For almost three decades, the JCA has promoted the importance of cultural arts in Northeast Florida and is proud to present our annual celebration of the arts each November. Our Jacksonville Jewish Cultural Arts Festival is a series of engaging events featuring books, films, visual arts, music, and more that are enriched with Jewish heritage and culture. To become a donor and bring cultural art programming to Northeast Florida.

Schedule:

Saturday, October 26th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 9:30 p.m: Opening Night: Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt Comedy Show at Ritz Theatre and Museum
7 pm – Patron Party With a minimum gift of $150 or more, you can schmooze with Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt like they are mishpacha (family). Beer, wine and light nosh will be served.   
8 pm – Joel and Benji Comedy Show Opening night starts with laughs from comedians Joel and Benji! Come at 7 pm to tour the museum. Beer and wine are available for purchase.

Monday, October 28th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m: Israel 201, Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt at Main Library
Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt, American-born stand-up comedians who live in Israel, join us for a second night to share their National Jewish Book Award-winning Israel 201 that paints a realistic picture of what it was like to live in Israel in 2023. Our Israeli Community Shaliach, Oren Pery, will be moderating the discussion.

Tuesday, October 29th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m: Irena’s Vow, Drama at SCJ Kent Campus Main Auditorium

Wednesday, October 30th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m: Don’t Forget to Write, Sara Goodman Confino at Happy Brew
When Marilyn Kleinman is caught making out with the rabbi’s son in front of the whole congregation, her parents ship her off to her great-aunt Ada for the summer. If anyone can save their daughter’s reputation, it’s Philadelphia’s strict premier matchmaker. Either that or Marilyn can kiss college goodbye. Meet Sara to get your copy of her book signed and also purchase her latest book, Behind Every Good Man: A Novel.

Sunday, November 3rd, 2024

11:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m: Jewish Pop-Up Market
Vendors Wanted for our Pop-Up Market! Sun, November 3, 11:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m: Our vision is to promote local Jewish artists and designers, as well as community artisans inspired by Jewish tradition and values. We are looking for vendors selling crafts, art, photography, jewelry, clothing, accessories, bath and body products, and more. Click here to apply by Tue, October 15. No food vendor applications, please.

Monday, November 4th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m: Comedy Films: From Jerusalem with Love, Less Than Kosher at Orange Park Community Theater
From Jerusalem with Love: Two single adults are thrilled about their upcoming date when all the things that could go wrong, do. Through laughter and a little luck, it all works out! Less Than Kosher: At 20, Viv was a promising young singer. At 30, her failing music career has forced her back into her mother’s basement. But when this self-proclaimed Bad Jew lands a job as a Cantor at her family’s synagogue, she’s thrown into a wild ride of illicit affairs, drug trips, tense family drama, self-discovery and some serious Jewish bops.

Wednesday, November 6th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m: Nothing Except 34 Paintings, Documentary Short at MOCA
Join us during Art Walk at MOCA to screen the film. In 1955, a collection of contemporary artworks, including some made by the world’s leading artists of the time, was donated to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Thousands flocked to the museum to see the new collection; but how was it exactly that Eugen Kolb, then the museum’s director, managed to obtain such an impressive collection to begin with? What motivated a famous art collector such as Peggy Guggenheim to donate a collection of her greatest pieces to such a small, unknown institute? Screenings at 7 pm, 7:30 pm, 8 pm

Thursday, November 7th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m: Food, Hope and Resilience, June Hersh at Museum of Science and History
This cookbook weaves stories and recipes from Holocaust survivors with recipes from notable culinary icons of today all of which connect us to each other, to our history, and, ultimately, to our shared humanity. The book could not be more timely; it nourishes us both physically and spiritually. From 6 – 7 pm and after the program guests can view the exhibit, Lives Eliminated Dreams Illuminated (LEDI). This program is in partnership with Hadassah.

Monday, November 11th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m: I Will Give Them an Everlasting Name, Samuel Cox at LJD Jewish Family and Community Services
Samuel Cox is a retired US Army Reserve officer, an educator for four decades, and a lifelong student of the Holocaust. From 1994-1999 he taught a Holocaust class at St. Johns Country Day School in Orange Park, Florida, where he came to know the ten friends he writes about in this book. A unique approach to Holocaust literature, Sam’s book shares the compelling stories of eight Jews, a Righteous Gentile, and a liberator, all connected by the Holocaust and Jacksonville, Florida. Jack and Sam (Documentary Short Film, 20 min) will be shown at this event. Jack and Sam is a poignant documentary about two Holocaust survivors miraculously reunited after 80 years. Now in their late 90s, they are spending the precious time they have left together, educating others about the dangers of hatred.

Tuesday, November 12th, 2024

10:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Hanukkah Hippity Hop, Barbara Kimmel at Jewish Community Alliance
Barbara Kimmel is a?children’s book author and playwright. Barbara has received a?PJ?Library Author Incentive Award, the Astra International Picture Book Contest Award, and has published stories in?Highlights. Her debut children’s book,?Hanukkah Hippity-Hop, offers toddlers an active approach to Hanukkah using playful rhyme and movement to share the joy and traditions with young children.

Tuesday, November 12th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m: Honoring Israel Films: Girl No. 60427, Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre, The Boy at WJCT Soundstage
Girl No. 60427 (Drama, 22 min Subtitles in English- Hebrew) In this stunning combination of Live Action and Animation, a young director takes us back to her childhood experiences with her own grandmother, whose diary she discovered in a hiding place one summer. Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre (Documentary, 52 min) On October 7th, 2023 at 06:30 AM, Hamas terrorists broke through the borders from Gaza into Israel, launching a planned and coordinated attack. In this emotional film, survivors, first responders and parents recount their stories and the horrors they witnessed. The Boy (Documentary, 23 min) Filmmaker of The Boy, Yahav Winner, was murdered by Hamas terrorists on the October 7th massacre after attempting to stall them in order to allow Shaylee Atary, his wife, to escape with their newly born daughter Shaya. Sponsored by the Miller Families.

Wednesday, November 13th, 2024

11:30 a.m - 1:30 p.m: I Will Give Them an Everlasting Name, Samuel Cox at River Garden Senior Services
Samuel Cox is a retired US Army Reserve officer, an educator for four decades, and a lifelong student of the Holocaust. From 1994-1999 he taught a Holocaust class at St. Johns Country Day School in Orange Park, Florida, where he came to know the ten friends he writes about in this book. A unique approach to Holocaust literature, Sam’s book shares the compelling stories of eight Jews, a Righteous Gentile, and a liberator, all connected by the Holocaust and Jacksonville, Florida. Jack and Sam (Documentary Short Film, 20 min) will be shown at this event. Jack and Sam is a poignant documentary about two Holocaust survivors miraculously reunited after 80 years. Now in their late 90s, they are spending the precious time they have left together, educating others about the dangers of hatred. Lunch will be provided.

Thursday, November 14th, 2024

7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m: The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy, Adam Nimoy at Friday Musicale
In his memoir,?The Most Human, ?Adam Nimoy details his life as the son of one of the most recognizable actors of our time. Nimoy, too, was caught between two worlds: there was the perceived perfect family of acclaimed actor Leonard Nimoy, and there was Nimoy’s own reality of a?conflicted home life. He describes his childhood during the era of?Star Trek, his career shifts, his experience starting his own family, and his recovery from addiction. Costumes welcome.

Date: October 26 - November 14, 2024

Location: Various Venues in Jacksonville, FL 32202

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