Rivaling the greatest wooden architecture in history, the synagogues of 18th-century Poland-the last of which were destroyed by the Nazis- inspired artists Rick and Laura Brown to embark on a 10-year pursuit to reconstruct the elaborate roof and painted ceiling of the Gwozdziec synagogue. Aided by a team of 300 artisans and students, the show-stopping building was realized and installed as the centerpiece of the new Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. This beautifully photographed film chronicles this ambitious project against the backdrop of the 1000-year history of Jews in Poland. By the end of the project, they had done more than reconstruct a lost synagogue; they recovered a lost world. "How often do you get a chance to reach deep into history and bring something back?" -Rick Brown. Raise the Roof has enjoyed a wildly successful film festival run, screening at more than 150 film festivals and winning six Best Documentary Awards. The "Raise the Roof" project has received wide press coverage, including in The New York Times, New Republic, The Boston Globe, CNN, Tablet, Forbes.
