Deborah Camiel, Director of ADL’s Media & Entertainment Institute
May marks Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to reflect on and celebrate the multifaceted nature of Jewish communities around the world. ADL’s Media & Entertainment Institute is thrilled to announce two vital resources developed in collaboration with Common Sense Media: "Movies That Illustrate and Celebrate the Jewish Experience" and "Movies About the Holocaust." These curated collections of films are part of our ongoing effort to ensure that the vibrance and variety of Jewish life and experience are accurately represented in media and entertainment.
Mass media significantly influences public perceptions, particularly of minority communities. With Jews comprising just 2.4% of the U.S. population and about one-third of Americans reporting no personal acquaintances with Jewish individuals1, media portrayals often serve as the primary channel through which many learn about and engage with Jewish culture and experience. This reality, coupled with findings from the ADL's 2023 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents that antisemitic incidents in the US reached a record high in 2023 — an alarming surge of 140% from the previous year — brings into sharp focus the critical role of media in shaping societal attitudes and behaviors regarding Jews.
Our Partnership with Common Sense Media
ADL’s partnership with Common Sense Media began during our "Stop Hate for Profit" campaign in 2020, which highlighted our shared commitment to combatting hate through all forms of media.
Common Sense Media already had a list featuring about 20 films that explored Jewish heritage, including movies about the Holocaust. Working closely with our friends at CSM, we have refined their selections into two distinct and more comprehensive lists. "Movies That Illustrate and Celebrate the Jewish Experience" now includes 31 titles, while "Movies About the Holocaust" features 14 films. These resources will continue to grow, adding new titles in the months and years to come and reflecting the dedication of both organizations to promoting a deep, nuanced understanding of Jewish history and life through film.
Methodology Behind the Film Selection
The ADL Media & Entertainment Institute has curated these lists with several key objectives in mind:
- To showcase films that cover a broad spectrum of Jewish experiences, histories, and cultures, reflecting the community's rich diversity across different periods and regions of the world.
- To highlight stories in which Jewish characters and themes are integral to the narrative and that do not perpetuate stereotypes or evoke antisemitic tropes.
- To maintain a separate focus on Holocaust films in view of the significance of this tragic period not just to Jews but to all people.
- To select films that have garnered acclaim and a positive reception from both critics and audiences, ensuring they not only entertain, but inspire, educate, and foster empathy.
- To present these films as mirrors for Jewish individuals to see their own experiences reflected and as windows for others to learn about and appreciate the diversity and richness of Jewish life and history.
Expanding and Enriching the Conversation
This initiative is about more than just identifying compelling Jewish films: It's about sparking conversations and promoting understanding. These movies will generate discussion, education, and empathy as they offer viewers insights into the complexities of Jewish life, the beauty of Jewish culture, and the broader human experiences of love, humor, achievement, pain, and resilience. By engaging with these stories, audiences can also confront and challenge negative Jewish stereotypes and antisemitism that persist today.
A Call to Action: Join Us in Telling More Jewish Stories
As these lists continue to evolve, we eagerly anticipate the addition of more films that explore new aspects and stories from the Jewish world. We call upon writers, producers, filmmakers, and all storytellers to continue contributing to this rich tapestry by telling nuanced and diverse Jewish stories. Your voices are essential in broadening the narrative and ensuring that the fascinating diversity of the Jewish community is understood, appreciated, and respected.
This Jewish American Heritage Month, let us commit to learning from these films and sharing them widely. Let’s use them as a foundation for discussions of cultural diversity, religious tolerance, and the critical importance of representation in media. Together we can help create a more inclusive and empathetic world in which every culture’s history and contributions are honored and celebrated. Join us in this vital mission and help illuminate the rich narrative of Jewish life for audiences everywhere.