Israeli director on hand for screening
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival will present a screening of “Forgiveness,” an Israeli thriller from director Udi Aloni (“The Book of Sham,” “Innocent Criminals,” “Left”).
The film tells the story of a 20-year-old American Israeli who moves back to Israel, only to find himself committed to a mental institution that sits on the ruins of the Palestinian village, Deir Yassin.
Aloni will participate in a Q&A following the screening.
“Forgiveness” screens 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission Street, S.F., Tickets are $6-$8. Information: (415) 978-2787 or www.sfjff.org.
Israeli, French music concert at JCCSF
The consulates of France and Israel, along with the American-Israel Cultural Foundation, will present a concert of contemporary Israeli and French music.
Titled “Cultural Anniversaries: Israel at 60, Messiaen at 100,” the program highlights music by the late French modernist Olivier Messiaen.
Among the works performed is Messiaen’s famed “Quartet for the End of Time.” Israeli clarinetist Moran Katz will conduct a group of French and Israeli musicians.
The concert takes place 8 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (which is also partnering in the presentation), 3200 California St., S.F. Admission is free.
Because of limited seating, RSVP is required. Call (415) 292-1233, or check online at jccsf.org/arts.
Palestinians give conductor passport
The controversial Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim received honorary Palestinian citizenship.
Barenboim, a world-renowned pianist and conductor whose left-wing activism has sometimes raised hackles in the Jewish state, was issued a Palestinian Authority passport last week.
The Argentine-born musician has long lent his talents to Palestinian youth and founded an Israeli-Arab orchestra. — jta
CopyrightJ, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California