Join us for the North American Premiere of the critically acclaimed The New Jew: Days of War. Following the screening, movie creator Moshe Samuels will join community members for a Q&A panel.
The Z3 Project is thrilled to partner with the Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival for this event.
Film Synopsis:
The New Jew: Days of War follows Israeli comedian Guri Alfi as he embarks on a journey to explore the profound impact of October 7 on the identity, security and status of Jews in the United States. Through intimate personal stories—from families of hostages and individuals confronting rising antisemitism to young Jews grappling with intergenerational divides on Israel—the film makes these complex issues accessible to a broader audience. It delves into key developments after October 7, including the isolation felt by many American Jews, the rise in hate crimes and the growing quest for renewed belonging within their communities. Guided by Guri Alfi’s signature mix of empathy and humor, the film masterfully balances deep emotional resonance with moments of levity, offering a message of hope in challenging times. This film serves as a sequel to the critically acclaimed 2021 TV miniseries The New Jew, which earned widespread praise in Israel and at film festivals across the United States.
About the movie creator:
Moshe Samuels has extensive experience as an emissary and educator in Israel and the United States. In recent years, he has served as the CEO of Shazur/Interwoven, a nonprofit organization established to connect Israelis with American Jewry and help bridge the gap between the two significant centers of the Jewish world today. Throughout his career, Moshe has traveled across the globe, leading workshops, staff training and seminars for diverse Jewish communities. The idea for The New Jew was inspired by the meaningful encounters he experienced during his travels, which have profoundly shaped his Jewish and Israeli identity.
Joel Swedlove, Ilana Pearlman, and Keren-Or Reiss are three community members featured in the film. The Z3 Project is thrilled to host these individuals as part of our Q&A panel.
Joel Swedlove served as the Director of Youth Programs and Informal Education for Temple Beth-El (San Antonio, TX) from June 2016 to 2020 before becoming the synagogue’s first Director of Strategic Engagement. Prior to his time in Texas, he worked at the Adelson Educational Campus in Las Vegas, NV as a Jewish Music Teacher, Athletics Assistant and Coach. Joel has gained significant experience in informal education having spent his summers as a song leader, unit head and program director for Camps Alonim, Hess Kramer and JCC Maccabi Sports Camp, respectively. Joel grew up in the Reform movement from his early summers at Camp Swig and Newman to serving as Religious and Cultural VP on NFTY Southern California’s Regional Board. Upon graduating high school he served as youth group advisor and director for congregations throughout Southern California and Las Vegas. Joel has an M.S. in Organizational Leadership & Innovation from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and received his B.S. in Communications from the University of Phoenix. He has a deep love of movies, comic books and sports. Joel is the proud father of two boys, Ethan and Alexander.
Ilana Pearlman lives in Berkeley, California with her husband and 3 children, where she works as a Nurse Midwife. Ilana was always active in Jewish life, but her efforts dramatically increased post-October 7, when she witnessed antisemitism in her children's public schools. Ilana, along with other parents, formed Berkeley Jews in School, a grassroots group of Jewish parents committed to fighting antisemitism and antizionism within our public schools. Amongst many accomplishments, Ilana worked directly with the Brandeis Center to file a federal civil rights complaint against Berkeley Unified School District, leading to the very first national congressional hearing on antisemitism in K-12 schools. Ilana has also traveled to Washington DC, providing congressional briefings on the retaliatory harassment she and others have endured, as a result of their activism.
Keren-Or Reiss is an Israeli-Jewish American mother, grassroots and community leader in San Mateo County and a product manager leader in healthcare and finance. Keren-Or is the Co-founder of the Fighting Antisemitism Squad, a WhatsApp group that began with just five members and has grown to 400, with additional community groups forming teams to combat antisemitism successfully in our San Mateo school districts, city councils and boards and collaborating with other grassroots leaders across the bay to create safer space for our kids.