(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center presents Jewish Heritage, Israel and the Middle East which are four unique programs on Jewish culture, politics, and history.  The programs include: Fighting Fear Through Film: Newark's Dore Schary; Israel at a Crossroads: Shaping the Future of a Nation; Jewish History: A Very Short Introducation; Middle East Flashpoints: From Iran and Syria to ISIS and Saudi Arabia;  Admission to these programs is free. 

Fighting Fear Through Film: Newark’s Dore Schary - Sunday October 14, 2018- 3:00pm. Dore Schary, the Newark-born film director, writer, producer, playwright and head of MGM Studios in its 1950s heyday, was the Hollywood mogul responsible for films such as An American in Paris  and Crossfire, and the playwright of classics like Sunrise at Campobello.

Not just a leader in his industry, Schary was also outspoken about his Jewish heritage, and a strong believer in using film as a weapon to fight prejudice. Film scholar and adjunct professor of cinema at Yeshiva University, Dr. Eric Goldman, will chronicle Schary’s contributions to Hollywood and Broadway, and his battles for social justice and against anti-Semitism, through a lecture illustrated with film clips.

Israel at a Crossroads: Shaping the Future of a Nation - Wednesday October 31, 2018 – 7:30pm. What will Israel become? Much of the discourse around Israel abroad continues to focus on outdated paradigms. Within Israel, there is a growing realization that the country’s core challenges have shifted. Israel today is at a crossroads: It is home to some of the world’s most innovative companies and leading universities and medical centers, while a large – and increasing – share of the population is being left behind economically and socially.

Dr. Dan Ben-David, founder of the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research and professor at Tel Aviv University, will discuss these domestic changes and their impact on Israel’s still-evolving future.

With special thanks to Josh Weston; In partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ

Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction - Monday November 5, 2018 – 7:00pm. The history of the Jews is one of the longest and most unlikely tales of survival in the annals of humanity. How did a small and dispersed group manage to overcome adversity and persecution to flourish in so many diverse settings over the centuries?

David N. Myers, Professor and Chair in Jewish History at University of California – Los Angeles, unpacks the mysteries of Jewish history in less than one hour based on his 2017 book of the same name.

Middle East Flashpoints: From Iran and Syria to ISIS and Saudi Arabia - Wednesday November 28, 2018 – 7:00pm. Why is the Middle East seemingly impervious to change? Political, economic, social, and religious crises abound, producing what journalist and author Robin Wright has termed “sacred rage.” Ms. Wright, a veteran New Yorker reporter and Distinguished Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center, who has covered almost all of the region’s myriad conflicts, will share insights on the multiple challenges facing the region.

Daniel Kurtzer, US ambassador (ret.) to both Israel and Egypt, will moderate the discussion.

You may RSVP for the events here.  

NJPAC is located at One Center Street in Newark, New Jersey.