On Sunday night, Dec. 8, the Young Israel of East Brunswick hosted a screening of the documentary “Tragic Awakening, ” produced by Rabbi Raphael Shore. The event included a book signing of Shore’s book, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew? Learning to Love the Lessons of Jew Hatred,” and a Q&A after the screening. The evening was sponsored by the shul and the Wasser Jewish Learning Institute and organized by Wasser Institute Chair Jeffrey Chustckie and Rivka Sonts of Highland Park, a noted Jewish communal and Israel activist.
Sonts and Chustckie welcomed the crowd that gathered in the shul’s social hall, noting that Shore is the producer of 18 documentaries and feature films. Speaking to the audience before the film screening, Shore said: “This is not a distressing post-Oct. 7 film but, I believe, an encouraging one. It is designed to challenge conventional wisdom and to provoke a conversation in the Jewish community.”
The film looks at the metamorphosis of antisemitism over the centuries and how it morphs in each generation to depict Jews as the very worst “enemy” of society in each era. Throughout the film, Shore speaks with Rawan Osman, a Syrian-Lebanese Arab who describes herself as a recovered antisemite and an Arab Zionist. Osman’s personal evolution in thinking helps to illuminate the larger context of antisemitism in the 21st century. The film also includes clips from noted figures such as Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, zt”l and Yossi Klein Halevi, who comment on the functions of antisemitism.
Speaking to The Jewish Link after the screening, attendee Barry Schechter said, “This subject matter of the movie was nothing new to me, but seeing it in this format had a big impact. Tying today’s left-wing Jew-hatred to ancient antisemitism and Nazi Germany was really interesting for me and made a lot of sense.” Attendee Robin Bash stated, “The film demonstrates that we truly are the Or LaGoyim —that is why they hate us.”
Chustckie stated: “As Jews, we have faced antisemitism since almost the beginning of time. And it remains, today, as a true and present danger to all of us. Recently we have witnessed a dramatic increase in antisemitism that affects all aspects of our lives. In ‘Tragic Awakening,’ Raphael Shore successfully shows the effects of antisemitism in today’s culture and presents it as a wakeup call to all Jews.”
Ask by The Jewish Link what motivated her to help organize this screening, Sonts said, “After hearing about the film from a friend who attended a screening in Deal in the summer, I felt compelled to connect with the producer, Raphael Shore, to explore how we could bring the film to my community of Central New Jersey. The movie is based on research from Raphael Shore’s book ‘Who Is Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?’ As someone who previously worked at Americans Against Antisemitism, I am deeply passionate about combating antisemitism. For me, the first step in fighting antisemitism is educating our community — helping people understand its roots and equipping them with tools to confront it. My motto is always to be a loud and proud Jew, standing tall against hate and inspiring others to do the same.
“From watching ‘Tragic Awakening,’ I hope viewers walk away with a profound understanding of the pervasive and deeply rooted nature of antisemitism,” she continued. “More importantly, I want them to feel empowered to recognize and confront prejudice wherever it exists. The film should serve as both an eye-opener and a call to action, inspiring viewers to stand against hate and misinformation while fostering greater solidarity with the Jewish community. My ultimate hope is that it sparks meaningful dialogue, educates audiences about the dangers of silence and motivates people to champion justice and tolerance in their own lives.”
For more information on the film and to inquire about a local screening, visit tragicawakening.com.
Harry Glazer is the Middlesex Community Editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes reader feedback. He also invites news story suggestions.
