The Jewish Cultural Arts Festival

Posted on October 21, 2018 By Editor

The JCA Jewish Cultural Arts Festival is from November 1 – 15. All events are free and open to the community thanks to the generosity of our sponsors. Contact Lior Spring at 730-2100 ext. 318 or [email protected] to support this important Jewish cultural arts event. Visit jcajax.org/jcafest for a list of events.

Don’t miss opening night on November 1 at 7 p.m. when Martin Fletcher brings his masterful storytelling to Jacksonville with his fictional debut, “Promised Land,” the story of two brothers at Israel’s inception—one instrumental in building the state, and the other sworn to protect it at all costs.

The festival book club returns on November 14 at noon with author Chloe Benjamin’s summer hit, “The Immortalists,” including a Skype appearance by Benjamin, which will mark her only participation in the Southeast on behalf of the Jewish Book Council. “The Immortalists” unfolds with four Jewish siblings who, somewhat reluctantly, examine the question, “If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?”

The festival also brings four fantastic films to Jacksonville as part of the Jewish film line-up. On Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m., A Bag of Marbles tells the story of two brothers who set out on a journey to survive Nazi-occupied Paris. This will be preceded by the short film, “Daughter of the Holocaust,” by Dan Kossoff which was created to play at the Cummer Gallery in conjunction with their month-long exhibit of Israeli photographer Vardi Kahana’s groundbreaking show.

Two documentaries receiving rave reviews at festivals across the country will be screened. “Sammy Davis Jr.: I Gotta Be Me,” showing on November 11 at 2 p.m., is the first film to examine the life and times of this Jewish Black entertainer. It includes rare interviews with many comedy greats and never-before-seen personal photographs from Davis’ estate.

The festival’s closing night, November 15, showcases the award-winning film, “An Act of Defiance,” at 7 p.m. to honor the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth. This intriguing thriller and courtroom drama tells the story of the Jewish supporters and legal team that freed Mandela during the height of his apartheid struggle.

The JCA Theatre Department presents “Nothing Like a Dame,” a cabaret celebrating Broadway’s great divas with Jewish heritage on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. There is also a children’s musical event and of course, more books, authors and engagement and connection for the entire community.