Generation Exodus

MSU Hillel will screen
a 20-something-produced video on Jewish identity.

Lubarsky — is starting to make the
rounds on campuses and at events for
Jewish 20-somethings.
A screening and discussion of the
ichael Jaffe and Aaron
movie is scheduled for April 15 at
Lubarsky had a typical
Michigan State University, and Sarah
American Jewish
Kimelman, the Hillel staffer coordi-
upbringing.
nating the event, wants
Growing up together in suburban
it to get people think-
San Francisco in the 1970s and '80s,
ing.
"The video is kind
the two went through Hebrew school,
of
frustrating
because it
became bar mitzvah and spent a sum-
doesn't
answer
any of
mer in Israel.
But it didn't work. By the time they the questions or issues
that we struggle with,"
had graduated from college, both felt
said Kimelman, "but as
alienated from the Jewish community
long as we bring those
and were going through what
questions to students'
Lubarsky, now 26, calls "a Jewish
minds, that's one way of
identity crisis at a young age."
making them think of
"We identified as Jewish, but it
something they hadn't
wasn't an active part of our lives, and
thought about before."
our peers were pretty much in the
Jaffe and Lubarsky
same boat," said Jaffe. "We thought
are unapologetic about
there were fundamental questions
the lack of answers.
about being Jewish that we didn't
"It's really a catalyst,
know the answer to." The questions
not
an answer," said
were unique for their generation, says
Jaffe,
who lives in
Jaffe, because "factors like Israel, the
Boston
and is applying
Holocaust and anti-Semitism made
these questions moot for previous gen- to medical school. "We
hope people think a lit-
erations."
tle differently after
So, instead of quietly exiting from
watching
this."
Jewish life, the two made a video.
Lubarsky,
a recent
Using what Jaffe refers to as "guerrilla
graduate
of
Stanford
filmmaking — two cameras and a -
University's film pro-
VCR," Jaffe and Lubarsky produced
gram, agrees. "One of
a
28-minute
docu-
Generation Exodus,
the reasons we made
mentary exploring identity issues fac-
this was because it felt
ing young Jews: intermarriage, anti-
like the Jewish commu-
Semitism, Holocaust, connection to
nity and people in their
Israel, the quality of Jewish education,
20s were ignoring the
what is Judaism, and that ever-press-
discomfort of question-
ing question: Is Seinfeld Jewish?
ing and going just for
The video combines interviews of
rah-rah programming,"
young adults and a handful of com-
he said. "The video con-
munal. leaders with pop culture
fronts negative issues. It
footage. Jaffe and Lubarsky, who have
offers no solutions, but
compiled a set of discussion questions
to accompany the video, say its format it's our way of taking a
step in and engaging
makes it more accessible to young
Jews than other media. After two years people, and it appeals to
people our age."
of filming, editing, fund raising and
Tamara Levadi, a vol-
—
Generation
Exodus
marketing,
unteer for Jewish
which is funded by two Jewish family
Michael Jaffe-
Interaction, a Boston
foundations, along with considerable
group for 20 - and 30-
out-of-pocket spending by Jaffe and

JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer

Iff

responses and had a great dialogue,"
said Levadi. "The video is marketed
for people who feel detatched from
Judaism, and something about it really
brings people in. It's a non-threatening
way into the community."
Ari Gauss, a Hillel staffer at Tufts
University, has used the
video several times. "It
brings out a lot of people
who typically don't come
`0 ) to Hillel events," he said.
"It's very dense, with a
lot of pressing questions
and hard-hitting issues.
Students end up having a
lot of questions, com-
ments and personal sto-
ries to share after seeing
it.
Although neither has
become more religious
through their filmmaking
odyssey, both Jaffe and
Lubarsky say making the
video has strengthened
their Jewish identities.
"I'm much more knowl-
edgeable, connected and
active than before," said
Jaffe. "My level of activi-
ty is a little greater, and I
go to Shabbat dinners
more, but it's also just
more a state of mind."
Lubarsky feels much
more comfortable with
Judaism now "I'm think-
ing more, reading more
and am thinking about
going to Israel. I haven't
become much more
observant, but I have
halted the feeling of
drifting."
Speaking of Israel,
Lubarsky hopes to film
his next movie in the
Jewish state — either a
documentary on the
impact Israel visits have
on Jewish identity or a
more lighthearted movie
Video on Jewish identity is being used around the country
on basketball in Tel
Aviv. 0

somethings, reports that most of her
events attract about 20 people, but a
crowd of 175 turned out for a recent
screening and discussion of Generation
Exodus. And they stayed talking long
after the event was scheduled to end.
"People talked about their personal

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