The Matchmaker with Hava Nagila, a short

Seeing is believing. But, believing what? What will you come to believe about Yankele Bride, Holocaust survivor, the Matchmaker of this film? Yankele is certainly not Yenta, the good hearted Matchmaker of Fiddler. But what is he? Yankele is a complicated, mysterious character. Is he a shady businessman in cahoots with a band of Romanian dwarfs, themselves survivors? But why does he specialize in helping those with disabilities and other serious problems? Is Yankele, in fact, more on a mission than… Show more in business? Is this why Yankele takes teenager Arik under his wing in summer, 1968 Haifa? This is that special summer: coming of age, first loves, the discovery of the human heart, always to be conflicted by choices between good and bad. But come watch, enjoy and perhaps find some answers as to what to believe from The Matchmaker.
"The Matchmaker is a love story, a coming of age story, a comedy, a drama, a tale of first love, friends, secrets and heartbreaking truths." Lenore Marwell, Jewish Film Festival, JCC of Metropolitan Detroit
Winner Audience Choice Award, 25th Israel Film Festival NY
Preceded by:
HAVA Nagila: What Is It? (USA)
Director: Roberta Grossman - Documentary 10 minutes, English
A work in progress film for a song that has progressed to being played, sung, danced to and loved the world over. A tune, with words that can be sung in any tongue and translates as Joy! Behind any memorable work there has to be a history. Along with Harry Belafonte and others, you can share with the filmmaker in finishing the story. Meantime enJOY!
Guest Speaker: Rabbi Dean Shapiro
Rabbi Dean Shapiro serves as the spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel of Tempe and directs the community's vibrant Caring and Social Justice programs. Before his arrival in July, 2011, Rabbi Shapiro served the Progressive Jewish Community of Auckland, New Zealand. He received Rabbinical Ordination and a Masters in Hebrew Arts and Letters from Hebrew Union College, and a bachelor's degree from Harvard College. Prior to entering the rabbinate, Rabbi Shapiro worked for over a decade in the film business, specializing in the international sale and marketing of feature films.

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