Sapiro v. Ford – Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival

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