For the New Yorkers among us, check out these two classes being taught by the hip young documentary filmmaker, Faye Lederman. One explores Black-Jewish relations through film, and the other (co-taught by the equally great Wendy Amsellem) uses film to explore the tensions between Judaism and modern society.

Imagining Alliances: The Black-Jewish Relationship Explored Through Film
Taught by Faye Lederman
Tues 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Jan. 30 Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 Mar. 6, 13, 20
Where do Jewish and African-American cultures, politics, and immigrant
experiences overlap and where do they diverge? When did the accepted notion
of a historic Jewish-black alliance fall apart and why? Explore the past and
present of black-Jewish relations through films such as Black to the
Promised Land, From Swastika to Jim Crow, and Strange Fruit. We’ll also
examine the overlap of these two ethnic identities through films about black
Jews, such as The Commandment Keepers. Short written texts will help frame
our discussions of both documentary and fiction films.
http://www.adultjewishlearning.org/courses.cgi
http://www.newday.com/filmmakers/Faye_Lederman.html
Projecting Ideas: Exploring Tensions Between Judaism and Modern Society
Co-taught by Faye Lederman and Wendy Amsellem
Tues 8:15 PM – 9:45 PM
Jan. 30 Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 Mar. 6, 13, 20
As Judaism adapts to and embraces various host cultures, it must confront
and grapple with the challenging social issues and inherent tensions in
modern society. This unique course will pair screenings of Jewish films with
related text studies from Jewish tradition, allowing us to more fully
explore, from both visual and written textual standpoints, several seldom
discussed issues in a Jewish context. Discuss how film itself is text and
how the visual experience of film compares to words on a page. Topics
include women’s status, gay and lesbian issues, illness/healing, and
disabilities. Films will include excerpts from Tehora, Mekudeshet (Sentenced
to Marriage), Keep Not Silent: Ortho-dykes, and Praying with Lior.
http://www.adultjewishlearning.org/courses.cgi
http://www.newday.com/filmmakers/Faye_Lederman.html