By Jeffrey Catalano
Assistant Editor
On Wednesday, March 11, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Congregation Etz Chaim will be hosting its fairly new and growing monthly event, “Food for Thought Book & Film Club.” This event is open to story enthusiasts, food lovers and just the plain curious. Whether you’re a bookworm, cinephile, foodie or just someone who loves some good company, this new club at Congregation Etz Chaim is for you!
In this month’s edition of “Food for Thought Book & Film Club,” the film, “And So it Goes,” will be screened. This comedy-romance film was directed by the late Jewish filmmaker, Rob Reiner, and it was chosen to honor Reiner, who tragically passed away last December, and to shine a light on one of his lesser-known films.
At his peak, Reiner had one of the most remarkable runs of any director in Hollywood history. Between 1984 and 1992, he made a series of classics, which include “Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “A Few Good Men.” Each of these films is still well-remembered and watched today.
While Reiner’s career never quite reached the same heights as his ’84 to ’92 run, he continued to work regularly and remained a powerful presence in Hollywood until his death on December 14, 2025. He and his wife, Michelle, were both killed on the same night, and their son, Nick, has been charged with their murder. The case is ongoing. Reiner was 78, and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, was 70.
Nearly 12 years ago, Reiner made “And So It Goes,” the subject of the latest addition of “Food for Thought Book & Film Club” with two major Hollywood actors, Michael Douglas (who Reiner had worked with before in 1995) and the late Diane Keaton, who passed away last October from pneumonia.
“And So It Goes” tells the story of Oren Little (Douglas), a curmudgeon, who, through unforeseen circumstances, is forced to look after his ten-year-old granddaughter, Sarah.
With the help of his next-door-neighbor, Leah, played by Keaton, Little tries his best to take care of Sarah, despite being a pretty self-absorbed guy and not the biggest fan of children. However, both Little and Leah are lonely people, and Sarah brings them together in ways they could’ve never expected.
Come and join “Food for Thought Book & Film Club” on February 18 for a deep and insightful analysis on “And So It Goes” and a wide-ranging discussion on the impact Rob Reiner had on Hollywood. While he was still alive, he gifted cinema with some of the most entertaining movies ever made (not to mention some of the most quotable).
“Food for Thought Book & Film Club” always offers stimulating conversation and the company of like-minded individuals. Each edition of this ongoing club focuses on a different movie or book. In the next “Food for Thought Book & Film Club,” for example, Sadia Shepard’s book, “The Girl from Foreign,” will be discussed.
This monthly event at Congregation Etz Chaim welcomes donations and an RSVP is required to attend.
