What does Woody Guthrie have to do with Hanukkah?

As it turns out, quite a bit.

The new documentary Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthrie makes its Oklahoma premiere on Thursday, August 20 at 7 p.m. at the Circle Cinema in Tulsa. Directed by Steven Pressman, the film explores a little-known chapter of the Oklahoma folk legend’s life—his deep connection to Jewish culture and the profound influence it had on his music.

Director/producer Steven Pressman will attend the Oklahoma premiere for a post-film discussion moderated by Cady Shaw, Senior Director of the Woody Guthrie Center, exploring the film’s themes and Guthrie’s lasting relevance. Prior to the screening, guests are invited to a 6 p.m. reception featuring Jesse Aycock performing the music of Woody Guthrie.

“I’ll never forget the moment when I first discovered that Woody Guthrie had written songs about Hanukkah,” says Pressman. “My curiosity kicked in immediately, and from that moment on I felt almost obligated to tell this remarkable story about this little-known Jewish side of Woody’s life and music.”

Much has been written about Guthrie, the iconic songwriter behind This Land Is Your Land. Yet few people know that Jewish culture played a significant role in both his personal life and artistic development. At the heart of the film is Guthrie’s relationship with his mother-in-law, acclaimed Yiddish poet Aliza Greenblatt, whose influence opened a new creative and cultural world for him.

With the slogan “This Machine Kills Fascists” emblazoned across his guitar, Guthrie traveled from Oklahoma to Los Angeles and eventually to New York City. There he met and married dancer Marjorie Greenblatt, his second wife. Through Marjorie and her family, Guthrie developed a close and transformative bond with Aliza Greenblatt, who introduced him to Jewish history, traditions, and literature.

The impact was profound. A man who once knew little about Hanukkah or Passover began writing songs about Jewish life, including latkes, borscht, and even the Holocaust. Greenblatt’s influence helped expand Guthrie’s understanding of identity, displacement, and social justice—themes that already resonated deeply in his work.

The documentary also offers a personal glimpse into the Guthrie household through interviews with Woody’s children, Arlo and Nora Guthrie. They recall growing up in Brooklyn during the 1950s, surrounded by Jewish immigrant culture. Friday evenings often centered around family gatherings filled with food, Yiddish poetry, music, and storytelling. Though they were not raised with a formal religion, Judaism was woven into their childhood through culture, community, and family traditions.

Drawing on archival footage, photographs, music, and interviews with family members, collaborators, and historians, Pressman crafts a compelling story of cultural exchange and artistic evolution. The film traces Guthrie’s journey from Dust Bowl balladeer to a coalition-building artist whose empathy extended across communities and experiences.

Along the way, Pressman highlights striking parallels between displaced Americans fleeing the Dust Bowl and Jewish refugees seeking safety and belonging. The result is a portrait of Guthrie that feels both surprising and deeply authentic.

The film’s soundtrack reflects that intersection of cultures, blending Guthrie classics with klezmer and Yiddish folk music. Even longtime Woody Guthrie enthusiasts are likely to discover a side of the legendary songwriter they have never encountered before.

Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls offers a fresh perspective on an American icon, revealing how one of the nation’s most celebrated voices found inspiration in Jewish culture, family, and tradition.

The Oklahoma premiere of Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthrie is a collaboration between The Woody Guthrie Center, The Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival (Jewish Tulsa), The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, and the Circle Cinema.

MORE INFO ON THE EVENING HERE.

Get your tickets now at CircleCinema.org. Jewish Tulsa and SMMJA Members use promo code “WOODY.”