While Texas has a relative small Jewish population (42,000 as of the 2000 census), Jewish Texans have a uniquely rich and colorful heritage.  From fighting in the Texas Revolution to Stanely Marcus founding Neiman Marcus in Dallas, the Jewish population has been integral in shaping Texas history and helping define what it means to be a Texan.  As such, Houston’s annual Jewish Film Festival is a must-go for any culturally-attuned Texan.

Presented by MFAH, the Jewish Community Center and Holocaust Museum Houston, the 6th Annual Jewish Film Festival will take place March 9-21, with screenings at each of the three institutions.  This year’s JFF features new documentaries, features and shorts from the international film festival circuit, curated by a committee headed by Susan Schneider and Irene Weingarten.  Among the eclectic selection of features is “Ajami,” a provocative drama in Arabic and Hebrew about life in the Jaffa neighborhood, co-directed by an Israeli and a Palestine, as well as “Flame and Citron,” the blockbuster true story that has been called the Danish “Inglorious Basterds.”  Documentaries include “Four Seasons Lodge,” which follows a group of Holocaust survivors on their annual summer retreat together, and “The Case for Israel,” an award-winning argument for Israel’s right to exist.

The Jewish Film Festival is a great way for Jewish Texans to celebrate their heritage, and for non-Jewish Houstonians to learn more about the Jewish experience.  *Tickets purchased before the end of the month will benefit the relief efforts of Doctors Without Borders.*