Restoring Tomorrow

Restoring Tomorrow is a 2017 documentary film directed by Aaron Wolf that recounts the history and the restoration of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, California.

Restoring Tomorrow
Directed byAaron Wolf
Produced byTimothy Nuttall
Written byAaron Wolf
StarringArchive footage:
Alfred Wolf (rabbi)
Interviews:
Rabbi Steve Leder
Brenda Levin
Dan Wolf
Narrated byAaron Wolf
Music byConor Jones
CinematographyTimothy Nuttall
Aashish Gandhi
Edited bySimon Carmody
Production
company
Howling Wolf Productions
Distributed by7th Art Releasing
Release date
  • April 21, 2017 (2017-04-21) (Fort Myers Beach)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

The film follows filmmaker Aaron Wolf's personal journey of rediscovery, guided by the narration of Wilshire Boulevard Temple's history and reconstruction.[1] At the time that Wolf was studying at New York University, he had little connection to his faith. He considered himself a “fallen-away Jew” and had drifted from the temple and his Jewish faith like much of the nation's younger generations.[2] Weeks before their wedding, Wolf and his fiancé split, sending him back to his childhood temple to seek counsel from Rabbi Steve Leder. It was then that Rabbi Leder shared his vision to renovate the temple, which at that point was in total disrepair and falling apart. Rabbi Leder asked Wolf to document the temple's restoration, and Wolf agreed to bring on his production company, Howling Wolf Productions, to film the process.[3]

Intertwined in the story of the temple's restoration is the temple's history as the first Jewish congregation in Los Angeles, California, told chronologically through the various rabbis that have led the congregations, including Edgar Magnin and Harvey J. Fields. Most consequential for the film and its filmmaker is Alfred Wolf, Aaron's grandfather who had left Eberbach, Germany at the time that the Nazis rose to power and served as rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple from 1949-1985. It is likely Rabbi Wolf's influence on the temple and the community that draws Wolf closer to the subject of the film, the temple and ultimately his faith.[4]

Cast
  • Aaron Wolf
  • Rabbi Steve Leder
  • George Alvarez
  • Bob Bookman
  • Lionel Bell
  • Steve Breur
  • Marian Brown
  • Stephen Davis
  • Ryan Kavanaugh
  • Stephen Sass
  • Karen Wilson
  • Dan Wolf
  • Joyce Powell
  • Don Schwarz
  • Louise Taubman
  • Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer

Awards and nominations

Restoring Tomorrow was awarded Best Documentary at the 2017 Myrtle Beach Film Festival.[5] The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival hosted a special screening of the film on closing night on May 3, 2017, honoring famed LA architect Brenda Levin for her work in renovating and reconstructing the temple. Director Aaron Wolf and Rabbi Steve Leder attended and participated in a Q&A following the screening.[6]

References
  1. McNary, Dave (14 June 2017). "Wilshire Boulevard Temple Documentary 'Restoring Tomorrow' Acquired by Seventh Art (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  2. Groves, Martha (29 November 2015). "Documentary-maker rediscovers Judaism, family, self". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  3. "A Young Filmmaker Finds His Faith Restored". Guideposts. Guideposts. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  4. Ghert-Zand, Renee (30 December 2015). "Filmmaker chronicles synagogue restoration, ends up rebuilding own Jewish identity". Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  5. "MBIFF 12 Results". Myrtle Beach Film Festival. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  6. Murian, Samuel R. (7 May 2017). "12th Annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival Closes With Documentary Restoring Tomorrow". Parade. AMG/Parade. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
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