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Deep Dive: Punk Jews (2012)

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Punk Jews
Punk Jews is a 2012 documentary directed by Jesse Zook Mann that profiles non-traditional Orthodox Jewish artists and activists in New York City. The film features a range of subjects, including Yishai Romanoff, the lead singer of the Hasidic punk band Moshiach Oi!, who opens the film with a powerful statement about bringing light into the world. Other featured individuals include Kal Holczler, who addresses child sexual abuse in Hasidic communities, and rapper Yitz Jordan, who discusses the experiences of African-American Jews in the Orthodox community. The film was conceived after Mann and Kleinman attended a Cholent gathering, where they were introduced to Jewish counterculture. It was funded through Kickstarter, raising $10,721, and premiered at the Manhattan Jewish Community Center on December 11, 2012. Although the film received mixed reviews, it presents a unique look at the intersection of Jewish identity and contemporary culture through its diverse subjects and their stories.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Yishai Romanoff, the punk rocker bringing light to the world.
  • •Follow Kal Holczler's fight against child sexual abuse.
  • •See the diverse Cholent gathering of Jews from various backgrounds.

Did You Know

•Kal Holczler is a victim of child sexual abuse in Hasidic communities.
•The film raised $10,721 through Kickstarter for its production.
•Punk Jews premiered on December 11, 2012, at the Manhattan Jewish Community Center.
•The film features 'Amazing Amy' Harlib, an elderly Jewish contortionist.

Perfect For

Jewish counterculturePunk music fansDocumentary enthusiasts