Fogler Library Reception to Introduce New Jewish Video Collection
Contact: George Manlove at (207) 581-3756
ORONO — The University of Maine’s Project Opportunity is inviting the campus community and the public to a reception Oct. 25 from 4-5:30 p.m. at Fogler Library to hear about the newly acquired Jewish Heritage Video Collection.
The 200-title collection of videos on Jewish life, history, culture and humor, which is now available to schools and community groups statewide, is the result of a grant from the Charles Revson Foundation in New York acquired by Laura Lindenfeld, director of Project Opportunity at UMaine and instructor of film and media criticism, and a generous matching donation from the Norman Minsky and Renee and Leonard Minsky families of Bangor.
The $12,500 acquisition will strengthen Judaic studies on campus and provide a rich cultural resource for the public throughout Maine. The films, housed at UMaine’s Fogler Library, can be used in UMaine classes, by Jewish community groups and in schools throughout Maine. Anyone can borrow the films through the Maine interlibrary network.
The reception will be in the second-floor Faculty Club at Fogler.
Brief remarks will be offered about the significance of the film collection by Norman Minsky, Laura Lindenfeld, Ann Leffler, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, interim UMaine Provost John McMahon and UMaine’s interim president Robert Kennedy.
The collection of films — some humorous, some serious and some tragic — includes titles like “Annie Hall,” “Shalom Sesame,” “A Rug Rats’ Passover,” “Europa, Europa,” “The Diary of Ann Frank,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Yentl” and “Exodus,” plus television programs that involve some aspect of Judaism. They range from work by journalist Bill Moyers, Mel Brooks and Woody Allen to old Jack Benny, Sid Caesar and Jerry Seinfeld reruns.
Along with many of the videotapes come suggested course materials to highlight questions and activities teachers, both on campus and off, might consider for existing courses and resources for entirely new classes.