TOVAH - OPENING MATINEE - Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival
2026-05-03 13:00 - 17:00 (America/Detroit) | The State Theatre 233 S State St, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the**State Theatre** for the **Ann Arbor Jewish Film
Festival**! The festival is celebrating its 25th year and this year’s showings
are sure to amaze and move you. The primary festival runs from**May 3 to May
13** , but stay tuned throughout the year for special events!
**Doors Open at 1:00 pm **
**Film Starts at 1:30 pm **
**Synopsis:** Tovah Feldshuh, the legendary Broadway actress whose fearless
performances, intellectual rigor, and commanding presence have defined
American theater for more than five decades, is the subject of _TOVAH_ , a new
feature-length documentary directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker
David Serero. A towering figure of the stage and screen, Feldshuh is revered
for her iconic Broadway roles, her groundbreaking portrayals of historical
women, most notably Golda Meir, and her Emmy-nominated performance on _Crazy
Ex-Girlfriend_. Most recently, she has experienced a renewed rise in
mainstream popularity through her acclaimed appearance in Netflix’s hit series
_Nobody Wants This_ , introducing her to a new generation of global audiences.
The film presents a definitive portrait of an artist whose influence extends
far beyond the stage, shaping generations of performers and audiences alike.
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14826

The Pianist's Choice - OPENING NIGHT - Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival
2026-05-03 18:00 - 21:00 | The State Theatre 233 S State St, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the**State Theater** for the **Ann Arbor Jewish Film
Festival**! The festival is celebrating its 25th year and this year’s showings
are sure to amaze and move you. The primary festival runs from**May 3 to May
13** , but stay tuned throughout the year for special events!
**Doors Open at 6:00 pm **
**Film Starts at 6:30 pm **
**Synopsis:** The Pianist’s Choice follows the story of François Touraine, a
French piano virtuoso who is living at the dawn of World War II. He has fallen
in love with his piano teacher, Rachel, a French Jewish woman and as the
forces of Nazi Germany bear down on their lives, their relationship becomes
more complex. François is forced to go play piano for Germany in an attempt to
save the woman he loves, aligning with those he despises to try and save a
life.
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/15121

Civil Rights Mission to the South - meet in Atlanta - Participants will need to make their own travel arrangements to get to Atlanta.
2026-05-04 11:00 - 20:00 | Atlanta , Atlanta
JCRC OF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER ANN ARBOR & WASHTENAW BLACK JEWISH
COALITION present a CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNEY – MISSION to the SOUTH
Participants are responsible for travel to and from Atlanta. Our journey will
begin and end at the Atlanta International Airport. This trip has several
sponsors allowing us to provide bussing, meals, and hotel accommodations at a
subsidized ticket price of $500.
**MONDAY MAY 4, 2026**
By 11 AM Pick up at airport
Go to downtown Atlanta
Tour Auburn Ave and King Center Neighborhood and Tomb
Explore the area that Dr. King was born, grew up, and is buried in. See Old
Ebenezer Church where 3 generations of King family preached. Pay our respects
at Dr Martin Luther & Coretta Scott King’s tomb.
12:30 PM Lunch at Ponce City Market
1:30 PM Depart for Birmingham
4 PM Context talk by Etgar 36. Introduction of Birmingham and it’s crucial
role in the Civil Rights Movement.
4:30 PM (CST) See the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park
Meet with the “Fifth Little Girl” who survived the 16th Street Baptist Church
bombing. See the park where the dogs and hoses were used on the Civil Rights
activists.
6 PM Temple Beth El Civil Rights Experience and dinner
Hear the story of dynamite being found in front of the synagogue. Hear about
the learn about the multiple responses that came from the community.
Hotel: Fairfield Inn Colonnade Birmingham, AL
**TUESDAY MAY 5, 2026**
Continental Breakfast at hotel
7:30 AM Bus will be open for participants to put bags on the bus
8 AM Depart for Selma
10 AM Tour of Selma & Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge
Meet with someone who was took part in the Bloody Sunday march at 11 years
old. Hear their story.
Learn about Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and his involvement in the struggle.
End by walking in their footsteps across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
11:45 AM Depart for Montgomery
1 PM 3 PM Lunch at Martha’s Place
Contextualization talk of events leading to Rosa Parks arrest and bus boycott
3:30 PM Rosa Parks Museum
(CST) 5 PM Stand where the Civil Rights movement began and learn about the
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Mothers of Gynecology Monument and Southern Poverty Law Center Civil Rights
Memorial
Communal dinner
Montgomery Hotel:
Fairfield Inn Eastchase, Montgomery, AL
**WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2026 **
Continental Breakfast at hotel
7:45 AM Bus will be open for participants to put bags on the bus
8:15 AM Depart for downtown
9 AM Equal Justice Initiative’s Memorial to Peace & Justice
Reflect on an often -overlooked tragedy at the first national memorial for
victims of lynching
10 AM Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum
Explore the evolution of racial oppression from slavery to mass incarceration
11:45 PM Lunch
12:15 PM Equal Justice Initiative’s Sculpture Garden
1:30 PM Depart for Atlanta airport
5 PM Arrive Atlanta airport
(EST)
7 PM Earliest flights out of Atlanta
Organized by: JCRC of Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish Federation of Greater Ann
Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14954

Girls on the Run
2026-05-04 16:15 - 17:45, 2026-05-06 16:15 - 17:45, 2026-05-11 16:15 - 17:45, 2026-05-13 16:15 - 17:45 | Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor 2935 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor
Meeting **twice weekly for 90 minutes over 8 weeks** , our trained and caring
coaches
lead **3rd – 6th graders** through our BRAND-NEW _Hello, Bold Heart_
curriculum that
expands our evidence-based lessons and activities to equip girls to build
their _Heart_
_Power_ —the confidence to boldly share their thoughts, ideas, and feelings.
This
season, they’ll **learn to use their voices** (even when they are nervous),
and develop
**life skills** like **resolving conflicts** with others,**building healthy
habits** , and **deepening**
**their confidence**. The season ends with a community wide, non-competitive
**Girls on**
**the Run 5K event** where our participants are guaranteed to shine!
**_Learn more & register at
_**(https://www.girlsontherunsemi.org)
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/13856

Sapiro v. Ford - Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival
2026-05-04 17:00 - 21:30 | The State Theatre 233 S State St, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the**State Theater** for the **Ann Arbor Jewish Film
Festival**! The festival is celebrating its 25th year and this year’s showings
are sure to amaze and move you. The primary festival runs from**May 3 to May
13** , but stay tuned throughout the year for special events!
**Doors Open at 6:00 pm **
**Film Starts at 6:30 pm **
**Synopsis:** Sapiro v. Ford tells the riveting true story of Aaron Sapiro, a
young Jewish lawyer who took on one of America’s most powerful men—and most
notorious antisemite—Henry Ford. In the 1920s, as Ford’s anti-Jewish
publications incited hatred across the nation, Sapiro filed an unprecedented
libel suit, challenging the limits of hate speech long before such laws
existed.
From his humble beginnings as an orphan in San Francisco to leading a
nationwide movement empowering farmers, Sapiro’s life was a testament to
courage, vision, and justice. Portrayed by actor Ben Shenkman, Sapiro’s words
are presented in their entirety, filmed as if speaking directly to a modern
audience. At the same time, historical experts illuminate the stakes of his
confrontation with Ford.
In a David-versus-Goliath showdown, Sapiro forced the industrial titan to back
down, issue an apology, and shutter his hate-filled newspaper, leaving a
legacy that resonates today. As antisemitism rises and the struggle to balance
free speech with protection against hate continues, Sapiro v. Ford examines
the enduring question: how can societies confront power, prejudice, and
propaganda while upholding justice?
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14827

The Sea - Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival
2026-05-06 18:30 - 21:00 | The State Theatre 233 S State St, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the**State Theater** for the **Ann Arbor Jewish Film
Festival**! The festival is celebrating its 25th year and this year’s showings
are sure to amaze and move you. The primary festival runs from**May 3 to May
13** , but stay tuned throughout the year for special events!
**Doors Open at 6:00 pm **
**Film Starts at 6:30 pm **
**Synopsis:** Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from a Palestinian village, is
thrilled to join a school trip to see the sea for the first time. However, at
an Israeli military checkpoint, soldiers declare his travel permit invalid and
send him back, while his classmates continue on. Determined and heartbroken,
Khaled sets out alone to reach the sea, despite not knowing the way or
speaking Hebrew. His father, Ribhi, an undocumented laborer working in Israel,
abandons his job and risks arrest to search for his missing son.
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14828

The Last Spy - Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival
2026-05-07 18:30 - 21:00 | The State Theatre 233 S State St, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the**State Theater** for the **Ann Arbor Jewish Film
Festival**! The festival is celebrating its 25th year and this year’s showings
are sure to amaze and move you. The primary festival runs from**May 3 to May
13** , but stay tuned throughout the year for special events!
**Doors Open at 6:00 pm **
**Film Starts at 6:30 pm **
**Synopsis:**_The Last Spy_ is the riveting biography of 102-year-old CIA
spymaster Peter Sichel, revealing for the first time the epic and unvarnished
history of the US foreign intelligence service from the inside. With a good
dose of wit and humor to boot, Sichel unpacks the obscured roots of conflicts
that plague today’s world and the toll espionage took on his personal life.
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14829

Girls Like Us - Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival
2026-05-11 18:30 - 21:00 | The State Theatre 233 S State St, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the**State Theater** for the **Ann Arbor Jewish Film
Festival**! The festival is celebrating its 25th year and this year’s showings
are sure to amaze and move you. The primary festival runs from**May 3 to May
13** , but stay tuned throughout the year for special events!
**Doors Open at 6:00 pm **
**Film Starts at 6:30 pm **
**Synopsis:** Shahar lives in a tough neighborhood with her dysfunctional
family. Her divorced father is in a mental institution, and her alcoholic
mother dreams of remarriage. Shahar essentially raises her younger sister
alone. Expelled from regular school, she now studies at an alternative school
for at-risk girls. When a new counselor arrives as an unconventional and
enigmatic guide, their intense relationship, marked by attraction and
repulsion, pushes them both to the edge.
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14830

Stay Forte - Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival
2026-05-12 17:00 - 21:30 | The State Theatre 233 S State St, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the**State Theatre** for the **Ann Arbor Jewish Film
Festival**! The festival is celebrating its 25th year and this year’s showings
are sure to amaze and move you. The primary festival runs from**May 3 to May
13** , but stay tuned throughout the year for special events!
**Doors Open at 6:00 pm **
**Film Starts at 6:30 pm **
**Synopsis:** The film explores the harrowing journey of Alon Shamiriz, Yotam
Chai, and Samer Tallaka, three innocent Israeli hostages who were plucked from
their homes and held captive in the terror tunnels of Gaza. They were
tragically killed after escaping captivity while attempting to find their way
home to Israel. Their story resonates as a profound reminder of resilience,
humanity, and the indomitable will to survive amid turmoil.
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14831

JCC Spotlight to Summer Celebration - SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
2026-06-02 18:00 - 22:00 | The Kensington Hotel 3500 S State St, Ann Arbor
Step into the spotlight and join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating
community, connection, and impact of the JCC of Greater Ann Arbor.
This year, we proudly mark **40 years of the JCC** , while shining our
brightest spotlight on honoree **Leslie Bash,** whose extraordinary
dedication and impact have helped shape our community in lasting ways.
The evening will also feature world-renowned musical mentalist **Sidney
Friedman** , delivering an interactive performance that will amaze and
delight.
Celebrate, connect, and be part of a night where our community truly takes
center stage.
Please check out our (https://jccannarbor.org/jcc-spotlight-to-summer/)
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/15268

JCC Spotlight to Summer Celebration - GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS
2026-06-02 18:00 - 22:00 | The Kensington Hotel 3500 S State St, Ann Arbor
(https://operations.daxko.com/Online/4088/ProgramsV2/Search.mvc?keywords=&program_id=TMP40948&expanded=categories%2Clocations&coming_soon=False&category_ids=TAG10562&all_categories=false&location_ids=B368&all_locations=false&date_ranges%5B0%5D.start=&date_ranges%5B0%5D.end=&birth_dates=)
Step into the spotlight and join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating
community, connection, and impact of the JCC of Greater Ann Arbor.
This year, we proudly mark **40 years of the JCC** , while shining our
brightest spotlight on honoree **Leslie Bash,** whose extraordinary
dedication and impact have helped shape our community in lasting ways.
The evening will also feature world-renowned musical mentalist **Sidney
Friedman** , delivering an interactive performance that will amaze and
delight.
Celebrate, connect, and be part of a night where our community truly takes
center stage.
We are proud to announce that this event will be catered by Epic Kosher
Catering, making this a welcoming event for all.
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14816

Jewish Book Series: Lunch & Learn with Yishay Ishi Ron
2026-06-09 12:00 - 13:30 | Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor 2935 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the JCC on **Tuesday, June 9** from **12-1:30 PM** for an
in-person Lunch & Learn and a virtual visit from Yishay Ishi Ron, author of
_Dog_. Enjoy a delicious lunch while listening to Yishay speak about his book
over Zoom.
_Dog_ is a raw, unflinching novel, drawing on the author’s own experiences as
a former elite IDF combat officer suffering from PTSD and addiction. The story
follows Geller, a decorated soldier who returns from Gaza to Tel Aviv only to
be haunted by the trauma of combat — including the memory of a soldier killing
a dog in the field. Haunted and estranged from family and comrades, Geller
spirals into heroin addiction, living in the underbelly of Tel Aviv among
misfit junkies.
His life takes a turn when a stray dog enters his world. Initially
indifferent, Geller eventually rescues the dog, forming an unexpected bond.
The narrative alternates between Geller’s fragmented, drug-addled perspective
and brief, often humorous, chapters from the dog’s point of view, as well as
from the perspective of Doris, a lonely apartment cleaner who sees potential
in Geller. These shifts broaden the scope beyond Geller’s self-absorbed
despair, hinting at the possibility of redemption.
This event is part of the JCC’s ongoing **Book Series** , where visiting
authors give public talks on their work to bring new ideas and literature to
the community. **The cost of this program is $12.50/person**.
_JCC community events and programs are open to all regardless of faith or
background. All are welcome._
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14834
