By Judy Fleischer
In recent months, synagogues, community centers and Jewish film festivals around the country have hosted screenings of a new documentary, “Upheaval: The Journey of Menachem Begin,” chronicling the life of the late Israeli prime minister.
In the Baltimore area, a free screening of the film will take place tonight, Oct. 28, but in an unlikely type of venue.
White Marsh’s non-denominational Central Christian Assembly, in partnership with the Baltimore Zionist District, will host the local premiere of “Upheaval.”
For Terry Kirk, Central Christian’s founding and senior pastor, the screening is an opportunity for Christians to stand firmly with Israel.
“Zionism is our home, and Christianity cannot be defined without Judaism,” said Pastor Kirk, who has traveled to Israel 26 times over the past dozen years. Among other endeavors, he has raised money for such institutions as the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon and Leket Israel, which feeds poor and needy Israelis.
For BZD Executive Director Caren Leven, the screening offers a great opportunity to partner with a true ally for Israel.
Leven said her first contact with the evangelical Christian community was at a Stand With Israel rally last spring. It was there that she met Pastor Kirk and began working with him and others on building a relationship between the two communities.
“I’m really thrilled to be part of bringing the two communities together,” said Leven. “It’s great to see the Christian community standing up for the Jewish community.”
The documentary is the centerpiece of an effort to educate young Jews and others about the life of Begin and his stewardship of Israel, as well his mission to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism throughout the world.
“We can’t idly stand by with the rise against Zionism,” said Pastor Kirk.
Produced by the Denver-based Hidden Light Institute, “Upheaval” recounts the life of Begin from his birth in a Polish shtetl to his growing dedication to Zionism as a young man, to the annihilation of his family in the Holocaust and his imprisonment in a Soviet gulag.
In addition, “Upheaval” chronicles his subsequent journey to Israel, where he became the leader of the Irgun, the paramilitary force that fought to establish the state of Israel.
Begin served in the Knesset for nearly 30 years and in 1977 became prime minister. His tenure included the Lebanon War and the Camp David Accords, for which he won the Novel Peace Prize with the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
The producers of “Upheaval” hope the documentary inspires young Jews and others to lead the fight against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. As part of that effort, HLI, founded by Denver businessman Rob Schwartz, is developing a companion curriculum in five languages for high school and college students, and plans a biennial symposium to examine Begin’s life and legacy.
Pastor Kirk — who is a co-founder of the group Pastors and Executives for Israel and a member of the HLI board of directors – feels there are many lessons to be learned from Begin’s life.
“Live life with integrity, let your word be your bond, hold fast to truth and let God sort it out in the end,” he said. “We live what we know and what we believe, to be true to ourselves.”
“Upheaval” will be screened on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Central Christian Assembly, 7411 Rossville Blvd. For information, email Carenl@bzdisrael.org. For information about the film, visit upheavalfilm.com.
Judy Fleischer is a New York-based freelance writer.
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