By Jeffrey Catalano
Assistant Editor
On Tuesday, February 3, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the “Jewish and Israeli Film Festival” will be screening, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati-Cincy Journeys, the second film of its incredible festival’s line-up, “Always Together,” at Sycamore High School in Montgomery. “Always Together” is a 77 minute-long Hebrew-language documentary film directed by Paz Schwartz.
The 2025 documentary chronicles a twelfth grade class that refuses to disband after they’ve been forced to evacuate from their homes near the Gaza border after the terror attacks of October 7, 2023. The twelfth graders eventually convince the Ministry of Education to create a special boarding school for them on the Dead Sea shore. There, they hope to both continue their education and confront their trauma as their graduation date fast approaches.
The short film, “War Before Bedtime,” will be also screened before “Always Together.” It’s a 2024 three minute-long animated short directed by Tehila Lapidot. The short tells the story of two young sisters who, on the cusp of sleep, find themselves facing the fear and terror that comes along with war. Imaginary characters like a turtle and hedgehog come to their aid in this award-winning short.
Following the screening of “Always Together,” there will be an in-person discussion with Uri & Yarden, Cincinnati’s Chaverim M’Israel, l, and Rona & Yael, Louisville’s Shinshinim. The discussion will be moderated by Lily Plum Gartenlaub.
“Always Together” will also be screened virtually, and there will be a 48-hour viewing window for the film between February 3 and 5. There is a fee for admission to both screenings, in-person and virtual, and tickets are sold separately. Please be advised: “Always Together” carries a content warning of graphic content and harsh language.
