Shalom Y’all!

Welcome to the end of another week of this new normal. And welcome to the 4th edition of YOUR JEWISH CONNECTIVITY GUIDE TO KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON!

This update is the first of a two-part binge-worthy set of curated recommendations for you! We include a lot of videos and films that you can watch one after the other, bringing you the best of Jewish a cappella and Israeli cinema. Take note of what you like, and schedule some time on your calendar to watch – between making calls to friends and facetiming with family.

Our hope is that we can all use this time where we are running around a lot less…to center and connect and focus on what’s important in our lives. And the goal of these updates is to provide some hints and links on ways to help do so.

Note – these shows can be accessed using “on demand” services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, or AppleTV. They are easy to set up and easy to use if you haven’t done so yet. If you have cable, you can search for many of these titles on demand there too.

And feel free to share your own binge-worthy shows and videos.

Also – a heads up. Start thinking of your favorite Jewish jokes. Not only will there be a Jewish jokes edition…we may even offer a contest.

Now, before we get to this great content – a reminder. If you or someone you know needs help, whether on how to deal with anxiety during these times or help with food shopping before Passover or in general, email us at JFCS@ocjf.org .

With that, best for a Shabbat Shalom.

Keith and the JFCS and Federation Team
smiling-computer-ladies.jpg
Jewish livestream: The best of performance, talks, presentations….

This SUNDAY, March 29 – join for Limmud’s online learning festival. Check it out: https://www.limmudna.org/efestival

Our partner synagogues all have services and/or classes:

Great videos to watch:

· Tips on Quarantine from Natan Sharansky – a Jewish hero who was imprisoned for years by the Soviets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdyHlYpRvko&feature=youtu.be

· Netta Barzilai’s Corona Song – a cover of Ray Charles’ “I Don’t Need No Doctor”…Netta was Israel’s entry into last year’s Eurovision Song Contest and won the whole thing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P0qtizBYxw

· Koolulam – Al Kol Eleh – an inspiring sing-along video to watch, with Shlomi Shabat (a favorite of mine!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxzR9Z-kG6Q

Important perspective on Kaddish in these distanced times:


Virtual tour of Israel:

· Learn the history of all the top sites in Israel. Check out the Virtual Israel Experience as part of the Jewish Virtual Library: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/about-vie

· An interactive virtual tour of the City of David, to the south of the Old City of Jerusalem: https://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en/virtual-tours/interactive-jerusalem-virtual-tour

And two video tours you can check out:

· Israel: The Royal Tour – a virtual tour of Israel with Prime Minister Netanyahu, for $$ on Amazon Prime and AppleTV

· Rick Steves’: The Holy Land– the consummate tour guide takes on Israel, for $$ on Amazon Prime
For those who may prefer binge-ing with books: ·


Top Israeli Television Series…here in America. Check out these three!

· Stisel – a look at the Charedi world in Jerusalem, on NETFLIX (free with subscription)

· Fauda – realistic drama focused on an undercover team of Israeli operatives trying to prevent terror attacks.

· Srugim – a compelling and real-world window into the modern orthodox community in Israel – available for free on Amazon Prime

Top Jewish a cappella online:

· Y-Studs, Evolution of Jewish Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbeArPQqsc8

· Maccabeats, Chanukah 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emIvBfzTsQk


· Six13, Bohemian Chanukah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P30ckBf1wk

· Maccabeats, Sound of Silence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTjw96-Z700

· Six13, Lion King Passover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qervY5HSzqM

· Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j2cAeNHE3c


· Y-Studs, Thriller for Passover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzrrk2ToFr0

· Niggun (tune) with Eli Beer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRG7XqqG0aA

· Eyal Golan cover of Jungle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtHvJB1QN04




Top binge-worthy videos and links for kids:

We curated a list here .


Movies to binge watch next:

US Films:

· Above and Beyond – how airmen from around the world helped launch Israel’s Air Force, for free on Roku and Tubi, $$ on Amazon Prime and AppleTV

· Cast a Giant Shadow – the late Kirk Douglas plays “Mickey” Marcus helping launch the nation of Israel, for $$ on Amazon Prime and Apple TV

· Raid on Entebbe – the classic story, whose anniversary is coming up in a couple of months, free on Amazon Prime
Israeli Cinema:

· Zero Motivation – You may think, another movie about the Israel army? but this movie, winner of the best narrative at the Tribeca Film Festival, shows a unique side of the IDF. A series of events describe the painfully boring everyday life of young female soldiers serving at the Human Resources Department in a remote desert base, counting down the minutes until they can return to civilian life. This Israeli box-office hit shows a hilarious, intelligent, edgy and realistic side of the Israeli army, bound to make you laugh.
Available for $$ on Amazon Prime.

· A Borrowed Identity, also called Dancing Arabs – This 2014 movie was adapted from a book called Dancing Arab, describing the struggle of an Arab-Israeli boy who is sent to a prestigious boarding school in Jerusalem, where he struggles to adapt to the culture and tries to figure his own identity out. The movie is an emotionally sweeping story about questions of identity every teenager experiences, enhanced by the complexity of the Israel-Arab conflict.
Available for $$ on Amazon Prime.

· Past Life – This 2017 movie is set in Israel in 1977 and follows tw0 Israeli sisters as they begin a quest to unveil the dark past of their father’s life during World War II, after discovering that he has been hiding a secret from them. The movie discusses the Holocaust from a new point of view, examining the deeds of survivors and the effect the trauma had on Jewish families and culture.
Available for free on AmazonPrime.

· Bethlehem – There is never a shortage of heart-wrenching movies about the Middle Eastern conflict, yet this one, which describes a dangerous relationship between a trusting Shin Bet officer and a confused Palestinian teenager, won the population over for its relative impartiality and outlook on the frustrating situation. Having won six Ophir Awards, the drama was selected as the Israeli entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards after winning, but it eventually didn’t make the cut.
Available for $$ on Amazon Prime and AppleTV.

· A Matter of Size – This 2009 comedy tells the tale of a group of overweight people from the Israeli city of Ramla who are trying to accept themselves as they are by trying to join the world of sumo, where fat people are admired, rather than mocked and urged to lose weight. Anyone can relate to this entertaining story, delivered by wonderfully funny actors. The movie was screened in many film festivals around the world, in addition to winning three Ophir Awards.
Available for $$ on Vimeo

· Big Bad Wolves – The official selection of 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, Big Bad Wolves is an Israeli horror thriller and black comedy declared by Quentin Tarantino to be the best film of 2013. The plotline takes place after a little girl is abducted and murdered and is centred around three men, her father, who is out for revenge, a police officer, who has neglected the boundaries of law and the main suspect, a religious studies teacher.
Available for $$ on Amazon Prime and AppleTV

Stay tuned for more early next week!

Shabbat Shalom. Stay healthy. And keep smiling!

K