Restoring Tomorrow (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Restoring Tomorrow follows filmmaker Aaron Wolf as he documents the renovation of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple while simultaneously embarking on a personal quest to reconnect with his Jewish faith and identity. The film intertwines the temple's physical restoration with the filmmaker's emotional and spiritual renewal, framing both as acts of reclaiming a shared heritage.

• documentary summary
• filmmaker journey
• temple renovation
• jewish faith
• rediscovery

Restoring Tomorrow is set primarily at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, which serves as the central backdrop for the entire film. The temple is the oldest Jewish house of worship in the city, and its architecture, community, and history all become part of the story as both the building and the filmmaker undergo renewal.

• los angeles
• wilshire boulevard temple
• setting
• location
• jewish congregation

Restoring Tomorrow centers on three core themes: rediscovery of cultural and spiritual identity, the physical and metaphorical restoration of a cherished institution, and the evolving role of faith in personal life. Together, these ideas frame both the temple's renovation and the filmmaker's return to Judaism as parallel acts of renewal rooted in community.

• rediscovery
• restoration
• faith
• themes
• meaning
• jewish identity

Aaron Wolf is the filmmaker and narrator of Restoring Tomorrow, who returns to his childhood synagogue to document its renovation. His journey evolves from feeling disconnected from his Jewish roots to embracing his heritage, shaped in part by his grandfather's legacy and the influence of community figures like Rabbi Steve Leder.

• aaron wolf
• filmmaker
• director
• narrator
• personal journey

Wilshire Boulevard Temple is the first Jewish congregation established in Los Angeles and holds deep cultural and religious importance for the city's Jewish community. Beyond serving as a place of worship, it functions as a landmark of Jewish heritage and identity in the region, which is why its deterioration and restoration carry such symbolic weight in the film.

• historic synagogue
• jewish heritage
• los angeles
• cultural landmark
• first congregation

Restoring Tomorrow is anchored in the contemporary era, but it weaves in historical context stretching from the mid-20th century to the present, particularly the post-World War II experiences of Jewish communities. The filmmaker's personal story unfolds in the present as he reconnects with his roots while exploring his family's deeper history.

• contemporary era
• post-world war ii
• jewish history
• time period
• modern day

The renovation of Wilshire Boulevard Temple works as a metaphor for spiritual and cultural renewal, mirroring the filmmaker's own attempt to mend his fractured relationship with his faith. By preserving a historic landmark, the community also strengthens its bonds and reclaims a piece of its shared identity.

• symbolism
• restoration
• renewal
• heritage
• community
• metaphor

Aaron Wolf's estrangement from his faith is set against the backdrop of the temple's physical decline, making both narratives mirror each other throughout the film. As the community rallies to restore the building, the filmmaker is also drawn into restoring his own connection to Judaism, heritage, and family, with the temple acting as the bridge between the two stories.

• personal journey
• temple restoration
• faith
• connection
• dual narrative

Restoring Tomorrow examines faith as something that can fade, be questioned, and ultimately be reignited through community involvement and personal reflection. Aaron Wolf's evolving belief system illustrates how spiritual connections can be rediscovered later in life, especially with the support of mentors and a welcoming congregation.

• faith
• identity
• judaism
• spiritual journey
• belief
• community support

Rabbi Steve Leder is a senior rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple who serves as a guiding presence throughout Restoring Tomorrow. He supports Aaron Wolf's process of reconnecting with Judaism and represents the communal and institutional side of the faith that helps reignite the filmmaker's belief.

• rabbi steve leder
• spiritual leader
• mentor
• temple leadership
• faith guide

Aaron Wolf's grandfather serves as a powerful emotional anchor throughout Restoring Tomorrow, connecting the filmmaker to his family's Jewish history and the weight of post-Holocaust legacy. His story frames the personal stakes of Wolf's rediscovery and underscores why the temple and its heritage matter across generations.

• grandfather
• family legacy
• holocaust
• heritage
• generational story

Restoring Tomorrow carries a hopeful and reflective tone, emphasizing perseverance and community over distress. Although it touches on heavier topics like post-Holocaust trauma and drifting from faith, the documentary resolves on an uplifting note as both the temple and the filmmaker find renewal.

• tone
• hopeful
• reflective
• uplifting
• perseverance
• documentary style