The Savannah Jewish Federation (SJF) is hosting the third annual Savannah Jewish Cultural Arts Festival February 21-March 10, 2024. This year, almost all of the events are free and all events are open to the public. Donations are welcome.

Kicking off the festival is an opening reception and Q&A led by Hadassah Southeast Regional President, Paula Zucker and featuring Guest of Honor, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Jill Steinberg. The Savannah premiere of Bella! which chronicles the pioneering political career of the New York powerhouse congresswoman Bella Abzug will follow. This evening is being sponsored by the Savannah Chapter of Hadassah and open to the public.

Three documentary films will be shown during the festival including Bella!, Remembering Gene Wilder a touching tribute and look into the life of this beloved award-winning actor, comic, director, producer, singer-songwriter, author and screenwriter, and The Catskills which features a trove of lost-and-found archival footage into the storied mountain getaway north of New York City that inspired films like "Dirty Dancing” and served as the playground and refuge for Jewish immigrants for generations.

The weekly Food for Thought lunch series will include a special visit from Savannah Music Festival’s Executive Director, Gene Dobbs Bradford, on Thursday February 22nd. Melinda Hofstetter will discuss the work, travels and photography of her father, Seymour Hofstetter, in West Africa in 1976 on February 29th. Please contact 912-355-8111 to reserve a seat.

Sunday, February 25th, renowned Historian Brendan Murphy will speak about the history of anti-semitism and will emphasize the dangers of prejudice in society and the importance of Holocaust education. Murphy, of Marist School in Atlanta states “Holocaust education is a humanizing endeavor, a journey through the past that helps us reconsider how we understand ourselves as human beings. It’s a subject that should engage the heart, help develop better judgment and teach empathy.” This lecture is free and open to the community.

Janet Langhart Cohen’s play Anne and Emmett will be performed at the Jewish Educational Alliance on Tuesday February 27th at 7pm, Saturday March 2nd at 7:30 pm and Sunday March 4th at 3pm. This powerful production is thoughtfully led by director, Joanna Walchuk, who guides an imaginary conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till in Memory, a place that isolates them from the cruelty they experienced during their lives. Not only will the play be performed at the JEA, but will also be performed at St. Matthews Episcopal Church on February 28th and First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday March 6th. Admission is free for all performances and donations are welcome.

Visit SJF’s website www.savj.org for a full calendar of events. There, you have access to watch trailers of the films being offered and become a “Friend of the Festival” to help support the 2024 Savannah Jewish Cultural Arts Festival and other local programs which highlight and promote Jewish heritage and culture in the Savannah community.

For additional information, please contact Katie Griffith at 912.355.8111, email [email protected] or visit savj.org. We thank you for your support.