Rabbi Shmuel Lynn – From Hollywood Aspirations to Holocaust Education Through Film

Rabbi Shmuel Lynn – From Hollywood Aspirations to Holocaust Education Through Film

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In an inspiring turn of life events, Rabbi Shmuel Lynn, a US-based Jewish educator with roots in Hollywood’s filmmaking industry, has returned to his artistic origins to create a powerful movie about an obscure yet captivating Holocaust story, as was reported on the Algemeiner.com web site. His latest film, “Bardejov,” named after the small town in Slovakia, marks a significant pivot in his career, from a secular upbringing in Florida to becoming a key figure in Jewish education and outreach.

Originally from Florida and raised in a secular environment, Lynn’s early ambitions were firmly planted in the entertainment industry. According to an interview that Rabbi Lynn gave to the Algemeiner.com website, he earning a degree in film from Duke University and then moved to Los Angeles, where he was intent on carving out a career in screenwriting. His days were filled with scripts, storyboards, and the pursuit of bringing compelling narratives to life on the big screen, the Algemeiner.com report added. However, his path took an unexpected turn following a burgeoning interest in Judaism.

This newfound interest led Lynn to Jerusalem, where he embarked on a multi-year journey of religious and spiritual study, a decision that would see him step away from filmmaking. He recounted to the Algemeiner.com,  “I was always involved in the arts, music, and theater,” but it was his religious awakening that redirected his energies towards a deeper exploration of his Jewish heritage.

By 2004, Lynn had fully transitioned into Jewish outreach, focusing his efforts on educating Jewish students on college campuses, primarily at the University of Pennsylvania. His work quickly expanded, and he soon helped to establish Meor Manhattan, an organization dedicated to engaging young professional Jews in New York City, according to the information in the Algemeiner.com interview. Under Lynn’s guidance, Meor Manhattan flourished and later evolved into what is now known as Olami.

Despite his years away from the film industry, Lynn’s passion for storytelling never waned. This passion, combined with his deepened understanding and connection to Jewish history, culminated in the creation of “Bardejov,” as was indicated in the Algemeiner.com interview. The film explores one of the Holocaust’s lesser-known stories, bringing to light the experiences of a community during one of history’s darkest periods.

In discussing his motivation for the film with the Algemeiner.com, Lynn expressed a desire to illuminate the untold stories of the Holocaust, believing that each story has unique lessons and insights that are relevant today. “Bardejov” is not just a return to Lynn’s artistic roots but also a fusion of his dedication to Jewish education and his skills as a filmmaker, the Algemeiner.com interview said. The project reflects his journey full circle—from arts to faith and back to arts—this time, however, infused with a mission to educate and memorialize.

With “Bardejov,” Lynn aims to reach a broad audience, both within and beyond the Jewish community. He told the Algemeiner.com that he hopes the film will serve as an educational tool that promotes understanding and awareness of the Holocaust’s complexities, ensuring that such histories are not forgotten. The movie is also a testament to Lynn’s belief in the power of film as a medium to convey profound truths and foster meaningful dialogue.

Rabbi Lynn, has also taken an innovative approach to teaching Jewish history and heritage by organizing international summits and immersive theatrical experiences in historically significant locations, as per the information provided in the Algemeiner.com interview.  These initiatives aim not just to educate but to profoundly connect participants with their cultural past, calling attention to the sacrifices made by previous generations.

Lynn’s idea to hold summits in places with tumultuous Jewish histories, such as Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, stems from a belief in the educational power of understanding one’s heritage. “The idea is that if you know where you come from, you will cherish and appreciate the sacrifice that got you where you are,” Lynn explained to the Algemeiner.com during the interview.  He emphasized the impact of historical awareness, recalling how generations faced adversities such as the Cossacks and the Nazis to secure a future for the next generations.

During these trips, Lynn’s artistic talents resurfaced, merging his past in filmmaking with his current educational endeavors. To engage participants effectively, he introduced the concept of staging impromptu plays in significant historical settings. This approach evolved into what Lynn described to the Algemeiner.com as “street theater,” a form of live, public performance that proved to be a “eureka moment” for him. By staging these performances in the streets of places such as Spain, Lynn found a dynamic way to educate people about Jewish history through the arts.

Back in the United States, Lynn’s organization, Olami, continued to innovate Jewish historical education through interactive plays. One notable production, “New York Circa 1909,” allowed attendees to step into the lives of Jewish immigrants in New York City at the turn of the 20th century, as was noted in the Algemeiner.com interview.  This interactive play was designed to give participants a tangible sense of the challenges and triumphs experienced by their ancestors who sought new lives in America.

Lynn’s commitment to a comprehensive understanding of Jewish history also led him to organize trips to Poland, which are notably distinct from the typical visits to Nazi concentration camps. His objective was to showcase not only the sites of immense Jewish suffering but also the vibrant Jewish life that once thrived in the region, as was indicated in the Algemeiner.com interview.  He told the publication that this balanced approach helps participants appreciate the full spectrum of Jewish historical experience—from thriving cultural epochs to tragic periods.

The concept for Lynn’s film “Bardejov” originated during one of these educational journeys. While traveling through Slovakia, a conversation with a donor piqued his interest in the town of Bardejov, a site with a rich Jewish history that had not been widely explored, as was detailed in the Algemeiner.com interview. This visit inspired him to delve deeper into its story, eventually leading to the production of his film, which focuses on one of the Holocaust’s lesser-known narratives.

Upon visiting Bardejov, Rabbi Lynn told the Algemeiner.com that he was met with overwhelming emotion from the locals, who were moved to see interest in their town’s historical significance. Bardejov, a town with a tragic past involving early collaboration with the Nazis, holds stories that are not widely known outside of Slovakia. Lynn recounted to the Algemeiner.com how a local man cried upon their arrival, touched by the attention to their history.

One of the most poignant tales from Bardejov is that of 312 girls who were nearly deported to Auschwitz under the guise of being sent to work in a shoe factory. As was noted in the Algemeiner.com interview, just hours before their scheduled deportation, the townspeople uncovered the Nazis’ true intentions. In a desperate bid to save the girls, the town’s rabbi, Rafuel Lowy, orchestrated a daring plan. The Algemeiner.com report said that he arranged for the girls to receive Typhus vaccines, causing them to test positive for the disease. This outbreak led to the quarantine of the town and ultimately spared the girls from being sent to the death camp.

Tragically, while the girls were saved, Rabbi Lowy was later captured and died at Auschwitz. This stark contrast between his heroic rescue of the girls and his own fate adds a deep, somber layer to the narrative, illustrating the harsh realities of the Holocaust.

Moved by what he learned in Bardejov, Rabbi Lynn told the Algemeiner.com that he penned a screenplay titled “Bardejov,” encapsulating the dramatic rescue of the 312 girls. Describing the story to the Algemeiner.com during the interview as “a Hollywood story for the ages,” Lynn managed to translate this screenplay into a film that has been directed and is now available on major streaming platforms such as Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Noted in the Algemeiner.com interview was that this project not only marks Lynn’s return to his filmmaking roots but also fulfills his vision of using cinema as a powerful tool to educate and inspire global audiences about Jewish history and resilience.

Rabbi Lynn advocates strongly for the use of film to convey the nuances of Jewish history. He told the Algemeiner.com that in his view, filmmaking has the unique ability to reach people worldwide, including those who might not otherwise engage with traditional forms of education such as books. He emphasized the importance of “flooding the airwaves with true stories of Jewish history” to the Algemeiner.com as a means to recalibrate understanding and combat ignorance and misinformation.

While Rabbi Lynn remains committed to his primary role as a rabbi, he is enthusiastic about the potential of filmmaking to bring other significant Jewish stories to the forefront. According to the Algemeiner.com, his work on “Bardejov” is just the beginning of what he hopes will be a series of impactful films that bring to light the many untold stories of heroism, sacrifice, and survival during the darkest times in Jewish history.