Great Communicators

The following statement was issued by Amy Dean, Chair of the Board, and Jacob Solomon, President and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation:

On behalf of the Officers, Board of Directors and Staff of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, we express our deep sadness on the passing of Elie Wiesel, z”l, revered Holocaust survivor, author, teacher and Nobel Laureate.

Speaking and writing with the fervor of a passionate preacher, the wisdom of a sage, the certainty of an eyewitness and the words of a poet, Mr. Wiesel traversed the world, sharing his message about the importance of confronting evil. After surviving the depths of hell during the Shoah, he reminded all of us that the greatest enemy of humanity is indifference. He demanded that we never forget the horrible lessons of the Holocaust. He implored us to speak out against the forces of genocide and discrimination in our own time, lest our silence be perceived as acquiescence and capitulation.

As a part-time resident of South Florida, Mr. Wiesel was a beloved presence in our community and a respected voice of compassion and activism. Speaking to an audience of thousands at the dedication of the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach in 1990, Mr. Wiesel referred to the Memorial’s graphic depictions of heartache and suffering, declaring:

“Look and you will realize that there existed a suffering that transcended suffering. Woe unto us. For the tragedy which this museum is trying to integrate is beyond words and beyond imagination, but not beyond memory. And only those who were there know what it meant being there.”

In 2010, Mr. Wiesel addressed the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Main Event and reminded us of our moral responsibility to preserve memories of the Holocaust and insist that its legacy is taught to future generations.

As we mourn the passing of Eli Wiesel, we appreciate the depth of our loss and the eternal relevance of his life’s message. We must remember the calamity of the Holocaust and teach its lessons. We must respect the dignity of human life and decry prejudice in all its forms. We must give voice to the oppressed and stand united against the tyranny of their oppressors.

If we remain true to these principles, the spirit of Elie Wiesel will remain with us in our hearts and minds, forever, serving as a voice of remembrance, conscience and moral activism. May his memory and the lessons of his life forever be a blessing.

“A good reputation is like fire. Once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again.”                                                                                                                                                       – Socrates

As the new year 2016 begins, I recommend that our professional, business and not-for-profit colleagues adopt one important resolution. Invest in your good reputation.

An effective public relations program can spread the word about your abilities and accomplishments in a manner that enhances your reputation among targeted audiences. It also can preserve your good name when crisis strikes, combating negative perceptions that can threaten your establishment’s image.

Reputation management is a long-term process, one that focuses on creating constantly positive visibility and respect. So be persistent in good and bad economic times.

On behalf of the Great Communicators team, I wish all of you a successful, prosperous New Year and welcome your inquiries about designing public relations campaigns that meet the specific needs of your business or organization.

Like most Internet users, you probably share a concern about online privacy, and the intrusion of private sector and government information gathering.

The remedy may come from the “dark net,” currently a den of illicit and highly secretive activities that may be pointing the way for the future of digital communications and commerce.

Learn more about the mysterious dark net from this informative and amusing TED talk: http://www.ted.com/…/jamie_bartlett_how_the_mysterious_dark…

Say what you will about Donald Trump. He certainly is one of America’s great communicators. His continuing popularity in the Republican presidential polls is a credit to years of careful grooming of the Trump brand, as well as his ability to project absolute self confidence.

In the current Infotainment Era — when the news media is equally dedicated to current events and celebrity coverage — Trump is the ultimate product. After years of starring in CBS Television’s “The Apprentice,” he has convinced millions of viewers that he is the world’s leading entrepreneur. Although it is positioned as a reality show, Apprentice positions Trump as the premiere business genius, a role that the Donald plays with a great relish.

Simultaneously, Trump has parlayed his business successes into personal triumphs, while minimizing awareness of his business failures, including bankruptcies, massive layoffs and huge investor losses connected to significant companies in his empire. His message is one of self empowerment. “If I can do it, so can you,” is the implied message of his public persona. Never mind that his fortune was built on inherited family money. Donald Trump wants you to see him as every man, just a straight-talking commoner who is constantly enriched by street smarts, business acumen and toughness.

The power of the Trump brand has been evident throughout the initial months of his presidential campaign. He advocates policies without substance, like building a border wall that Mexico will finance and forcing China to send factory jobs back to the United States.  Even though these Trump platforms have no underpinnings, most of his fans need no justifications to believe in him.

Meanwhile, Trump survives objectionable statements that already would have sunk candidates with lesser brands. When the Donald says something outrageous, his fans roar with appreciation because such “honest” comments are part of his image. They perceive that he speaks to them with a wink and a nod. So they will tolerate much more from their hero than they would from conventional political candidates.

Without predicting whether Donald Trump will ultimately prevail in his presidential bid, one has to tip a hat to him for building such an enduring brand image. The coming months certainly will test whether his carefully crafted image will survive the many coming storms along the campaign trail.

The best of international cinema will return to Miami when the Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) enlightens the community for its 18^th year, bringing 74 films from 20 countries, and hosting 50 filmmakers and special guests, including film industry innovators Nancy Spielberg, Bill Morrison, and Lacey Schwartz.

MJFF, the largest Jewish cultural event in Florida, has announced a line-up of films to be screened and events to be celebrated from January 15-29, 2015, featuring 11 North American Premieres, 18 Florida Premieres, 13 Miami Premieres, and 2 Academy Award entries.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with this year’s Festival program,” said Igor Shteyrenberg, Director of the Miami Jewish Film Festival. “Its diversity and artistic vision will delight, surprise and reward those who share our passion for exploring cinema in all its forms.”

The Festival will open with the Florida Premiere of the black comedy, Mr. Kaplan, Uruguay’s official entry to the Oscars’ best foreign-language film category, and will close with the Florida Premiere of The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films. The film is an affectionate and dazzling tribute to Menachem Golan and Yoram Globus, and their famous filmmaking empire that changed the face of Hollywood and film world forever.

In an effort to expand its focus and to remain challenging and provocative, MJFF will host acclaimed experimental filmmaker Bill Morrison, who will discuss and present a selection of films from his collaboration with composer Michael Gordon. Included are City Walk, Light Is Calling, East River, Who By Water, Every Stop on the F Train, and Gene Takes a Drink, culminating with the Florida premiere of their new film, All Vows. Musical performances by the New World Symphony will accompany several of the short films.

MJFF has also announced the launch of New Voices in Jewish Cinema, a new program created this year featuring films created by some of the best emerging talents in the industry. Among are Talya Lavie’s highly acclaimed Zero Motivation, the Berlin Film Festival winner Anywhere Else, the North American Premiere of A Match Made in Heaven, and Mad Men scribe Victor Levin’s debut film, 5 To 7.

A curated Spotlight on German Cinema highlights The Decent One, winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival, and the North American Premieres of The Grüninger File, a spellbinding true story about “the Oscar Schindler of the Swiss-German border region,” and Radical Evil, from Oscar-winning filmmaker Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters). Also featured are the Florida Premieres of The Last Mentsch, Farewell Herr Schwarz, Hanna’s Journey, the East Coast Premiere of Brundibár, and the Miami Premiere of Run Boy Run.

This year’s Festival will debut a special A Night at the Drive-In event, which will present the Florida Premiere of Another World, the first action sci-fi movie ever filmed in Israel. The Festival will also screen a showcase of some of the best international short films in a free outdoor screening under the stars.

Among the special guests who will be attending is Nancy Spielberg, who will premiere her new film, Above & Beyond, about a ragtag band of World War II pilots who volunteer to fight for Israel in the War of Independence. Also attending will be filmmaker Lacey Schwartz, who will present the Florida Premiere of her debut film, Little White Lie, and participate in a panel discussion focusing on issues of race and identity.

Other notable films at this year’s Festival include Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (Israel’s official entry to the Oscar’s best foreign-language film category), the North American Premiere of In Silence, a visually stunning and emotionally devastating film that celebrates the musicians whose lives were lost in the Holocaust, Florida Premieres of Night Will Fall, In Hiding, and the North American Premiere of Metamorphosis of a Melody, which will be complemented by a live Chorale performance.

TICKET SALES:

Ticket sales have begun and continue throughout the Festival. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets online. In addition to a price of $13 per single ticket, MJFF will offer full Festival passes for $220 per patron. More information is available at www.miamijewishfilmfestival.org and by calling 305-573-7304.

MORE INFORMATION:

Follow the Miami Jewish Film Festival on Facebook (www.facebook.org/miamijewishfilmfestival) or Twitter (@MiamiJFF) for updates with the latest information about the Festival and attending filmmakers. Join the conversation, using the hashtag #mjff18 on social media.