New documentary, ‘Illumination: Light of Am Yisroel on the World,’ follows the stories of Jewish heroes – Cleveland Jewish News
Posted By admin on August 30, 2022
600 million? A billion? 1.5 billion?
The new documentary Illumination: The Light of Am Yisroel on the World, released this past Tisha BAv, opens with narrator Rabbi Yoel Gold asking people on the street to guess how many Jews there are worldwide. An ordained Rabbi and former Yeshiva high school teacher, Gold has devoted the past three years to creating videos chronicling inspiring Jewish stories.
The interviewees throw out guesses ranging from 25 million to 1.5 billion, with a majority on the higher end of the spectrum. One woman doesnt venture a numerical guess. I know its a lot of them, and theyre all over the world, she tells the camera.
After letting viewers listen to a host of high estimates, Gold reveals that the true number is far smaller. There are only 15 million Jews worldwide.2% of the global population, just a speck in the population universe.
Ill admit that as strangers from Los Angeles, New York, and London threw out their far-too-high estimates, my first thought was that I was about to witness a film on anti-Semitism; non-Jews have long exaggerated the global Jewish presence in their own minds, maintaining that Jews control the media, the banks and other powerful institutions. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that the film would take a far different path.=
Setting the scene for the remainder of the program, Gold recounts that God promised the Jewish people national recognition so they could be a source of light, inspiring others and paving the way for positive action in the world. Amplification of the Jewish presence allows the values instilled in its people by religious doctrine to suffuse broader society.
As Jews, we have a responsibility to be a model, an example and a blessing to the world, and today, with the advance of technology and social media, we can each do that in our unique way, Gold wrote in an Aug. 28 statement to JNS.
One example of a Jewish model to the broader society, Gold recounts, is the story of Aaron Feuerstein, colloquially known as the mensch of Malden Mills. On the evening of Feuersteins 70th birthday in 1995, his family-run textile Massachusetts factory, Malden Mills, burst into flames. Instead of pocketing the considerable sum of insurance money and retiring or moving the operation down South with cheaper labor, Feuerstein decided to stay put and build back even bigger. The company was not going anywhere, and neither were the jobs that his employees relied upon for their livelihoods. In a show of magnanimity, he continued to pay his workers as the Malden Mill factory was rebuilt, and he even provided them with their Christmas bonuses.
Footage of Malden Mills in flames, as shown in the new documentary, Illumination: Light of Am Yisroel on the World. Source: Screenshot.
Gold artfully intersperses his own narration with local news clips of the fire and video footage of Feuersteins employees rejoicing in tears, as well as his interview with Feuerstein to tell an uplifting and emotional story. The storys resonance is deepened by its religious roots; Feuersteins is a chronicle of heroism motivated by Judaisms core tenets of charity and just treatment of ones fellow man.
When Gold asks him what spurred him to turn down money that most would snap up in a second, Feuerstein has a two-word answer ready for him: The Torah. He insists that he saw his workers as people, not a set of hands. In a moving and candid moment of his 60 Minutes appearance shown in the film, Feuerstein emphasizes how little the material means to him when juxtaposed with moral capital. What would I do with it? he asks, referencing the insurance money he could have pocketed. Eat more? Buy another suit?
In a vulnerable moment, Gold reveals that Feuerstein passed away not long after the interview. I couldnt help but feel that Hashem sent me to Boston to do his story before he passed so that the world could know, Gold says amid his tears.
When asked about her grandfather, who lived with her at the end of his life, Marika Feuerstein told JNS that Judaism was his life. He taught her to give, no matter what that looks like; it could mean a check of $50,000 for one person and volunteering ones time at a Jewish soup kitchen for another.
Feuerstein instilled in his granddaughter the understanding that actions speak louder than wordsand his certainly did. He thought of others when he could have been thinking solely about himself.
Despite eventually losing his company, when asked if her grandfather regretted his decision and would have gone on a different path if he could have done it all over again, Marika responded with a resounding no. Never, never, never, she told JNS. It was never just about material gains for Feuerstein. He was far more concerned about the people involved.
Feuersteins story is just one of many chronicled by Gold in the film. Each one is an inspiring tale of Jewish heroism; sacrifice and selflessness in the face of an active shooter; religious conviction and strength outmaneuvering social and professional pressures; camaraderie and kindness between strangers in the aftermath of a suicide bombing in Israel.
We released it on Tisha BAv, a time where we are so aware of our exile, hoping to communicate that being dispersed amongst the nations is not so much a punishment than it is a mission, said Gold.
Gold told JNS that his aim was to tell incredible stories of Jewish heroes who in the face of social pressures, money, and even death were uncompromising in their values. He hopes that the film will serve as a reminder that every single Jew can work to be a better be light unto the nations.
The post New documentary, Illumination: Light of Am Yisroel on the World, follows the stories of Jewish heroes appeared first on JNS.org.
Read the original post:
- Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Here's what that means - WRAL News - September 26th, 2023
- Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day explained | Arts & Culture - Red and Black - September 26th, 2023
- JewBelong markets joys and challenges of Judaism with witty ... - NorthJersey.com - September 26th, 2023
- The Best Part Of Krusty The Clown's Judaism Is That It Doesn't Need ... - Defector - September 26th, 2023
- Judaism and No Regrets - Aish - September 26th, 2023
- Yom Kippur 2023: What to know about the holiest day in Judaism - Asbury Park Press - September 26th, 2023
- Can one of Judaism's oldest professions endure the test of time? - Ynetnews - September 26th, 2023
- Judaism On Our Own Terms: The answer to an anti-Zionist Jewish future? - Mondoweiss - September 16th, 2023
- US Womens Soccer League head Jessica Berman draws on her Judaism to level the field - The Times of Israel - September 16th, 2023
- The Virtues Of Judaism - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - September 16th, 2023
- Why There Are No Jails in Judaism - Aish - September 16th, 2023
- What Does Judaism Have to Say About Aliens? - Alma - August 12th, 2023
- Rabbi teaching Introduction to Judaism class at UA - Arkansas Online - August 12th, 2023
- Nation and Religion in Judaism The European Conservative - The European Conservative - August 12th, 2023
- How did 21 Messianic Jews in Show Low decide to convert to Judaism? It's a story with many beginnings. - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - August 8th, 2023
- Goals of Jewish education aimed at creating appreciations, connections to Judaism - Cleveland Jewish News - August 6th, 2023
- The Detailed History of Judaism in Alsace - The Collector - August 6th, 2023
- Fugitive Nicholas Rossi who allegedly converted to Judaism can be ... - The Jewish Chronicle - August 6th, 2023
- Judaism - Religion, Monotheism, Culture | Britannica - July 28th, 2023
- Tony Bennett's Daughter, Antonia, says Judaism Grounds Her - Jew in the City - July 28th, 2023
- Judaism - Rituals, Beliefs, Torah | Britannica - July 14th, 2023
- Where Do Women Stand in Conservative Judaism? A Female Leader in the Movement Explains - Jewish Exponent - July 14th, 2023
- In Judaism, wisdom is found where the wild things are - St. Louis Jewish Light - July 14th, 2023
- Professor Brings Passion for Judaism and Teaching to Campus - Christopher Newport University - July 14th, 2023
- Isaac Newton and Judaism - Jewish Link of New Jersey - July 14th, 2023
- In Judaism, wisdom is found where the wild things are - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - July 12th, 2023
- New York Mix: Rediscovering Judaism in the Big Apple - Israel Hayom - July 11th, 2023
- Alan Arkin and the three pillars of Judaism - Forward - July 11th, 2023
- Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism - The Times of Israel - July 11th, 2023
- Origins of Judaism - Wikipedia - July 9th, 2023
- Christianity and Judaism - Wikipedia - July 9th, 2023
- Converting to Judaism: Is it good for the Jews? - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - July 9th, 2023
- I Was Pregnant and Moving Across the World. Judaism Helped Me ... - Kveller.com - July 3rd, 2023
- This Secular Israeli Is a Fanatic Hater of Torah Judaism the Way ... - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - July 3rd, 2023
- Death penalty 'available' but should be 'exceedingly rare' in Judaism ... - Cleveland Jewish News - June 29th, 2023
- LGBTQ+ Converts Find a New Spiritual Home in Reform Judaism - Tablet Magazine - June 29th, 2023
- Why Hebrew is of central importance in Judaism - Heritage Florida Jewish News - June 29th, 2023
- These rural Ugandan villagers dedicated themselves to Judaism ... - The Canadian Jewish News - June 29th, 2023
- How New York was renewed by Torah Judaism after the Holocaust - Arutz Sheva - June 29th, 2023
- Balancing AI and Judaism - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - June 22nd, 2023
- United Torah Judaism says it wont vote with coalition in protest of missing funding - The Times of Israel - June 22nd, 2023
- Tithe and Tithing history, practice in Christianity, Islam and Judaism - NNN NEWS NIGERIA - June 22nd, 2023
- 'The Convent': Converting to Judaism during the Crusades - review - The Jerusalem Post - June 19th, 2023
- Summer Roundtable Webinars on WUPJ Values: The WUPJ ... - World Union for Progressive Judaism - June 12th, 2023
- Does The Qur'an Attack Christianity And Judaism? OpEd - Eurasia Review - June 10th, 2023
- Judaism Disrupted: A Spiritual Manifesto for the 21st Century with ... - Moment Magazine - June 10th, 2023
- The Pizza I Couldn't Leave Behind When I Converted to Judaism - Tablet Magazine - June 8th, 2023
- Rude Giuliani: Judaism's secret is never forgetting the past - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - June 8th, 2023
- For Judaism, It Is Increasingly Clear, Zionism Was a Dangerous ... - Washington Report on Middle East Affairs - June 8th, 2023
- What is Judaism? - Center for Religious & Spiritual Life - Gettysburg.edu - May 24th, 2023
- Converting to Judaism in Israel is nearly impossible - ITIM report - The Jerusalem Post - May 24th, 2023
- Israels National Program for Conversion to Judaism Is Failing, Report Says - Israel News - Haaretz - May 24th, 2023
- Practicing Judaism and finding God this Shavuot - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - May 24th, 2023
- In a joyous and colorful reimagination of Noahs Ark, a vision for a new kind of Judaism - Forward - May 24th, 2023
- 'The Origins of Judaism': Finding how far back rabbinic tradition goes - The Jerusalem Post - May 20th, 2023
- At JC3, Judaism Blossoms Among the Expats of San Miguel - Moment Magazine - May 17th, 2023
- How Judaism Honors New Mothers, From Medieval Embroidery to ... - Brandeis University - May 17th, 2023
- Judaism's rituals to honor new mothers are ever-rooted, ever-changing from medieval embroidery and prayer to new traditions today - The Conversation - May 13th, 2023
- Judaism - Wikipedia - February 11th, 2023
- The Jewish Denominations | My Jewish Learning - February 7th, 2023
- Judaism - Basic beliefs and doctrines | Britannica - January 12th, 2023
- Beliefs and branches of Judaism | Britannica - December 15th, 2022
- Judaism: Beliefs, Rituals, Celebrations And Symbols - Edubirdie - December 15th, 2022
- The Patient is best when it focuses on Judaism, not serial killers - Haaretz - December 9th, 2022
- The Great Revolt (66 - 70 CE) - Jewish Virtual Library - October 15th, 2022
- Wanting in, wanting out: Phoebe Maltz Bovy contemplates the soup of beliefs found in a new book called 'Bad Jews' - The Canadian Jewish News - October 15th, 2022
- THIS BEAUTIFUL FUTURE to Host Talkback with Jewish Faith Leaders This Month - Broadway World - October 15th, 2022
- The myth of the lost golden age - OnlySky - October 15th, 2022
- USAFA cadet forced to choose between her religion and key training told the issue is being Jewish - Daily Kos - October 15th, 2022
- The power of prayer - Cleveland Jewish News - October 15th, 2022
- Path of the Spirit: Our environment witnesses to the sacred - Las Cruces Sun-News - October 15th, 2022
- Judaism and Human Creativity - aish.com - Aish.com - October 6th, 2022
- Do Jewish converts have to believe in God? - Forward - October 6th, 2022
- 'The Patient': Why Ezra Converting to Orthodox Judaism Is Such a Big Deal - Showbiz Cheat Sheet - October 6th, 2022
- After 500 Years, Closing the Circle - aish.com - Aish.com - October 6th, 2022
- Sukkot Belongs to Every Jew - Jewish Journal - October 6th, 2022
- Judaism - InfoPlease - October 4th, 2022
- Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Here's what that means - Rockdale Newton Citizen - October 4th, 2022
- Pro-abortion Stances Are the Norm Surveying Islam and Judaism - A Little Bit Human - October 4th, 2022
- As a Jewish new year begins, reflections on my career and faith | Greenbiz - GreenBiz - October 4th, 2022
Comments