Kosher Movies

I am Rabbi Herb Cohen, a high school principal and teacher of English language and literature for many years. I received my doctorate in English Literature from Georgia State University and my ordination from Yeshiva University. Over the course of my professional career, I have been particularly interested in the synergy between faith and secular studies. In 2010, I wrote a book about it entitled Walking in Two Worlds.

For the past several years, I have focused on writing about film in The Times of Israel and have a blog entitled koshermovies.com.  My definition of a "kosher movie" is one that has something meaningful to say about life, a film that can help us navigate our own lives. Urim Publishers recently published my latest book, Kosher Movies: A Film Critic Discovers Life Lessons at the Cinema, and I now want to share many of these life lessons with a broader audience. For that reason, I am launching an educational initiative centered on bridging the gap between the secular and sacred worlds through the thoughtful use of technology and media. I am seeking a partner or partners to fund this educational enterprise. By supporting this project, you will enable people from all walks of life to successfully integrate secular and sacred studies into a meaningful perspective on all of life. Our goal is $50,000. As soon as funds are received, I can launch some of the projects. 

There are four areas of work within the initiative. First, to develop teaching materials for high schools incorporating the use of films in educational settings, with an eye towards finding and discussing issues relevant to the life of teenagers and that offer useful strategies for dealing with life challenges.

 Second, to create a substantial library of of "kosher movie" video reviews that direct people to films that have something meaningful to say about life and that are not only enjoyable but also enlightening. These would be distributed on my blog and also on YouTube.

 Third, to continue to produce "kosher movies" TV programs that are presently shown on cable TV stations via JBS, Jewish Broadcasting Services, a non-profit entity.  The shows are patterned after the successful PBS Siskel and Ebert format.  A sample clip can be sent to possible partners.

 Four, to write additional volumes of "Kosher Movies" that consider films not dealt with in the original Kosher Movies book.

 The money will be used to pay for the work involved in the technical production of the videos and to pay for the time spent in developing all the above materials. A tax-deductible donation to Jewish Links, Inc, of which “Kosher Movies” is a project, would enable me to provide an educational service for all people of faith who would like to be able to discriminate between the wheat and chaff of modern culture and to use films as useful tools to help them navigate life. For every contribution of $180 or more, you will receive a copy of Kosher Movies. For contributions of $1000 or more, you will be listed in the end credits as a sponsor of our cable TV program, “Kosher Movies: Watching Movies Religiously” and our YouTube film reviews.

I would be very thankful if you were to become a partner with me in bringing about an intellectual and spiritual revolution in which people of all ages and faiths would recognize the benefits of secular culture and technology while at the same time retaining their ethical compass in these times of moral chaos.