The Pawnbroker

Directed by Sidney Lumet in 1964, The Pawnbroker is one of the first American films to confront the lasting trauma of the Holocaust head-on. The screening is part of a monthly film series celebrating Jewish storytelling in all its forms — heartbreaking, humorous, thoughtful, and deeply human.

Rod Steiger delivers a powerful performance as Sol Nazerman, a Holocaust survivor who now runs a pawnshop in Harlem. Emotionally withdrawn and disconnected from those around him, Sol has sealed himself off from the world. As memories of his past resurface, the protective walls he has built begin to fracture, forcing him to face pain he has long tried to suppress.

With restraint and emotional intensity, The Pawnbroker examines identity, survival, and the cost of silence. The film remains both historically significant and profoundly affecting, offering a portrait of survival without resolution and raising enduring questions about memory and healing. The series is open to everyone — Jews and non-Jews alike — who share a curiosity for cinema and stories told from a distinctly Jewish perspective.