Jewish Community Center will screen “October 8” documentary about antisemitism

“October 8,” a documentary film about the aftermath of the infamous Palestinian/Hamas attack on Israel, will be shown on May 22 at the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center of Overland Park. A discussion with several local Jewish leaders will follow the screening.

“October 8” offers a look at the explosion of antisemitism on college campuses, social media and in the streets of America beginning the day after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Through meticulous investigation, the film also uncovers how over decades, Hamas created sophisticated networks in America to permeate U.S. institutions and examines the tsunami of online antisemitism, propaganda and disinformation unleashed by Iran, China and Russia — with the sole purpose of dividing American society.

READ: KU Student Senate Passes Anti-Israel Resolution

The film was directed by Wendy Sachs and stars Debra Messing, Michael Rapaport,, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Mosab Hassan Yousef, Sheryl Sandberg, Scott Galloway, Bari Weiss, Dan Senor and Noa Tishby.

Hamas seeding antisemitic efforts across U.S.

“October 8” argues that Hamas has been seeding antisemitic efforts in the United States going back more than 30 years. Made entirely with donations solicited by producer Teddy Schwarzman and Sachs, the film couldn’t find a home with any studio or streaming services and even was turned down by every sales agent. In stepped Tom Ortenberg of theatrical distributor Briarcliff Entertainment, who in the past few years has scooped up a host of homeless films.

Now “October 8 “ has become a grassroots sensation, currently showing on about 100 screens, including outlets of major chains AMC and Regal. It already has earned $1 million at the box office, a number that, in the post-pandemic era, almost no issue-oriented documentary has reached.

Neta Meltzer, executive director of JCRB|AJC; Jay Lewis, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City; and Ethan Helfand, executive director of Hillel at the University of Kansas will lead the panel discussion. For more information or to register, visit www.thejkc.org.

–Dwight Widaman