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This Filmmaker Captured Vanishing Jewish Communities Across America

JL;DR SUMMARY "There Are Jews Here," a documentary directed by Brad Lichtenstein, explores the vanishing Jewish communities in small American towns like Latrobe, PA, Butte, MT, and Laredo, TX. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish IdentityJewish CommunitiesAmerican JewsDocumentarySynagogue ClosureDothanBrad LichtensteinLatrobeButteLaredo

Places mentioned

Latrobe, Pennsylvania, United States
"Mickey Radman introduces himself as one of the last Jewish residents in Latrobe, PA."
Laredo, Texas, United States
"In Laredo, TX, married couple Uri and Susie are torn between staying in their hometown or moving to a bigger city that could better support both their childs Jewish education and Susies recent conversion."
Butte, Montana, United States
"Over in Butte, Montana, a congregation struggles to adapt when their only rabbi gets sick and can no longer make it in to lead services."
Dothan, Alabama, United States
"In a Cinderella-esque twist, the documentary follows a congregation in Dothan, Alabama (population: 68,001, Jewish population: 143) that receives a $1M gift from a local businessman to help recruit Jews to move to their city."
New York City, New York, United States
"There Are Jews Here will screen January 12 at New York City's American Jewish Historical Society (15 West 16th Street) at 7:00 P.M."
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
"Prior to shooting, the director moved from New York, which he described as default Jewish, to Milwaukee, which he called decidedly not."
Los Angeles, California, United States
"Lichtenstein captures the story of one of those chosen families, as they make the big move from Los Angeles to Dothan, eager for a more intimate Jewish community."

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Retrieved 2025-06-17 05:31:26 UTC
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