Netflix smash hit Fauda co-creator Lior Raz headlines Calgary event

By Mark Cooper

(AJNews) – B’nai Brith Calgary is once again swinging big to meet the moment, bringing one of the world’s most globally recognized actors and relevant voices to help inspire and strengthen the resolve of the local Jewish community.

Lior Raz, the visionary co-creator and lead actor of the internationally acclaimed Netflix political thriller Fauda, will headline what is fast becoming one of the most anticipated annual events on Calgary’s Jewish community speaking circuit.

Raz will appear December 13 at Calgary’s Beth Tzedec Congregation in conversation with Carla Kettner, a prominent Hollywood writer, showrunner and executive producer.

He is expected to share insights from his transition from the front lines as a real-life IDF special forces operator to a major Hollywood creator who has been widely acclaimed for his ability to bring a raw, gritty and highly credible portrayal of the Israel-Palestinian conflict to audiences around the world.

B’nai Brith Calgary Lodge President Stacy Shaikin hopes this timely perspective will inspire a powerful resurgence of Jewish pride in the local community.

“We expect this to be an uplifting day,” said Shaikin.

“We get focused on antisemitism, but we should be more focused on being proud to be Jewish. That’s what these things should be about.

“And that’s what we’re trying to do: bring a piece of that to the community. ‘Be proud of who you are. Don’t be afraid to celebrate it.’

“It’s going to be a great day to celebrate being Jewish, to celebrate Jewish art and to hear from somebody who has a great story to tell.”

Raz, who plays the intense, deeply troubled character Doron Kabilio, broke out in 2015 with the premier of Fauda, which is now in its fifth season.

Fauda has become a massive hit with both Jewish and Arab audiences. Despite being an Israeli production centering on an undercover IDF counter-terrorism unit, the political thriller has been on the top of Netflix streaming charts across the Middle East—including in Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Raz has a profound understanding of the complexities on the ground in the Israeli Palestinian conflict.

In Fauda – Arabic for “chaos” he portrays characters on both sides of the dispute with empathy and depth.

Serving in the IDF Special Forces, Raz became fluent in Arabic and gained unique insight into the realities of daily life for people living amid the conflict.

Critics say episodes in the recently released current season of Fauda intensely capture the terror, vulnerability and chaos of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Southern Israel.

In fact, Raz has said in previous interviews that the current season had to be completely rewritten following the attacks.

“October 7 was a trauma for all of us in Israel,” Raz told the Jewish Chronicle.

“We started to write from our trauma. It was the hardest thing we ever did in our lives, because it meant dealing with a wound that’s still open for us as writers, Israelis and for me, as an actor.

“We didn’t have a choice. We couldn’t wait. We needed to write Fauda, and it couldn’t be any other story than this story.”

Like last year’s widely lauded event with actor and Jewish activist Noa Tishby, Shaikin said it will be an opportunity to hear firsthand about Israel, gain perspective, and be inspired by stories of courage and resilience at a time when misinformation is widespread.

“It’s creating awareness about what that day (October 7) and what the following years have done to Israelis and Jewish people not only in Israel but around the world,” said Shaikin.

B’nai Brith Calgary Lodge #816 and the Lodge Menorah Foundation is a grassroots non-profit group committed to supporting local organizations who serve the ill or disadvantaged and/or provide programming for children, youth, and seniors.

“We’re super proud of what we’re able to do inside this community. That’s the focus for us. The money we raise goes right back into our community, for seniors, for the disadvantaged to Jewish programs, Jewish pop-up events, Shabbat dinners …”

Excellent sponsorship participation allows B’nai Brith to keep ticket costs down.

The $72 adult tickets and $36 student tickets are going very quickly as Shaikin looks to surpass the some 700 who attended last year’s Tishby event.

“It’s catching fire … as we’ve been able to bring another interesting voice that we think our audience will really appreciate.”

As a film actor, Raz’s credits include The Tuner alongside Dustin Hoffman, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, 6 Underground (Netflix), Operation Finale (Netflix), A Body That Works (Netflix), and Crowded Room (Apple).

Those who attend will also hear from the Canadian Friends of Sheba Medical Centre. Sheba played a vital role in caring for the hostages who returned following October 7, providing specialized medical and psychological care.

Doors open at 1 p.m. for the event that begins at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets and information about sponsorship opportunities can be found here: https://bnaibrithcalgary.org/liorraztickets/

Mark Cooper is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter