German concentration camps factual survey at congregation Beth Torah

German concentraion camps factual survey at congreation Beth Torah in Brooklyn, New York

Jane Wells

The full restoration of German Concentration Camps Factual Survey premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2014. Since then, it has been shown around the world on hundreds of occasions, and I have attended screenings and spoken about it many times. The recent invitation to screen at Congregation Beth Torah in Brooklyn, New York was different. It was the first time we have screened the documentary in a synagogue and the first on Yom HaShoah. It was a memorable and moving experience for me, and I believe, for the audience as well.

Rabbi Ari Azancot has a very profound commitment to teach his congregation about the Holocaust, particularly since its members are largely from Syria. After, he urged the audience to go and listen to the stories of survivors. It was an honor to speak before the members of the Beth Torah community, to hear the Kaddish on that particular day and to represent my father and all those who made this film 74 years ago.

At 3 Generations, we have the educational and non-theatrical rights to German Concentration Camps Factual Survey for North America. I sincerely hope other congregations, both Jewish and non-Jewish, will consider showing this film. Reviewing it in the New York Times, Manohla Dargis described the restored film as “an extraordinary act of cinematic reclamation and historiography…you need to watch.” Here at 3 Generations, German Concentration Camps Factual Survey is the essence of our foundation story. The sharing of this film is the actualization of our mission. After the screening at Beth Torah, a member of the congregation wrote: “The feedback from those attending was unqualified in recognizing the film’s special place in the historical record and your special connection to the material—your presence made the night something that our Congregation will never forget.”

Won’t you consider sharing it with your community?