“A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff” - Tragedy to Art, with original songs and synchronized swimmers

The White Mountain Jewish Film Festival’s 10th season closed with “A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff,” a pyramid-themed party and a toast to another 10 years of Jewish films at the Colonial Theater.

The film, a genre-bending exploration of coming to terms with the tragedy that one Jew inflicted on many others, started as a one-woman show featuring original songs by Alicia Jo Rabins.

Director Alicia J Rose, who met the other Alicia through an email scramble-up, convinced her that film could best tell the multifaceted stories of Madoff beneficiaries, victims and those who worked to unravel the mess. The Alicias engaged friends, fellow musicians, family members, a well-known animator and a synchronized swim team to complete the film.

Director Alicia Rose was enchanted with Bethlehem, The Colonial Theater, The Wayside Inn, and the BHC community. She says: “Thanks again for your generosity of both time and spirit! I had such a good time.”

Attendees celebrated the festival's 10th season with a champagne toast, led by Festival directors Dave and Dorothy Goldstone.

The “pyramid” patio party featured an actual pyramid centerpiece and gold-leaf bouquets created by Elaine French. Elaine also made ‘gold bar’ lemon squares. Melissa Potter contributed from her cache of Chanukah gelt, and complemented the gold with pyramid-shaped scones. Barry Zitser and Sharon Heyman tended bar, and Jacki Katzman organized the whole thing by delegating to such competent contributors.

And so the season ended with a balance of tragedy, comedy and a good nosh.