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Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story
The Theology Department and The Renewal of Public Moral Discourse Project will host a screening of a documentary by Martin Doblmeier and Journey Films on the life of Abraham Joshua Heschel titled “Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story” on Monday, March 27, at 5:30 pm in the Damen Student Center Cinema. The film profiles one of the most remarkable and inspiring religious figures of 20th century America. Heschel was a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr. and the entire civil rights movement, a leading critic of the Vietnam War, a champion for Soviet Jews and a pioneer in the work of interfaith dialogue. All are welcome. Martin Doblmeier will be present at the screening to introduce the film and to respond to questions and answers afterwards.
Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story
A Film by Martin Doblmeier
Monday, March 27, 2023
Damen Student Center Cinema
6511 N. Sheridan, Chicago, IL 60660
5:30 - 7:00 PM
About Abraham Joshua Heschel
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel was one of the most remarkable and inspiring figures of the American 20th Century He was a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr and the entire Civil Rights Movement, a leading critic of the Vietnam War, a champion for Soviet Jews and a pioneer in the work of interfaith dialogue.
Born in Warsaw, Poland, Heschel was part of a dynastic royalty of Hasidic rabbis dating back centuries He narrowly escaped the Holocaust and arrived in New York in 1940 Over the next thirty years he emerged as one of the most influential voices in the world of religion His many books, including The Prophets, The Sabbath, and God in Search of Man, are considered religious classics and are widely studied. Today his picture hangs in countless synagogues across America despite the fact that fifty years ago many disagreed with his public opinions.
The film combines archival photographs and rarely seen footage, as well as interviews with Civil Rights leaders Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Young, Pulitzer prize winning historian Taylor Branch, public theologian Cornel West, Jewish Theological Seminary Chancellor Arnold Eisen daughter Susannah Heschel and others.
About Martin Doblmeier
Martin Doblmeier holds degrees in Religious Studies, Broadcast Journalism and three honorary degrees in Fine Arts and Humane Letters. Since 1984 he has produced and directed more than 30 films focused on religion, faith and spirituality. Martin combines a lifelong interest in religion with a passion for storytelling. Over the years he has traveled on location to more than forty countries to profile numerous religious leaders, spiritual communities, heads of state and Nobel Laureates. His films explore how belief can lead individuals to extraordinary acts, how spirituality creates and sustains communities and how faith is lived in extraordinary ways.