Two Jewish-themed, award-winning films will be shown on two consecutive Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. beginning Saturday at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road. Individual tickets are $7 per person and include complimentary popcorn and a soft drink. To find out about sponsorship opportunities or for additional information, please contact Ann Treadwell 493-0270.
The schedule is as follows:
Saturday, Above and Beyond 90 minutes, English
In 1948, a group of World War II pilots volunteered to fight for Israel in the War of Independence. As members of 'Machal' -- volunteers from abroad -- this ragtag band of brothers not only turned the tide of the war, preventing the possible annihilation of Israel at the very moment of its birth; they also laid the groundwork for the Israeli Air Force. Above and Beyond is their story. The first major feature-length documentary about the foreign airmen in the War of Independence, Above and Beyond brings together new interviews with pilots from the '48 War, as well as leading scholars and statesmen, including Shimon Peres, to present an extraordinary, little-known tale with reverberations up to the present day.
Jan. 17, Before the Revolution 60 minutes, Hebrew, English, Persian
A documentary thriller describing the last days of the Israeli community in Tehran, on the eve of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The director, whose family was in Tehran at the time, uses rare archive materials to illustrate how thousands of Israelis, who enjoyed unusual affinity with the Shah's regime, wake up one morning to find their paradise vanished.
These winter films are made available in part by the support of private individuals in addition to ticket sales.
The Jewish Cultural Center, funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, offers programs, classes, and exhibits; social services; and a preschool—all rooted in Jewish values. The facility enables the Jewish community to raise its visibly, foster relationships, and strengthen its identity in the Chattanooga area. Located at 5461 North Terrace, the Center and its programs are open to everyone regardless of religious affiliation.