FILM SCREENING: Israelism at Simon Fraser University

Presented by Independent Jewish Voices and the Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies

FILM SCREENING:

Israelism

Independent Jewish Voices and the Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies joined together at SFU for a screening of the critically important documentary, Israelism. The screening of the film was followed by a discussion with Simone Zimmerman, the subject of the film, as well as Dr. Naomi Klein and Dr. Gabor Maté.

ABOUT THE FILM:

When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns.

They join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine Judaism’s relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide over modern Jewish identity.

When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns.

They join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine Judaism’s relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide over modern Jewish identity.

Directed by two first-time Jewish filmmakers who share a similar story to the film’s protagonists, Israelism is produced by Peabody-winner & 6-time Emmy-nominee Daniel J. Chalfen (Loudmouth, Boycott) along with activist and filmmaker Nadia Saah (Mo, Omar, 5 Broken Cameras), executive produced by two-time Emmy-winner Brian A. Kates (Marvelous Ms. Maisel, Succession, The Plot Against America) and edited by Emmy-winner Tony Hale (The Story of Plastic).

Israelism uniquely explores how Jewish attitudes towards Israel are changing dramatically, with massive consequences for the region and for Judaism itself.

SPEAKERS’ BIOS:

Naomi Klein is Co-Director of the Centre for Climate Justice, and Associate Professor of Climate Justice at the University of British Columbia.

Her research and teaching take place at the intersection of crisis and political transformation. She looks at the ways that large-scale shocks – from economic crises to ecological disasters to terror attacks – act as catalysts and accelerators for broad-based social change. This is an area of research she explored in her 2007 book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, and she uses this lens to explore the aftermath of disasters linked to climate breakdown, including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico (2017) and the Camp Fire in Northern California in (2018).

At UBC, her primary focus is on how the climate emergency can and must act as a catalyst for bold, justice-based transformation in our bio-region and beyond, with particular attention to the intersections between climate justice and Indigenous land rights; the gendered and racialized labour of care; and the rights of migrants.

Gabor Maté is a renowned speaker, and bestselling author, and is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress and childhood development.

Rather than offering quick-fix solutions to these complex issues, Dr. Maté weaves together scientific research, case histories, and his own insights and experience to present a broad perspective that enlightens and empowers people to promote their own healing and that of those around them.

After 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, Dr. Maté worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness.

Simone Zimmerman is Co-Founder of IfNotNow Movement and is one of the principal subjects of the the film Israelism.

Cosponsors: Independent Jewish Voices, Students for Justice in Palestine (SFU), Labour Studies at SFU, SFU Vancity Office of Community Engagement, SFU’s Institute for the Humanities