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Burt, Bonnie
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Bonnie Burt is a filmmaker and photographer known for documenting various aspects of Jewish life throughout the world. Some of her films include Song of a Jewish Cowboy, Abraham and Eugenia: Stories from Jewish Cuba, and Trees Cry for Rain: A Sephardic Journey. In 1984, Bonnie began visiting her retired grandparents in Miami Beach, Florida. While there, she documented the vibrant and independent lives of elderly Jewish residents, the neighborhoods they resided in, the shops, beaches, and activities they frequented. Most of the retirees in Miami Beach at the time were from the northeast seeking to live out their golden years in the sun. According to Burt, “There was a loose knit informal community which formed at the hotels and at the beaches based on shared life experiences. Being together was a source of comfort, support and camaraderie for those living on South Beach, far from their families. Despite the many challenges of aging, there was also a joie de vivre, an enjoyment of life, in this group of elderly Jews who once lived on South Beach.” Selects from this project are showcased in her photography books, God's Waiting Room and South Beach Remembered.