OpenDor Media, formerly Jerusalem U, is an Israeli non-profit organization founded in 2009 by Canadian-Israeli Raphael Shore that produces feature-length films, short videos, and social media content about Israel, Zionism, and Judaism. [1] [2] [3]
The organization says its mission is to increase support for Israel and Zionism among the Jewish diaspora and "explore [Zionism's] complex history and achievements so that young people will recognize that Zionism is a story that every Jewish person can proudly embrace and cherish." [4] [5]
OpenDor Media houses four brands: Unpacked, Unpacked for Educators, ConnectED, and Amplified.
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media that publishes articles, social media posts, videos, and podcasts on a variety of platforms related to Israel and Zionism. [6]
Unpacked for Educators is a website that promotes content created by Unpacked among educators and includes resources and materials. [7] [8] OpenDor Media consulted Rosov Consulting in 2020 to research the effect of their media on audiences. [9]
ConnectED is a platform created by OpenDor Media to promote its views among educators, students, and parents in high schools and middle schools. [10]
Amplified is a content creation platform created by OpenDor Media that aims to promote content creators who share the organization's views. According to its website, "Amplified is a program that is designed to help content creators from around the world, who are aligned with OpenDor Media’s mission, grow audiences, increase impact and amplify their success, all within a community of similarly impassioned creators." [11]
OpenDor Media has produced multiple feature-length films, including Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference and Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus. Israel Inside was shown on PBS, college campuses, and El Al flights. [12]
Imagination Productions, Inc., which operates under OpenDor Media (formerly Jerusalem U), is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. [29] Founded in 2007, they have offices in Jerusalem, New York and Philadelphia. The organization is headed by founder and Executive Chairman Raphael Shore, CEO Andrew Savage, [30] [31] and EVP Noam Weissman. [32] Former leadership includes president, Amy Holtz and Executive Vice President Eli Ovits. [33]
Founder Raphael Shore, studied film at the University of Toronto. Shore produced the film Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference, the 2010 documentary Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus, [34] and Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the Home Front. [35]
As Jerusalem U, OpenDor Media produced five film mini-series: Israel Inside/Out, [36] [37] Habits of Happiness: Positive Psychology & Judaism, [38] [39] Judaism 101, [40] Cinema: The Jewish Lens [41] and The Israel Course. [42] They also created JU Max, which was a ten-week interactive, online course for college students. [43] [44]