Aly Raisman has quickly become an icon of Jewish youth. She earned three Gold Medals at the 2012 Olympics. Her Gold Medal Floor exercise, the first ever by an American gymnast, was performed to the traditional Jewish song Hava Nagila, the subject of the opening night film HAVA NAGILA: THE MOVIE.
Aly was not yet born when the Black September Palestinian militant group infiltrated the Olympic Village during the 1972 games and murdered 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. Jews and non-Jews alike were shocked to learn that in light of this year’s Olympics being the 40th Anniversary of the tragedy a moment of silence would not be acknowledged during the 2012 Olympic ceremonies.
Ms. Raisman was very vocal in her criticism of the Olympic committee who refused to mark the 40th anniversary, and the Jewish community all over the world has rallied around this young star.
In just a few short months Aly has catapulted to the heights of worldwide fame. We are thrilled to have her with us tonight as the community celebrates the 23rd opening of Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival!
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The 2012-13 season marks the first time in 23 years that a special honoree is being recognized by the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival
RICK STONE
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Rick Stone is a graduate of Columbia Law School and a former partner at one of the countries oldest law firms, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. Rick dedicates a substantial portion of time to philanthropy, working with both Jewish and non-Jewish causes. He sat on the board of the JCC of The Greater Palm Beaches, and on the executive committee at Temple Emanu-El. Currently, Rick serves on the executive committee of Junior Achievement, teaches economics at Palm Beach Lakes High School and is an adjunct law professor at Shepard Broad School and Florida State University.
Rick’s passion for Jewish life extends to his involvement in Israel. Rick is a dedicated advocate of The American Committee for the Weitzman Institute of Science. Rick is a former Chair of the American Committee’s Palm Beach region. Nearest to his heart is Beit Issie Shapiro, an Israeli center for disabled children. Rick’s oldest son Clayton read the Haftorah at Beit Issie for a severely handicapped boy, Eden, as part of his own Bar-Mitzvah ceremony and he donated his Bar Mitzvah gifts to build a handicapped accessible full basketball court at the center. Rick remains active at the Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy, where his younger son Bennett continues his Jewish studies and plays hockey. Last year Rick created the Stuart Stone Hebrew School in honor of his dad teaching 200 students about our Jewish values.
Rick is a living example of what giving is all about, a rare philanthropist who gives with his heart as well as his wallet. PBJFF is proud to honor Rick and his lovely wife Lesley during this 2012-13 season of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival for his remarkable achievements in the Palm Beach community.
SOLD OUT
Florida Premiere
Sponsored by: The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank
JCC Grand Business Patron of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival
Directed by: Roberta Grossman
USA, 2012 / English / 85 minutes
Special thanks to the Marilyn & Maurice Cohen Opening Night Film Fund
This special event is in honor of Rick Stone
Special Guest Appearance by: Olympic Gold Medalist, Aly Raisman
From the Ukraine to YouTube everyone knows the song, Hava Nagila. Get ready to sing along, and look into 150 years of Jewish history and culture along the way. This film was the unanimous choice of PBJFF screening committee for opening night.
The film is full of musical and comedic moments featuring such stars as: Larry David, Mary Tyler Moore, Mel Brooks, Julie Andrews, Danny Kaye, Roberta Peters, and Bob Dylan to name a few!
During Israel’s formative years, the U.S. fell in love with the culture of this new country. Ed Sullivan visited David Ben-Gurion in Israel and brought Israeli artists on his legendary show. As Hava Nagila became “the song” at weddings and bar-mitzvahs, it also provides a cultural look at how American Jewry went main stream. Harry Belafonte and Connie Francis made Hava Nagila one of their signature songs.
Thanks to Russian Jewish pop singer Regina Spektor, and the emotional connection provided this past summer by Olympic Gold Medal winning gymnast, Aly Raisman, Hava Nagila has regained its place as one of the most beloved songs of all time.
Showing at:
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Cohen Pavilion, Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7:00 pm.
Special Opening Night Ticket Price: $15.00 per person
OPENING NIGHT IS SOLD OUT
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