Jewview: Next@19th Partners With Miami Jewish Film Festival To Present Compelling Series Of Screenings About Basketball, Women Of The Wall, And Klezmer Music

Schtickball, Discussion Groups and Klezmer Jam with Frank London Kick-Off Downtown Jewish Cultural Center’s Mini-Series

New Downtown Miami Jewish cultural center Next@19th partners with The CAJE Miami Jewish Film Festival to present JewView –a new three-part mini-series aimed at tying Jewish films into community-building and dialogue.

Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.
Film Screening: First Basket, a Jewish basketball documentary screening at Next@19th (137 NE 19th Street, Downtown Miami)
Engaging Audiences: Pick-up game of Schtickball in Next@19th Parking Lot
Kicking of Next@19th’s dynamic JewView mini-series is First Basket, a documentary that follows Jewish basketball experiences from ash cans placed on the stoops of brownstones to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.
On November 1, 1946, in the opening game of the fledgling Basketball Association of America (BAA), Ossie Schectman scored the first basket for the New York Knickerbockers against the Toronto Huskies, and by 1949, the BAA becomes the National Basketball Association (NBA), making Schectman’s shot the first basket in the NBA. Several of the BAA and NBA teams evolved out of the semi-pro teams, settlement houses, playgrounds, schoolyard and community center leagues, and college teams that sprung from the Jewish inner-city neighborhoods of the early 20th century. While the era of Jewish professional basketball players has passed, the story of these sports pioneers illustrates how the American 20th Century was shaped by the experiences of many immigrant groups.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
Film Screening: Praying In Her Own Voice at Next@19th
Engaging Audiences: New Sanhedrin discussion about “Women of the Wall” at Next@19th
Praying In Her Own Voice is a powerful film that documents the courageous struggle of a religious female group called “Women of the Wall.” Inspiring a movement for equality next to the wailing wall – one of the holiest places for Jews is Israel – their story speaks of the deprived status of women in Israeli public life. The film is an outcry protesting religious coercion and the violent silencing of women, raising questions about the battle of the sexes within the religious Jewish world. In honor of a visit from Anat Hoffman of Women of the Wall, Next@19th presents Praying In Her Own Voice on Wednesday, January 12 at 7:00 p.m. followed by a “New Sanhedrin” discussion relating to the topic. Anat Hoffman will be speaking at a presentation of the National Council of Jewish Women at Temple Israel on Tuesday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
Film Screening: The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground at Regal South Beach 18 Cinema (1120 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach)
Engaging Audiences: Klezmer Jam with Frank London of the Klezmatics at Next@19th (Jam begins at 9:00 p.m.)
The Klezmatics is where a Quaker bassist and Reform Jewish trumpeter, Yiddish language, Hasidic dance, gospel music and Woody Guthrie meet. The feature-length documentary screening is the crown of a four-year journey alongside the band members, their music and their creative process. A Klezmer Jam with special guest Frank London of The Klezmatics will follow the 6:00 p.m. show at Next@19th’s downtown digs with director Erik Greenberg Anjou. Time Out, New York magazine announced, “The Klezmatics aren’t just the best band in the klezmer vanguard; on a good night, they rank among the greatest bands on the planet.” From New York’s Lower East Side to Krakow, Poland, The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground shows why.

About Next@19th: Moving Jewish Culture Forward
Next@19th was founded in July 2010 to engage South Florida’s diverse community in fresh culture, learning and spiritual experience through a Jewish lens. Producing original programming, the organization will host a range of events and activities. This 2010 – 2011 season promises celebrations of music, literary arts, visual art, education and spirituality as well as dynamic projects in partnership with Miami Book Fair International, the Jewish Film Festival and University of Wynwood. Next@19th is located at 137 NE 19 Street, Miami FL 33132, on the campus of Temple Israel’s historic site in downtown Miami. For more information please call 305.542.7732 or visit the website at www.nextat19th.org.