TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

With Spring comes Passover , when Jewish families gather everywhere to remember a journey of freedom. It is a major Jewish holiday and a time to remember and meditate on the story of Exodus.  Known as Pesach in Hebrew, Passover is one of the most widely observed holidays in the Jewish tradition. It marks the biblical story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. For many observant Jews, a central part of preparing for Passover involves clearing their homes of all leavened foods, known as chametz , and refraining from eating them for the entire holiday week. In place of bread, they eat matzo , an unleavened flatbread symbolic of the Passover story. Tradition holds that the Israelites had to leave Egypt so quickly that there wasn’t enough time for their dough to rise. Another interpretation suggests matzo was simply more practical for a long journey through the desert, being lighter and easier to transport than typical bread. In 2025, Passover begins at sundown on April 12...

Happy Spring Equinox ! Falling this year on March 19th, the Spring Equinox is more than a point in time when the earth’s axis and orbit line up to create a day with equal day and night. Throughout human history, cultures worldwide have long observed spring equinoxes as a time of renewal, rebirth, and interconnectedness with nature.  Ancient traditions, such as the Persian Nowruz , the Mayan Vernal Equinox , Ostara, the Wiccan holiday , Passover , and the Christian Easter , pay homage to this season of rebirth. Rituals and ceremonies, from planting seeds to dancing around Maypoles, symbolize the awakening of life and the promise of abundance.  Just as the earth’s ice thaws and the cold weather comes to an end, people are encouraged to reflect on what stagnant energy needs to be shaken off and what new projects we want to start. Spring Equinoxes can be celebrated by clearing out your home of clutter and all the heaviness of winter, exploring nature, and observing the seasonal s...

Spring has sprung just like those adorable little Easter bunnies. And what better way to embrace the Easter spirit than by watching some fun and heartwarming films? From colorful stories to adventures in the great outdoors, these films capture the essence of the season and offer a perfect way to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. So sit back, relax, and indulge in the magic of Easter through these delightful movies. This Easter, celebrate the majesty of nature and mystery of faith with the true story of a ski-loving Pope. Behold the true story of Pope John Paul II when, in July of ‘84, his Holiness met a young man by the name of Lino Zani on the Italian slopes. Indulging in his beloved Winter hobby (held privately dear to the Pope), divine chance--perhaps a miracle-- brought these two together, under an umbrella for their shared love of skiing.  The unsuspecting ski lodge expert, Lino Zani, witnesses much upon the mountain and, over the years, remain friends with His Majest...

This post was published on (4/14/22) and updated on (4/3/23) . If ever a holiday needed its own cinematic equivalent to "It's a Wonderful Life," then Passover is the likeliest recipient.  Look no further because  When Do We Eat?  is that film. And it is not this writer's opinion but that of critics far and wide.  So this Wednesday, ask yourself, what makes this movie different from all other movies? Well, it's a Passover movie to start.  When Do We Eat? is definitely a memorable one that even draws comparisons to a little Greek farce that roiled our funny bone - or in this case, shank bone, some years ago. But don't get us started on the Greeks. With the tagline, “My big fat Jewish Seder” the viewer has a sense of what’s on the table. And it’s hard to dispute Jmerica.com whose review of the movie exalts it as, “History’s most hilarious Passover comedy.” That is only if Shalom Sesame: It's Passover, Grover! Is not as funny as it potentially sounds.  That b...