O-blog-dee-o-blog-da

By Melanie Nathan, April 09, 2024.

Bryn Mawr Film Institute (BMFI), operating in a largely Jewish township, has reset its illustrious path in one foul antisemitic swoop! That is how many in the Lower Merion networks see the BMFI decision to cancel Israel! For me, I see the pulling of an Israeli documentary, “A Child Within Me” as another precursor to an impending modern-day Kristallnacht, as we move into a trajectory of cancelling Jews, our work and our lives, an endorsement of the Hamas Charter and its Nazi forbearers, that calls for the genocide of Jews, now a collaboration for eradication, by all who scream “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free.”

It is clear from a BMFI press statement and social media reporting that BMFI caved under threat of protest by a group of usefully tooled, misinformed and misappropriating students steeped in the Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) fascist playbook, propagandizing anti-Israel bias that touts the OCT 07 massacre as “resistance.” The allegation is that the students threatened BMFI  with violent protests and were from Haverford College.

This screening of the Israeli documentary about a musician, ‘The Child Within Me,” had been listed for weeks and was cancelled on April 08, 2024, the day before it was scheduled to screen by the once esteemed indie film organization, a shock to members, sponsors, supporters and the Lower Merion and greater Philadelphia Jewish community. Let BMFI be informed that cancelling a non-political film especially at a time like this is political. Let us inform BMFI that cancelling Israel is cancelling Jews!

BMFI released the statements below, first on April 05, and then a contradicting Statement on April 08, as follows:

PRESS RELEASE
ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING 2024 -April 5, 2024
BMFI is not a political organization. We are one of a number of theatrical venues in the Philadelphia region that works with local film festivals, including the Philadelphia Israeli Film Festival and the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, and have for many years. These festivals utilize BMFI as a venue to provide greater access to independent cinema for members of our community who may find it challenging to attend a full festival in the city.
The singular Israeli Film Festival screening at BMFI is The Child Within Me, a nonpolitical documentary about Yehuda Poliker, one of Israel’s most popular musicians. BMFI works with a variety of cultural organizations to bring diverse stories to our community.
Cultural centers like BMFI have long been arenas for civil and nuanced conversations in difficult times. Art expresses and exposes universal humanity when governments foreign and domestic may overshadow it. At BMFI, we strive to present diverse, independent cinema from around the world to bring our community together, not divide it. Film has always been a medium for expression and a catalyst for empathy. BMFI supports our community’s right to peaceful protest. We only ask that everyone treats others respectfully regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or opinions. We are here for our entire community.

Then in a rapid about turn 3 days later, BMFI issued the following statement:

PRESS RELEASE
ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL 2024 – April 8, 2024
Bryn Mawr Film Institute is not a political organization. We don’t endorse or oppose any causes. In past years, we have not regarded hosting a screening from the Israeli Film Festival as a political partnership or taking a stance on any issues. This was our feeling when we arranged the 2024 screening many months ago. However, as the situation in Israel and Gaza has developed, it has become clear that our showing this movie is being widely taken among individuals and institutions in our community as an endorsement of Israel’s recent and ongoing actions. This is not a statement we intended or wish to make. For this reason, BMFI is canceling the sole screening of the music documentary, The Child Within Me.
BMFI is a safe place for civil and nuanced conversations about diverse stories. For the well-being and safety of all patrons, BMFI will not be a location for anger and violence. For those who wish to partake in an IFF screening, there are upcoming screenings at other venues.

It seems this statement is a contradiction to the very basic intelligences expected of a Board of esteemed individuals (see below): Indeed, the very cancellation IS political. This is gaslighting at its worst. The response was rapid with unbridled condemnation by a repulsed and deeply hurt community.  It is apparent that BMFI has essentially caused its own doom – its own cancellation, as many who have loyally supported them, now write emails, upload petitions,  and share their disgust on a blazing social media. By cancelling, BMFI is standing with those who accuse Israel’s defense against the genocide of Jews, a genocide. That is political! Yet showing Jewish or Israeli films does not support Israel at war, anymore than showing Russian content endorses Russia vs Ukraine, or Ethiopian content endorses Ethiopia/Tigray, or showing Chinese content endorses China vs. Tibet.

Here is what one social media commentator posted:

“Bryn Mawr Film Institute has cancelled its screening of an Israeli film (nothing to do with the war btw) because its filmmaker is a Jewish Israeli. Had it been a non-Jewish Israeli, it would not have been cancelled. Think about that folks! It was supposed to show tomorrow.”

In response to the Bryn Mawr Film Institute’s decision to cancel the showing of the film The Child Within Me, Rabbi David Levin, reflecting the voice of so many on social media who commented similarly, made the following statement in an email to BMFI:

To the Board of the Bryn Mawr Film Institute:  You squandered an essential moment of leadership. Until this decision, you were a cultural icon and an important voice in our community. But instead of devotion to keeping culture accessible through film, its thoughtful curation, and presentation, you cowed in the face of political pressure. You canceled a film thoroughly unrelated to the war. The only controversy about this film is your decision to condemn it because the Israeli Film Festival sponsors it. Shame on you.

People protesting against the showing of a film is an act of free speech. It does not automatically devolve into violence, and using that as a pretense for canceling is a sign of It is either fecklessness or outright bias against Jews (also known as Antisemitism) and Israel. Protesters are loud and obnoxious, but they are not violent. Those who attend the festival would find them uncomfortable, but they are not a physical threat. Further, the police of Lower Merion would have done an excellent job of keeping the peace even in this potentially testy situation.

BMFI was an important institution, one I enjoyed participating in and supporting. However, I am deeply disappointed that you have focused on other aspects, neglecting the crucial role of bringing influential films into our community. This decision has undermined the basis for our relationship. I resign from my membership and call on everyone in our community to do the same.

Sincerely
Rabbi David Levin

HERE IS a note from those SJP and JVP who threatened BMFI with protest claiming victory in the cancellation:

The history of the BMFI appears on its website:

A call to rescue the historic Seville Theater, a center of Bryn Mawr community life since 1926, inspired the creation of the innovative film exhibition and education center, known as the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. That call, sounded in 2002 by Juliet J. Goodfriend (shortly to become BMFI’s founding president and executive director), was answered by a group of like-minded civic and academic leaders equally alarmed at the prospective conversion of the derelict—but beloved—theater to a health club franchise. After seemingly endless zoning hearing board meetings and fundraising events, the newly incorporated nonprofit, 501(c)(3), Bryn Mawr Film Institute purchased the building in December 2004 and began a decade-long restoration, renovation, and expansion project. With great community support, the theater complex today boasts four state-of-the-art theaters, classrooms, community gathering space, a café, and a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

It is my opinion that it is too late for petitions asking for reinstatement, as such does not alter the damage already done! 

The makeup of the BMFI Board is interesting and should be investigated to see if bias and antisemitic proclivities prevail, individual by individual. What this Board and many others do not have a grip on is the fact that October 07, 2024 awakened us Jews into our world of “NEVER AGAIN” like NEVER before. This time around, we will not go down asleep in our beds, ever again… and that is what JVP, Haverford College Students and the world is asking us to do. AGAIN and AGAIN. We will not. We will fight for our homeland, for our lives, and we will fight for our rights as Jews, here, in the so called “land of the free” to live as Jews, hate-free. To Bryn Mawr Film Institute – YOU have given us Jews and our allies license to cancel YOU, which we are now compelled to do, to ensure that we are never cancelled again – by YOU!

The history has now taken a turn and been relegated to a PROTEST  tonight by Jewish community members: 

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Lyn Wiesinger, Board Chair, Samuel R. Scott, Executive Director/CEO, Christopher Carey, Vice Chair Michael W. Harrington, Treasurer, David B. Pudlin, Secretary. (APPARENTLY SINCE RESIGNED), Jane Corrigan, Scott Fisher, Harry Groome, Joanne Harmelin, Martha Morse, Ted Peters, Hon. Gene E.K. Pratter, Bernadette Wheeler, Faézé Woodville

Special Representatives and Ex Officio Members:
Amanda M. Cappelletti, Pennsylvania State Senator, Greg Vitali, Pennsylvania State Representative
V. Scott Zelov, Lower Merion Township Commissioner

Honorary Members:
Juliet J. Goodfriend, Founder and Chair Emerita Sir Ben Kingsley, Actor

LOCAL SPONSORS OF BMFI PER THEIR WEBSITE INCLUDE:

It is now up to these sponsors to assert whether or not they support the cancellation of Jews!

PETITION TO BMFI REINSTATE FILM HERE – 

BY MELANIE NATHAN
ABOUT PAGE HERE

Speaker: melnathan.com

Melanie directs African Human Rights Coalition
And is a country conditions expert witness for
LGBTQI+ Asylum seekers in the U.S. and Global Courts

commisisonermnathan@gmail.com

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