iMordecai is a Beautiful Story About a Shoah Survivor’s New Lease on Life
By Aaron Gold

Heartwarming story. iMordecai is a heartwarming movie about a Shoah survivor named Mordecai Samel who gets a new lease on life when he gets an iphone and a series of unintented events upends his life.
True story. The movie is based on a true story. It is produced, written (with Rudy Gaines and Dahlia Heyman) and directed by Marvin Samel, the son of the real-life Mordecai Samel. The Miami New Times called it a “Love Letter to Miami and Family.”
The cast. iMordecai stars Judd Hirsch (Taxi, Independence Day), who has been on a roll recently after starring in The Fablemans, The Goldbergs and the second season of Hunters. Carol Kane (Taxi, The Princess Bride) plays Mordecai’s wife Fela and Sean Astin (Rudy, The Lord of the Rings) plays his son Marvin. iMordecai also introdues Azia Dinea Hale who plays Nina.
iMordecai is currently appearing at the Miami Jewish Film Festival.
By Aaron Gold. Aaron Gold is a writer and the founder of The Hasmonean.
Stay up-to-date on the latest movies and find out what’s worth watching on The Hasmonean. Get the latest movie reviews, news, trailers and much more.
[{"id":4299,"link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/shira-haas-and-lizzy-caplan-to-star-in-new-nazi-hunter-show\/","name":"shira-haas-and-lizzy-caplan-to-star-in-new-nazi-hunter-show","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thehasmonean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lizzy-caplan-and-shira-haas-e1765590115138.png?fit=960%2C686&ssl=1","alt":""},"title":"Shira Haas and Lizzy Caplan to Star in New Nazi Hunter Show","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Aaron Gold","link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/"},"date":"Dec 12, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-12-13 02:01:27","modifiedDate":"2025-12-12 21:34:29","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-13 03:34:29","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/kvell\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kvelling<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/tv-shows\/\" rel=\"category tag\">TV Shows<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/kvell\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kvelling<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/tv-shows\/\" rel=\"category tag\">TV Shows<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/daniel-bruhl\/' rel='post_tag'>Daniel Br\u00fchl<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/gillian-anderson\/' rel='post_tag'>Gillian Anderson<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jeremy-strong\/' rel='post_tag'>Jeremy Strong<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/lizzy-caplan\/' rel='post_tag'>Lizzy Caplan<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/nazi\/' rel='post_tag'>Nazi<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/nazi-hunter\/' rel='post_tag'>Nazi hunter<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/shira-haas\/' rel='post_tag'>Shira Haas<\/a>","author":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/' rel='author'>Aaron Gold<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":50},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":4282,"link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/soshana-is-the-love-story-we-need\/","name":"soshana-is-the-love-story-we-need","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thehasmonean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shoshana-1.jpg?fit=964%2C542&ssl=1","alt":""},"title":"Soshana is the Love Story We Need","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Aaron Gold","link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/"},"date":"Dec 11, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-12-12 05:39:14","modifiedDate":"2025-12-12 20:04:22","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-13 02:04:22","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/kvell\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kvelling<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/movies\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Movies<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/kvell\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kvelling<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/movies\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Movies<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/british-mandate\/' rel='post_tag'>British Mandate<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/israel\/' rel='post_tag'>Israel<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/movies\/' rel='post_tag'>Movies<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/shoshana\/' rel='post_tag'>Shoshana<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/zionism\/' rel='post_tag'>Zionism<\/a>","author":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/' rel='author'>Aaron Gold<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":4,"sec":31},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":4271,"link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/israel-wins-vote-will-compete-in-eurovision\/","name":"israel-wins-vote-will-compete-in-eurovision","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thehasmonean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Israel-Eurovision-2.webp?fit=770%2C513&ssl=1","alt":""},"title":"Israel Wins Vote, Will Compete in Eurovision","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Aaron Gold","link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/"},"date":"Dec 11, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-12-11 06:07:00","modifiedDate":"2025-12-11 00:07:03","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-11 06:07:03","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/tv-shows\/\" rel=\"category tag\">TV Shows<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/tv-shows\/\" rel=\"category tag\">TV Shows<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/eurovision\/' rel='post_tag'>Eurovision<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/eurovision-2023\/' rel='post_tag'>Eurovision 2023<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/eurovision-song-contest\/' rel='post_tag'>Eurovision Song Contest<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/israel\/' rel='post_tag'>Israel<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/israeli\/' rel='post_tag'>Israeli<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/israeli-celebrities\/' rel='post_tag'>Israeli Celebrities<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/israeli-pride\/' rel='post_tag'>Israeli pride<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jew\/' rel='post_tag'>Jew<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-celebrities\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish Celebrities<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-culture\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish culture<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-pride\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish pride<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/noa\/' rel='post_tag'>Noa<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/noa-kirel\/' rel='post_tag'>Noa Kirel<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/unicorn\/' rel='post_tag'>Unicorn<\/a>","author":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/' rel='author'>Aaron Gold<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":9},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":4263,"link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tehran-season-3-is-almost-here\/","name":"tehran-season-3-is-almost-here","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thehasmonean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Tehran-Season-3-2-e1765433449256.webp?fit=908%2C970&ssl=1","alt":""},"title":"Tehran Season 3 is Almost Here","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Aaron Gold","link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/"},"date":"Dec 10, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-12-11 05:35:59","modifiedDate":"2025-12-12 20:04:58","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-13 02:04:58","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/tv-shows\/\" rel=\"category tag\">TV Shows<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/tv-shows\/\" rel=\"category tag\">TV Shows<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/israel\/' rel='post_tag'>Israel<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/mossad\/' rel='post_tag'>Mossad<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/niv-sultan\/' rel='post_tag'>Niv Sultan<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/tehran\/' rel='post_tag'>Tehran<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/tehran-season-3\/' rel='post_tag'>Tehran Season 3<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/tv-shows\/' rel='post_tag'>tv shows<\/a>","author":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/' rel='author'>Aaron Gold<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":45},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":4152,"link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/here-are-10-interesting-facts-about-logan-lerman\/","name":"here-are-10-interesting-facts-about-logan-lerman","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thehasmonean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/logan-lerman-1.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1","alt":""},"title":"Here Are 10 Interesting Facts About Logan Lerman","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Aaron Gold","link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/"},"date":"Mar 23, 2023","dateGMT":"2023-03-23 05:23:21","modifiedDate":"2023-03-23 01:08:29","modifiedDateGMT":"2023-03-23 06:08:29","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/kvell\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kvelling<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/movies\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Movies<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/profiles\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Profiles<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/kvell\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kvelling<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/movies\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Movies<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/profiles\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Profiles<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/college-republicans\/' rel='post_tag'>College Republicans<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/hunters\/' rel='post_tag'>Hunters<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/indignation\/' rel='post_tag'>Indignation<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/internets-boyfriend\/' rel='post_tag'>Internet's boyfriend<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jew\/' rel='post_tag'>Jew<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-actor\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish actor<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-movie\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish movie<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-movies\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish movies<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-tv-show\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish tv show<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-tv-shows\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish tv shows<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/lee-atwater\/' rel='post_tag'>Lee Atwater<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/logan-lerman\/' rel='post_tag'>Logan Lerman<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/movie\/' rel='post_tag'>Movie<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/movies\/' rel='post_tag'>Movies<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/noah\/' rel='post_tag'>Noah<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/proud-jew\/' rel='post_tag'>Proud Jew<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/the-internets-boyfriend\/' rel='post_tag'>The internet's boyfriend<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/tv-show\/' rel='post_tag'>TV Show<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/tv-shows\/' rel='post_tag'>tv shows<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/we-were-the-lucky-ones\/' rel='post_tag'>We Were The Lucky Ones<\/a>","author":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/' rel='author'>Aaron Gold<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":50},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3384,"link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/fleishman-is-in-trouble-is-the-next-best-jewish-show\/","name":"fleishman-is-in-trouble-is-the-next-best-jewish-show","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thehasmonean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/fleishman-2-2965831500-e1679203144139.jpg?fit=1200%2C716&ssl=1","alt":""},"title":"Fleishman is in Trouble is the Next Best Jewish Show","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Aaron Gold","link":"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/"},"date":"Mar 15, 2023","dateGMT":"2023-03-15 07:48:30","modifiedDate":"2023-03-20 22:08:29","modifiedDateGMT":"2023-03-21 03:08:29","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/kvell\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kvelling<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/mazel-tov\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Mazel Tov<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/tv-shows\/\" rel=\"category tag\">TV Shows<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/kvell\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kvelling<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/mazel-tov\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Mazel Tov<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/category\/tv-shows\/\" rel=\"category tag\">TV Shows<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/adam-brody\/' rel='post_tag'>Adam Brody<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/claire-danes\/' rel='post_tag'>Claire Danes<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/fleishman\/' rel='post_tag'>Fleishman<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/fleishman-is-in-trouble\/' rel='post_tag'>Fleishman is in Trouble<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jesse-eisenberg\/' rel='post_tag'>Jesse Eisenberg<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jew\/' rel='post_tag'>Jew<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-culture\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish culture<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-show\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish show<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-tv\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish tv<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-tv-show\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish tv show<\/a><a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/tag\/jewish-tv-shows\/' rel='post_tag'>Jewish tv shows<\/a>","author":"<a href='https:\/\/thehasmonean.com\/author\/thehasmonean\/' rel='author'>Aaron Gold<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":4,"sec":32},"status":"publish","excerpt":""}]
