“Our Sons” Post Film Discussion

Director Avi Maor Marzouk – Avi Maor Marzouk is an Israeli director, screenwriter, and content editor who has worked in the film industry for twenty years. His films are focused on presenting stories that can offer a profound change in the social and political field.

Avi Ben-Hur, Scholar in Residence – A Brooklyn native, Avi Ben-Hur moved to Israel in 1983. From 2003-2008 Avi was Director of the Archaeological Seminars School for Israeli Tour Guides. In 2008 Avi participated in re-writing the curriculum of the National Guiding courses for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. As a “Scholar in Residence, Avi has lectured, taught and facilitated workshops in the US, Warsaw, Prague, Berlin and Greece. From 1996-2000, Avi taught in Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies. As a guide, Avi has specialized working with organizations focusing on political issues (such as AIPAC & CIJA), inter-faith programs and Holocaust studies. At Present, Avi is an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism Licensing Boards and is the ongoing scholar in residence of Classrooms Without Borders.

Sholom Rothman – Michael Levin Base Outreach Coordinator : Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation

The mission of the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation is to raise awareness and strengthen commitment to IDF Lone Soldiers by promoting the core initiatives:

Working in partnership with individuals and organizations to fund direct support of Lone Soldiers before, during, and after their service.

Raising awareness and the funds necessary to support the broad scope of daily needs of the uniquely brave and passionate young men and women serving as Lone Soldiers in Israel, without favor and without disadvantage.

Film Synopsis ‘Our Sons’

This touching and heart-affecting Israeli film tells the story of three lone soldiers from the Golani Brigade, who were killed on the first day of the Israeli army’s ground entry into Gaza during Operation Eitan in 2014. These brave soldiers were Sean Carmeli, a first-generation member of an Israeli family living in Texas, Jordan Ben Simon, a French Jew who grew up in antisemitic Lyon, and Max Steinberg, a young American Jew from Los Angeles. Tragically, these three soldiers died in the same square mile within hours of each other. And while they never knew one another, they are examples of how Jews from outside Israel are willing to sacrifice themselves on behalf of the Jewish people for the defense of Israel. When the country heard that they were lone soldiers and had no family in Israel, thousands of Israelis spontaneously showed up to their funerals, thus providing an outpouring of love and support to their families. All three soldiers were buried in a land they weren’t born in but shared a profound sense of belonging to it and of the importance of defending their homeland.

For more information: https://classroomswithoutborders.org/back-berlin-post-film-discussion

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