Ashkenaz

Ashkenaz

Directed by Rachel Leah Jones
Produced by Osnat Trabelsi
How the "others" of Europe became the "Europe" of the others.

Overview

Genre
Essay, Politics, Minorities, Social Issues, and Culture
Synopsis

Ashkenazim—Jews of European origin—are Israel’s “white folks.” And like most white folks in a multicultural society, they see themselves as the social norm and don’t think of themselves in racial or ethnic terms because by now, “aren’t we all Israeli?” Yiddish has been replaced with Hebrew, exile with occupation, the shtetl with the kibbutz and old-fashioned irony with post-modern cynicism. But the paradox of whiteness in Israel is that Ashkenazim aren’t exactly “white folks” historically... A story that begins in the Rhineland and ends in the holy land (or is it the other way around?), ASHKENAZ looks at whiteness in Israel and wonders: How did the “others” of Europe become the “Europe” of the others?
"Brilliant" —Haaretz
"Thrilling" —Yediot Ahronot
"Subversive" —Maariv

Stage
finished
Running time
72 minutes

Credits

  • Rachel Leah Jones ... Director
  • Osnat Trabelsi ... Producer
  • Philippe Bellaiche ... DOP

Production Details

Prod. Co.
Trabelsi Productions
Country
Israel
Years of Production
2007
Locations
Israel

Distribution Details

Release year
2007
Festivals
Jerusalem FF 2007; SFJFF 2008; Istanbul FF 2008; Olympia FF 2008; London Palestine FF 2009
Distribution
Cinephil
Broadcast (Prod.)
Channel 8 Israel
Language
Hebrew, Yiddish, English
Subtitles
Hebrew, Russian, Arabic

Photos

178a522dc705c11ebdab31c192199cc9

Browse documentary films on The D-Word