“They Ain’t Ready for Me”: A Conversation with Rabbi Tamar Manasseh and Filmmaker Brad Rothschild

Rabbi Tamar Manasseh is leading the fight against senseless killings on the south side of Chicago. Inspired by the shooting death of Lucille Barnes in 2015, every day, Rabbi Manasseh sits on the corner of 75th Street and South Stewart Avenue in the Englewood section of Chicago. Tired of waiting for politicians to do something, Tamar took the situation into her own hands. She did something simple yet revolutionary – she sat down on the corner and hasn’t left since. She has since founded MASK (Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killings). MASK’s purpose is to put eyes on streets, interrupt violence and crime, and teach children to grow up as friends rather than enemies. MASK’s primary mission is to build stronger communities through a focus on violence prevention, food insecurity, and housing. Manasseh has also helped launch MASK initiatives in other Chicago neighborhoods, as well as cities throughout the nation, including Evansville, Indiana, Staten Island, New York, and Memphis, Tennessee.

Director/Producer Brad Rothschild is an award-winning producer and writer with both a creative and a business background. He received a Masters in International Affairs and a Masters in Business Administration, both from Columbia University. From 1995-1997, he served as the Speechwriter and Director of Communications for the Mission of Israel to the United Nations. Rothschild produced the award-winning documentary feature, “Kinderblock 66: Return to Buchenwald”, which screened in the Jerusalem Film Festival and in over 20 festivals around the world. He directed the documentary film “African Exodus”, about the plight of Israel’s African refugees and the documentary film, “Tree Man”, about the people who come to New York City to sell Christmas trees every holiday season. “Tree Man” won the Audience Award at the St. Lawrence International Film Festival. He is currently directing a documentary film about Raoul Wallenberg.

Virtual film screening and Zoom conversation

Registration link: https://bit.ly/aintreadyzoom

For more information, contact: sbrettfilm@gmail.com

Sponsored by: Pearlstine/Lipov Center for Southern Jewish Culture, Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program, African American Studies Program, Women’s and Gender Studies Program, Religious Studies Program, Charleston JCC Foundation, Charleston Jewish Filmfest