Dir. Aviva Kempner
(90min, USA, 2015)
Documentary
Dir. Aviva KempnerPresented in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Continuing her work chronicling the untold stories of Jewish heroes, Aviva Kempner (The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg) turns her lens on Julius Rosenwald – who may just be the greatest philanthropist you’ve never heard of. The son of an immigrant peddler, Rosenwald eclipsed his humble origins to become the top executive at Sears and Roebuck.
Driven equally by the Jewish ideal of tzedakah (charity), the writings of Booker T. Washington, and an increasing awareness of racial inequality in American society, Rosenwald dedicated his newfound wealth and prestige to joining with African-American communities in the South to build over 5,000 schools and establishing the Rosenwald Fund for the support of African American artists and intellectuals.
Presented in conjunction with Docs in Progress, Women in Film and Video, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.
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Tuesday, January 19, 7:30 pm |
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Add to Calendar01/19/2015 07:30 PM01/19/2015 09:00 PMAmerica/New_YorkFILM: RosenwaldWJFF1529 16th St NWMM/DD/YYYY
Preview
Speakers
Screening followed by Q&A with director Aviva Kempner and Wade Henderson, CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Aviva Kempner’s career goal is to make films about under-known Jewish heroes. She produced and conceived Partisans of Vilna, wrote, produced and directed the critically acclaimed Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg. Kempner directed, wrote and produced the Emmy nominated and Peabody awarded The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg and its new DVD version.
Kempner was the recipient of the 2009 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival’s Freedom of Expression Award and the 2011 Washington Jewish Film Festival’s Visionary Award, DC Mayor’s Art Award, and Women of Vision award.
She is a voting rights advocate for the District of Columbia.
Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s premier civil and human rights coalition, and The Leadership Conference Education Fund. Under his stewardship, The Leadership Conference has become one of the nation’s most effective advocates for civil and human rights. Mr. Henderson is also the Joseph L. Rauh, Jr., Professor of Public Interest Law at the David A. Clarke School of Law, University of the District of Columbia. Prior to his role with The Leadership Conference, Mr. Henderson was the Washington Bureau director of the NAACP. Mr. Henderson is a graduate of Howard University and the Rutgers University School of Law. He is a member of the Bar in the District of Columbia and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Henderson has received countless awards and honors, including the prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights and the Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit from the Washington Bar Association.
Press
““Rosenwald” isn’t just a portrait of a great, selfless American and his powerful company, but an excavation of an ugly strain of our own history, and a reminder of what one person can do to uproot it.” -Washington Post
“”Rosenwald” used to be a name to conjure with, but no more, and that is a shame this vivid, engaging documentary attempts to do something about.” -Los Angeles Times
