Jewish film fest freebie at Union Square

In anticipation of the upcoming San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, there will be an outdoor pre-festival screening of Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” at dusk Saturday, July 11 in Union Square.

The S.F. Jewish Film Festival is partnering with the San Francisco Neighborhood Theatre Foundation’s Film Night in the Park to present the free screening, which will begin at approximately 8:45 p.m.

The event will include giveaways and a chance to win festival passes, and there will be an after-party at Kuleto’s (221 Powell St., S.F.) with specials on Manhattan cocktails.

For more information on the film festival, which will take place July 23 through Aug. 10, visit http://www.sfjff.org.

‘The Producers’ returns to Bay Area stage

The Foothill Music Theatre in Los Altos Hills will stage a revival of the Tony Award-winning “Mel Brooks’ The Producers, The Musical.” The production runs from July 24 through Aug. 16 at Foothill College.

Winner of 12 Tony awards, “Mel Brooks’ The Producers, The Musical” tells the story of two Jewish theater producers who scheme to get rich quick by overselling investments in a Broadway show that’s sure to flop: “Springtime for Hitler!” San Jose native Gary DeMattei stars as Max Bialystock, with Tim Reynolds as Leo Bloom. 

“Mel Brooks’ The Producers, The Musical” plays 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees, July 24 to Aug. 16, at Foothill College’s Smithwick Auditorium, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Tickets are $18-$26. For more information, call (650) 949-7360 or online at http://www.foothillmusicals.com.

Tel Aviv’s Diaspora Museum gets overhaul

Officials at Beth Hatefutsoth, the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv, have announced a plan to rebuild the museum at a cost of $25 million and to modernize its entire approach to the history of the Jewish people.

Instead of telling the history of the diaspora from the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to the rebirth of the State of Israel, the renamed Museum of the Jewish People will start with Abraham and Sarah — and there won’t be a final chapter.

The museum will also make a point of being more pluralistic and less Ashkenazi, Orthodox and male-oriented — but the biggest change will be in its attitude toward diaspora Jews, who will be put on equal footing with their brothers in Israel following criticism that the museum’s old approach was patronizing.

The museum, which nearly closed down due to lack of funding two years ago, will remain open during the renovations, which are due to be completed in 2012. The museum is located on the Tel Aviv University campus.

“Thirty-one years after the museum was founded, we look at Jewish history from a more sober perspective,” Diaspora Museum CEO Avinoam Armoni said at a press conference June 25. “Defining the relationship of the diaspora and Israel did not give credit to the commonality and diversity of the relationship. Jews from abroad felt they were not being treated as equal partners in the global Jewish story.”

According to the plans, the new museum will help visitors discover, understand and experience the unique story of the Jewish people. Officials said the interactive exhibit will aim to inspire in visitors a sense of belonging and connection to the overall Jewish story through a variety of narrative threads, including unity and diversity, the Jewish world in modern times and the cultural influence upon Jews of non-Jewish surroundings. — jpost.com