Tragic Awakening
2024 Israeli documentary film
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Tragic Awakening: A New Look at the Oldest Hatred is a 2024 documentary film directed by Wayne Kopping. It looks at the roots of antisemitism, aiming to turn hatred into inspiration and strength for Jewish identity and Western values.
| Tragic Awakening | |
|---|---|
Poster | |
| Directed by | Wayne Kopping |
| Starring | Rawan Osman, Michal Cotler-Wunsh |
| Country of origin | Israel |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Raphael Shore, Shalom Schwartz, Doug Weiser, Pamela Claman, David Coleman, Shmuel Lome |
| Running time | 53 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Release | 2024 |
Synopsis
In the film, academics, legislators, media analysts, and thought leaders[1] including Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks,[2] Yossi Klein Halevi,[2] former MK Michal Cotler-Wunsh,[3] and journalist Bari Weiss[3] comment on the causes of antisemitism. Narrator Rawan Osman, a Syrian-born Arab Zionist, describes her reaction when she learned about Jewish history and came to view herself as being formerly indoctrinated: "I was angry. Because the Jew is not my enemy".[4] The film features a series of conversations between Shore and Osman.[5]
Production
Filmmaker Raphael Shore was motivated to make the film after antisemitic incidents increased following the October 7 attacks/Gaza war. He was finishing work on his book Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?, exploring similar themes, and decided to make a companion film.[3] Shore described antisemitism as resistance to the Jewish people's "deep spiritual message and challenge to the world".[6] He called the conventional wisdom that Jews are historical scapegoats "superficial and wrong".[3] Instead, he posited that the Jewish values of humanitarianism, love, equality, creativity and democracy are threatening to ideologies espoused by Hitler, Hamas and other "haters of the Jews".[3]
Release
The film premiered at the Miami Jewish Film Festival[7] and was shown at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem.[8]
Reception
Jerusalem Dateline called it a "powerful film".[9] Highland Park, New Jersey mayor Elsie Foster called it "an eye opener".[10]