Raphael Shore is a Canadian-Israeli film writer, producer,[1] author[2] and rabbi. He is the founder of OpenDor Media, a Jewish educational organization, and Clarion Project, a nonprofit organization "dedicated to educating the public about the threats of Islamist extremism and providing a platform for moderate Muslim voices."[3]
Raphael Shore | |
|---|---|
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| Nationality | Canadian, Israeli |
| Education | University of Toronto (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Organizations | |
| Spouse | Rebecca Shore |
| Relatives | David Shore (brother) |
Early life and education
editShore is the twin brother of Ephraim Shore, the former head of HonestReporting,[4] rabbi, and tour guide, and younger brother of television producer and writer David Shore.[5] Shore has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, Ontario.[6]
Career
editShore previously worked for Aish HaTorah,[4][7] an Orthodox organization devoted to promoting Jewish learning, and has collaborated with HonestReporting, a pro-Israel media watchdog site formerly run by his brother Ephraim. He founded the Clarion Project in 2006, a counter-jihad organization involved in the production and distribution of documentary films.[8]
OpenDor Media
editShore founded OpenDor Media in 2009 (formerly Jerusalem U), a non-profit organization dedicated to film-based Jewish and Israel education. OpenDor Media produces feature-length films, short videos, social media content and educational resources.[9]
Film producer
editShore wrote, directed and produced Relentless: The Struggle for Peace in the Middle East in 2003. This film explores the cause of the Second Intifada through an examination of compliance with the Declaration of Principles, otherwise known as the Oslo Accords.[10] It is based on a PowerPoint presentation that Shore used as a study aid when he was teaching a political science course in Israel.[11]
His 2008 documentary, Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West, was distributed to 28 million voters throughout the United States during the 2008 United States presidential campaign.[1] Shore has declined to reveal who funded both the production of the film or dissemination of the DVDs.[1]
In 2010, Shore self-released the documentary film, Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus.[12][13]
He produced Iranium in 2011, a documentary film about the potential dangers of a nuclear Iran. A prelaunch screening scheduled to take place at the end of January at the Canadian National Archives in Ottowa drew opposition from the Iranian consulate. After a number of anonymous threats were received the National Archives canceled the screening citing security concerns. This cancellation received extensive coverage and it was eventually screened in Ottawa. In response, Shore said: “They basically gave us our advertising slogan: the film Iran’s leaders do not want you to see”.[14]
Shore produced the 2012 documentary Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference, narrated by Tal Ben-Shahar. The film explores parts of Israeli history and society that tend not to be addressed in mainstream coverage of the country.[15]
In 2015, Shore released a sequel to Crossing the Line, Crossing the Line 2: The New Face of Anti-Semitism on Campus, that documents how a growing number of anti-Israel demonstrations on U.S. campuses also include anti-Semitic messaging.[16] He also wrote and produced Hummus the Movie the same year, a documentary movie about hummus.[17]
In 2022, Shore was the executive producer of Unsafe Spaces, a documentary that features the voices of Jewish activists working to combat antisemitism and to create an inclusive community for everyone. It explores explores Jewish identity on college campuses and profiles a diverse group of students from various universities.[18][19]
In 2024, Shore was the producer of Tragic Awakening – A New Look at the Oldest Hatred. The documentary explores the roots of antisemitism through the insights of Muslim Zionist Rawan Osman.[20]
Author
editIn 2024, Shore published Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Jew – Learning to Love the Lessons of Jew Hatred.[21]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Relentless: The Struggle for Peace in the Middle East | Executive producer | |
| 2005 | Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West | Producer | |
| 2008 | The Third Jihad: Radical Islam's Vision For America | Producer | |
| 2010 | Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus | Producer | |
| 2011 | Iranium | Producer | |
| 2011 | Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference | Executive producer | |
| 2013 | Honor Diaries | Executive producer | |
| 2014 | Beneath the Helmet | Executive producer | |
| 2015 | Crossing the Line 2: The New Face of Anti-Semitism on Campus | Producer | |
| 2015 | Hummus the Movie | Executive producer | |
| 2016 | Mekonen: The Journey of an African Jew | Executive producer | |
| 2016 | Faithkeepers | Executive producer | |
| 2017 | When the Smoke Clears: A Story of Brotherhood, Resilience and Hope | Executive producer | |
| 2017 | Kids: Chasing Paradise | Executive producer | |
| 2018 | Sustainable Nation | Executive producer | |
| 2019 | The Psychology of Terrorism | Executive producer | |
| 2020 | Covert Cash | Producer | |
| 2020 | Upheaval: The Journey of Menachem Begin | Co-producer | |
| 2022 | Converts the Movie | Executive producer | |
| 2024 | Tragic Awakening | Executive producer |
References
edit- ^ a b c Berman, Daphna. "Obsession Stokes Passions, Fears and Controversy". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
- ^ "Rabbi Raphael Shore". Amazon. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Rabbi Raphael Shore". Jewish Interactive. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ a b Ali Gharib; Eli Clifton. "Neo-cons, Ex-Israeli Diplomats Push Islamophobic Video". Inter Press Service. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ "David Shore Biography". TV.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ^ "Staff". Jerusalem U. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ^ Eric Gorski (2008-09-23). "Muslim group seeks probe of 'radical Islam' DVD". Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ Aked, Hilary; Jones, Melissa; Miller, David (2019). "Islamophobia in Europe: How governments are enabling the far-right 'counter-jihad' movement" (PDF). Public Interest Investigations: 49, 60.
- ^ "Reinventing Education for the Digital Age". Jewish Journal. February 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Relentless: the Struggle for Peace in Israel". IMRA. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Looking for Truth in Documentaries". Jewish Journal. 29 May 2003. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ Powerful New Film - Crossing the Line - Details Rise of Anti-Semitism on Campus, Feb. 22, 2010 [1] Archived 2012-02-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Alarming anti-Israel activity at UC Irvine and other universities, Natalie Menaged and Alan Levine [2]
- ^ "The Film Iran's Leaders Do Not Want You To See Iranium: The Clock Is Ticking". Mishpacha. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ Hoffman, Gil (25 March 2012). "Film aims to encapsulate 'Start-Up Nation's' success". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "Jerusalem U documentary explores anti-Semitism on US campuses". Jerusalem Post. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Humus and the Wild Middle East". i24 News. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Unsafe Spaces". Unpacked. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ ""Unsafe Spaces: When Being Jewish Means You Don't Belong" Film Screening". Jewish Boston. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Tragic Awakening". Miami Jewish Film Festival. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Raphael Shore: 'Understand why they hate us, to learn to love ourselves'". Israel National News. Retrieved 1 October 2024.