Instructions

  • Choose one or more films that explore Jewish American culture or history.

  • Have students watch a film clip or the entire movie.

  • Students will write a short essay on the themes of the film, such as identity, immigration, and assimilation. Encourage them to consider the portrayal of Jewish American life and its accuracy.

  • Students will also discuss how the film's portrayal compares to their own understanding of Jewish American history.

Materials

Computer

Screen for the class

    • The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
      Based on the famous diary of Anne Frank, this film portrays the story of a Jewish girl and her family hiding from the Nazis in WWII.

    • The Jazz Singer (1927)
      Classic musical about a Jewish immigrant’s son, played by Al Jolson, who struggles to choose between following his passion for singing or adhering to his family's religious traditions.

    • A Serious Man (2009)
      Directed by the Coen Brothers, this film follows a Jewish man in 1960s Minnesota as he faces a series of personal and professional crises.

    • The Prince of Egypt (1998)
      An animated film based on the biblical story of Moses, bringing Jewish history and culture to life through powerful music and stunning animation.

    • Life Is Beautiful (1997)
      An Italian film set during the Holocaust, following a Jewish father who uses humor and imagination to protect his son from the horrors of a concentration camp.

    • The Frisco Kid (1979)
      A comedic western featuring Gene Wilder as a Polish rabbi traveling through the American Wild West, exploring cultural clashes and the search for community.

    • Yentl (1983)
      Directed by and starring Barbra Streisand, this film follows a young Jewish woman in Eastern Europe who disguises herself as a man to study Talmudic law.

    • Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
      This musical tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish father in early 20th-century Russia, who struggles to maintain his traditions while his daughters seek to marry for love.

    • Annie Hall (1977)
      A romantic comedy by Woody Allen, exploring relationships, identity, and the complexities of love, with themes of Jewish-American culture.

    • The Chosen (1981)
      Based on Chaim Potok’s novel, this film explores the friendship between two Jewish boys from different religious backgrounds in 1940s Brooklyn.

    • Schindler’s List (1993)
      A historical drama about Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust.

    • The Ten Commandments (1956)
      An epic film depicting the biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

    • Jewish Girls Don’t Cry (2003)
      A lighthearted Israeli film following a Jewish teenager in New York City as she navigates personal life and challenges with traditional family values.

    • The Beloved (2011)
      Follows a Jewish girl’s experience growing up in 1930s Poland, dealing with her family’s struggles during the interwar period.

    • Crossing Delancey (1988)
      A romantic comedy about a Jewish woman in New York City, introduced to a man from her traditional Jewish neighborhood.

  • Add a short summary or a list of helpful resources here.