University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

MEDIA RELEASE

CSUN Jewish Studies Offers Sneak Preview of‘Yiddish Theater: A Love Story’

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2007) — Members of the Jewish Studies Program at Cal State Northridge invite the public to preview "Yiddish Theater: A Love Story," a film depicting the struggle to retain the oldest running Yiddish theater in America on Sunday, Nov. 25.

The documentary, by award-winning Israeli film maker Dan Katzir, tells the story of Zypora Spaisman, a woman who has spent years maintaining the Folksbiene Yiddish Theater. The screening will take place at 10 a.m. in the Fallbrook Laemmle Theater located at 6731 Fallbrook Ave. in West Hills.

"The documentary describes what is essentially a dying cultural art form, but there is also something quite alive and vital and enduring about this phenomenon of ‘fringe’ theater," said Jody Myers, coordinator of CSUN’s Jewish Studies Program.

The film was shot during one of the coldest winters in New York over a span of eight days—Hanukkah—when the theater had one week to raise funding to keep itself in existence. It profiles the young and old actors who work in Yiddish theater and why they struggle to save an endangered culture.

The preview is co-sponsored by Adat Ari El, Temple Aliyah, Temple Judea, Temple Kol Tikvah, Shomrei Torah Synagogue and Valley Beth Shalom.

Following the screening, the CSUN Jewish studies faculty will lead a question and answer discussion.

While the preview is free and open to the public, reservations are required due to limited seating. For reservations call (818) 677-4724 or e-mail jewish.studies@csun.edu.