The Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival kicked off with a reception Thursday night at the Shaw Center prior to the showing of "The Rape of Europa." The festival, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge and Jewish Cinema South, marks the beginning of Jewish-sponsored events for the spring semester. This event is to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary. Mickey Gray, aspiring filmmaker and theater senior, said he attended the showing of "The Rape of Europa" to meet someone in the film industry to network for a potential career in New Orleans. He said he recently converted to Judaism. Mike Russo, assistant librarian for LSU Libraries, said he attended the showing with his wife and friend and plans to return to the festival Sunday. Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden said this is the second year he attended the festival. Holden stressed the importance of projecting and understanding the truth of what happened during the Holocaust. Moshe Cohen, interim program coordinator of Hillel, the Jewish organization on campus, said the 60th year since Israel's establishment as a state in 1948 will officially be observed after the spring semester. But Hillel is planning a series of programs and events during the semester to commemorate the anniversary. Also in an effort to celebrate Jewish roots in Israel, Cohen said Tu B'Shevat, a Jewish holiday originating in Israel celebrating the "Birthday, or New Year of the Trees," will be observed Jan. 22. The holiday is the 15th day of the month of Shevat on the Jewish calendar. It calls for a "sabbatical" or pause in the harvesting of plants. Cohen said Hillel will host a Tu B'Shevat celebration Jan. 23 at 5 p.m. at the Hill Farm Community Garden where a variety of fruits will be available for tasting, and a Tu B'Shevat program will be conducted. The Jewish Film Festival will continue through Sunday and will conclude with a showing of "Varian's War" at 7 p.m.
---- Contact Sarah Lawson at slawson@lsureveille.com
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