The animated short film, The Tattooed Torah, based on the beloved children’s book of the same name written by Marvell Ginsburg will be released by Menemsha Films. Directed by Marc Bennett and narrated by Ed Asner, the animated film is based on the renowned children’s book that has been educating young children about the Holocaust for generations.
Over the last three decades, the beloved children’s book by Marvell Ginsburg, “The Tattooed Torah,” has been a powerful resource for Holocaust education for parents and educators all over the world. Beautifully illustrated by Martin Lemelman, the book recounts the true story of the rescue and restoration of a small Torah from Brno, Czechoslovakia, and teaches the Holocaust not only as a period of destruction but also as an opportunity for redemption. Using the original illustrations as inspiration, the film was animated by Jeffrey Pittle and Christian Robins..
The short also claimed a spot on a recent list of the top”10 Films that Keep the Holocaust Fresh in Our Memories”. The Tattooed Torah was the sole animated, as well as the only short film on this list of critically acclaimed and Oscar Award winning films.
“This list of films is such a wonderful reminder of the power of the medium and its ability to take on even the most horrific subjects in an effort to tell these stories through the various lenses of some of the most inspiring filmmakers of our time and inject them into our popular culture. These films are a constant reminder that to let this atrocity slip into the dark corners of our memory, or social consciousness, is to leave the door open to it happening over and over and over again,” states Marc Bennett, director and co-writer, The Tattooed Torah.
The film has been an official selection at over 40 film festivals around the world, winning numerous awards including Best Animated Short, Best Adaptation as well as the prestigious Cultural Heritage Award at the 2020 San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival. Bennett is also the recipient of the Best Shorts Competition Outstanding Achievement Humanitarian Award which honors filmmakers who are bringing awareness to important issues and committed to making a difference in the world through memorable filmmaking.