Jake Ehrenreich is an acclaimed comedian, writer and performer, who was born and raised in Brooklyn by Holocaust survivors. On Sunday, Nov. 3, Ehrenreich will be screening his short film based on his book and live show, “A Jew Grows in Brooklyn,” at the Borscht Belt Film Festival in Ellenville, New York, followed by a moderated discussion and awards ceremony. 

“A Jew Grows in Brooklyn” is based on Ehrenreich’s personal journey growing up in Brooklyn and making his way to the Catskills after being born to Holocaust survivors. Ehrenreich originally told his story as a musical comedy at Lambs Theater in June 2006. It functioned as a one-man show, starring Ehrenreich himself, and received critical acclaim. In 2010, Ehrenreich published a book by the same title, and in 2012, the iconic Carnegie Deli named a sandwich after the show.

Ehrenreich grew up in East Flatbush before pursuing a career in entertainment. Ehrenreich has worked on several projects with other Jewish creatives to shed light on Jewish history, culture and the Holocaust, including the 2016 comedy “The Last Laugh” with Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, “Making Light in Terezin” and “Welcome to Where You’ve Always Been.” 

Ehrenreich also performed in Broadway and off-Broadway shows including “Dancin’,” “Barnum,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” “Beatlemania,” “The Golden Land” and “Songs of Paradise.” Ehrenreich released “A Treasury of Jewish Christmas Songs” in 2017. 

Ehrenreich has received several awards and critical acclaim for his work, including the Special U.S. Congressional Citation for his contributions to the Jewish community. He was inducted into the Brooklyn Jewish Hall of Fame in 2016.

The screening of “A Jew Grows in Brooklyn” and two other shorts films begins at 4 p.m., with Ehrenreich’s film closing out the screening. Festival Director Melody Gilbert will moderate a panel discussion amongst the three filmmakers. Tickets to the screening start at $15 per person. The event takes place at Shadowland Stages in Ellenville.