Vital Passage

South Florida Premiere

The discovery of a lockbox buried in the basement of a Jewish midwestern merchant's former store unlocks a half-century-old secret. The papers inside would reveal the family's story of rescue, sacrifice, and courage. In the late 1930's, David and his son Sidney Plaut owned a small shop in Goshen, Indiana. The Plauts witnessed firsthand the persecution of the Jews in Germany. They decided to take action by sponsoring and assisting 28 Jewish refugees to immigrate into the United States over a period of nine years, all while keeping it a secret from their neighbors. This inspiring film chronicles their amazing story as they risked their business and livelihood to provide a vital passage for Jews escaping the Holocaust.