Rabbi On The Block

Overview

“This gripping documentary profiles the transformative and visionary Rabbi Tamar Manasseh, who is devoted to building bridges between the Black and Jewish communities on Chicago’s South Side. With verité intimacy, filmmaker Brad Rothschild shows how the issues playing out within these Chicago neighborhoods reflect larger realities across contemporary America, at a moment when antisemitism and racism are on the rise. The film also evokes Manasseh’s struggles in gaining acceptance within the larger Jewish community, as well as joyous events such as her rabbinical ordination and the bris of her first grandson. Rothschild creates an economical, humane portrait of a woman and her tireless battle that’s as intimate as it is widely socially relevant.” –New York Jewish Film Festival

Presented in partnership with the Edlavitch DCJCC’s Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility (MCCSR).
Co-Presented with Sephardic Heritage International (SHIN-DC) and MJAM.

Followed by a conversation with film subject Rabbi Tamar Manasseh, and film director and producer Brad Rothschild.

About the Guests

Rabbi Tamar Manasseh founded Mothers and Men Against Senseless Killings (MASK) in 2015, following the shooting death of Lucille Barnes on the south side of Chicago. Since then, the mother of two, who received her rabbinical training from The Israelite Academy, presented by The Israelite Board of Rabbis, has been focusing on preventing gun violence and addressing its underlying causes of poverty, joblessness, food insecurity and a failing educational system. Rabbi Manasseh also helped launch MASK initiatives in cities throughout the nation, including Evansville, Staten Island and Memphis. She is the subject of the film Rabbi on the Block.

Director/Producer Brad Rothschild produced the documentary feature, Kinderblock 66: Return to Buchenwald (2012). He directed the documentary film Tree Man (2015) which streamed on Netflix for three years. He produced and directed the documentary film African Exodus (2021), about the plight of Israel’s African refugees and the documentary film They Ain’t Ready for Me (2020), which screened at over 100 film festivals, Jewish community centers and synagogues. Brad’s written work has appeared in The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, The Huffington Post, The Forward, and The Times of Israel. He lives in New York City.