Ethan Bloom

Sunday, November 15 | 7pm | Somerville Theatre

Director: Herschel Faber 

Narrative, 2025, US, 96 min

Film Synopsis:

Thirteen-year-old Ethan is supposed to be preparing for his bar mitzvah – but despite his Jewish family, Ethan is convinced his spiritual calling is with the Catholic church. Through the wisdom of an unconventional rabbi, the love of his complicated father, and his first romance with a cowboy-boot-wearing girl who can put him in a headlock, Ethan must confront his lies and grief to discover that faith isn’t about choosing sides, it’s about honoring all the messy, beautiful pieces of who we are. 

Followed by a conversation with Director Herschel Faber and Lead Actor Hank Greenspan, moderated by BJF Program Manager Joey Katz.

Screening With:

Beshert

Director(s): Lewis Rose 

Narrative, 2025, UK, 19 min

When a grumpy old man in a care home meets a reluctant Bar Mitzvah boy, it sparks an unlikely friendship that will change their lives forever.

The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan)

Saturday, November 14 | 7pm | JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater

Director: Gidi Dar 

Narrative, 2025, Israel/US, 102 min

Hebrew with English subtitles

Film Synopsis:

Moishe, a disgraced Hasidic wedding-comedian, must secure one last gig to raise the $20,000 required to marry off his daughter and reclaim his former glory. When his childhood best friend, Yisroel Bomchik, returns home for his son’s wedding, Moishe convinces Yisroel to let him co-host the ceremony alongside a younger and flashier entertainer. The proceedings quickly spiral out of control when the seasoned performers clash. 

Followed by a conversation with Actor Malky Goldman, moderated by Dr. Shayna Weiss, Senior Associate Director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University.

Screening With:

The Holiness

Director(s): Daniel Moreshet 

Narrative, 2025, Israel, 17 min

Hebrew with English subtitles

A religious Jewish couple secretly indulge in a secular lifestyle behind closed doors. Their carefully constructed world shatters when their daughter unexpectedly walks in on them watching TV on Shabbat.

Sapiro V. Ford: The Jew Who Sued Henry Ford

Thursday, November 12 | 7pm | JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater

Director: Gaylen Ross

Documentary, 2025, US, 65 min

Film Synopsis:

In this remarkable 1920s David vs. Goliath story, Jewish lawyer Aaron Sapiro single handedly takes on automobile magnate Henry Ford, challenging Ford’s virulent antisemitic attacks with an unprecedented libel suit that brings Ford to his knees.

Followed by a conversation with Director Gaylen Ross, moderated by BJF Committee member Ken Shulman.

Rosenthal

Wednesday, November 11 | 7pm | Coolidge Corner Theatre

Director: Oliver Haffner 

Narrative, 2026, Germany, 92 min

German with English subtitles

Film Synopsis:

In November 1978, as Germany prepared to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Hans Rosenthal – the beloved face of 1970s German television – is confronted with a choice that would test the foundations of his carefully built life. Invited by Chancellor Helmut Schmidt to attend the country’s first official remembrance ceremony, he is at the same time ordered by his television network to host a live broadcast of his hit show “Dalli, Dalli” that very night. Caught between public duty and private conscience, Rosenthal faces a moment of truth that can no longer be deferred.

Followed by a conversation with Karin Oehlenschläger, Goethe Institut Program Curator, moderated by BJF Committee member Kaj Wilson.

Community Partner: Goethe Institute

I Had The Heart

Tuesday, November 10 | 7pm | West Newton Cinema

Director(s): Oliver Kolker & Hernan Javier Findling 

Narrative, 2024, Argentina, 107 min

Spanish with English subtitles

Film Synopsis:

This uplifting, music-themed Argentinean film centers on Moti Cohen, a once-famous rock producer. When his car breaks down in the outskirts of the city, he leaves it with Bartolo, a stuttering mechanic. Moti discovers that Bartolo is not just a mechanic—he’s a talented tango singer. Along with his stepfather, Bartolo forms a dynamic tango duo. Sensing a second chance at success and with renewed hope, Moti dives headfirst into the vibrant world of tango, determined to reclaim his former glory and help Bartolo shine.

Preceded by a musical performance from the Boston Tango Orchestra.

Pre-recorded introduction from Director Oliver Kolker.

Community Partner: Tango Society of Boston 

The Tasters

Monday, November 9 | 7pm | JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater

Director: Silvio Soldini 

Narrative, 2025, Belgium/Italy/Switzerland, 123 min

German with English subtitles

Film Synopsis:

Set in autumn in 1943, Rosa Sauer flees bombed-out Berlin to seek refuge with her in-laws in a remote East Prussian village, awaiting her husband’s return from the front. But the village harbors a terrifying secret: hidden in the nearby forest lies Hitler’s notorious Wolf’s Lair. One morning, Rosa and a group of young women are conscripted to taste the Führer’s meals, each bite a perilous gamble between survival and death. Torn between fear and necessity, Rosa navigates a world of fragile alliances, clandestine friendships, and forbidden desires. 

Followed by a conversation TBD.

The First Lady

Sunday, November 8 | 1pm | Museum of Fine Arts (Remis Auditorium)

Director(s): Udi Nir & Sagi Bornstein 

Documentary, 2026, Israel, 83 min 

Hebrew with English subtitles

Film Synopsis:

Efrat Tilma, a trailblazing transgender woman, was forced to flee Israel as a teenager in the 1960s, after a police officer threatened to kill her if he ever saw her again walking the streets of Tel Aviv in women’s clothing. Today, at 75, she is a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and the first transgender volunteer in the Israeli police force. As the country descends into an unprecedented social and political crisis, Efrat confronts the traumas that shaped her life and once again fights for her place in the world. 

Followed by a conversation TBD.

Community Partner: Keshet

Screening With:

Photos of Her

Director(s): Bar Cohen 

Narrative, 2025, Israel, 24 min

Hebrew with English subtitles

Shiri, a bourgeois and conservative woman, planned her perfect maternity photo shoot, but the one who comes to photograph her is Lidor, a liberal trans woman.

Women On Trial

Saturday, November 7 | 7pm | Brattle Theater

Director(s): Lauriane Escaffre, Yvo Muller 

Documentary, 2026, France, 102 min 

French with English subtitles

Film Synopsis:

In 1972, a landmark trial shakes France as 16-year-old Marie-Claire is prosecuted for having an illegal abortion with the help of her mother and two other defendants. In a courtroom governed by men, the verdict seems inevitable: prison for the women, while the rapist goes unpunished. Their last hope lies with Gisèle Halimi (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a fearless Jewish lawyer known for openly challenging patriarchy and confronting the system that condemns victims and lets perpetrators walk free. Alongside the accused, Gisèle will not only change their fate, but, against all odds, transform the condition of women forever.

Followed by a conversation with Professor Kelly Colvin, Associate Professor of History at UMass Boston, and Professor Julian Bourg, Associate Professor of History at Boston College.

Looking For Yadida

Thursday, November 5 | 7pm | JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater

Director: Hilan Warshaw 

Documentary, 2026, Israel, 64 min 

Hebrew with English subtitles

Film Synopsis:

Seventy years after her grandmother wept beside the empty bed of her missing daughter, Israela Shaer-Meoded sets out to uncover what happened to her missing Aunt Yadida, whose name means “friend.” Yadida was one of more than a thousand Mizrahi babies who vanished from Israeli hospitals in the 1950s. Through rare testimonies from nurses, caregivers, and doctors, Looking for Yadida reveals the emotional scars of those who never stopped looking for their missing children.

Followed by a conversation moderated by Betsy More.

Our Bodies & Other Shames

Thursday, November 5 | 7pm | Brattle Theater

Director: Jenny Lester

Narrative, 2026, US, 88 min 

Film Synopsis:

Three childhood friends reunite for a sleepover in Brooklyn after one of them is diagnosed with breast cancer and faces an impending surgery. Over the course of the night, tensions arise as old wounds are reopened and secrets are brought to light, but as the past and present collide and embodied girlhood memories come into focus, the strong bonds of friendship remain.

Followed by a conversation with Director Jenny Lester and Writer/Actor Malka Wallick, moderated by BJF Program Manager Joey Katz.

Screening With:

Parkway Hop

Director(s): Ben Pakman & Joshua Bogatin 

Narrative, 2025, US, 15 min 

Two ex-lovers, Matt and Aviva, meet for the first time since Matt has become an Orthodox Jew. They take a walk together, searching for an understanding of how they’ve changed. 

The Soundman

Wednesday, November 4 | 7pm | Coolidge Corner Theatre

Director: Frank Van Passel

Narrative, 2026, Belgium, 118 min

Dutch with English subtitles

Film Synopsis:

On the eve of the German invasion in 1940 Belgium, a tender attachment forms between a gifted young radio apprentice and a rising actress, their hopes colliding with a world edging toward war. Inside Brussels’s famed Flagey Building, 18-year-old Berre—an introverted talent with a magical ear—rises from intern to sound engineer, crafting transportive live radio drama soundscapes that captivate Elza, a luminous on-air performer seeking joy in uncertain times. As their fragile bond deepens amid air-raid sirens and rising antisemitism, the radio studio becomes a haven where imagination and escape push back the gathering darkness. Through lyrical visuals, sumptuous period detail, and breathtaking use of sound, this singular prewar tale delivers an immersive WWII-era drama unlike any other. 

Followed by a conversation with Director Frank Van Passel, moderated by Matt Sienkiewicz, Professor of Communication and International Studies at Boston College.

New Swimmer Rates

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Full Membership Pricing

*Members who stay at the JCC for 12 consecutive paid months will have their joining fee (equal to a month of membership) returned to them as an automatic payment for their 13th month of membership.

Membership rates are subject to change. Members receive written notice at least 30 days prior to rate change at the most recent address provided to Jewish Community Center of Greater Boston, Inc. Members must notify us of any changes in residential/email address/phone number. Membership is continuous and remains in effect until written notice is provided. Written notice of termination must be received by the 25th day of the month prior to termination. Bank/credit card statements serve as receipt for membership payments. A prorated amount will be charged on the first day of membership for the remaining portion of the current month. Dues are non-refundable, non-transferable, and not tax-deductible.