewish destiny as a summation of constant persecution, expulsion and mass-murder. The American Jewish history challenges that typical narrative. American Jews are enjoying a political and cultural freedom unprecedented in history. Jews are influential in federal and local administrations, elite universities, banking and business. Their leading positions in media, cinema, literature and theater are not even considering. Throughout the last 50 years, the Golden Jewish Age of America rivals that of Spain. The American Jewish community has achieved almost everything that immigrants dream about. In short, Jews have build in the USA the most successful Jewish community in history.
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It happened because Judaism in the US has been transformed. From one side, Jewish immigrants were eager to abandon their backward European ghetto-style of life and join the larger society. From the other hand, the American system of life enabled them to demonstrate full participation in federal and local political and cultural life.
This impressing revolution became possible when masses of Jewish immigrants had separated themselves willingly from the influence of the Jewish orthodoxy and departed from the absolute rule of orthodox rabbis. By accepting the American pluralistic system, where church and state are separated and religious is voluntary, Jews gained the right to flourish.
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This was the main purpose for producing the series “Distant Relatives” - to make Israelis familiar with the American Jewry and its great achievements. The production had chosen ten American Jewish families and individuals from various ages, states and professions to tell the history of the American Jewish community and to demonstrate how American Jews see themselves, their faith and their attitude toward Israel.
