Save the Date: 'Draw Back the Curtain' film to premiere Nov. 10

After more than 70 years of closed borders, the former Soviet Union allowed more than one million Jews to immigrate to America and Israel in the late 1980s. American activism under Operation Exodus had a large part in this change in policy and the Richmond Jewish community in the resettlement of 800 refugees.

Twenty-five years later, Jewish Family Services and the University of Richmond Hillel are creating a permanent collection of the experiences and memories of the families who immigrated and the community volunteers who welcomed them.

“Draw Back the Curtain,” a feature length documentary film, is the culmination of three years of student driven research and interviewing of immigrants and resettlement volunteers. The larger project, which includes a digital archive and multiple museum exhibitions, has tallied more than 8,000 volunteer hours and generous funding from the Richmond Jewish Foundation and the local community.

The film will premiere at the Modlin Center for the Arts on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. To view the trailer and register for an invitation today, visit www.DrawBacktheCurtain.com.

On Nov. 16, Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives will host an exhibition opening of Soviet artifacts and photographs from the resettled community and Richmond news articles that depict life in the former Soviet Union, the struggle and resilience to achieve the American dream.

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