Looking In Other People’s Windows focuses on the notion of envy. Harchol animates the importance and challenge of examining the power of envy in the context of one’s own life following Jewish traditions and teachings. The filmmaker offers his viewers several questions to ponder, such as “where does envy originate?” and “what is the key to understanding Judaism’s seemingly contradictory response to feelings of envy?”

Other shorts in this series examine notions of gratitude, forgiveness, apology, love, and an interpretation of one section of the Passover Haggadah. When the series is complete, it will include approximately ten similarly styled animations which present universal themes found in Jewish texts and liturgy. 

Each animation depicts an Americanized and secular son in conversation and searching debate with his wise kibbutznik father, an Israeli nuclear physicist – exchanges and interactions mirroring Harchol’s own experiences. The son’s mother makes her debut in the Love and Fear trilogy.

True to the animated form, they are at times funny and exaggerated in mannerisms and tone, but always true to life and provocative.

Jewish Food for Thought includes thoughtful study guides filled with stimulating prompts– authored by Rabbi Leora Kaye, Director of Community Engagement at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City – anchored to each segment and usable in formal and informal settings.

Jewish Food for Thought was created with funds granted by The Covenant Foundation and fiscal sponsorship from the Foundation for Jewish Culture.