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 My films center human stories: those impacting community, encouraging action, inspiring understanding and compassion. 

Through the lens of very human experiences, my films have addressed climate, health and social justice, all of which seek to inspire engagement in the community. For my work on this and my other four documentaries, I was awarded a prestigious California Arts Council Fellowship in 2023.

A toxic antisemitic statement compelled me to make this film. I Cannot Be a Bystander will inspire viewers to speak out against hate. This film is urgent and timely, and I am keenly aware of my responsibility in bringing this message into the world. 

As co-producer of I Cannot Be a Bystander, Abbie draws upon a diverse skill set and her deeply personal connection to the material. Throughout her 25-year career, Abbie has channeled her creative talents and dedication to tikkun olam – healing the world – into civic education, food and environmental justice movement-building, and production work for film, television, and educational conferences.

One of the most influential people in Abbie’s life– her Grandma Jetti– was a Survivor of the Dachau and Auschwitz concentration camps. Despite having endured unimaginable trauma and loss, Jetti lived the rest of her life fiercely caring for loved ones and strangers alike. Perhaps as a result of Abbie’s closeness to her grandma, the notion that ‘no one is safe unless we all are safe’ resonates deeply in her bones, and the sense that each of us is obligated to care for one another is a guiding force for her work on this important film.