Geri Dube moved from Pittsburgh to attend the University of Washington. After settling on Mercer Island and starting a family, she fostered an especially strong connection with the Stroum Jewish Community Center. She discusses the importance Seattle Jewish Film Festival as an educational tool.
Chapters
00:00:00
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
Okay. I'm Ruth Kodish-Eskind. We're at the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, and it's March 30th, 2025. Can you state your name, please?
00:00:09
Geri Dube
Hi, my name is Geri Dube.
00:00:12
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
May I have your consent to record this interview?
00:00:15
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
Um, so what's your relationship to the film festival or to the JCC?
00:00:20
Geri Dube
Um, well, I've been part of the Jewish community here in Seattle for the last 60 years. I moved here from Pittsburgh, PA, and, uh, to attend school at UW. And, um, one of the first things I wanted to do was connect with the Jewish community. And, uh, after my husband and I moved to Mercer Island in particular, um, and had our children, our two little girls, we definitely wanted to be part of the JCC.
00:01:01
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
So you raised your kids in the JCC?
00:01:06
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
What kinds of things did they do here?
00:01:08
Geri Dube
Well, they went to camp here, and I went to exercise classes and, um, Purim parties.
00:01:18
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
Great. Um, what about the film festival? Is this your first time coming or?
00:01:23
Geri Dube
Um, for the film festival, yes it is. I have been part of the film festival, but kind of chasing the films, uh, closer to where I live, which is currently West Seattle. So I would look for movies and things that were a little bit closer to home. But I do come to the JCC for, uh, speakers and entertainment.
00:01:50
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
Yeah. Um, how do you understand the role of the film festival in the Jewish community or in Jewish life?
00:01:57
Geri Dube
It's very important. It's an educator, um, for Jews and non-Jews alike, to really see what's going on in the world as it was and as it is today. Um, I believe that the arts are wonderful way of doing that. Thank you.
00:02:21
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
Um, and you're on your way into Carla the Rescuer. Why did you choose this movie?
00:02:25
Geri Dube
I'm so glad you asked that. Um, I was made aware of this particular, uh, movie by my daughter, Ilana Cone Kennedy, who is the CEO, director of the Holocaust Center here in Seattle. And, um, she said, mom, I think there's a movie that you would really enjoy. And the speaker will will be Carla herself. So that's what brought us here.
00:02:58
Ruth Kodish-Eskind
Amazing. Thank you so much for participating.
Related Tags
Story Booth
Stroum Jewish Community Center
University of Washington
Seattle Jewish Film Festival
Mercer Island
