First program in our From the Mediterranean to the Northern Lights: Jewish Journeys Together online series.
Title
Xueta Island Film Screening & Q&A with Filmmaker
DESCRIPTION
Xueta Island is a documentary film that explores Inquisition history, Jewish revival, and identity. Some Catholics on the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca) have been discriminated against for centuries because their surnames have a connection to a Jewish heritage. They not only endured stigma and humiliation: they were also deprived of fundamental rights as citizens. While a few have been inspired to return to the faith of their ancestors, their recent entry into the leadership of the local Jewish community has caused an unforeseen controversy among its members. Are they the best suited to lead Mallorquin Judaism despite not having practiced their faith for centuries? Join filmmaker Dani Rotstein on a Director Talkback after viewing the film that will be open for two days before the online discussion.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Dani Rotstein is a content producer, entrepreneur, and storyteller from New Jersey whose international media career led him to Mallorca in 2014. There, he uncovered the island’s little-known Jewish history, inspiring his co-direction of the documentary Xueta Island and sparking a mission to help revive Jewish memory in Spain. He founded Jewish Majorca, a travel company offering immersive Jewish heritage tours across Spain and Portugal. Dani also leads the Re-Emerge Project, a documentary series exploring emerging Jewish communities across Latin America. Through storytelling and travel, he connects past and present, one journey at a time.
This series is made possible by a grant from the Congregation Ahabat Shalom Religious Fund and other generous donors.
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Highlights
- 1 hour
- Online