WHY THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW
The current state of humanity is troubling, to say the least. The alarming abundance of hatred, judgement, and prejudice are at an all-time high. While the problems seem insurmountable, the future and the hope for positive change rest in our minds and hands.
How do we avoid repeating a holocaust? We must encourage conscious conversation around some very important subjects. So, what are the topics begging to be discussed?
It’s our strong conviction that the deep judgment and lack of understanding around the complexities of interfaith marriage are a piece of the massive pie of prejudice in America. Also, the unique relationship of the Jewish people to intermarriage has long been misunderstood. More than that, it has not been explored in the sort of exploratory fashion that American Birthright sets out to achieve.
OUR UNIQUE APPROACH
This documentary sets out to conduct a 360 degree exploration of the discussion around interfaith marriage in this country, shedding light on all corners of the conversation, and creating a beautifully cinematic — and simultaneously thought provoking — piece that tugs at the heart strings and pokes at the soul.
And we need your help to get the funds together to shoot the full feature film! We have incredible clergy, thought leaders, couples, & experts that are willing to engage — we just need the funds to do it right!
THE PASSIONATE PROTAGONIST
Our filmmaker, Becky Bordo, is an Israeli born, Philly-bred millennial. While her generation is labeled “lazy” and “self-centered,” Becky’s passion for truth pushes past the stigmas of the millennial label and into a realm of higher standards for conduct and belief systems.
Millennials are at a milestone in their lives — settling down, having children, stepping into larger leadership roles, creating new businesses, inventing apps and new and improved ways of doing things in a variety of revolutionary arenas. That’s a big deal, and a crucial point in time. Becky hopes to set a new standard, and inspire conscious conversation among this next generation of leaders — especially during this unique time in United States’ history.
Sounds lofty, doesn’t it? What would make a young Jewess like Becky set out on such a journey?
BECKY’S PERSONAL PLIGHT
To begin with, Becky’s baby sister recently married outside of their Jewish faith, the first time this has happened in their family. Becky’s struggle to fully support her sister created a deep discomfort within Becky, and inspired an internal and external plight for clarity.
Becky also realized, through asking her sister some hard-hitting questions, that she hadn’t asked them of herself. Neither had her friends. In fact, Becky was pretty sure most of the people she knew weren’t stopping to think and engage in conversations around the real things.
Well, damn.
Secondly, Becky is single. She’s in fact the last of her large family to settle down. No pressure. She doesn’t want to wait forever, and has a feeling that her own hesitation to hammer out her own preferences may be standing in the way of finding her match and starting her own family.
This documentary is Becky’s chance to pick the brains of other folks engaging in this very existential discussion in order to create a reference point for others to do the very same in their lives. The deep lack of fulfillment that runs rampant must be caused by choices we make as humans, and Becky aims to inspire others as she pushes herself to intentionally create her relationship and life (so it feels more like a choice, and less like she’s just bumping around and falling into shit). Ya know?
Thirdly, while there are propaganda pieces around interfaith marriage, and a lot of one-sidedness, there is a real lack of a balanced portrayal of discourse among all belief systems around this topic with the unique Jewish experience at the epicenter.
This lack is a huge cause for the anxieties reverberating outwards, and the judgement spewed from within the Jewish community, and from the outside looking in on the Jewish experience, never fully understanding the nature of the Jewish dilemma.
“Why does it matter if you don’t marry a Jew?” “Why are y’all so picky?” “Why so prejudiced, the holocaust is over?” “What’s this chosen people thing about, though?” Clarity is necessary, for all people, so that we can reduce judgment and return to the real underlying purpose of this conversation: to amplify our universal desire for love and connection.
THE PLAN OF ACTION
Becky plans to find internal clarity while exploring externally across the United States.
Yes! She is going on a cross-country quest to survey the country at large about what it means to choose love over tradition. Becky’s journey explores how religious & thought leaders of all denominations view intermarriage, as well as the views on intermarriage held by Americans of all different faiths and cultures across America.
Central to this is Becky’s synthesis of all the above with her own self-identity as a modern-day Jewish woman in America’s melting pot.
Her journey is filled with often hilarious adventures, punctuated by moments of unexpected revelation and surprising pathos. At every stage, Becky reflects on two basic questions that underlie her journey and the larger American story. First, what claim do our ancestors have on how we live our lives? And second, what do we give up…or gain…by following the heart rather than heritage?
Hop on board!
What’s the worst that’ll happen? You’ll learn a little bit about the anxieties of the Jewish people and how the rest of the country feels about love and relationships? Maybe you’ll even shift a perspective, or deepen your own.
We promise to drive responsibly.
