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Trailer

Synopsis

The Cave Synagogue lyrically follows Ugandan Abayudaya (Jewish) elder J.J. Keki as he and his sons hike and sing their way to the cave synagogue where Jews once prayed in secret during the reign of dictator Idi Amin.

J.J. Keki’s father was part of the first generation of Ugandans who converted to Judaism in the 1910s and 1920s. The community grew to over 8,000 members before President Idi Amin came to power in 1972 and outlawed the Jewish religion. J.J. was only 11 years old at the time. While most members of the Jewish community converted to Christianity or Islam, a few hundred risked their lives to pray secretly in a remote cave. Today, J.J. and his family return to the cave several times a week to sing and remember.

Director

Peter Decherney is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and author. He is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he directs the Penn Global Documentary Institute and holds the Kahn Endowed Term Chair in the Humanities.

He has authored seven books, including Hollywood’s Copyright Wars and Hollywood: A Very Short Introduction, and has written for The New York Times, Forbes, and Inside Higher Ed. His photography of global Jewish communities has been widely exhibited, and his first photo book, Endless Exodus: The Jewish Experience in Ethiopia, is forthcoming.

Peter’s films explore migration and the political role of artists. His award-winning projects include The Heart of Puerto Rico (VR docuseries), Dreaming of Jerusalem (Discovery+), and Is It Because I’m a Girl. His recent work spotlights Jewish communities in Uganda.

A former Arts Envoy and Academy Scholar, Peter is also an acclaimed educator whose online Hollywood course has reached over 80,000 learners.

geneology

The Cave Synagogue