THE WOMEN OF ‘SHTISEL’
Their heads covered by wigs and scarves, the ultra-Orthodox women of Jerusalem’s Geula neighborhood were invisible to outsiders … until “Shtisel” pulled back the curtain on their lives, their hearts and their strengths. Now hear from the actresses who embodied Giti (Neta Riskin), Libbi (Hadas Yaron), Ruchami (Shira Haas) and Elisheva (Ayelet Zurer) and from the female producer behind the unlikely global sensation. Moderated by Abigail Pogrebin. —Monday, June 1, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Virtual Streicker, emanuelnyc.org/streickercenter/virtual. Free.
SCOTT SHAY: ‘IN GOOD FAITH’
Jewish Book Council sits down with Scott Shay, author of “In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism,” for a quick 30-minute chat. “In Good Faith” explores the most common atheist critiques of the Bible and religion in a comprehensive look at our most fundamental questions about faith and reason. — Wednesday, June 3, 12:30-1 p.m., zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HxRgpObCSqCneyfN6Vzx2g.
DYBBUKS, GOLEMS, S. ANSKI AND JEWISH LEGENDS IN TIMES OF FEAR
S. Anski’s play “The Dybbuk, or Between Two Worlds,” a story of possession set in a shtetl (think “The Exorcist” meets “Fiddler on the Roof”), is the foundation of modern Jewish drama. It was written in the aftermath of a scandalous blood libel trial and in the midst of Jewish pogroms and Russian-Jewish revolutionary passion. Scholar Gabriella Safran will explore the play’s roots live on Zoom. — Wednesday, June 3, 4 p.m., YIVO, yivo.org/Dybbuks. Free.
MAIDA FEINGOLD’S ‘THE SONGS OF ITZIK MANGER’
Maida Feingold has entertained audiences around the country with her unique interpretations of folk songs both in Yiddish and in English with a special emphasis on songs of social significance. — Wednesday, June 3, 7:30 p.m., Folksbiene!LIVE, nytf.org/live/.
THOMAS FRIEDMAN ON COVID: THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE
Join The Jewish Week for a powerful virtual evening with Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Tom Friedman in conversation with Andrew Silow-Carroll, The Jewish Week’s editor. They’ll discuss the global ramifications of this age of uncertainty: the impact on globalization, the role and challenges of leadership — and where we will wind up when the storm clouds of the coronavirus pass. Q&A to follow. — Thursday, June 4, 6 p.m., The Jewish Week and UJA-Federation of New York, nyjw.test/thomas-friedman-covid-the-global-challenge/. Free.
THE INIMITABLE HARVEY FIERSTEIN
In the early 1980s Harvey Fierstein burst into the national consciousness as Arnold in “Torch Song Trilogy.” He brought Edna Turnblad, Tevye and Bella Abzug to life on Broadway, and wrote the books for “La Cage aux Folles,” “Newsies” and “Kinky Boots.” In the process, he won four Tonys, three Drama Desk Awards and earned a Hollywood Star — and is still a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn. Join Harvey for an online schmooze. —Thursday, June 4, 6-7:30 p.m., emanuelnyc.org/streickercenter/virtual. Free.
AUTHORS IN QUARANTINE: JULIE BARER WITH ANNA SOLOMON
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Join literary agent Julie Barer as she talks with author Anna Solomon about her new novel, one of Entertainment Weekly’s Most Anticipated Quarantine Reads. “The Book of V.” intertwines the lives of three women (a hipster mom of 2016 Brooklyn, a political wife of the Watergate-era and a Jewish queen of ancient Persia) as their stories of sex, power and desire finally converge in the present day. “This frank, revisionist romp through a Bible tale is a winner.” (Publishers Weekly starred review) — Thursday, June 4, 8-9 p.m., Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, jccmanhattan.org. Free. jccmanhattan.org/programs/
‘PEACHES AND CREAM’: VIRTUAL SCREENING & Q&A
Zuri Shostack (a neurotic film director played by the film’s director, Gur Bentwich) experiences a breakdown on the night his new film is released. His fears of failure, death and losing control lead to a wild night of hijinks and a series of unforgettable encounters. — The film, part of the Israel Film Center Festival (June 7-14), will be available for streaming by ticketholders for 24 hours beginning Saturday, June 6, 8:30 p.m. The live virtual Q&A with actor/director Gur Bentwich, actor-editor Maya Kenig and other cast members is on Sunday, June 7, 4 p.m. EDT, eventbrite.com/e/peaches-and-cream-tickets-104459579414?aff=JCCpage. $8.
‘MOSSAD’: VIRTUAL SCREENING & Q&A
An espionage caper comedy about the kidnapping of an American tech billionaire in Jerusalem, the Mossad and the CIA and their competition to save the world from an international terror organization, à la “Airplane!” and “Naked Gun.” Starring Tsahi Halevi (“Fauda”), Efrat Dor (“Sneaky Pete”) and Tal Friedman (“Eretz Nehederet”). — Part of the Israel Film Center Festival, the film will be available for streaming June 7-14, for 48 hours after the ticket holder clicks “play” for the first time. The live virtual Q&A with director Alon Gur Arye is on Monday, June 8, 5 p.m. EDT, eventbrite.com/e/mossad-tickets-104466566312?aff=JCCpage. $8.
ISRAEL FILM CENTER FESTIVAL
The 8th annual Israel Film Center festival is coming to you virtually, with new Israeli narrative and documentary films and live Q&As and conversations. Last year, George Robinson wrote in The Jewish Week that the festival is “a cheering reminder that, whatever one may think of the Netanyahu-Regev agenda, the spirited fight-back from filmmakers has resulted in some exemplary cinema.” Until the festival begins in June, check out Israel Film Center STREAM, the most comprehensive site for Israeli films now available for streaming in the U.S., at israelfilmcenterstream.org. — The festival runs June 7-14, israelfilmcenterstream.org/festival/.
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