January 31 @ 7:15 pm – 10:30 pm
Join us for the opening night of the Jewish & Israeli Film Festival! Enjoy a young adult exclusive happy hour to schmooze with friends and community before the feature film, Ethan Bloom.
Your $18 ticket provides entry to the happy hour and pre-film desert reception, one drink ticket, and the film screening. All tickets must be purchased through Eventive — click Get Tickets, select “Order In-Person Film Screening Tickets” for Opening Night, and select the third option for Young Adult Ticket (Age 21-39).
About the film:
After losing his mother, thirteen-year-old Ethan finds solace in the Catholic church—a refuge that feels like home, even though he was born into a Jewish family. When his father insists on a bar mitzvah and Ethan’s secret unravels at his girlfriend’s confirmation party, the young seeker must confront the lies he’s told and the grief he’s been running from. Through the wisdom of an unconventional rabbi, the love of his complicated family, and his first romance with a cowboy-boot-wearing girl who can put him in a headlock, Ethan discovers that faith isn’t about choosing sides—it’s about honoring all the messy, beautiful pieces of who we are.
Content Warning: Minor drug usage
Presenting Partner: Rockwern Charitable Foundation
The Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival presents a diverse, inspiring lineup of award-winning films and engaging, educational programming that connects to Jewish and Israeli stories. To see the whole 2026 lineup, click here.
