Jewish Groups Launch Summer Project Highlighting Golda Meir’s Leadership Ahead of ‘Golda’ Film Release
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Helen Mirren, Rami Heuberger, Lior Ashkenazi and Dvir Benedek in Bleecker Street’s “GOLDA.” Photo:Sean Gleason, courtesy of Bleecker Street
A project launched this month aims to teach the public about Israel’s former Prime Minister Golda Meir ahead of the theatrical release of Golda, a dramatic film, starring Oscar winner Helen Mirren in the lead role, that is based on the true story of Meir’s leadership during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The Golda Summer Project (GSP), also called in Hebrew Kayitz Zahav (Summer of Gold), is a collaboration between over 15 leading, US-based, Jewish or Israeli organizations, the Golda Meir House Museum in Denver, The Golda Meir Institute for Leadership in Tel Aviv and Mean Streets Management.
Starting at the beginning of August, information about each organization’s connection to Meir as well as videos and photos was sent to those who sign up for the project once or twice every week leading up to the release of Golda on Aug. 25. GSP hopes to “educate and engage the public about Meir’s connection to the US, and Israel’s history during the 60’s and 70’s, including the Yom Kippur War and the Peace Accords with Egypt.”
“Golda Shabbat Parsha Sheets” will also be sent every Thursday to GSP members that can be printed and then discussed over Shabbat. They will be written by a Jewish community educator, who will tie the weekly Torah portion to Meir and Israel’s history during the 60’s and 70’s.
Golda, a Bleecker Street and ShivHans Pictures production, is directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guy Nattiv. It focuses on Meir, Israel’s first and only female head of state, as she leads her country, and her all-male cabinet, into war against Syria and Egypt on the morning of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in 1973. The film stars Jewish actor Liev Schreiber as former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Camille Cottin, who plays Meir’s long-time personal assistant Lou Kaddar; and Israeli actor Lior Ashkenazi as the head of the Israeli army. The cast further includes Rami Heuberger, Ellie Piercy, Ed Stoppard, Rotem Keinan, Dvir Benedek, Dominic Mafham, Ben Caplan, Kit Rakusen and Emma Davies.
Golda made its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February and in July was the opening film of the Jerusalem Film Festival, where Mirren also received an award.
Watch the trailer for Golda below.
