Tragic Awakening
| Tragic Awakening | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Wayne Copping, Shalom Schwartz, Doug Weiser |
| Starring | Rawan Osman, Michal Cotler-Wunsh |
| Country of origin | Israel |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Raphael Shore |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Production company | OpenDor Media |
| Original release | |
| Release | 2024 |
Tragic Awakening: A New Look at the Oldest Hatred is a 2024 Israeli documentary film that covers the rise in antisemitism after the October 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
Production
[edit]Filmmaker Raphael Shore was motivated to make the film after antisemitic incidents increased following the October 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel. He was finishing work on his book Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?, exploring similar themes, and decided to make a companion film.[1] Shore described antisemitism as resistance to the Jewish people's "deep spiritual message and challenge to the world".[2] He called the conventional wisdom that Jews are historical scapegoats "superficial and wrong".[1] Instead, he posited that the Jewish values of humanitarianism, love, equality, creativity and democracy are threatening to ideologies espoused by Hitler, Hamas and other Jew haters.[1]
Synopsis
[edit]In the film, academics, legislators, media analysts, and thought leaders[3] including Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks,[4] Yossi Klein Halevi,[4] former MK Michal Cotler-Wunsh[1] and journalist Bari Weiss[1] comment on the causes of antisemitism. Narrator Rawan Osman, a Syrian-born Arab Zionist, describes her reaction when she learned about Jewish history and realized she had been indoctrinated: "I was angry. Because the Jew is not my enemy.”[5] The film features a series of conversations between Shore and Osman.[6]
Critical and community reception
[edit]The film premiered at the Miami Jewish Film Festival[7] and was shown at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem.[8]Jerusalem Dateline called it a "powerful film".[9] Highland Park mayor Elsie Foster called it “an eye opener”.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Rosenbaum, Alan (2024-11-17). "Who's afraid of the big bad Jew? Exploring the root of antisemitism". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ Kempinski, Yoni (2024-09-22). "Raphael Shore: 'Understand why they hate us, to learn to love ourselves'". Israel National News. Archived from the original on 2024-11-23. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ Givati, Sharon (2024-12-05). "New film examines oldest hatred: antisemitism". Jewish Report. Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ a b Glazer, Harry (2024-12-12). "Young Israel of East Brunswick Holds Screening of 'Tragic Awakening'". The Jewish Link. Archived from the original on 2025-04-27. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ Suissa, David (2024-11-18). ""They Hate us Because We're Good": A New Film Reframes the World's Oldest Hatred". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
- ^ Levitt, Shannon (2025-02-10). "CJP invites non-Jewish allies to the antisemitism fight". www.jewishaz.com. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ Chase, Linda (2024-11-02). "'Tragic Awakening: A New Look at the Oldest Hatred' to be screened at Boca's Sandler Center". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ Hasten, Josh (2024-12-27). "Film challenges how we think about Jew-hatred, and the nature of the Jews". JNS.org. Archived from the original on 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ Stahl, Julie (2024-11-14). "In 'Tragic Awakening,' Israeli Filmmaker Documents Roots of Anti-Semitism: 'World's Oldest Hatred'". CBN. Archived from the original on 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ Melman, Deborah (2025-02-13). "Highland Park's Ohav Emeth Screens 'Tragic Awakening'". The Jewish Link. Archived from the original on 2025-04-27. Retrieved 2025-04-24.