“Flory’s Flame” Film Screening

Flory Jagoda, also known as “The Keeper of the Flame” and “La Nona” (The Grandmother) passed away aged 97 on Friday, January 29, 2021, erev shabbat shira (sabbath of singing). May her memory be a blessing.

This hourlong 2014 documentary weaves the life story of NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award winner, Flory Jagoda z”l, with her 2013 Celebration Concert at the US Library of Congress. The combined personal and musical overviews open a window on pre-Inquisition Spanish Jewish life. Flory’s roots go back to that pre-1492 era, then  to the Balkans, Bosnia and Croatia. As the sole surviving Altarac family member, with most of her family killed during World War II, Flory’s life mission was to continue her family’s cultural legacy through their music. Her strength of spirit shines through her challenging but ultimately triumphant story expressed in the context of the impactful music performed by Flory and 25 fellow musicians in the prestigious and inspiring Library of Congress Celebration Concert.

The screening will be followed by a short conversation between Susan Gaeta (Flory’s apprentice) and Jon Lohman (former Director Emeritus of the Virginia Folklife Program and friend of Flory).

This program is presented by The National Museum of American Jewish History with co-sponsorship from The Center for Cultural Vibrancy, Voices & Visions Productions, Ltd., and Ashkenaz Foundation.

Ways to Watch

Facebook: Look for the LIVE post on our FACEBOOK PAGE at 1 pm ET. You do not need a Facebook account to view the program.

NMAJH website: A little before the program start time, the livestream will also be available at the top of this page. You will be prompted to enter your email address. Please note that you may need to refresh your screen and press “play” on the video—the static image will be replaced with the live feed before the program starts. Please note that audience Q&A is only available on Facebook and Zoom during the live program.

Zoom: Registration is required to receive the link–click here. There are a limited number of Zoom slots–access will be available on a first-come, first-served basis the evening of the event. Zoom will stop letting people in when we run out of room. Should that occur, please use one of the other methods listed above instead–they are all free and have unlimited capacity.