Thursday, October 1, 2026
Bellmore Movies and Showplace is facing pushback from local religious leaders over its screening of the film “Palestine 36,” with members of the Merrick-Bellmore Board of Rabbis calling the movie historically misleading and harmful.
The film was shown at the theater on April 22 and 23, according to the theater’s website.
According to IMDb, “Palestine 36” is a historical drama set during the 1936 Arab Revolt in British-controlled Palestine, following events surrounding rising tensions and conflict in the region.
The film is often discussed alongside Oren Kessler’s nonfiction book “Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict,” which won the 2024 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature. While the book is a historical account of the Arab Revolt and its broader political context, the film is a 2025 historical drama directed by Annemarie Jacir that centers on the Palestinian experience of the uprising. Kessler has said there is no connection between his book and the film, describing “Palestine 36” as a “fictional rewrite” rather than a strict historical adaptation.
In a letter sent April 21, the rabbis wrote they were “deeply troubled” by the decision to screen the film, describing it as “a work of serious historical distortion that renders Jewish people as faceless villains and erases their humanity from the record.”
Rabbi Ira Ebbin of Congregation Ohav Sholom said his concerns — and those of fellow rabbis — are based on reviews of the film and criticism from historians.
“I didn’t see the film — I only read the reviews,” Ebbin said. “But based on what I read, including from the author of the original book, the movie does not represent what he wrote and does not reflect historical facts.”
The letter echoes those concerns, stating that “the erasure of Jewish voices from the film is stark,” and noting that “nearly 400,000 Jews… [are] rendered entirely invisible.”
Rabbi Josh Dorsch of Merrick Jewish Centre said the concerns come at a particularly sensitive time for the community.
“At this moment in time, we are experiencing a rise in antisemitism. Many Jews are feeling particularly vulnerable and at times unsafe,” Dorsch said. “As a community, we have found the theater to be a warm and welcoming environment. We have hosted children’s events over Passover, and we screened a Holocaust documentary for the community in commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
He added that the film, as described in the rabbis’ letter, contributes to harmful narratives.
“As was mentioned in the letter, this particular film presents distortions of historical events, and it plays into a narrative which is not just a distortion of the truth, but plays into antisemitic tropes,” Dorsch said. “Choosing to show this film is hurtful and insensitive to members of our community. We would encourage conversations and dialogue to discuss our perspective and why we believe screening this film is insensitive and hurtful.”
The rabbis also tied their concerns to broader societal issues, writing that “in the current climate of rising antisemitism, the screening of such a film in our community carries consequences that cannot be ignored.”
Ebbin said the reaction among local rabbis was unified.
“When I spoke to the other rabbis in the community, they completely agreed with everything the letter said,” he noted. “We’re seeing a world where antisemitism is very prevalent, and something like this promotes hatred, lies and propaganda.”
While acknowledging the importance of free expression, both the letter and Ebbin emphasized that their request is rooted in concern for the local community.
“We do not write as opponents of free expression,” the letter states. “We write because this film… rewrites the past in service of a contemporary political agenda.”
“This is not an issue of free speech,” Ebbin added. “We recognize that. But we believe this is promoting antisemitic propaganda, and as neighbors in a small community, we’re asking them not to show it.”
The letter concludes with a direct appeal to theater management, stating, “We ask you — as neighbors and as members of this community — to reconsider this screening.”
Representatives for Bellmore Movies and Showplace did not respond to requests for comment.
Ebbin said he has attempted to contact theater management through its website and by phone but has not received a response.
“We would like to hear from them,” he said. “At the very least, a response would be appreciated.”
