We are proud to partner with the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford in presenting a special free screening of the remastered film, The Rescuers, on Thursday, January 19 at 7 p.m. Eastern, on Virtual J.  The event will feature a post-film discussion with a renowned panel of experts who will explore a theme from the film; The Mystery of Goodness: What leads one person and not another, to do the right thing consequences they may face?  

The Rescuers, produced by local philanthropist Joyce D. Mandell and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Michael King, uncovers the largely unknown stories of 13 heroic and courageous diplomats who, at tremendous personal cost, saved tens of thousands of Jews during World War II. The film follows a renowned 20th century and Holocaust historian across 15 countries and three continents, interviewing survivors and descendants of the diplomats. 

Often going against their own government policies, many of the World War II diplomats, who were not Jewish, willingly sacrificed their careers, families, and livelihood, working desperately to save people they didn’t know. Their actions raise the question of The Mystery of Goodness: What causes one human being to bypass praise or reward for his action, and do something good and right because his instinct, soul, and spirit knew he had to, at all costs and by any means necessary?