Congregation Temple Israel will host its 10th annual Israeli Film Festival on Sunday, May 21. From 3:30 to 8 p.m., guests can enjoy two Israeli films and Israeli-style cuisine during intermission, and are welcome to attend one film or stay for both. 

At 3:30 p.m., the festival will screen the award-winning film “A Borrowed Identity,” written by Sayed Kashua. The film tells the story of Eyad, a Palestinian Israeli teen, who is given the opportunity to attend a prestigious boarding school in Jerusalem. As he desperately tries to fit in with his Jewish schoolmates and into Israeli society, Eyad develops a friendship with a Jewish boy with muscular dystrophy, and gradually becomes a part of the home that Jonathan shares with his mother. After falling in forbidden love with Naomi, a Jewish schoolmate, Eyad leaves school when their relationship is discovered. He comes to realize that he will have to sacrifice his identity in order to be accepted. Faced with a choice, Eyad makes a decision that will change his life forever. The film runs 104 minutes; in Hebrew with English subtitles; suitable for middle school and above.

After an intermission with Israeli-style fare and refreshments, the festival will screen, “The Wedding Doll,” at 6:30 p.m.  Nominated for nine Israeli Academy Awards, the film tells the story of Hagit, a young Israeli woman with mild mental deficiencies, who works in a factory. She lives with her mother, a divorcee who gave up a life of her own for her daughter. Hagit strives for independence, and her mother is torn between her desire to protect Hagit and to allow her a of life of her own. When a relationship develops between Hagit and the son of the factory owner, Hagit hides it from her mother. Hagit’s The announcement of the closing of the factory shakes Hagit and her mother’s lives, and jeopardizes Hagit’s love story. The film is 90 minutes; in  Hebrew with English subtitles; suitable for high school and above.

The event is free of charge and open to the entire St. Louis community. A donation of $5 per person is suggested to help cover the cost of refreshments. RSVP is also required at www.ti-stl.org/films or by phone to Lisa Hirshberg at 314-432-8050. Temple Israel is located at #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive in Creve Coeur.

This program is co-sponsored by Temple Israel’s Israel Engagement Committee, the St. Louis Israeli community and the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis through its Year of Civil Discourse Initiative, which is funded by Jewish Federation of St. Louis and with the support of the Kranzberg Family Foundation, Lubin-Green Foundation and Staenberg Family Foundation, supporting foundations of the Jewish Federation.