'Body and Soul' film stirs the heart

Psalm 137 is a hymn expressing the yearnings of the Jewish people in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 607 BCE. "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its cunning," the psalmist wrote, expressing the desire of the Israelites to return to Jerusalem. This heart-stirring pledge has resonated in the minds and souls of the Jewish people since that time. Through the narration of scholars such as Ruth Wisse of Harvard, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the UK, historian Robert Wistrich, archeologist Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University, Aren Maeir of Bar Ilan University and Isaiah Gafni of the Hebrew University, the miraculous story of Israel's history in its own promised land unfolds in "Body and Soul: The State of the Jewish Nation," a documentary by Gloria Greenfield and her company Doc Emet Productions.

Senior Rabbi Aaron Rubinger of Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland, who has already seen the film, remarked "This film is so deeply powerful. It touches your soul showing the deep spiritual bond between the land of Israel and the Jewish people. In little over an hour's time one sees the breadth of Jewish history and Judaism's deep connection to the land of Israel and the modern State of Israel. Every Jew, Christian and Muslim should see it."

The Orlando premiere of this remarkable film will be screened on Thursday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., at Congregation Ohev Shalom, located at 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council and Congregation Ohev Shalom, this event is open to the entire community. In addition to the movie, because of a friendship between Greenfield and COS members David and Harriet Moldau, Greenfield is making a special trip to Orlando to answer questions about the film immediately after its showing.

The movie is being shown free of charge as it is being sponsored in memory of Robert Shapiro, M.D., who was an observant Jew, a brilliant physician, a Jewish scholar as well as a very devoted and proud Zionist. Those who are moved by the movie are encouraged to make a donation to the Friends of the IDF.

Supporters of this film include the Jewish National Fund, Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation, the Jewish Academy of Orlando, Friends of the IDF, Encounter Church, Zionistas, Fellowship Church, Hadassah, Temple Israel, and Hillel of Central Florida. For more information, contact Estelle Wheeler at mwheeler8@cfl.rr.com.