The presenters from FilmShul will discuss a time when Jewish cultural visibility was making major inroads into public consciousness and popular culture via literature, music and especially cinema.

A formidable wave of leading men and women with names like Hoffman, Grodin, Streisand, Gould, Benjamin and Segal became popular movie stars, appearing in such critical and commercial favorites as The Graduate, The Heartbreak Kid, Funny Girl, Goodbye, Columbus, Where’s Poppa?, Bye Bye Braverman and others. This helped to launch mainstream Hollywood’s conception of the “schlemiel-mensch” everyman and the “nice Jewish girl.” The characterizations may have changed over the years, but the movies remain timeless and unforgettable.

This Zoom talk will be given by film historians Irv Slifkin and Laurence Lerman, the founders of FilmShul, which focuses on the history and role of Jews involved in the field of entertainment - since much of the industry's success can be attributed to their association with it since its earliest days. The role of FilmShul is to reflect on and relate to the American Jewish experience, allowing attendees to be informed, entertained, as well as recognize the valuable contributions made by entertainment innovators of the Jewish faith.

This presentation will last approximately 60 minutes followed by time for Q & A.

If you want to hear this program, you must do so live. There will NOT be a chance to obtain a link to the recording.

A basic ticket is $10 or you can get a donation ticket that supports the LESJC for either $18 or $25.