Promo for Ashes to Ashes

Ashes to Ashes: the restoration of the Bayside Cemetery from Neil Leventhal on Vimeo.


The run time for this promo is about 11 minutes and starts to layout out the story behind the cemetery restoration.

Update 8.18.08

On Sunday, August 17, 2008 the New York Times published and article about the Bayside Cemetery and the current conditions there. Both my father, Steve Leventhal, and I are mentioned in the article, and it is well worth a quick read.

Update 8.13.08

On July 27, 2008 I visited the Bayside Cemetery with my father, and met with a reporter from the New York Times, City Section, to discuss the conditions there. I was sadden to see that little or nothing has changed at the Cemetery and the state of disrepair, and overgrowth may be worse than the last time I was there.

As of today my documentary is still seeking funds to complete post production, also, and separate from my project a group with relatives in Bayside Cemetery has taken legal action against Shaare Zedeck and The Bayside Cemetery.

Synopsis of film









Synopsis:

In Judaism the cemetery is one of the most important symbols of the heritage and a lasting memorial to those that have come before us. It is the responsibility of every Jewish person to remember those that have past on and to provide a safe place for them to spend eternity. The Bayside Cemetery in Ozone Park, New York is proof that the Jewish community has neglected its responsibility.

This film is about how one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries, in the largest Jewish community in the world, has been forgotten and how it took a Mormon from Utah and an Italian funeral director from Queens to restore the beauty that once was. This story will be told through verité footage of the cemetery as the camera follows the people who are working to restore the cemetery as well as through interviews with those who are involved in the restoration.

This film will explore how this neglect was allowed to happen for so long and why the New York Jewish community allowed it to happen at a cemetery so rich in history. The Bayside Cemetery is not only a memorial to Jews who lived many years ago but also a walking tour of American history. Buried among the mothers, fathers, beloved daughters and grandmothers (one of which being mine) are veterans of every major American conflict since the inception of our great nation. The Bayside Cemetery is a testament to the Jewish contribution to the Civil War and each and every war there after. The men and women that have been laid to rest at the Bayside Cemetery contributed on a global scale to the Jewish experience and to world history.

This film is about hope and unity as many people from all walks of life come together to restore the past, and it is a reminder to never forget where we came from.

Jews and Mormons:

The history of the Jewish people and the Later Day Saints community has long been fraught with controversy. The Mormons or Later Day Saints believe that they are direct descendants of one of the original tribes of Israel and that they are an extension of Judaism. This has lead to years of conflict and mistrust on the part of the Jewish community since the Mormons also believe that it is their duty to convert Jews (as well as others), both living and dead to their religion.

Through a practice known as posthumous conversion the Mormon community has tried many times to baptize important figures in Jewish history as well as lay persons who they claim are related to Mormons. Genealogy plays an important role in the Mormon Church, since it is among their beliefs that everyone is a direct descendant of Adam and Eve and therefore somehow related to each other. In order for a Later Day Saint fulfill his or her life they must trace their roots back as far as possible and in doing so feel that it is their responsibility to convert
One of the most controversial posthumous conversions that had been attempted was that of Anne Frank and other victims of the Holocaust.

How this project came about:

Inspired by an article in Jewish Week in October of 2002, Shane Wamsley, a Mormon from Utah garnered the support of nearly 400 members of the New York Mormon community. From May 28-June 2, 2003 they came to the cemetery with chainsaws, rakes, and a drive to do a good deed. Despite controversy over the Mormons difficult history with the Jewish community they did their best to observe all of the rules of a Jewish cemetery.

This film came about when Jewish Week published an article on May 16, 2003 about the pending cleanup at the Bayside Cemetery. Having family buried at the cemetery I decided to document the restoration and cleanup efforts. Each day the project became more and more important as I learned about the problems the cemetery has faced, the history of the cemetery and about efforts by a group of local funeral directors and rabbis to reinter bodies from desecrated mausoleums.

Additional Notes:

Originally planning to work only the four days in May, Shane Wamsley decided to return to New York July 19, 2003 to continue his efforts to restore the cemetery.

Production on this film has already begun and will continue to follow the efforts at the cemetery. All four cleanup days that the Mormons participated in at the Bayside cemetery have been extensively documented, as well as the efforts to reinter bodies, and many interviews with the individuals involved in the restoration.

About the filmmaker

Neil Leventhal is a documentary filmmaker who has worked on the television show PARAMEDICS (The Learning Channel) and produced the documentaries STORIES OF THE HOLOCAUST and KIDS WITH A PROMISE (both of which received major philanthropic funding). In 2004 Neil was the cinematographer for 9/11 A DAY IN THE LIFE, a PBS documentary. He is also the cinematographer of the film MONACO, which aired on the Romance Classics channel for two years. Neil has also served as the cinematographer on several independent features, television documentaries, after school specials, and short films. In March of 2006 Neil received a bronze Telly Award for his short film about the making of his photo shoot for WD•NY’s first ever marketing campaign.

Neil Leventhal is also an advertising and editorial photographer, who shoots for prominent clients from home bases in New York City and Los Angeles. His clients include Bloomingdale’s, Johnson & Johnson, Kaplow Communications, Dresdner Kleinwort, WD•NY, and others. Neil also shoots regularly for the Bowery Mission working with them to help raise awareness of and funding for New York’s Homeless. In February 2005 he completed his third major exhibition of new work for the charity and which premiered at their annual Valentine’s Gala at the Rainbow Room. Neil’s work on homelessness has also been featured in several prominent juried group shows.

A graduate of New York University's film program, Neil returned to NYU in 2003/2004 as an adjunct professor passing on his craft to a new generation of filmmakers.

Current status of the project

This project is currently seeking finishing funds to complete post-production.
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