Regenstein Debuts in Historical Film

Storied Atlantan and author Lewis Regenstein added another paragraph to his resume headed “movie star.”

Well, more Ken Burns than George Clooney, but nonetheless he appeared in the documentary “This Happy Land,” which brings to light the plight of Jewish immigrants, fleeing widespread pogroms, peril and persecution in Europe, and began arriving in the Southern United States in the 1600s, where they were generally welcomed and treated with friendship and respect.

The hookup was through director Michael Givens who had seen some of Reggie’s articles and reached out. The actual interview was taped at Regenstein’s Buckhead home, over several hours alongside furniture magnate and film funder Jack Schewel.

Givens, the film’s co-producer/director, explained that “the documentary vividly portrays the shared patriotism and solidarity between Southern Jews and Christians. Through personal stories and historical accounts, ‘This Happy Land’ illustrates a time when Jews were overwhelmingly accepted and thrived in their new homeland, viewing the South as their New Jerusalem.”

As part of his “stardom,” Regenstein was touted at the film’s premiere in Charleston on Sept. 20, which was held at the Queen Street Playhouse. Charleston was chosen because it was the largest Jewish community in America in the 1800s. Proceeds from the opening benefitted The Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina.

At the event, Regenstein recalled, “they paid rapt attention and stayed for the entire three-part showing. Mainly ‘old family’ Jewish Charlestonians, most of whom attend Beth Elohim Congregation right around the corner, the oldest continuously operating Reform congregation in America, founded by my great-great-grandfather, Isaac Harby, and other Charleston pioneers of the Reform movement in America.”

Regenstein appeared in about 12 scenes totaling a few minutes of commentary, mostly about his family’s early American history, some of which was published in the Atlanta Jewish Times as an interview with Regenstien’s mother, Helen, “Buckhead Doyenne Saluted at 101” (Nov. 6, 2019).

She had three direct ancestors who fought for the American Revolution.

Regenstein detailed those ancestors, including the infant daughter of family patriarch Myer Moses, Rachel, who was killed sitting on her nanny’s lap when a British artillery shell hit their home during the siege of Charles Town. She was the only Jewish female known to have been killed in combat during the Revolution.

Other Regenstein ancestors who fought for the South during the Civil War and are featured in the film are his great-grandfather, Andrew Jackson Moses, his four brothers and their uncle, Major Raphael Jacob Moses, known as “the father of Georgia’s peach industry,” who attended the Last Meeting and carried out The Last Order of the Confederate Government.

The film includes interviews with leading Jewish scholars, historians, authors, and rabbis, including notable Atlantans Debra Jacobs and Jay Tanenbaum, board members of the Museum of Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans; and attorney Ivan Millender.

For distribution updates at theaters and film festivals, please visit ThisHappyLand.us for details.