Join congregants from Tikvat Israel throughout the month of January for the synagogue's 4th annual Israeli Film Festival. Each film will be accompanied by stimulating discussion and dessert.

The three films are Beaufort (2007), Jan. 17; The Band's Visit (2007), Jan. 24 and Movie Shorts from Tel Aviv University (2006) , Jan. 31. All three events start at 7:45 p.m.

Moderators are Eric Zakim, associate professor and executive director of the Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies and the coordinator for modern Hebrew language and literature, and Sheila Jelen, assistant professor of Hebrew literature at University of Maryland.

Cost per evening: $10 for Tikvat Israel members, $12 for nonmembers.

Here is a summary of each film:

Beaufort (2007), Jan. 17

Built by the Crusaders in the 12th century, Beaufort ("Beautiful Fort") was controlled by the PLO during the 1970s civil war in Lebanon. However, the Israeli army captured the fort in June 1982, and held it for 18 years - through May 2000. Internal debates about the occupation and grassroots protests eventually led to their covert withdrawal. At the beginning of the film a small cohort of soldiers led by their 22 year old commander Liraz still occupies Beaufort. These dedicated soldiers work long days, but increasingly become weary of their mission's purpose. Liraz's authority is challenged by the strained soldiers and tested by his superiors as days go by and relentless aerial bombardments intensify, including the deaths of two soldiers by a bomb explosion and a missile attack. The end comes on May 24, 2000 when Beaufort was blown up with over a thousand mines and a huge explosion lit up the sky as the IDF withdrew from Lebanon. This film was Israel's submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film, a winner of 4 Ophir Awards (Israeli Oscar), and one of Israel's biggest box office successes of 2007. (Kino Int'l Press Material)

The Band's Visit (Bikur Ha-Tizmoret, 2007), Jan. 24

The Alexandria, Egypt, Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrives in Israel for an event at the Petach Tikvah Arab Cultural Center, only to discover there is no delegation to meet them, nor any arrangements made to get to their destination. Taking the wrong bus, they arrive at the remote Israeli town of Bet Hatikva, and are stuck there until the next morning's bus. The band's leader (Tawfiq) is helped by a restaurant owner (Dina), who offers to put them up for the night. As the band settles in as best it can, each of the members attempts to get along with the natives in their own way. It is a special night of quiet happenings and confessions as the band makes its own impact on the town and the town on them.

Movie Shorts from Tel Aviv University (2006), Jan. 31

Tel Aviv University has one of the most developed university film programs in Israel. The following shorts were created by TAU students. These are award-winning films, which have been screened in such venues as the Cannes Film Festival, the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival, and the Tribeca Underground Film Festival. These shorts all relate to the theme of Israel's Russian Immigrant experience, including the cultural and religious implications faced by Russians adapting to Israeli society. The titles of the films are 10 Weitzman St., Alex, Papa, and Pinhas.

RSVP to AdultEd@tikvatisrael.org

Further details:

Susan Apter skapter@comcast.net (phone: 301-460-9657)

Betsy Miller bnahmiller@hotmail.com (phone: 301-279-0453)

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