This Saturday, Sept. 20 at 8:30 p.m., Temple Sinai of Roslyn will present 50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus, an HBO-produced, Emmy nominated film, narrated by Alan Alda, about the saving of 50 Jewish boys and girls from the heart of Nazi-occupied Austria.
The film will be screened the night of Selichot services.
The program, as noted will begin at 8:30 p.m. and the Selichot service will follow the film. The documentary relates the stirring story of Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus, a Philadelphia lawyer and his wife, who despite challenges at home and abroad, undertook a mission in the spring of 1939 to bring 50 youngsters from Vienna back to the United States.
The Krauses’ viewed themselves as ordinary people who, despite negative odds, sought to fulfill an important mission. They left their two children and the comfort of their Philadelphia home to accomplish their goal. The couple faced challenges from both their local Jewish community and reluctant American diplomats, along with even greater difficulty from Nazi bureaucrats. During their time in Europe, the Krauses’ spent time in Berlin and Vienna. The New York Times called the film, “heart-wrenching, thrilling and above all relevant.”
Interviews with some of the surviving 50 children complete the movie, which is being published this year as a book by author Steven Pressman.
The film, Temple Sinai officials said, is relevant to the observance of Selichot, which takes place the week before Rosh Hashanah, because of the period’s themes of mercy and repentance. All are welcome.
Temple Sinai of Roslyn is located at 425 Roslyn Rd. For more information, contact Ethel Liebeskind at 516-621-6800 or visit the website at www.mysinai.org
