MAY 9 • 2024 | 27

continued on page 28

although he’s newsworthy,” 
Sedler said. “He’s a 
phenomenon like we haven’t 
seen before.”
Kosmala will call Warren-
based attorney Bill Barnwell 
to testify as a “neutral witness 
to establish the parameters 
and contours of fascism” — 
stating what that ideology 
could look like in the U.S., 
Sedler said. During his time 
as a witness on the stand, 
Lessenberry said he will 
present the “historical and 
theoretical underpinnings of 
fascism.” For his part, Sedler 
said he will be making the 
case that the U.S. government 
has enough “robust 
safeguards” in place to keep 
fascism at bay. 
Attorney Chris Nesi is 
managing the proceedings on 
May 17 with Sabrina Cronin 
presiding as judge. Additional 
presenters at the trial will be 
West Bloomfield Township 
Supervisor Steven Kaplan and 
Judge John Chmura of 37th 
District Court in Warren.

MOCK TRIALS
The SOAR mock trials focus 
on decisions that changed 
American history, as well 
as current controversies. 
Conducted in an engaging 
and sometimes entertaining 
manner, the trials help the 
audience learn about the legal 
rights and obligations of the 
justice system.
First in the ongoing series: 
“Was Truman justified to 
drop atomic bombs on Japan 
in 1945?” was presented on 
Memorial Day (Nov. 11, 
2015), at Macomb Center 
for the Performing Arts 
in Clinton Township. Said 
Sharon O’Brien, founder of 
SOAR: “We will do this topic 
again in April 2025, 10 years 
later, for the 80th anniversary.”

DETROIT 
JEWISH 
FILM 
FESTIVAL

May 2-14, 2024

FILM FESTIVAL 2024 SPOTLIGHT FILMS

Monday, May 13, 7 p.m. /
/
 Tickets $18

Tuesday, May 14, 7 p.m. /
/
 Tickets $18

TheJDetroit.org/FilmFestival /
/
 248-609-3303 

An enchanting Israeli musical rom-com starring Lee Biran 

and Eliana Tidhar. 

The story of Operation Solomon, Israel’s airlift of 15,000 

Ethiopian Jews to Israel. 

Talkback with Jane F. Sherman. 

This program is proudly supported by the Israel Engagement Fund: A JCC Association 

of North America Program Accelerator and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.

 
Produced with support from Burton A. Zipser and Sandra D. Zipser Foundation

Live concert by Israeli-Ethiopian singer/songwriter OSHI 

following each film!

Lenore Marwil
Detroit Jewish
Film Festival

the

OUR STORY

EXODUS 91

