Israeli Film Festival: Je T’aime, I Love you Terminal — 3/29, 8 p.m.

The last screening in the Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival will take place on Thursday, March 29 at Goldsmith Family Cinema at 8  P.M. Dani Menkin, Jewish and Israel Visiting Scholar and the film’s director, will introduce and comment upon his film Je T’aime, I Love You Terminal. In this romantic comedy, a young Israeli man, travels from Israel to New York to join his American Fiancée. During a 24 –hour connection delay, he meets an eccentric and charming girl with whom he reconsiders love, relationships and life.

The film is in English and you can view a  video trail at the Israeli Film Website at http://iff.site.wesleyan.edu.

See you at the movies, Dalit Katz

 Religion Department & Jewish and Israel Studies Certificate Program, Director of the Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival

Israeli Film Festival: “Intimate Grammar” — March 1

Intimate Grammar, a film adaptation by director Nir Bergman, based upon the renowned author David Grossman’s book, will be the fifth film screened in The Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival on Thursday, March 1 at the Goldsmith Family Cinema at 8 p.m. This film explores the metaphoric and emotional field of grammar through a 12 year old boy, Aharon, who refuses to grow up. Film critic Laura Blum will deliver a talk entitled The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up as well as conduct a question/answer session after the screening.

The film is 110 minutes and has English subtitles. Admission is free and all are welcomed. 

Please note that our last screening will take place on Thursday, March 29 at the Goldsmith Family Cinema at 8 P.M. Film director and Wesleyan University Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Dani Menkin, will comment upon his movie Je T’aime, I Love Terminal as well as take questions from the audience. 

I hope to see you at the movies,

 Dalit Katz, Religion Department, Jewish and Israel Studies Certificate Program,Director of the Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival

Israeli Academic Award-winning “Restoration” — 2/23 at 8 p.m.

Restoration, nominated for 11 Israeli Academy Awards, in its Connecticut premiere, will debut as part of the Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival on Goldsmith Family Cinema  at Thursday, February 23 at 8 P.M.  Restoration, “marked by disquietly beautiful imagery” and “a handsome production of intriguing and perhaps incongruous surfaces” (Variety), is a new film from director Yossi Madmoni, and the only Israeli picture to be named as an official selection of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film centers on Mr. Fidelman’s attachment to his antique restoration workshop. After his longtime business partner dies, Fidelman rejects his son’s idea to sell his business in order to build an apartment complex on the site. Fidelman believes that with the help of his new apprentice, Anton, he will find a way to save and preserve his shop as well as his solitary world. Peter Gedrys, a professional restorer for more than 25 years, will deliver a talk Restoration: Embracing the Past While Creating the Future.

 The film is 105 minutes and has English subtitles. Admission is free and all are welcomed.

 Please mark your calendar for the screening of the adaptation of David Grossman’s novel Intimate Grammar by film director Nir Bergamn on Thursday,  March 1 at the Goldsmith family Cinema at 8 p.m.

I hope to see you and your students at the movies, Dalit Katz,

UCAB Events This Week — 2/23-25

Upcoming UCAB events:  

  • ·        Thursday 2/23: Massage Night. You desperately need a study break, but you can’t rationally justify one. We can though. Feeling knotty? Need a good back rub? Want to reach a state of absolute zen and focus? Let us knead your troubles away in the most productive break of the year yet.  Please arrive at 8:30pm in the Daniel Family Commons to sign-up for a massages. First come, first serve. These spots tend to fill up within seconds.
  • ·         Friday 2/24: The Help. “The Help” a movie about an aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960’s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maid’s point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis. 10pm in the West Dining Bay.
  • ·        Saturday 2/25: Sumo Wrestling. Release some stress and battle your fellow peers in authentic sumo wrestling suits! 11:59pm in the Usdan Café.

Don’t forget to like us on facebook and follow us on twitter (/wesusdan).

http://www.wesleyan.edu/sald/ucab/

 

Israeli Film Festival: The Human Resources Manager — 2/16, 8 p.m.

Eran Riklis’ film, The Human Resources Manager, winner of 5 Israeli Academy Awards including Best Picture, is based on a novel by acclaimed Israeli writer, A. B. Yehosua. The film begins with the death of a Romanian immigrant in Israel. Although her death was not work related, an investigative reporter decides to publicize the case as an example of the cold-hearted approach of the company to its employees. The company’s human resources manager is sent to Romania to counter those accusations. On his quest to honor a woman he never met, the human resources manger discovers new qualities about himself and his job as a human resource manager.

 The film is going to be screened on Thursday, February 16 at Goldsmith Family Cinema at 8 P.M.  You can watch a trailer of this film at http://iff.site.wesleyan.edu

After the screening Rabbi Seth Haaz from Congregation Adath Israel in Middletown will discuss ethical issues arising from this film from a Judaic perspective.

Admission is free and all are welcomed.  See you at the movies, Dalit Katz, Religion Department and Director of the Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival

48 Hour Magazine Project — Starting Friday Noon

48 Hour Magazine Project 

We are going to write, edit, design, and publish a magazine over the course of forty-eight hours.

We’re seeking writers, photographers, artists, filmmakers, designers (both print and web), copy editors, and anyone else who thinks this is even remotely a good idea. Your efforts will define this project because we can only make it happen with a great team of contributors. You can spend anywhere from one to forty-eight hours with us, assisting with any or every step of the process. Experience is not necessary.

Here’s how it will go:

At noon on Friday, November 11th, we will announce the magazine’s theme, a loose topic that you can use as a jumping-off point for your work. We’ll also have a selection of prompts, prods, and suggestions if you’re looking for a little extra direction. Over the next forty-eight hours, you will join us in selecting and editing content, establishing the magazine’s graphical and editorial identity, and designing the print and web editions. You’ll even get to help choose the name.

Why bother? It’s going to be forty-eight hours of frenzied fun and free food. When we’re done we will have an awesome magazine to distribute throughout campus (for free!), and we will weep joyous tears of elated exhaustion and/or exhausted elation.

If you want to contribute, send an email to 48hourmag@gmail.com. At noon on Friday, will will announce the theme and prompts  via facebook and email (and on Wesleying).

Follow us on FacebookAlso, tell your friends.

Many thanks to the Shapiro Creative Writing Center for making this event possible.

“The Poojari’s Daughter,” film by Prof. Goslinga — today, Nov. 10, 5 p.m.

The Department of Religion, in concert with the Department of Anthropology, is pleased to announce the campus film premiere of “The Poojari’s Daughter” an ethnographic film by Anthropology faculty member Gillian Goslinga .

Using experimental film techniques that recall the work of Trinh Minh Ha, The Poojari’s Daughter weaves dramatic footage of a South Indian temple goat sacrifice with the moving narration of the priestess Rajathiamma who performs the ritual. The film also includes interviews with Rajathiamma’s family and brief narrations by the film maker. Together, these create a vivid and unforgettably intimate portrait of the devotional worlds of South Indian Hinduism and a remarkable woman priest. 

Following the film, Professor Goslinga will offer food for thought through a discussion of the film, after which a small reception will provide more corporeal forms of food: specifically, South Indian food and beverages.

Please join us–Today,  November 10th, 5-7 pm, Powell Family Cinema, Center for Film Studies