The first US screening of "NAZA: The Real Story", a response to the anti-Israel documentary "NAZA", took place Monday night at Kehilat Jeshurun synagogue in Manhattan, led by the Israeli-American Council (IAC).
The film presents direct testimony from IDF reserve fighters alongside raw footage from Gaza, documenting how Hamas operates inside civilian areas and endangers civilian lives, and in contrast, how the IDF works to prevent harm to the innocent.
A panel followed the screening, moderated by Jewish-American influencer Lizzy Savetsky, with the film's two creators: Lieutenant Colonel (res.) Roi Danino and Major (res.) Ariel Averbach, who shared from their personal experiences in the war and answered audience questions.
Savetsky told the audience she made a point of watching the original "NAZA" film before the event: "Watching both films one after the other was jarring. I came out of the 'NAZA' screening enraged, after watching such toxic propaganda and outright lies. That's exactly why tonight is so important."
During the panel, Averbach described the sophisticated persuasion techniques of the anti-Israel film: "I sat and watched it, and I can tell you honestly, if I didn't know the truth, I would have come out of that screening one hundred percent convinced that the Jews, the Israelis and the IDF are Nazis in every sense of the word. This film is set for public release in early November and tens of millions of people are expected to watch it. That's exactly why 'NAZA: The Real Story' is a tool for all of you [because] what's coming is a tsunami of blood libels, and we have to be ready to dismantle it."
Noa Fay Genish, IAC's vice president of communities, emphasized the danger in lies spread on social media: "There's a dangerous moment in the life of a lie, the moment when people stop asking if it's true. For hundreds of years Jews were accused of murdering children for their blood, and history teaches what happens when the lie goes unanswered. Today lies travel faster than ever. The demonization of Israel around 'NAZA' echoes that exact pattern, and it cannot be left unanswered."
The screening at Kehilat Jeshurun is part of an ongoing campaign by the IAC, which began with a protest outside the North American premiere of "NAZA" at Lincoln Center with portable LED screens. Since then the activity has expanded to screenings and protests in additional cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, the Hamptons and Massachusetts.
The IAC, founded in 2007, now operates in 100 communities and 58 campuses across the US and runs leadership and advocacy programs among over 150,000 Israeli-Americans. Since October 7, the organization has significantly expanded its fight against antisemitism, efforts to return the hostages, and building pro-Israel partnerships across the country.
