Meet Scott Frankel
My name is Scott Frankel, and I’m a Jewish explorer, thinker, and storyteller. I believe that storytelling is the most transcendent and powerful form of uniting people and their communities, and I use filmmaking and social media to enact this. In 2009, upon graduating with honors from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Journalism and Cinema, I took my camera to Tel Aviv to make a film that was fresh, relevant, and that showcased what it meant to be a young, Jewish adult navigating our world today. What I created was “From the Diaspora,” the story of 8 “olim chadashim” from 6 continents of the world, and their stories of establishing a new life and identity in the thriving city of Tel Aviv.M
From The Diaspora” – a documentary about 8 Jews from 6 continents, and the Jewish State that unites us all. In Israel's most dynamic city these 8 olim chadashim (new immigrants) uniquely contribute to the fabric and identity of Tel Aviv. Through the process of aliyah we will understand and explore the new life these 8 immigrants create for themselves. Using the vehicle of cinema we will engage and identify with the narrative that describes the choices and identities embodied by Jews living in the 21st century.
During my fellowship, my goal is to complete my documentary currently in post-production, and then bring it to various venues around Chicago and have an event previewing the film and discussing its content and themes. These events will be held at synogogues, museums, day camps and local movie theaters, and will involve panel discussions, group conversation, and raising money for charity.
My venture aims to educate and inform North American Jews about Israel and international Jewish culture. The stories of a variety of Jews from a variety of geographic locations and ideologies shows Jews our diversity and the pluralism within Israel, strengthening Jewish identity and our global community. It’s important that Jewish adults are exposed to what Israel and Judaism is in the 21st century - told by a young, Jewish filmmaker living in Tel Aviv and struggling to find his own place amidst a global Jewish community.
From The Diaspora” – a documentary about 8 Jews from 6 continents, and the Jewish State that unites us all. In Israel's most dynamic city these 8 olim chadashim (new immigrants) uniquely contribute to the fabric and identity of Tel Aviv. Through the process of aliyah we will understand and explore the new life these 8 immigrants create for themselves. Using the vehicle of cinema we will engage and identify with the narrative that describes the choices and identities embodied by Jews living in the 21st century.
During my fellowship, my goal is to complete my documentary currently in post-production, and then bring it to various venues around Chicago and have an event previewing the film and discussing its content and themes. These events will be held at synogogues, museums, day camps and local movie theaters, and will involve panel discussions, group conversation, and raising money for charity.
My venture aims to educate and inform North American Jews about Israel and international Jewish culture. The stories of a variety of Jews from a variety of geographic locations and ideologies shows Jews our diversity and the pluralism within Israel, strengthening Jewish identity and our global community. It’s important that Jewish adults are exposed to what Israel and Judaism is in the 21st century - told by a young, Jewish filmmaker living in Tel Aviv and struggling to find his own place amidst a global Jewish community.
