State&Local

Seton Hall film fest marks era of dialogue

SUSAN BLOOM the festival will feature subject matter Sister Rose Thering Fund executive director NJJN Contributing Writer from locales as diverse as Rwanda, the David Bossman said the films being shown Philippines, Shanghai, and . All are part of “our commitment to continuing Sister Rose’s work.” eton Hall University will mark present proactive solutions to inter- the 60th anniversary of its his- faith challenges. toric Jewish-Christian dialogue “I wanted to share films about peo- S ple helping those who were persecuted the way a group of Rwandan women with a festival of films dedicated to helped a devastated community recon- building interfaith bridges and com- — not just those involved in the Holo- caust, but in many contexts where this struct itself. “It’s a story of transforma- bating prejudice. tion and what we as humans share in The six-week festival, part of the is happening around the world,” said festival chair/curator Luna Kaufman, common, not what divides us,” said Catholic university’s year-long “Build- Ruranga, a -based licensed ing Bridges” celebration, will begin on 86. Kaufman, a Holocaust survivor, is clinical counselor and member of Wednesday, Oct. 2. the Sister Rose Thering Fund board The festival helps honor the pio- an author, educator, and chair emerita of the university’s Sister Rose Thering of trustees. “We are all ‘our brother’s neering work of the late Monsignor keeper’ and it’s an awakening to all of John M. Oesterreicher, who estab- Fund for Jewish-Christian and Holo- active way, helps open this dialogue to caust Studies, which is sponsoring the us that no matter what human tragedy people of all backgrounds and that’s lished the Institute of Judaeo-Chris- we go through, we can overcome it if tian Studies at the South Orange uni- event. what this film festival represents,” said “As a result,” she said, “each film we have an open dialogue and focus David Bossman, Sister Rose Thering versity in 1953, as well as that of Sister on forgiveness and reconciliation.” Rose Thering, a nun of the Dominican we selected has a purpose, from show- Fund executive director and a profes- casing the transformation in Rwanda According to Kaufman, “All of the sor of Jewish-Christian studies. “The Order and former Seton Hall profes- films present different solutions and sor who worked tirelessly to eradicate following the genocide there nearly films presented are the result of a com- 20 years ago to the little-known story show that positive actions were taken prehensive selection process and as anti-Semitism until her death in 2005. and that people were not just sitting The eclectic collection of films at of how residents of the Philippines part of our commitment to continuing helped during World War II and on their hands during these injustices. Sister Rose’s work…. Through team- how American Muslims manage the It’s in our hands to prevent these work and community involvement, prejudice, fear, and ignorance they’ve atrocities from perpetuating, and it we look forward to further expand- encountered in America since 9/11.” may require a sacrifice, but people can ing these initiatives in the future to Rwandan-born Emmanuel make a difference. encompass more people and address Ruranga, 53, will be the guest com- “Through this film festival,” she an even bigger frame of reference.” mentator at the Oct. 9 screening of said, “we hope to empower people to In addition to the film festival, other God Sleeps in Rwanda. The documen- not just stand idly by, but rather to events commemorating the anniver- tary looks at both the country’s 1994 help oppressed people against whom sary have included public lectures, the genocide caused by the country’s war- prejudice is directed and expand 20th Annual Evening of Roses to bene- ring Tutsi and Hutu factions as well as our scope to an international level. fit the Sister Rose Thering Fund, an art We must come to the assistance of exhibit, and an academic conference oppressed people wherever they are celebrating the life and work of Oester- Festival chair/curator Luna Kaufman said and speak up.” reicher, who championed ecumenism the films are about people helping those “Luna’s resilience as a survivor, and tolerance until his death in 1993 at who were persecuted. emotionally, physically, and in a pro- the age of 89. ■

— If you go —

Seton Hall University’s Building Bridges Christians, and Christianity, and the Israel and the Vatican. Commenta- Film Festival will run Oct. 2-Nov. 6 and An Open Door: Jewish Rescue tors: Fr. Michael McGarry, formerly of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Israel, and will include the following films, all being in the Philippines director Amy Kronisch. Bishop Dougherty Student Center screened on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Oct. 23: Sister Rose’s Passion — The featuring discussions with filmmakers and Oscar-nominated documentary highlights experts: the life and work of the late Roman Catholic Oct. 2: An Open Door: Jewish Rescue in nun and former Seton Hall professor Sister the Philippines — Director and producer Rose Thering in promoting interfaith rela- Noël (“Sonny”) Izon, an American of Philip- tions and denouncing anti-Semitism. Com- pine descent who was saved from the Ger- mentator: director Oren Jacoby. Bishop mans, will serve as commentator. The screening is in honor of Seton Hall University Dougherty Student Center president Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, a native of the Philippines. Bishop Dougherty Oct. 30: Shanghai Ghetto — This 2002 film, Student Center, Seton Hall University narrated by actor Martin Landau, chronicles Sister Rose’s Passion Oct. 9: God Sleeps in Rwanda — A doc- the story of the more than 20,000 German umentary about the women of Rwanda Jews who escaped the Nazis and settled in Shanghai. Commentator: Seton Hall following the 1994 genocide and their University history professor Dr. Daniel Leab. Walsh Library, South Orange emerging leadership. Commentator: Rwan- Nov. 6: The Test of Freedom: Muslim Americans and the Struggle Against Prej- dan-born Emmanuel Ruranga, a member udice — This documentary depicts the problems of prejudice against Muslims of the Sister Rose Thering Fund board of in America. Commentator: Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and writer trustees. Bishop Dougherty Student Center Anisa Mehdi, documentary film instructor at Seton Hall. Walsh Library, South Oct. 16: I Am Joseph, Your Brother — This Orange I Am Joseph, Israeli film (2001) covers the 2000 visit Your Brother to Israel made by Pope John Paul II and The screenings are free, but seating is limited; guests are encouraged to make changing relationships between Jews and reservations by contacting Marilyn Zirl at 973-761-9006 or [email protected].

8 September 26, 2013 ˽ NJJN