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Vital Passage: A Holocaust Rescue Story from FiveCore Media on Vimeo.

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About the Film

Vital Passage


The discovery of a lockbox buried in the basement of a former Jewish midwestern merchant's store would unlock a half century old secret. The papers inside would reveal a family's story of rescue, sacrifice and courage. In the late 1930's, David and his son Sidney Plaut owned a small shop in Goshen, Indiana. The Plauts witnessed first hand the persecution of the Jews in Germany.

They decided to take action by sponsoring and assisting 28 Jewish refugees immigrate into the United States. This documentary chronicles their amazing story as they risked their business and livelihood to provide a vital passage for Jews escaping the Holocaust.

Goshen College's Communication Department presents this documentary produced by it's own FiveCore Media.

Upcoming Screenings

Learner Logo

The Learner Theater

Elkhart, IN

Dates & Times:
Sept 23 @ 7:30
TICKETS ARE REQUIRED AND FREE
HIFF30_OfficialSelection WHITE
HIFF30_OfficialSelection WHITE

Heartland Film Festival

Indianapolis, IN

Dates & Times:
Oct 8 @ 5pm - Kan-Kan Cinemas
Oct 16 @ 3:30pm - Living Room Theaters
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OFFICIALSELECTION-OrlandoFilmFestival-2021BK

Orlando Film Festival

Orlando, FL

Dates & Times:
TBA

About the Crew

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Goshen College

Communication Students

"Vital Passage" was produced by students in Goshen College's Film Production Program For the past four years, a team of faculty and students from Goshen College’s FiveCore Media (the Communication Department’s video production company), has been developing this extraordinary story that up until now was not public. In partnership with Sidney Plaut’s grandson, Steve Gruber, FiveCore Media has produced a compelling feature length documentary that explores a vein of Goshen history unknown to most locals.

Film Info

DIRECTOR - Kyle Hufford
PRODUCER - Ben Hathaway & Benjamin Reimer
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Steve Gruber
EDITORS - Ben Hathaway, Benjamin Reimer & Eric Miller
RUNTIME 56 minutes
FILM LANGUAGE - English
SHOOTING FORMAT - Digital 4k 24p
ASPECT RATIO - 16:9
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Production Company

FiveCore Media is a video production company located in Goshen, Indiana comprised of creative professionals and a group of gifted Goshen College communication students. FiveCore Media writes, produces, and edits videos including commercials, promotional and informational videos.

Story Timeline

Timeline of Plaut's story

  • 1906Plaut's Dry Goods Opens

    David Plaut moves to Goshen, IN and opens the Plaut's Dry Goods store on Main St.

  • 1907Sidney Plaut Born

    Sidney Plaut is born in Goshen.

  • 1924Immigration Act of 1924

    The Immigration Act of 1924 limited the number of immigrants allowed entry into the United States through a national origins quota.

  • 1933Nazis Take Power

    The Nazi Party takes over in Germany.

  • 1933Sidney and Lydia Honeymoon in Europe

    Sidney and Lydia experience first hand the oppression of the Jewish people in Germany.

Educational Resources

 

United States Holocaust Museum

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanent place on the National Mall, and its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors.

Links

More Information on the Holocaust

The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley

The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley is the central resource to embrace, connect, and support Jews locally and globally through social services, coordinated fundraising, community outreach, and educational and recreational programming.
 

Goshen Historical Society

The Goshen Historical Society, Inc. operates its museum to preserve, study, interpret, and exhibit artifacts, documents and images. The Society provides resources for the care and display of their collection and provides related educational services for the purpose of increasing and enriching public knowledge.

Plaut Family Artifacts

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Affidavit

Cunard White Star Limited affidavit of support for Adolf Hess. Apx. 1938.

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Affidavit

Affidavit of support for Adolf Blumenthal. June 1939.

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Affidavit

Statement of support and justification for housing so many immigrants. August 1939.

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Affidavit

Letter indicating sponsored family is on a 1 & 1/2 year waitlist for a visa. November 1938.

Dave _ Betti Plaut in 1930

David and Betti Plaut

Founders of Plaut's Dry Goods

Sid Plaut – June 1935 – behind Plaut’s Store, Goshen

Sidney Plaut

Sidney Plaut behind the Plaut's story. 1935

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Sidney and Lydia Plaut

Sidney Plaut took over management of the story in the late 1940s.

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Sidney Plaut and his staff

Plaut's Dry Goods closes in 1991.

Holocaust Facts

6000000

Jews Died in the Holocaust

100000

Jews Settled in Israel

1500000

Jewish Children Died

77000

Immigrated into the US Before WWII

44000

German Incarceration Camps Constructed

6000000

Jews Died in the Holocaust

Production Behind the Scenes

Photos from the filming of Vital Passage.

Partial Support Provided by

Community Foundation of Elkhart County

Community Foundation of Elkhart County

Community Foundation of Elkhart County partners with donors to leverage their philanthropy in ways that transform lives. Since 1989, the Community Foundation has created more and improved pathways by helping generous donors to meet community needs, providing scholarship opportunities to local students, and making grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve Elkhart County. The Community Foundation strives to be a local entity known for inspiring good and impacting success.