By Sarah Shay, Special to JTNews
All men have hobbies. Some fish, some garden, some collect antiques. My father, Robert Shay, runs the largest Jewish video collection in the United States.
“The Jewish Education Council of New York’s collection is actually larger,” he admits, “but their collection includes many non-Jewish tapes. Video Judaica is the largest purely Jewish collection.” The Sylvia Suckerman Jewish Video Collection, or Video Judaica for short, houses over 1,500 tapes of Jewish interest. These tapes are kept at the collection’s home at Temple De Hirsch Sinai’s Seattle facility. Available for rental (for a low suggested donation), these tapes include everything from feature films (such as “Independence Day” and “Hello, Dolly”) to documentaries, instructional videos, children’s movies and, of course, Israeli films.
In 1991, Shay formed the idea of building a library full of a variety of movies that would be of interest to Jews. He began collecting and two years later opened the library. A 14- year veteran of the movie industry, Shay had many connections to aid him in his search. He also spends a large amount of time monopolizing the family computer, searching for rare or out-of-print videos, much to the chagrin of the rest of his family.
“With the growth of the Internet, I am finding tapes all over the world and the collection is growing by nearly 150 tapes per year,” he explains. The collection, which started with just 346 tapes, has grown since to accommodate more than 1,500, and is growing everyday. Shay hopes to incorporate DVDs into the collection as well.
Many people are surprised that there are that many videos out there with Jewish content. “Video Judaica could be twice its size if I had a bigger budget,” Shay points out. “I have so many catalogs I can hardly keep track of them all.” The collection is a family effort, often staffed by his wife, Marilyn, or by my brother and myself.
If you ask Shay any question about the collection, he is bound to answer your queries with excitement. As administrator, he describes the collection as a “part-time passion,” and loves to share the stories of its growth. Some of his favorite stories are of the many interesting people who have contacted Video Judaica over the years. There is the American businessman, stationed in Djakarta, Indonesia. He contacted Shay about an out-of-print Australian film about German Jews imprisoned in Australia by the British government during World War II. He desired the film as a retirement gift for his associate and friend who had been a prisoner in those very camps. Shay gladly found him a copy.
Then there is the story of the Jonathan Netanyahu Jewish School in Texas, which was about to dedicate its new building with a visit by Jonathan’s brother, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They had only one problem — the majority of the students knew little or nothing about the namesake of their school. A quick search on the Internet turned up Video Judaica. Shay helped them find four films about the raid on Entebbe, where Jonathan, a heroic young IDF officer, was killed. They rented them and presented the films to the children, informing the entire school about their honorable namesake by the time the Prime Minister arrived for the ceremonies. I know these stories well, having heard them many, many times.
In an effort to make you, our readers, aware of the Jewish resources available to you right here in Seattle, Shay is going to write a regular monthly column for The Transcript containing information on new Jewish films arriving at the collection, at local theaters and on television. The following films are just a sample of the 40 or so new studio releases and new arrivals at Video Judaica this summer and fall.
“Varian’s War” (122 minutes, rated “PG”, starring Alan Arkin, William Hurt and Lynn Redgrave.) An American journalist working in Europe at the outbreak of World War II, Varian Fry was appalled at the Nazi atrocities he witnessed and recognized that action had to be taken. This is a true story of a forgotten hero who, at great risk to his own life, saved 2,000 people from certain extermination.
“The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg” (95 minutes) This captivating documentary was a hit at last year’s Seattle Jewish Film Festival. Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg’s career during the golden years of baseball contains all the makings of an American success story. As an extraordinary ball player, whose accomplishments rivaled those of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, Greenberg’s career was an inspiration to sportswriters and fans alike, especially young Jews.
“Left Luggage” (1998, 100 minutes. Starring Isabella Rossellini and Maximillian Schell.) Set in Antwerp, Belgium, in the early 1970s, this film is a touching and emotional story about Chaja, a rebellious teenager. Unable to accept her Jewish identity, at odds with her parents, and not accepting of the strict rules of her employers, a Hassidic couple with five children, she finds direction in teaching their youngest son who does not speak, and learns to accept and respect a culture steeped in tradition and values.
Other new titles include: “Recording the Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks”; “After the War,” a Masterpiece Theater miniseries; “Heritage, Civilization and the Jews” with Abba Eban; “They Came for Good”: A history of Jews in the United States, 1654-1820; “They Came for Good”: A history of Jews in the United States, 1820-1880; “Into the Arms of Strangers”: stories of the Kinder Transport
Coming soon: Dec. 18: “Uprising,” the recent NBC film on the Warsaw Ghetto revolt; Nov. 27: “Divided We Fall,” a recent film from the Czech Republic in theaters now; “Focus” from Paramount Classics: Arthur Miller’s most controversial work starring William H. Macy and Laura Dern.
(To contact Video Judaica, e-mail Robert Shay at [email protected]. Due to transitional complications, the collection is open only on Sunday mornings during religion school (9 a.m. to 12 noon). However, additional times can be arranged by calling the Video Judaica message line at 206-903-9010.)