Meet Dani Menkin, an American-Israeli film producer who lives in LA in the process of creating a documentary about the synagogue hostage crisis that took place in North Texas in 2022. Dani has won over 30 awards for his films including an Israeli Academy Award for '39 Pounds of Love' and 'Is That You? In addition, Dani created the film production company 'Hey Jude Productions' and a non-profit dedicated to producing heart-warming stories.

I asked Dani to join us for a few reasons. The first is to better understand what transpired in North Texas on January 15, 2022. Like most news stories, this hostage situation was gone from most Americans’ conscience within days. But thanks to Dani and his filmmaking skills, we will all soon be intimately familiar with this event and the Islamic extremism that shaped its circumstances and the brave souls who faced down evil and triumphed. The second reason is because film is such a powerful medium to convey messages. As you will soon hear, Dani doesn’t create films to convey specific messages, however, through his vivid storytelling, viewers gain an understanding of the thinking and emotions that drive us all. The last reason is because Dani is a proud Israeli. At this moment in our history, as the mainstream media paints Israel and Israelis as villains, it is critical we elevate and amplify the voices of those who know Israel so well.

This episode begins with the audio from the trailer for Dani’s documentary, Colleyville. After the trailer finishes, you will find my conversation with Dani. If Colleyville is a project you are interested in supporting, please reach out to me or Dani. I know Dani would appreciate your support in launching this important project.

Colleyville trailer: https://vimeo.com/858969151

Dani's production company: https://www.heyjudeproductions.com/