Congregation Shaara Tfille will live stream the documentary “Aulcie” by Israeli twice academy-award winning filmmaker Dani Menkin from December 20- December 22. Aulcie Perry, an African American basketball player from the Newark ghetto, does not make it to the NBA, but he comes to international glory in the holy land by changing the country and himself forever.

Open to the entire community, please email likebertrand518@gmail.com to obtain the live streaming link. This film is sponsored by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeast New York.

In 1976, Aulcie Perry was playing basketball in Harlem when scouts from Maccabi Tel Aviv spotted and signed him. Aulcie moved to Israel, led the team to their first European Championship with an upset win and had what one Sports Illustrated writer described as "the most extraordinary season in its remarkable history." A year later, he converted to Judaism, changed his name to Elisha Ben Abraham and became an Israeli citizen. Aulcie began dating Israeli supermodel Tami Ben Ami, further establishing him as Israel’s biggest star and the country’s power couple. His rise to fame was precipitous, and his relationship with supermodel Tami Ben Ami became the subject of relentless media attention, solidifying his status as one of Israel’s biggest stars.

Yet, behind the scenes, he had a growing drug addiction which culminated in his arrest and imprisonment for narcotics smuggling. His charmed life came to a dramatic halt. While imprisoned, Aulcie was not only forced to confront his own demons but suffered the loss of long-time girlfriend Tami to cancer.
 
Since his release he has committed himself to uplifting those suffering from drug abuse and addiction. Now Aulcie works with youth in Israel and across the world, sharing his true story of rising to greatness, falling from grace and the countless grand slams along the way. And as only he can, Director, Writer and Producer Dani Menkin has captured the essence of Israel’s heartwarming, headstrong, and always hopeful history, and the harrowing tale of its adopted and much-beloved son, in the true story of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s legendary player, Aulcie. This inspiring film tells the story of this remarkable athlete who captured the spirit of a nation, triumphant and victorious against all odds, and put Israeli sports on the map.

Dani Menkin is a twice Israeli Academy Award winning filmmaker for “Is that You?” and “39 Pounds of Love” which has been sold to HBO and was shortlisted for the Oscars. Menkin’s award winning film, “Dolphin Boy” was sold to over 20 countries around the globe and was bought by Disney for adaptation. The movie “On the Map” is being distributed by Lionsgate in North America. Menkin is a speaker and film juror at International Festivals around the world, as well as a film professor in universities in the U.S.