More than 2,000 Mexico City Jews turned out to view “Upheaval,” the first English-language documentary on the life of former Israeli Prime Minister, Menachem Begin.
Bruce Gould, producer and a board member of the Hidden Light Institute, led a delegation from the United States to spend a week in Mexico City to engage with the Jewish community.
“We made ‘Upheaval’ with several language subtitles to enhance our efforts worldwide. The Sephardi community was a political base for Begin, and he is beloved by that community and so it was a ‘no brainer’ to make it with Spanish and Portuguese subtitles,” he said.
Another board member, Elias Sitton, planned the trip with support from the Mexico City Jewish community. CEO of Lemon Basil, a full-service import/export company, he is a native of Mexico City and stated, “Organizing these screenings of the film in my hometown was significant because it allowed me to give back to my community where I grew up and that I deeply cherish. Additionally, I believe it could help build bridges and foster collaboration between the Mexican and American Jewish communities.”
Siliva “Chips” Kleinberg, president of B’nai B’rith Mexico who played a significant role in planning the weeklong celebration, added: “I felt it was very important to learn more about Menachem Begin. His life and career teach all of us about important values. The community loved the film.”
In addition to the adult screenings, there were six film showings and discussions with Jewish high schools led by executive producer Vicki Trachten Schwartz, producer Rachel Greenberg and Jonathan Morales.
Morales is the Jewish border patrol agent who was hailed as a hero in the lone gunman shooting at Chabad of Poway, Calif., during Saturday-morning services on the last day of Passover in April of 2019. Morales spoke in Spanish about confronting Jew-hatred and his own personal path to Judaism.
The Mexico City Jewish community has 50,000-plus Jewish residents and has asked the Hidden Light Institute to return for additional screenings.
