Schwartz Dynasty (2005) - full transcript
Miriam Zohar
Tal Friedman
Yehudah Levi
Anya Buchstein
Vladimir Friedman
Dov Navon
Hannah Azulai Hasfari, Amos Lavie,
Sharon Elimelech
"The Schwartz Dynasty"
Screenplay: Amir Hasfari
Directed by Shmuel Hasfari,
Amir Hasfari
You could start this story
50 years ago,
when my grandfather Yekutiel
Schwartz and Grandma Miriam
founded Bnei Avraham,
a small green town
full of henhouses
and surrounded by fields.
Most of its residents
were immigrants from Yemen.
You could also start
this story one year ago,
when my grandfather committed
suicide, a week before Yom Kippur.
He was head of the council
and was accused of embezzlement.
He was questioned by the police
and had his picture in the paper.
Grandpa Yekutiel was so hurt,
he jumped off the water tower.
Grandma hardly stepped foot
out of the house since.
She sat and planned how
she'd clear Grandpa's name
at his one-year memorial service
in the presence of all
Bnei Avraham residents.
She brought Pinhas Goidar,
the present head of council,
and told him exactly what to say
tomorrow at the memorial service.
Here, outside the council building
that you headed, we say to you:
You fulfilled your calling,
Yekutiel.
May you rest in peace,
and speak up.
- And speak... What?
Speak up. And point
when you're talking.
Point? At who?
When you mention the synagogue,
point at the synagogue.
When you mention the
council building, point at it,
so people will see.
- Okay, I'll try.
Don't try, do it.
Then invite everyone
over to my house.
I'll take care
of the refreshments.
Wait...
Maybe Avraham should speak.
He's the son.
It's customary for the son to...
- You, you are the head of council,
it's important that it comes
from your mouth, Pinhas.
You can't rely on Avraham,
as you know.
Pinhas knows that
you can't rely on Avraham.
When they were kids, my dad
hung him on a tree by his feet
and left him dangling there
till morning.
Bomba, the army is
evacuating us with force.
Then stay put
with even more force.
Do you have enough chains? Over.
Yes, but there's nothing
to tie them to.
Avraham, nicknamed Bomba,:
Is my father.
He lives in
a West Bank settlement
and is the reason I left home
and moved near Grandma
in Bnei Avraham, you'll see...
Chain yourselves together and
start singing "No fear".
My father loves the Land of Israel,
loves cussing,
but what he loves the most
is running other people's lives.
And that's me. Avishai Schwartz.
A cantor and bar-mitzvah teacher.
"And rightfulness..."
Good, keep going.
Tomer, I don't hear you.
Rabbi Avishai,
what are you doing?
The tobacco spilled out, I'm
putting it back in the cigarette.
And I'm not a rabbi.
Who said you could come in here
anyway? Get out, sit down.
To this day, I've never had love.
Keep going, Tomer.
Never mind. Back to my father,
who took upon himself
to put up notices all over town
for Grandpa's memorial service.
Come over here, kid.
Me? - You with the crappy bicycle,
come over here.
If my father wasn't a settler,
he'd probably be a gangster.
Listen kid, I have an important
assignment for you.
Not interested.
It's not an assignment,
it's a mitzvah.
A mivtzvah?
Why not.
No one understands how
my regal grandmother
and my grandfather,
the great educator
wound up with a son
like my father.
When he left to become
a settler 20 years ago,
the whole town sighed.
With relief.
But now he's back.
Well? What's wrong with it?
- Nothing's wrong with it.
Tomorrow morning, ultra-orthodox
kids will put them up all over town.
You'd think ultra-orthodox kids
would do it as a mitzvah?
No fucking way!
I had to pay them...
I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry.
Shame on you.
It just came out,
I said I'm sorry.
You come two weeks late with these
notices and expect to be applauded?
Thank you, Avraham,
we managed without you.
I see,
I'm going to Avishai's.
In your dreams.
The whole town is coming here
tomorrow after the service.
Start setting the tables
and arranging the chairs.
And don't touch the food,
it's all counted.
"Bnei Avraham Synagogue"
This is Zaki.
And this is what he likes
doing in the morning.
That was the window of his aunt
Ziona's new non-kosher
butcher shop.
What are you looking at?
Start cleaning up!
Keep going, kid!
Three more to go!
A strong nation doesn't break!
Go on, kid!
Ziona married
Dr. Alex Alexandrov,
a breast cancer surgeon
who emigrated from Russia
and became a butcher,
thanks to her.
Another one ran off.
- Others will come.
We don't need all these
showy refrigerators.
What was wrong with the store
before? It was small and quiet.
Small shop, small money.
- I work like a horse.
Selling things I'm ashamed of,
God have mercy.
I don't know most
of our customers.
They speak a language
I don't understand.
You'd already become Israeli,
now you're speaking Russian again.
I don't want this.
Ziona honey...
I sell what people like.
Not everything's chicken.
We Russians eat other things too.
If someone likes Yemenite food,
do I go and break his window?
Eat Yemenite food, what do I care?
Don't get upset,
meat is meat.
And this is Anna.
The heroine of my story.
Good morning.
Just look at her.
Someone broke your window.
They delivered fresh rolls,
if you want some breakfast.
Go get circumcised.
She told me... to get circumcised.
- When is she leaving?
Not again!
What do you want me to do?
Throw her out onto the street?
She's my brother's daughter.
She's family.
Grandpa's big memorial service
was supposed to start at noon,
but they only finished putting up
the notices at 11:30.
The smell of a major fuck-up
filled the air
but my father still found
the time to chew me out.
When was the last time I was here?
- About two months ago.
When Mom kicked you out. Why?
Because that's when I put this
rubber band around your tefillin.
You haven't put it on since.
I get up too late, Dad.
- Then get up at seven, damn it!
Grandpa's service is in half
an hour and you're still sleeping?
Look at yourself! You're not
married, you don't work or study.
I work! I'm teaching four kids
for their bar-mitzvah,
so don't say I don't work.
- Is that so?
The Jewish people needs
tigers, lions, eagles.
What did I end up with?
Joselito... A canary!
Avishai, could you be gay?
What? - A faggot.
A fag.
Aside from raiding my fridge,
my father had other plans.
Avishai, I'm running for parliament
for the National Religious Party.
Why?
They need a hawk, a real settler
to reinforce them. - So?
What's stopping you?
- I need votes, Avishai.
And the votes are here
in the heartland,
not in the armpit
of the settlements.
So I thought I'd start here,
where I was born and raised.
Count me out. I know you and
there's no way I'm voting for you.
And don't eat up all my salami.
And my pickles! C'mon, Dad!
You'll vote like I tell you to,
now move your ass, we're late.
At Grandma's house,
everything was ready
for those who'd come after
Grandpa's service to apologize
to the deceased and his widow.
Grandpa's voice wafted
from the tape recorder,
he was the town's cantor.
"Memorial service:
Yekutiel Schwartz"
I said to deliver the pigs
at night, not in broad daylight.
What do you want me to do now?
Tell her to put something on,
she's half naked again.
Move.
That'll be 220.
200?
220.
Thank you.
Here's 220 for you
and 20 for you.
Hi. How are you?
- Fine, thanks.
This is all you're buying?
I'm a vegetarian.
Then go to a green grocer. I won't
open up the register for this.
See you on Monday.
Do you know him? - No.
Then what's
"See you on Monday"?
I don't know. Maybe from one
of my jobs. - One of your jobs...
Anna came to Israel for one week
to bring her father to burial.
She didn't know she needed
a Rabbinate permission
or how much it would cost.
So for months she's been
taking any job she can get.
You're so smug,
with that little ass of yours.
Beauty doesn't last forever, baby.
It was already 12 o'clock.
But the crowds were
nowhere to be seen.
This is it, Avraham?
Calm down, we'll wait
a few more minutes.
Here comes Pinhas!
See? I told you not to worry.
May the Lord give you
comfort and consolation.
We're here to make up
the holy quorum.
Thank you,
but that won't be necessary.
Lots of people are coming.
The head of council
told us to come, so we came.
The head of council
isn't coming?
Avraham, why isn't he coming?
"O Merciful God in heaven
"Grant proper rest
"on the wings of
the Divine Presence..."
I should be so lucky.
Look at the privacy this guy has.
- Privacy? You idiot.
He was buried outside the fence,
like a dog.
It was obvious that the gathering
Grandma had planned
in front of the council building
wouldn't come through.
She wouldn't even
let us drive her home.
She went alone
to plan her next move.
Get back to work.
My clothes.
My money.
In my pocket.
Here.
Anna, please respect this house.
What house?
Your witch of a wife stuck me
in this storage room.
Okay, okay,
it's none of my business.
I'm going home anyway.
I have a hearing tomorrow
at the Rabbinate. - Again?
God have mercy.
- That's what I came for.
They explained to you
that it's impossible!
The laws here are different!
Just forget about it, it's been
a year now! - Shut up! - What?
Shut up. You could solve
my problem in five minutes,
but you don't want to.
Yes I do.
But I can't.
Fine. Never mind.
I found someone.
He's religious and is familiar
with all the laws here.
He'll help me.
I don't need any more
favors from you.
How much is it going to cost?
- All of my money.
I'll have enough
to buy a plane ticket.
So long, bye-bye.
Anna, you're making a mistake.
Why go back to Russia?
This is a normal country,
a good country, believe me.
Find a job, get married.
You already speak good Hebrew.
Why go back?
Sometimes one man can bring
disaster on everyone.
Sometimes one man does a deed
and saves everyone.
Like our little Zaki who fights
daily against the pigs.
His good deed will assist us
on Judgment Day.
God bless Zaki!
Yom Kippur is approaching.
Penitential prayers are at 5:30.
Whoever wants to earn
another mitzvah
should go to the
empty Ashkenazi synagogue.
May we all be inscribed
in the Book of Life.
Kids, go home to your mother.
I'll join you later.
This is the man that will
decide about Anna's matter.
Rabbi Eliyahu Hason. The head
rabbinical judge in Bnei Avraham.
I was still sleeping the morning
after the memorial
but things were happening fast.
Grandma had a new idea on
how to clear grandpa's name.
You've got nothing to worry about.
You can ask about me.
I've never lost a case in my life.
On the other hand
a Russian... That's a problem.
I don't mean to offend you, but
we charge Russians 2000, upfront.
So before we get started,
do you have 2000 shekels?
I have 1500.
In cash?
Only for you, Svetlana.
Anna.
- Anna. I hope you're not offended.
Sometimes people ask for help,
and then they don't pay.
This matter requires stamps,
duplicates, translations, forms,
authorizations, phone calls...
Once I went all the way to Bukhara
to permit a woman to remarry.
Not now, not now.
Great.
I'm...
I'm so sorry, Miriam.
There was an unscheduled
meeting at the Ministry.
I told them everything,
that it's my predecessor,
that his widow
is a dear friend.
I begged them,
but it didn't do any good.
A decree from Above.
- Yes.
Come, let's sit in my office.
Ronit, pick up the phone.
I know you're at home.
Ronit, answer me.
Did you get the groceries?
I want to see you.
Pinhas...
- Not now.
Just a minute, Pinhas.
- What's going on?
Let's sit outside.
Okay, okay.
They're taking over the council.
They do as they please
with the budgets,
they brought in
new rabbinical judges.
God have mercy, Miriam,
they're all repentant Jews.
I'm like a dinosaur to them.
An alien.
Nevertheless...
you're head of council.
There are still things
that only you can do.
What do you mean?
Do you need something?
Just one thing.
Anna Alexandrov.
A request was submitted to
the Rabbinate in Ashkelon,
denied.
A request was submitted to
the Rabbinate in Petah Tikva,
denied.
In Be'er Sheva, denied.
In Ashdod, denied.
Miss Russia, are you
developing a network?
She's not the issue here.
The permission is for the father.
Where's the father?
He's here, but he's not with us.
So is he here or not?
Both. It's hard to explain.
Okay, take it out.
He's in there?
The father is in there?
Yes, your honors,
the lady would like to give him
a Jewish burial, that's all.
I don't know what to say.
I've never heard such a request.
Pinhas, a woman must rest
beside her husband. - But...
We were together
our whole life.
I want a burial plot
beside my husband.
I'm willing to pay any price.
It's not a matter of money, Miriam.
Yekutiel was buried outside the
fence because that's Jewish law,
that's where people who
committed suicide are buried.
No one is buried there willingly,
it's a dishonor, a stain,
why would you want that?
Precisely because of that.
Who will remove the stain
if not his wife?
I owe it to him.
And so do you.
Not now! Not now!
Leave me alone!
Are you crazy?
You want your money back?
Why should I give it to you?
- But you didn't do anything.
Lady, if you went to the doctor
and the medicine didn't work,
would you ask for your money back?
Never!
You think here
it's different?
Give me my money back!
- Let go of my bag!
I didn't touch her,
she just fell. You're a witness!
Grandma!
Grandma, the Russian girl woke up!
Grandma!
Stop yelling.
I'm from Russia too.
Why are you hitting me?
I'm just trying to help.
Go to the kitchen and get
a bowl of soup from the pot.
Help and get hit.
I've had it, Grandma.
How are you feeling?
Can you speak Hebrew?
A little.
Where do you live?
Don't worry, your handbag is here.
I have to go.
- No, wait.
First have some soup,
then a shower.
Then we'll see.
Maybe she was arrested.
Is that why you didn't come?
She didn't come back,
there may be a problem.
There is a problem.
My husband is an idiot.
I'm going to see where she is.
If you go, don't bother
coming back, you hear?
It's none of your business.
- None of my business?
The whole town is talking
about me behind my back.
Let them talk.
She's my family.
I don't say anything
about your family.
Well thank you,
you ungrateful bastard.
My family gave us the money
to start the business.
Business... Business for
their defective chickens,
instead of throwing them away,
we sell them.
I'm gonna break
someone's head open!
Alex!
What did you do?!
You can't do that!
Alex! Leave him alone!
Shut up!
Why do you keep doing this?!
You've broken my window
three times! Three times!
Get out of here, you dogs!
Alex, Alex.
You're bleeding.
I won't stand for this.
Dad, you haven't stopped making
demands since you got here.
You're staying at my place,
behave like a guest.
Avishai, you're mine,
your place is mine,
everything you have is mine.
What is this?
You like it?
No.
- Too bad.
Because as of tomorrow, you'll
be distributing them around town.
Why me?
- Then who, me?
I lug them, unpack them,
distribute them, what'll do you do?
Get elected. Now go out and get
the other boxes, then go to bed,
you have a lot of work tomorrow,
and we're going to Grandma's
to talk to her about a very
important matter. - About what?
It's a surprise.
Wait till tomorrow.
"Have compassion
on Your handiwork
"And be glad with Your handiwork
"May those who take refuge
in You say
"when You vindicate
those borne by You..."
He sings like a nightingale.
What a voice.
It's as if Dad were
standing here, singing.
People pay to hear him. Tell her
where you did the Passover Seder.
At Club Med in Marmaris.
They paid him to do the Seder
for all the Israelis.
I've already heard that 100 times.
- Good.
When Pinhas comes,
that's what you'll tell him.
That in memory of
his late grandfather,
Avishai should be the cantor
at the synagogue on Yom Kippur.
It's not like
it's the National Auditorium.
Yeah, everyone's
old and gone deaf.
But the old folks remember
what it used to be like
before this town was flooded
with those damn Yemenites.
When a knitted skullcap was
respected. I want them to cry.
Why do you want them to cry?
I just do, okay?
It's because he wants
to run for Parliament. - What?
Why not?
They need people like me.
Who needs people like you?
Just ask Pinhas to let Avishai
be the cantor on Yom Kippur.
If Avishai is the cantor,
you'll be elected to Parliament?
Oh, he has a plan.
All the old timers
will sit together,
hear the grandson pray
like the grandfather,
they'll remember
the good ol' days,
and elect Dad to represent them
in Parliament. Look.
It was a stupid plan,
but my father
believed in it with all his heart.
I see. He'll sing a little and
they'll run to vote for you.
No. First I'll give a sermon
that'll make the walls shake.
They won't let you.
- They will if you ask.
There he is.
If Pinhas knew that my Dad
was waiting for him there,
he'd never enter the mousetrap.
When they were kids, my father
hung him...
I told you this story already.
Hello, Schwartzs.
Go ahead, ask him yourselves.
Ask me what?
Pinhas sweetheart,
I wanted to ask you something.
Those pants you're wearing,
have you been wearing the
same ones for the past 20 years
or did you buy two pairs
and keep alternating?
Avraham, don't start up with me.
Everyone here...
We really missed you.
I told you.
Truce.
Don't hop. Apologize.
- I apologize. For what?
Maybe for not showing up at
my father's memorial service?
I had to attend...
- You had what?
A service for the late
head of the council
and the new one doesn't show up?
Stand up straight.
Stop squirming.
Do you already have a cantor
for Yom Kippur? - Yes.
The youth group leader.
- You don't say.
What else do you have
in store for us? A campfire?
Folk dancing?
Scary storytelling? - Miriam,
why did he say "us"?
Who's "us"?
He wants Avishai to be
the cantor on Yom Kippur.
Aren't you going to Marmaris?
- Yeah. I mean...
Changed his mind
at the last minute.
Yes, but I already told...
and we can't pay much.
You don't have to pay him.
How do you like that?
As long as the grandson carries on
where the grandfather left off.
Why are you standing?
Sit, sit.
Well?
- Well?
A sermon for the son...
A sermon for the son?
- What son?
How many sons do I have?
Him?
Come with me.
- What now?
You have to practice, so you
don't put me to shame. Move it.
Look at this.
Do you have an answer for me?
- That's why I came.
I'm dealing with it, but
you're making it hard on me.
What's the story
with the Russian girl?
What Russian girl?
She passed out and I helped her.
That's not good.
People told me that
you brought her here.
They saw you.
- What's not good?
She's a fraud, who put
some ashes in an urn
and asked the rabbinical judges
for permission to bury it.
She's not even Jewish
and has no right to be here.
It's not good for
your request, Miriam,
that they'll think you have
a connection to doubtful people.
What you're asking for is a very
delicate matter. Very uncommon.
I didn't think it was wrong.
I thought...
Then I'm telling you
that it's wrong.
As long as you're involved with
her, I can't grant your request,
despite my good will.
- Okay, Pinhas. I heard you.
I'm impressed.
Well?
Well what?
Do you have a name?
- Anna. - Anna...
"Ve'ani anna ani ba."
Genesis 37. Write it down.
Oh my God.
Pleased to meet you. Avraham.
Mother. Son. Freeloader.
Why are you talking
with a Russian accent?
She's Russian, Mom,
how else will she understand?
Ignore him.
Come, I need to talk to you.
Want some?
Listen. I'm through with
the non-kosher meat, the pigs,
the broken windows,
the fines, the debts,
your Russian friends,
and the fights with my family.
If that's not fine by you,
I'm through with you too.
Now decide. It's either
me and everything kosher,
or your slutty niece
and the pigs.
What's she got to do with
the broken window? - Everything!
I want you to send her away.
- She's already left on her own.
I've been hearing the same story
for the past year. I've had it.
You really want to help her
go back to Russia?
Yes.
Here. Give her this.
What is it?
Eliyahu.
The head rabbinical judge.
I didn't want to do it, but...
See that address?
He's going there to meet a woman.
How do you know?
People saw him. He lives there,
but hangs out there.
What does that mean?
If you really want to help her,
give her the note.
She should catch him red-handed,
threaten him, yell at him,
bring this matter to an end
and get the hell out of here
with all the pigs
you brought in here.
Take those away.
- But why, Ronit?
Because, I don't need
any favors from you.
Why do you come here?
I came to see
how you're doing.
It's none of your
business anymore.
Stop calling, stop coming.
But I worry about you.
Eli, you already had the chance to
worry about me and you missed it.
So just forget about me.
Take them away.
Take them.
Tell me how the tests went.
- None of your business.
When's the operation?
- There's a mile-Iong waiting list.
There is no operation.
- Maybe I can do something to help.
What a man.
More important people tried,
but couldn't do anything.
Goodbye.
Regards to your wife.
If you admit
you're still crazy about me,
I'll take the groceries.
Tell them about your father,
about his dream
to immigrate to Israel
and not being able
to fulfill it.
They are decent people,
that's why they're there.
Did you tell them that it was
his last wish to be buried here?
Yes, but they threw me out.
One of them said that because
my mother isn't Jewish,
I'm not Jewish either.
But did you tell them that
you don't want anything?
No money, no aid. Just to bury
the ashes and go home?
They make fun of me,
because I'm from Russia.
It doesn't make sense.
Pick that one,
on that branch down there.
Can you reach it?
Tell me...
- What now?
Would you do her?
C'mon, Dad.
Avishai, I'm your father.
Everything you think about,
I've already thought about before.
Look, Anna, I've heard you
and I believe you.
I'm going to talk
to the judges.
They'll treat me differently.
And that girl
who you belittle
leaves everything,
comes to a foreign land,
stays here for months, like a dog,
to fulfill her father's last wish
to be buried in a Jewish cemetery
in Israel. - That's what she says!
That's exactly what she says.
Why don't you believe her?
How do you know what
those ashes are in that urn?
It could be a cat.
Or a gentile.
How do you know she'll want
to go back to Russia afterwards?
She may fall in love with us
and want to stay.
Someone has to be the bad guy and
ask these unpleasant questions.
Even at country clubs
they don't admit just anybody.
All the more so at a holy cemetery.
We need proof,
and if there's no proof,
there's no permission.
Okay, she got the picture.
Now step outside with me.
What about cases
that can't be proven?
But this case can be proven.
- The witness can prove it.
Witness? There's a witness?
What witness?
What if she doesn't convince them?
- Get real.
My family founded this place.
Of course she'll convince them.
Who are all these people?
Those who lived until
the Holocaust.
Those who were killed
in the Holocaust.
The one with the medal
is my late grandfather.
And the one with the mustache
is my father.
They all have mustaches.
Oh yeah.
30 years ago they went to build
settlements in the West Bank.
Right where the Arabs lived.
Ever heard of settlers?
Never mind.
That's where I was born.
Here.
Where did you get this?
Grandma grows it for me
in the garden.
Your grandma is a good woman.
Yeah. But she doesn't know.
She waters it, it grows, I smoke.
That's me.
- Cute.
Just an ordinary kid.
What's wrong with that?
With a dynasty like this,
I should've turned out a genius.
But I'm not.
So what do you do?
You smoke,
that's what you do.
Come here.
I'll teach you something.
What was that?
Paravozik.
- Para what?
How do you say in Hebrew
the engine of a train?
Locomotive?
- Locomotive, but little.
I can't breathe.
Can we do it again?
Grandma, it's not what you think.
I was telling her
about our dynasty.
About all the rabbis,
the mustaches, in the Holocaust.
Especially about Grandpa.
Avishai, go home.
- But I'm...
I need to have a word with Anna.
But...
- Now!
I tried to help you
and you deceived me.
You're wrong, Miriam.
You're wrong.
They told me you're a fraud!
And I didn't believe them.
You think I'm easily deceived?
Why should I deceive?
It's just a burial permission.
What's the problem, Miriam?
It's only ashes.
Who knows that he's Jewish?
How can they bury him
in a Jewish cemetery?
There are rules!
And now all of a sudden,
there's a witness.
Who is he?
- My father's brother.
What?
- But he won't testify,
he has problems with
the religious council.
What's his name?
What's his name?
- Alex.
Alex what?
Where is he?
Here, in town.
He has a butcher shop.
- A butcher shop?
The non-kosher one
that belongs to the Russian?
Yes, it's his.
But he gave me a job
and a place to sleep,
just because he's my father's
brother, but he won't testify.
I tried everything,
he won't do it.
Do you want me to leave?
What happened?
Why is she angry?
It's none of your business.
Let me go.
- Go where?
I have work to do.
- What work?
Let me at least walk you.
Not yet, don't look yet.
Just a minute.
Dad's election campaign
started gaining momentum.
He got off my back and
started abusing the old people.
Dear founders.
Remember the days
when our synagogue was filled
with knitted-skullcap wearing
congregants every Sabbath?
Good.
Now please turn around.
Open your eyes.
Woe to the eyes that see this.
See what?
That there's nothing to see.
The Ashkenazi synagogue
is forsaken and empty.
And?
- And, it's our duty to fill it.
Okay, okay.
Let's go home, Tzivia.
Let's go.
- Wait, where are you going?
Avraham, you don't even have the
key. How do you expect to fill it?
With a little faith,
Mrs. Pomerantz.
With a little faith, we'll fill
the synagogue by Yom Kippur.
Men, women and children.
Bomba's promise.
Bomba's promise.
I'm glad you agree with me.
Good, good.
Lift your head a little.
Bend your left arm
and stretch out your left leg.
That's it. Very good.
Good. Bye.
You should be ashamed
of yourself.
What are you doing here?
- I saw everything. You're a whore!
Why are you doing this?
Because I need money.
And I don't have a grandmother
and father to help me.
I'm all alone.
I'm sorry.
Anna.
Where have you been?
How did it go?
It didn't.
And the money?
Gone.
So, it means you stay with us?
I don't know what to do.
I have nothing here
and I can't leave
until I finish this.
Here.
What is it?
I'll explain it to you...
Take.
Six, seven, eight,
nine, ten steps.
There you go. Ten steps
divided by two is five meters.
It's very close.
Near the pathway too.
There's easy access
and a water faucet.
Even half a meter.
I asked to be buried beside him.
I checked it out, Miriam.
According to Jewish law,
that's as close as you can get.
The law is very specific.
But I want to be next to him
out of my own free will.
What's wrong with that?
- Your will isn't enough.
I may have been able to arrange
something under the table,
but you went and ruined everything
with that Russian girl.
The whole religious council
is talking about you.
They don't understand
what you're doing with her.
You promised.
I promised to check it out and
I did. You can't get any closer.
I'm doing everything I can.
I arranged for your grandson
to be the cantor on Yom Kippur,
your son is permitted
to give a sermon afterwards.
It wasn't easy...
So it's fine by you
that this man who raised you,
who made you his assistant,
who bequeathed his job to you,
that this man will
lie here alone in disgrace
and everyone who enters
the cemetery will say:
Here lies the crook
who committed suicide.
Will it change anything
if you lie here too?
Yes.
Mr. Sharabi? May I have
a minute of your time?
What do you want?
Do you take the art class
at the community center? - Yes.
My name is Avishai.
I've heard about your class.
It's awesome.
- Yes.
Look, I'm an avid art lover,
but personally
I'm not interested in Picasso,
Van Gogh, Mozart, or Salvadori.
Who's Salvadori?
- Never mind.
I'm more into paintings
by the common people.
I'm interested in purchasing
one of your paintings.
Seriously?
- Yeah. The one you did this week.
I'll pay you
50 shekels for it.
Get out of here, you psycho.
- 100 shekels?
You know what? Wait here.
I already had
19 paintings in my bag.
Sharabi was the last one
on the list.
Here.
"Let all our vows
"and oaths and the obligations
"we incur to You, O God..."
Why are you bending down
over there?
Want some soup?
Want some gefilte fish?
Want to fight with me?
What do you want?
For you to let me listen
to the tapes at my place.
They don't leave this house.
They're the memories
I have from your grandfather.
If you want to practice,
practice here.
You're a real angel.
I didn't throw her out.
She left on her own.
Fine.
Yura, stop eating
and start playing!
That's
what you're here for...
See how they took our song
and translated it into Arabic?
Anna.
Why are you sitting in here?
Come outside.
We're having a barbecue.
You have to be a little happy.
How much happiness do we get?
Get out of here!
Fima, where are you?
I'm coming... - It's an Israeli song,
did you translate it into Russian?
Well?
Ladies and gentlemen,
we will sing and we will dance,
but now for the official part.
Come on, speak up.
- Friends,
I have a special announcement:
As of tomorrow,
anyone who wants decent food,
can go to hell.
Today is your last chance.
So eat up and whatever's
left over, take home.
Because as of tomorrow,
I'll be selling only kosher meat.
Some parasite inspector will come,
hang a certificate on the wall,
take his money, and that's it.
But don't worry,
from the back door, we'll keep
selling defective chickens
from Ziona's
distinguished family.
Alex.
- Okay, it's a family secret.
In any case, life goes on.
To life!
To the chickens!
You're driving me crazy
with all your mitzvahs.
Reading Psalms, changing
the mezuzahs every other day.
What do I need your mitzvahs for?
When I really wanted you,
you got up and left.
What other choice
did you leave me?
You made fun of me.
You purposely smoked in front
of me on the Sabbath.
Go away, Eliyahu.
I'm not made of stone.
When I see you on the street
with your children,
it makes my stomach turn.
Leave me alone.
I'm begging you.
I can't,
you're my flesh and blood.
That you dumped,
and then went to another woman.
Ronit, I swear to you...
If you promise to observe
the Sabbath and keep kosher,
I'll come back to you.
Then kiss me.
Kiss me.
What are you doing here?
This isn't your house.
And you're judging me?
You're a rabbi. Shame on you.
You pretend to be religious
and come here to be with her.
Excuse me, who are you?
I'm going to tell the Rabbinate
what you're doing here.
So you came here
to blackmail me, eh?
How did you know I was here?
- Everybody knows.
He's religious and comes here.
What does he have here? A girl!
He's religious and you're not.
There!
Eliyahu, what does
this lady want from you?
This lady is trying to blackmail me
to get her own way!
This lady brought an urn and said
that her father's ashes are in it
and that we'd better believe her.
Not only that,
she sent the widow of the late
head of council, the one who...
Schwartz.
So you're here to blackmail me,
darling?
Change your decision or I'll
tell them about your whore!
Shut your dirty mouth
or I'll kick you out!
Chill out.
- But did you hear what she said?
Listen, sweetie.
I'm not a whore, I'm his ex-wife.
We used to be married.
Great, why don't you
offer her a cup of coffee?
Here. 500 dollars.
- What?
Take it, I'll bring you more later,
just change your decision!
Get your hands off me!
But it's my father!
Eliyahu...
I'm calling the police.
Wait a second...
Go after her.
Go after her.
Looking for mitzvahs? A little
one just ran off on you. Go.
Go talk to her.
Call Mrs. Schwartz
to come get her.
My father was Jewish
and I don't know what to do
to make you believe me.
It was his last wish.
That may be true,
but my hands are tied.
I want to help, but...
If you need help with anything
else, like learning Hebrew
or converting,
I can work something out.
But there's the Shulchan Aruch
when it comes to this matter.
Shulchan Aruch?
The Jewish code of laws.
You need a witness, a certificate.
There are no two ways about it.
I hope you can understand me.
There are no two ways about it.
I still don't know
what touched Grandma more:
Anna's sorrow or my sorrow.
Go to your uncle, tell him I
want to meet him.
He won't agree.
So tell him I want to give you work.
But before that
I want to meet the family.
Okay?
Where did you study medicine?
At the military academy
in St. Pittsburgh.
St. Petersburg.
The Kirov Academy?
How do you know?
We have his diploma at home
and the license he got in Israel.
We should've brought them.
But I heard they didn't
accept Jews there.
Jews, non-Jews,
what does it matter now?
The main thing is that
we're all here now,
we have a strong state and army.
And your brother, Yuri,
he didn't serve in the army?
Dad paid so he wouldn't have to go.
When it was my turn,
there was no money, so I went.
But it doesn't matter. The main
thing is that I made it to Israel.
And then he met me.
Tell her, Alex.
Yes, I met you,
like a diamond in the earth's ass,
as they say.
In a hen house.
She was waiting for me.
Especially for me.
- It was my pleasure, darling.
Thank you. - Sacha...
Would you like
some more borsht?
Yes.
Miriam, your borsht
is delicious. - Thank you.
Yummy.
It's okay,
Avishai will get it.
What am I, a waitress?
So you never saw your brother
again after you left? - No.
I met Anna for the first time
here in Israel.
You know... family,
you do what you can.
Avishai, why don't you
sing something for us?
Sing something special
for your grandmother.
It may have been the pressure that
made my voice come out so high.
"She opens her mouth with wisdom
"And the teaching of kindness
is on her tongue
"She watches over
the ways of her household
"And does not eat
the bread of idleness
"Her children rise up
and call her blessed
"Her husband also,
and he praises her..."
That's it, we're leaving.
Yafim.
Yafim, sit down.
Alex, what's with you?
She wants me to testify.
You heard the questions
she was asking me.
These are good people.
- Oh yeah?
Then why was she asking
if Jews were accepted there?
What does it matter now?
- So she asked. Answer her,
finish eating, say goodbye
and she'll take Anna.
Or do you not want
to give her up now?
Look at this wall.
There's a whole Rabbinate here.
This one got a medal.
Don't you guys mind
that I'm here? - What?
I can hear every word
you're saying. Don't you care?
What do you want?
Doesn't my presence make
any difference to you?
I could be a spy
from the Rabbinate.
Are you?
- No, but how would you know?
Didn't you say you're a cantor?
- Yeah? So?
Then keep singing.
Fima, stop gobbling...
Yafim!
They're gone.
What did you say?
I'm an atheist.
I won't go near the Rabbinate.
Why not?
It's a matter of principle.
I'm a rational person.
My brother is dead. It's over.
They're ashes. Go scatter them
at sea, what does it matter?
Don't give me that nonsense.
Go, testify, and then keep being
a man of principle all you like.
Is tomorrow morning good for you?
- Come here.
I want to let you in on something.
He wasn't circumcised.
One brother had it done
and the other didn't?
No. The other brother
didn't have it done either.
When he went to testify for her and
they heard about the butcher shop,
they told him to pull his pants
down and prove that he's Jewish.
Then he should get circumcised.
Your mother should
get circumcised!
Great, she learned a new word.
Circumcised, circumcised.
You're a gentile, and you're telling
him to get circumcised? - Why not?
Because I'm not gonna wait to have
sex for 6 months until it heals.
And what if something happens
to it? Will you fix it?
I won't take the risk.
But it's for her father.
His brother.
It could be his grandmother,
for all I care.
If my brothers find out he's
uncircumcised,
we'll be divorced
tomorrow morning.
They give me a hard time as it is
for bringing home a Russian.
What do you mean?
I found you in a hen house.
34 years old. In chicken shit.
I'm a surgeon,
they treat me like dirt.
But if Anna means a lot to you...
- I mean more to him.
What about her?
I can't. Period.
You don't want to.
I'm sorry. It's my life
against hers. Let's go.
She's pretty, that's true.
But you'll find yourself
a nice girl,
one who doesn't have to convert.
- Yeah, right.
Don't smoke here.
- Great. Nice.
Finally some girl
notices that I exist...
Hallelujah, you're getting laid.
Avraham...
Who noticed that you exist?
Grandma, control your son.
Avraham, watch your mouth,
you're not in Parliament yet.
Just a matter of time,
because tonight the Lord himself
is setting me up for a goal.
I keep explaining to people that
things here are going downhill
and no one knows what I'm
talking about. - Neither do I.
Don't you smell anything?
The whole town is full of smoke.
The black suits are burning
down the Russians' butcher shop.
What?
The smell of an extra large
barbecue. Extra-extra large.
It's all up in flames,
including the meat.
Yafim, call the firemen!
We've already did ten times,
they're not coming!
It's all because of her!
My urn is in there!
Get more water!
My urn is in there!
Whore...
What happened?
Who did this?
Where are you going?
The urn is in there.
You can't go in there,
it's all burning!
Stand here, don't move!
Is there any hot water?
I want to take a shower.
A shower...
This is where I live.
This is the kitchen.
This is where I sleep.
Did you get hurt?
No.
Let me see.
What?
Everything's okay.
The shower is all yours.
Good morning.
Open for business?
The war on Dr. Alexander
was not over.
And this time
grandma dropped
an unconventional bomb.
Good job.
You sold pork, did you think
people would turn a blind eye?
Are you Alex?
What do you want from him?
To start behaving like
a human being, damn it!
We have enough trouble
without you.
I'm here to help you.
How can you help?
Stage one.
In two days, your husband
reports at the council.
He looks the rabbis in the eyes
and says determinedly
that you're Jewish,
your brother is Jewish,
your father is Jewish, your grandpa
and grandma, you're all Jewish,
a family of rabbis,
then they'll cut the bullshit.
Go fuck yourself.
You're a doctor, aren't you?
- How do you know?
Shut up.
Two phone calls to the right
people and I can get Dr. Surgeon
a job at the hospital by
tomorrow morning. - As a doctor?
A pathologist.
- A pathologist?
Why not? It's like a doctor,
but the patients can't complain.
Bomba's promise.
And our debts?
Stage two.
You and your Russian friends
come to our synagogue
on Yom Kippur.
Russians at synagogue.
You've got to be kidding.
Fine.
But when they take away
everything you have
and kick your asses
out of this town,
don't come running to me.
By the way, I'm Avraham Schwartz.
Call me Bomba. Nice meeting you.
- Are you from the Rabbinate?
On the contrary, ma'am.
I'm from the Religious Front
for the Liberation of Bnei Avraham.
This is my platform.
The minute he left, my dad arranged
everything with one phone call.
The guy is an expert surgeon,
don't bury him in pathology.
Speaking of surgery,
I need one more favor...
People are waiting outside,
your honor.
Ask them to wait patiently.
Miriam...
I apologize.
Something must've happened.
It's Yom Kippur eve.
He's a doctor. Perhaps he's
been held up by patients.
This joke has gone too far.
Let's move on to the next hearing.
Absolutely not.
He didn't show up.
What do you want them to do?
Wait a little longer.
Your phone.
Hello?
I asked you
to leave me alone, Bomba.
No, he didn't show up. They're
moving on to the next hearing.
What are you yelling at me for?
Who?
How do you know him?
All right. Stop yelling!
Wait a second. It's for you.
Yes. Ronit?
They're going to operate? When?
It will be all right.
- Are you sure?
Thank you...
Thank you very much.
Bye.
People, this case is
never going to end.
If the witness doesn't come to us,
we'll go to the witness. - What?
He knows there are more
operations today, he doesn't care.
He says it's Yom Kippur
and he's burnt out.
He says you can kiss his ass.
What is this?
Dr. Alexandrov.
Where I am gonna find
another surgeon now?
Hurry up!
Two floors down,
at the end of the corridor.
Let's go.
What?
No, forget it,
no one will come.
This way.
Pathology.
What is this smell...
It's disgusting...
- Come on, get in here.
Alexander Alexandrov. We're going
to end this matter right now.
It's a slaughter-house...
All I'm asking for
is one sentence.
He's not talking. Let's go.
Tell these people
that you're Jewish,
that your brother,
Anna's father, was Jewish too.
My brother's dead, it's over.
Jews have a soul.
The soul is eternal.
Oh yeah? Where is the soul?
Here are the kidneys, the stomach,
the heart.
I've had 5 body-chopping shifts
here. There is no soul.
It's all flesh.
That's all there is.
The divine soul is in every Jew.
Oh yeah? Okay.
You tell me.
Is he Jewish? Arab? Chinese?
Look for his soul.
All right.
There is a soul,
there isn't a soul,
just testify what you promised.
All right.
I'm Jewish,
my father is Jewish,
my mother is Jewish, so was
my brother Yuri, Anna's father.
That's not enough,
that's not enough.
What?
"A claim must be established
by two witnesses."
The judges are out cold.
There aren't enough witnesses.
Then what do you want?
For him to show he's circumcised.
- What?
That's the way it goes.
- That's the way what goes?
No witnesses, no permission.
Dr. Alexandrov, proceed to
the operating room urgently.
Dr. Alexandrov, proceed to
the operating room urgently.
Wake up!
You've gone too far, Miriam.
You could've made
more of an effort.
You think someone made more
of an effort for me? - Yes.
Who? The deceased?
Yes, my deceased husband made
a big effort for your career.
I was his deputy and was appointed
in his place. That's all. Wake up!
It wasn't my fault
there was a financial scandal
or that he got caught.
- And you didn't.
You didn't say a single word
in his defense.
So he commits suicide?
It's against Jewish law.
It's even worse than murder.
There are things that I can't do.
I'm a religious man.
And what do you think I am?
- You?
You do whatever's
convenient for you.
You feel sorry for the Russian girl
so you flush the whole Torah
down the drain.
You want to clear Yekutiel's name
and the whole code of Jewish law
has to bend for you.
Jewish law forbids you
to be buried beside your husband
and you know that,
but you still ask,
you appointed yourself
Chief Rabbi!
All right, enough.
I relieve you of all my requests.
I'm sorry if I asked you to do
things that you can't do.
Things that are against
Jewish law, Miriam.
You're right, Pinhas.
All right. I'm sorry
for raising my voice.
So am I.
We tried.
All right. We tried.
There's something I have to
finish up. Why are you yelling?
I'll have the pre-fast meal here.
I'll see the kids at synagogue.
Make sure to drink a lot, okay?
Mrs. Schwartz.
Yes?
Miriam...
- I'm waiting outside.
I'm truly sorry,
but regarding the ashes...
If he was buried and
no one knew where he was,
no one would dig up
the whole cemetery.
But the way things are now,
I'm truly sorry.
I hope you understand...
All right. I understand.
Have an easy fast.
- You too.
Well, Mom, what do you say?
Don't leave
your gun there.
She's in surgery,
he's in pathology,
what do you have to say?
Good job, Avraham.
I'm like a little elf.
I come at the right time
and fix everyone's lives.
Welcome, pre-fast meal.
Come, kreplach dumplings,
come to Uncle Avraham.
Come, my dears.
Cover up you knees, just a little.
Stop it. I'm not a child.
Let me dress as I please.
He's gonna kill you.
It's Yom Kippur.
People pray and cry...
People will lift their eyes
and boom, there's your ass.
Pull it down a little.
Hello there.
What are you wearing, you jerk?
A white shirt.
What does it say on your pocket?
Christo.
It's the logo.
- Christo. What's Christo?
Christ. Jesus Christ.
You're bringing Jesus Christ
to synagogue on Yom Kippur?
Go home and change
your damn shirt.
I'm not going.
What did you say?
I'm not a child,
I'll dress as I please.
Way to go, you've become a man.
Now get inside.
What was the slap for?
So you-know-what
doesn't go to your head...
Come on.
The house was filled with
the atmosphere of Yom Kippur.
I put on Grandpa's white kittel
and my heart sank to my stomach.
"Who will rest and who will wander
"Who will live in harmony
and who will be harried
"Who will enjoy tranquility
and who will suffer
"Who will be impoverished
and who will be enriched
"Who will be degraded
and who will be exalted
"But repentance and prayer
"and charity remove
"the evil of the decree..."
Let's go,
everyone's waiting, Avishai.
Anna, stay with me
for a few minutes.
Mom.
You go ahead.
I'll come in a little while.
Don't you want to see
your grandson praying?
Your son giving a sermon?
Go ahead.
We'll come in a little while.
Let's go, Dad, we're late.
Happy holiday. - Happy holiday
- Happy holiday. - Happy holiday.
Are you ready?
Where's your urn?
What do you mean?
- Let's go.
So, Bomba,
Bnei Avraham is awakening?
Looks like everyone's
gone to sleep.
Fuck. - It's a shame you didn't
write the sign in Russian.
Have a little faith, Pinhas.
It'll be all right.
If the Russians don't show up,
we're in deep shit.
Start digging.
Your father made you swear
to bring him to Jewish burial.
This is a Jewish burial.
We'll bury him here.
Get started.
I'm scared.
There's nothing to be scared of.
Everyone here is dead.
Go on.
"Let all our vows and oaths
"and the obligations
We incur to You, O God,
"between this Yom Kippur
and the next, be null and void
"should we, after honest effort,
"find ourselves unable
to fulfill them..."
May you merit to do many mitzvahs.
- Thank you.
You kept your promise
to your Dad.
After the holiday
you could fly back home.
Yuri Alexandrov,
everything we've done
was on your behalf.
Forgive us if we've
disrespected you in any way.
Say amen.
- Amen.
Always remember,
it's ten steps from the last row,
right next to this grave.
This is where we all will lay.
Read this.
"May His great Name
be exalted and sanctified
"In the world that
He created as He willed...
"May He give reign...
"In the world that
He created as He willed
"May He give reign
to His kingship..."
"In your lifetimes
and in your days
"and in the lifetimes of
the entire family of Israel."
"Amen."
Ronit.
How are you feeling?
How are you feeling?
Good.
Doctor.
I'm...
Okay, okay.
Feel better.
Miriam, let's go. I'm cold.
Here.
You go ahead. I want to stay
for a while with my husband.
Are you sure?
Go.
They'll be back
from synagogue soon.
You can keep the sweater
as a souvenir from me.
You did great.
- Thanks, Dad. Where's Grandma?
I don't know, I haven't seen her.
Anna isn't here either?
- I'm going to give my sermon.
Good luck.
Good luck.
The campaign's pinnacle moment
had arrived and Bomba went up
to give an election speech
that would make the walls shake.
Dear friends.
On Yom Kippur...
On Yom Kippur,
the heavens open up...
I prepared a sermon, but...
Last Yom Kippur,
the 7-day mourning period
over my father ended.
Most of you knew him,
some of you came here with him
and founded this place,
and we always hoped that
new people would come here.
And they did.
They're here with us today,
but we didn't know
how to welcome them.
If my father was alive,
he'd be standing here today,
emotional,
he'd look at you and say:
You are our brothers.
This place is yours
as much as it is ours.
Welcome.
I'd like to end with a prayer.
"May You regard our
gathering together with love
"and obscure our sins with love.
"May You transform
all hardship and evil
"to joy and gladness,
to life and peace,
"for us and for all Israel
who love truth and peace."
May you be inscribed in
the Book of Life. Thank you.
Anna had no idea
what to do next.
Suddenly she got cold.
So she put on the blue sweater
and sat on the stairs.
My name is Avishai Schwartz.
A cantor and bar-mitzvah teacher.
My wife's name is Anna
and we named
our newborn daughter Miriam.
"The Schwartz Dynasty"
English: Suzy De Lowe
Subtitles by:
Elrom Studios
Tal Friedman
Yehudah Levi
Anya Buchstein
Vladimir Friedman
Dov Navon
Hannah Azulai Hasfari, Amos Lavie,
Sharon Elimelech
"The Schwartz Dynasty"
Screenplay: Amir Hasfari
Directed by Shmuel Hasfari,
Amir Hasfari
You could start this story
50 years ago,
when my grandfather Yekutiel
Schwartz and Grandma Miriam
founded Bnei Avraham,
a small green town
full of henhouses
and surrounded by fields.
Most of its residents
were immigrants from Yemen.
You could also start
this story one year ago,
when my grandfather committed
suicide, a week before Yom Kippur.
He was head of the council
and was accused of embezzlement.
He was questioned by the police
and had his picture in the paper.
Grandpa Yekutiel was so hurt,
he jumped off the water tower.
Grandma hardly stepped foot
out of the house since.
She sat and planned how
she'd clear Grandpa's name
at his one-year memorial service
in the presence of all
Bnei Avraham residents.
She brought Pinhas Goidar,
the present head of council,
and told him exactly what to say
tomorrow at the memorial service.
Here, outside the council building
that you headed, we say to you:
You fulfilled your calling,
Yekutiel.
May you rest in peace,
and speak up.
- And speak... What?
Speak up. And point
when you're talking.
Point? At who?
When you mention the synagogue,
point at the synagogue.
When you mention the
council building, point at it,
so people will see.
- Okay, I'll try.
Don't try, do it.
Then invite everyone
over to my house.
I'll take care
of the refreshments.
Wait...
Maybe Avraham should speak.
He's the son.
It's customary for the son to...
- You, you are the head of council,
it's important that it comes
from your mouth, Pinhas.
You can't rely on Avraham,
as you know.
Pinhas knows that
you can't rely on Avraham.
When they were kids, my dad
hung him on a tree by his feet
and left him dangling there
till morning.
Bomba, the army is
evacuating us with force.
Then stay put
with even more force.
Do you have enough chains? Over.
Yes, but there's nothing
to tie them to.
Avraham, nicknamed Bomba,:
Is my father.
He lives in
a West Bank settlement
and is the reason I left home
and moved near Grandma
in Bnei Avraham, you'll see...
Chain yourselves together and
start singing "No fear".
My father loves the Land of Israel,
loves cussing,
but what he loves the most
is running other people's lives.
And that's me. Avishai Schwartz.
A cantor and bar-mitzvah teacher.
"And rightfulness..."
Good, keep going.
Tomer, I don't hear you.
Rabbi Avishai,
what are you doing?
The tobacco spilled out, I'm
putting it back in the cigarette.
And I'm not a rabbi.
Who said you could come in here
anyway? Get out, sit down.
To this day, I've never had love.
Keep going, Tomer.
Never mind. Back to my father,
who took upon himself
to put up notices all over town
for Grandpa's memorial service.
Come over here, kid.
Me? - You with the crappy bicycle,
come over here.
If my father wasn't a settler,
he'd probably be a gangster.
Listen kid, I have an important
assignment for you.
Not interested.
It's not an assignment,
it's a mitzvah.
A mivtzvah?
Why not.
No one understands how
my regal grandmother
and my grandfather,
the great educator
wound up with a son
like my father.
When he left to become
a settler 20 years ago,
the whole town sighed.
With relief.
But now he's back.
Well? What's wrong with it?
- Nothing's wrong with it.
Tomorrow morning, ultra-orthodox
kids will put them up all over town.
You'd think ultra-orthodox kids
would do it as a mitzvah?
No fucking way!
I had to pay them...
I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry.
Shame on you.
It just came out,
I said I'm sorry.
You come two weeks late with these
notices and expect to be applauded?
Thank you, Avraham,
we managed without you.
I see,
I'm going to Avishai's.
In your dreams.
The whole town is coming here
tomorrow after the service.
Start setting the tables
and arranging the chairs.
And don't touch the food,
it's all counted.
"Bnei Avraham Synagogue"
This is Zaki.
And this is what he likes
doing in the morning.
That was the window of his aunt
Ziona's new non-kosher
butcher shop.
What are you looking at?
Start cleaning up!
Keep going, kid!
Three more to go!
A strong nation doesn't break!
Go on, kid!
Ziona married
Dr. Alex Alexandrov,
a breast cancer surgeon
who emigrated from Russia
and became a butcher,
thanks to her.
Another one ran off.
- Others will come.
We don't need all these
showy refrigerators.
What was wrong with the store
before? It was small and quiet.
Small shop, small money.
- I work like a horse.
Selling things I'm ashamed of,
God have mercy.
I don't know most
of our customers.
They speak a language
I don't understand.
You'd already become Israeli,
now you're speaking Russian again.
I don't want this.
Ziona honey...
I sell what people like.
Not everything's chicken.
We Russians eat other things too.
If someone likes Yemenite food,
do I go and break his window?
Eat Yemenite food, what do I care?
Don't get upset,
meat is meat.
And this is Anna.
The heroine of my story.
Good morning.
Just look at her.
Someone broke your window.
They delivered fresh rolls,
if you want some breakfast.
Go get circumcised.
She told me... to get circumcised.
- When is she leaving?
Not again!
What do you want me to do?
Throw her out onto the street?
She's my brother's daughter.
She's family.
Grandpa's big memorial service
was supposed to start at noon,
but they only finished putting up
the notices at 11:30.
The smell of a major fuck-up
filled the air
but my father still found
the time to chew me out.
When was the last time I was here?
- About two months ago.
When Mom kicked you out. Why?
Because that's when I put this
rubber band around your tefillin.
You haven't put it on since.
I get up too late, Dad.
- Then get up at seven, damn it!
Grandpa's service is in half
an hour and you're still sleeping?
Look at yourself! You're not
married, you don't work or study.
I work! I'm teaching four kids
for their bar-mitzvah,
so don't say I don't work.
- Is that so?
The Jewish people needs
tigers, lions, eagles.
What did I end up with?
Joselito... A canary!
Avishai, could you be gay?
What? - A faggot.
A fag.
Aside from raiding my fridge,
my father had other plans.
Avishai, I'm running for parliament
for the National Religious Party.
Why?
They need a hawk, a real settler
to reinforce them. - So?
What's stopping you?
- I need votes, Avishai.
And the votes are here
in the heartland,
not in the armpit
of the settlements.
So I thought I'd start here,
where I was born and raised.
Count me out. I know you and
there's no way I'm voting for you.
And don't eat up all my salami.
And my pickles! C'mon, Dad!
You'll vote like I tell you to,
now move your ass, we're late.
At Grandma's house,
everything was ready
for those who'd come after
Grandpa's service to apologize
to the deceased and his widow.
Grandpa's voice wafted
from the tape recorder,
he was the town's cantor.
"Memorial service:
Yekutiel Schwartz"
I said to deliver the pigs
at night, not in broad daylight.
What do you want me to do now?
Tell her to put something on,
she's half naked again.
Move.
That'll be 220.
200?
220.
Thank you.
Here's 220 for you
and 20 for you.
Hi. How are you?
- Fine, thanks.
This is all you're buying?
I'm a vegetarian.
Then go to a green grocer. I won't
open up the register for this.
See you on Monday.
Do you know him? - No.
Then what's
"See you on Monday"?
I don't know. Maybe from one
of my jobs. - One of your jobs...
Anna came to Israel for one week
to bring her father to burial.
She didn't know she needed
a Rabbinate permission
or how much it would cost.
So for months she's been
taking any job she can get.
You're so smug,
with that little ass of yours.
Beauty doesn't last forever, baby.
It was already 12 o'clock.
But the crowds were
nowhere to be seen.
This is it, Avraham?
Calm down, we'll wait
a few more minutes.
Here comes Pinhas!
See? I told you not to worry.
May the Lord give you
comfort and consolation.
We're here to make up
the holy quorum.
Thank you,
but that won't be necessary.
Lots of people are coming.
The head of council
told us to come, so we came.
The head of council
isn't coming?
Avraham, why isn't he coming?
"O Merciful God in heaven
"Grant proper rest
"on the wings of
the Divine Presence..."
I should be so lucky.
Look at the privacy this guy has.
- Privacy? You idiot.
He was buried outside the fence,
like a dog.
It was obvious that the gathering
Grandma had planned
in front of the council building
wouldn't come through.
She wouldn't even
let us drive her home.
She went alone
to plan her next move.
Get back to work.
My clothes.
My money.
In my pocket.
Here.
Anna, please respect this house.
What house?
Your witch of a wife stuck me
in this storage room.
Okay, okay,
it's none of my business.
I'm going home anyway.
I have a hearing tomorrow
at the Rabbinate. - Again?
God have mercy.
- That's what I came for.
They explained to you
that it's impossible!
The laws here are different!
Just forget about it, it's been
a year now! - Shut up! - What?
Shut up. You could solve
my problem in five minutes,
but you don't want to.
Yes I do.
But I can't.
Fine. Never mind.
I found someone.
He's religious and is familiar
with all the laws here.
He'll help me.
I don't need any more
favors from you.
How much is it going to cost?
- All of my money.
I'll have enough
to buy a plane ticket.
So long, bye-bye.
Anna, you're making a mistake.
Why go back to Russia?
This is a normal country,
a good country, believe me.
Find a job, get married.
You already speak good Hebrew.
Why go back?
Sometimes one man can bring
disaster on everyone.
Sometimes one man does a deed
and saves everyone.
Like our little Zaki who fights
daily against the pigs.
His good deed will assist us
on Judgment Day.
God bless Zaki!
Yom Kippur is approaching.
Penitential prayers are at 5:30.
Whoever wants to earn
another mitzvah
should go to the
empty Ashkenazi synagogue.
May we all be inscribed
in the Book of Life.
Kids, go home to your mother.
I'll join you later.
This is the man that will
decide about Anna's matter.
Rabbi Eliyahu Hason. The head
rabbinical judge in Bnei Avraham.
I was still sleeping the morning
after the memorial
but things were happening fast.
Grandma had a new idea on
how to clear grandpa's name.
You've got nothing to worry about.
You can ask about me.
I've never lost a case in my life.
On the other hand
a Russian... That's a problem.
I don't mean to offend you, but
we charge Russians 2000, upfront.
So before we get started,
do you have 2000 shekels?
I have 1500.
In cash?
Only for you, Svetlana.
Anna.
- Anna. I hope you're not offended.
Sometimes people ask for help,
and then they don't pay.
This matter requires stamps,
duplicates, translations, forms,
authorizations, phone calls...
Once I went all the way to Bukhara
to permit a woman to remarry.
Not now, not now.
Great.
I'm...
I'm so sorry, Miriam.
There was an unscheduled
meeting at the Ministry.
I told them everything,
that it's my predecessor,
that his widow
is a dear friend.
I begged them,
but it didn't do any good.
A decree from Above.
- Yes.
Come, let's sit in my office.
Ronit, pick up the phone.
I know you're at home.
Ronit, answer me.
Did you get the groceries?
I want to see you.
Pinhas...
- Not now.
Just a minute, Pinhas.
- What's going on?
Let's sit outside.
Okay, okay.
They're taking over the council.
They do as they please
with the budgets,
they brought in
new rabbinical judges.
God have mercy, Miriam,
they're all repentant Jews.
I'm like a dinosaur to them.
An alien.
Nevertheless...
you're head of council.
There are still things
that only you can do.
What do you mean?
Do you need something?
Just one thing.
Anna Alexandrov.
A request was submitted to
the Rabbinate in Ashkelon,
denied.
A request was submitted to
the Rabbinate in Petah Tikva,
denied.
In Be'er Sheva, denied.
In Ashdod, denied.
Miss Russia, are you
developing a network?
She's not the issue here.
The permission is for the father.
Where's the father?
He's here, but he's not with us.
So is he here or not?
Both. It's hard to explain.
Okay, take it out.
He's in there?
The father is in there?
Yes, your honors,
the lady would like to give him
a Jewish burial, that's all.
I don't know what to say.
I've never heard such a request.
Pinhas, a woman must rest
beside her husband. - But...
We were together
our whole life.
I want a burial plot
beside my husband.
I'm willing to pay any price.
It's not a matter of money, Miriam.
Yekutiel was buried outside the
fence because that's Jewish law,
that's where people who
committed suicide are buried.
No one is buried there willingly,
it's a dishonor, a stain,
why would you want that?
Precisely because of that.
Who will remove the stain
if not his wife?
I owe it to him.
And so do you.
Not now! Not now!
Leave me alone!
Are you crazy?
You want your money back?
Why should I give it to you?
- But you didn't do anything.
Lady, if you went to the doctor
and the medicine didn't work,
would you ask for your money back?
Never!
You think here
it's different?
Give me my money back!
- Let go of my bag!
I didn't touch her,
she just fell. You're a witness!
Grandma!
Grandma, the Russian girl woke up!
Grandma!
Stop yelling.
I'm from Russia too.
Why are you hitting me?
I'm just trying to help.
Go to the kitchen and get
a bowl of soup from the pot.
Help and get hit.
I've had it, Grandma.
How are you feeling?
Can you speak Hebrew?
A little.
Where do you live?
Don't worry, your handbag is here.
I have to go.
- No, wait.
First have some soup,
then a shower.
Then we'll see.
Maybe she was arrested.
Is that why you didn't come?
She didn't come back,
there may be a problem.
There is a problem.
My husband is an idiot.
I'm going to see where she is.
If you go, don't bother
coming back, you hear?
It's none of your business.
- None of my business?
The whole town is talking
about me behind my back.
Let them talk.
She's my family.
I don't say anything
about your family.
Well thank you,
you ungrateful bastard.
My family gave us the money
to start the business.
Business... Business for
their defective chickens,
instead of throwing them away,
we sell them.
I'm gonna break
someone's head open!
Alex!
What did you do?!
You can't do that!
Alex! Leave him alone!
Shut up!
Why do you keep doing this?!
You've broken my window
three times! Three times!
Get out of here, you dogs!
Alex, Alex.
You're bleeding.
I won't stand for this.
Dad, you haven't stopped making
demands since you got here.
You're staying at my place,
behave like a guest.
Avishai, you're mine,
your place is mine,
everything you have is mine.
What is this?
You like it?
No.
- Too bad.
Because as of tomorrow, you'll
be distributing them around town.
Why me?
- Then who, me?
I lug them, unpack them,
distribute them, what'll do you do?
Get elected. Now go out and get
the other boxes, then go to bed,
you have a lot of work tomorrow,
and we're going to Grandma's
to talk to her about a very
important matter. - About what?
It's a surprise.
Wait till tomorrow.
"Have compassion
on Your handiwork
"And be glad with Your handiwork
"May those who take refuge
in You say
"when You vindicate
those borne by You..."
He sings like a nightingale.
What a voice.
It's as if Dad were
standing here, singing.
People pay to hear him. Tell her
where you did the Passover Seder.
At Club Med in Marmaris.
They paid him to do the Seder
for all the Israelis.
I've already heard that 100 times.
- Good.
When Pinhas comes,
that's what you'll tell him.
That in memory of
his late grandfather,
Avishai should be the cantor
at the synagogue on Yom Kippur.
It's not like
it's the National Auditorium.
Yeah, everyone's
old and gone deaf.
But the old folks remember
what it used to be like
before this town was flooded
with those damn Yemenites.
When a knitted skullcap was
respected. I want them to cry.
Why do you want them to cry?
I just do, okay?
It's because he wants
to run for Parliament. - What?
Why not?
They need people like me.
Who needs people like you?
Just ask Pinhas to let Avishai
be the cantor on Yom Kippur.
If Avishai is the cantor,
you'll be elected to Parliament?
Oh, he has a plan.
All the old timers
will sit together,
hear the grandson pray
like the grandfather,
they'll remember
the good ol' days,
and elect Dad to represent them
in Parliament. Look.
It was a stupid plan,
but my father
believed in it with all his heart.
I see. He'll sing a little and
they'll run to vote for you.
No. First I'll give a sermon
that'll make the walls shake.
They won't let you.
- They will if you ask.
There he is.
If Pinhas knew that my Dad
was waiting for him there,
he'd never enter the mousetrap.
When they were kids, my father
hung him...
I told you this story already.
Hello, Schwartzs.
Go ahead, ask him yourselves.
Ask me what?
Pinhas sweetheart,
I wanted to ask you something.
Those pants you're wearing,
have you been wearing the
same ones for the past 20 years
or did you buy two pairs
and keep alternating?
Avraham, don't start up with me.
Everyone here...
We really missed you.
I told you.
Truce.
Don't hop. Apologize.
- I apologize. For what?
Maybe for not showing up at
my father's memorial service?
I had to attend...
- You had what?
A service for the late
head of the council
and the new one doesn't show up?
Stand up straight.
Stop squirming.
Do you already have a cantor
for Yom Kippur? - Yes.
The youth group leader.
- You don't say.
What else do you have
in store for us? A campfire?
Folk dancing?
Scary storytelling? - Miriam,
why did he say "us"?
Who's "us"?
He wants Avishai to be
the cantor on Yom Kippur.
Aren't you going to Marmaris?
- Yeah. I mean...
Changed his mind
at the last minute.
Yes, but I already told...
and we can't pay much.
You don't have to pay him.
How do you like that?
As long as the grandson carries on
where the grandfather left off.
Why are you standing?
Sit, sit.
Well?
- Well?
A sermon for the son...
A sermon for the son?
- What son?
How many sons do I have?
Him?
Come with me.
- What now?
You have to practice, so you
don't put me to shame. Move it.
Look at this.
Do you have an answer for me?
- That's why I came.
I'm dealing with it, but
you're making it hard on me.
What's the story
with the Russian girl?
What Russian girl?
She passed out and I helped her.
That's not good.
People told me that
you brought her here.
They saw you.
- What's not good?
She's a fraud, who put
some ashes in an urn
and asked the rabbinical judges
for permission to bury it.
She's not even Jewish
and has no right to be here.
It's not good for
your request, Miriam,
that they'll think you have
a connection to doubtful people.
What you're asking for is a very
delicate matter. Very uncommon.
I didn't think it was wrong.
I thought...
Then I'm telling you
that it's wrong.
As long as you're involved with
her, I can't grant your request,
despite my good will.
- Okay, Pinhas. I heard you.
I'm impressed.
Well?
Well what?
Do you have a name?
- Anna. - Anna...
"Ve'ani anna ani ba."
Genesis 37. Write it down.
Oh my God.
Pleased to meet you. Avraham.
Mother. Son. Freeloader.
Why are you talking
with a Russian accent?
She's Russian, Mom,
how else will she understand?
Ignore him.
Come, I need to talk to you.
Want some?
Listen. I'm through with
the non-kosher meat, the pigs,
the broken windows,
the fines, the debts,
your Russian friends,
and the fights with my family.
If that's not fine by you,
I'm through with you too.
Now decide. It's either
me and everything kosher,
or your slutty niece
and the pigs.
What's she got to do with
the broken window? - Everything!
I want you to send her away.
- She's already left on her own.
I've been hearing the same story
for the past year. I've had it.
You really want to help her
go back to Russia?
Yes.
Here. Give her this.
What is it?
Eliyahu.
The head rabbinical judge.
I didn't want to do it, but...
See that address?
He's going there to meet a woman.
How do you know?
People saw him. He lives there,
but hangs out there.
What does that mean?
If you really want to help her,
give her the note.
She should catch him red-handed,
threaten him, yell at him,
bring this matter to an end
and get the hell out of here
with all the pigs
you brought in here.
Take those away.
- But why, Ronit?
Because, I don't need
any favors from you.
Why do you come here?
I came to see
how you're doing.
It's none of your
business anymore.
Stop calling, stop coming.
But I worry about you.
Eli, you already had the chance to
worry about me and you missed it.
So just forget about me.
Take them away.
Take them.
Tell me how the tests went.
- None of your business.
When's the operation?
- There's a mile-Iong waiting list.
There is no operation.
- Maybe I can do something to help.
What a man.
More important people tried,
but couldn't do anything.
Goodbye.
Regards to your wife.
If you admit
you're still crazy about me,
I'll take the groceries.
Tell them about your father,
about his dream
to immigrate to Israel
and not being able
to fulfill it.
They are decent people,
that's why they're there.
Did you tell them that it was
his last wish to be buried here?
Yes, but they threw me out.
One of them said that because
my mother isn't Jewish,
I'm not Jewish either.
But did you tell them that
you don't want anything?
No money, no aid. Just to bury
the ashes and go home?
They make fun of me,
because I'm from Russia.
It doesn't make sense.
Pick that one,
on that branch down there.
Can you reach it?
Tell me...
- What now?
Would you do her?
C'mon, Dad.
Avishai, I'm your father.
Everything you think about,
I've already thought about before.
Look, Anna, I've heard you
and I believe you.
I'm going to talk
to the judges.
They'll treat me differently.
And that girl
who you belittle
leaves everything,
comes to a foreign land,
stays here for months, like a dog,
to fulfill her father's last wish
to be buried in a Jewish cemetery
in Israel. - That's what she says!
That's exactly what she says.
Why don't you believe her?
How do you know what
those ashes are in that urn?
It could be a cat.
Or a gentile.
How do you know she'll want
to go back to Russia afterwards?
She may fall in love with us
and want to stay.
Someone has to be the bad guy and
ask these unpleasant questions.
Even at country clubs
they don't admit just anybody.
All the more so at a holy cemetery.
We need proof,
and if there's no proof,
there's no permission.
Okay, she got the picture.
Now step outside with me.
What about cases
that can't be proven?
But this case can be proven.
- The witness can prove it.
Witness? There's a witness?
What witness?
What if she doesn't convince them?
- Get real.
My family founded this place.
Of course she'll convince them.
Who are all these people?
Those who lived until
the Holocaust.
Those who were killed
in the Holocaust.
The one with the medal
is my late grandfather.
And the one with the mustache
is my father.
They all have mustaches.
Oh yeah.
30 years ago they went to build
settlements in the West Bank.
Right where the Arabs lived.
Ever heard of settlers?
Never mind.
That's where I was born.
Here.
Where did you get this?
Grandma grows it for me
in the garden.
Your grandma is a good woman.
Yeah. But she doesn't know.
She waters it, it grows, I smoke.
That's me.
- Cute.
Just an ordinary kid.
What's wrong with that?
With a dynasty like this,
I should've turned out a genius.
But I'm not.
So what do you do?
You smoke,
that's what you do.
Come here.
I'll teach you something.
What was that?
Paravozik.
- Para what?
How do you say in Hebrew
the engine of a train?
Locomotive?
- Locomotive, but little.
I can't breathe.
Can we do it again?
Grandma, it's not what you think.
I was telling her
about our dynasty.
About all the rabbis,
the mustaches, in the Holocaust.
Especially about Grandpa.
Avishai, go home.
- But I'm...
I need to have a word with Anna.
But...
- Now!
I tried to help you
and you deceived me.
You're wrong, Miriam.
You're wrong.
They told me you're a fraud!
And I didn't believe them.
You think I'm easily deceived?
Why should I deceive?
It's just a burial permission.
What's the problem, Miriam?
It's only ashes.
Who knows that he's Jewish?
How can they bury him
in a Jewish cemetery?
There are rules!
And now all of a sudden,
there's a witness.
Who is he?
- My father's brother.
What?
- But he won't testify,
he has problems with
the religious council.
What's his name?
What's his name?
- Alex.
Alex what?
Where is he?
Here, in town.
He has a butcher shop.
- A butcher shop?
The non-kosher one
that belongs to the Russian?
Yes, it's his.
But he gave me a job
and a place to sleep,
just because he's my father's
brother, but he won't testify.
I tried everything,
he won't do it.
Do you want me to leave?
What happened?
Why is she angry?
It's none of your business.
Let me go.
- Go where?
I have work to do.
- What work?
Let me at least walk you.
Not yet, don't look yet.
Just a minute.
Dad's election campaign
started gaining momentum.
He got off my back and
started abusing the old people.
Dear founders.
Remember the days
when our synagogue was filled
with knitted-skullcap wearing
congregants every Sabbath?
Good.
Now please turn around.
Open your eyes.
Woe to the eyes that see this.
See what?
That there's nothing to see.
The Ashkenazi synagogue
is forsaken and empty.
And?
- And, it's our duty to fill it.
Okay, okay.
Let's go home, Tzivia.
Let's go.
- Wait, where are you going?
Avraham, you don't even have the
key. How do you expect to fill it?
With a little faith,
Mrs. Pomerantz.
With a little faith, we'll fill
the synagogue by Yom Kippur.
Men, women and children.
Bomba's promise.
Bomba's promise.
I'm glad you agree with me.
Good, good.
Lift your head a little.
Bend your left arm
and stretch out your left leg.
That's it. Very good.
Good. Bye.
You should be ashamed
of yourself.
What are you doing here?
- I saw everything. You're a whore!
Why are you doing this?
Because I need money.
And I don't have a grandmother
and father to help me.
I'm all alone.
I'm sorry.
Anna.
Where have you been?
How did it go?
It didn't.
And the money?
Gone.
So, it means you stay with us?
I don't know what to do.
I have nothing here
and I can't leave
until I finish this.
Here.
What is it?
I'll explain it to you...
Take.
Six, seven, eight,
nine, ten steps.
There you go. Ten steps
divided by two is five meters.
It's very close.
Near the pathway too.
There's easy access
and a water faucet.
Even half a meter.
I asked to be buried beside him.
I checked it out, Miriam.
According to Jewish law,
that's as close as you can get.
The law is very specific.
But I want to be next to him
out of my own free will.
What's wrong with that?
- Your will isn't enough.
I may have been able to arrange
something under the table,
but you went and ruined everything
with that Russian girl.
The whole religious council
is talking about you.
They don't understand
what you're doing with her.
You promised.
I promised to check it out and
I did. You can't get any closer.
I'm doing everything I can.
I arranged for your grandson
to be the cantor on Yom Kippur,
your son is permitted
to give a sermon afterwards.
It wasn't easy...
So it's fine by you
that this man who raised you,
who made you his assistant,
who bequeathed his job to you,
that this man will
lie here alone in disgrace
and everyone who enters
the cemetery will say:
Here lies the crook
who committed suicide.
Will it change anything
if you lie here too?
Yes.
Mr. Sharabi? May I have
a minute of your time?
What do you want?
Do you take the art class
at the community center? - Yes.
My name is Avishai.
I've heard about your class.
It's awesome.
- Yes.
Look, I'm an avid art lover,
but personally
I'm not interested in Picasso,
Van Gogh, Mozart, or Salvadori.
Who's Salvadori?
- Never mind.
I'm more into paintings
by the common people.
I'm interested in purchasing
one of your paintings.
Seriously?
- Yeah. The one you did this week.
I'll pay you
50 shekels for it.
Get out of here, you psycho.
- 100 shekels?
You know what? Wait here.
I already had
19 paintings in my bag.
Sharabi was the last one
on the list.
Here.
"Let all our vows
"and oaths and the obligations
"we incur to You, O God..."
Why are you bending down
over there?
Want some soup?
Want some gefilte fish?
Want to fight with me?
What do you want?
For you to let me listen
to the tapes at my place.
They don't leave this house.
They're the memories
I have from your grandfather.
If you want to practice,
practice here.
You're a real angel.
I didn't throw her out.
She left on her own.
Fine.
Yura, stop eating
and start playing!
That's
what you're here for...
See how they took our song
and translated it into Arabic?
Anna.
Why are you sitting in here?
Come outside.
We're having a barbecue.
You have to be a little happy.
How much happiness do we get?
Get out of here!
Fima, where are you?
I'm coming... - It's an Israeli song,
did you translate it into Russian?
Well?
Ladies and gentlemen,
we will sing and we will dance,
but now for the official part.
Come on, speak up.
- Friends,
I have a special announcement:
As of tomorrow,
anyone who wants decent food,
can go to hell.
Today is your last chance.
So eat up and whatever's
left over, take home.
Because as of tomorrow,
I'll be selling only kosher meat.
Some parasite inspector will come,
hang a certificate on the wall,
take his money, and that's it.
But don't worry,
from the back door, we'll keep
selling defective chickens
from Ziona's
distinguished family.
Alex.
- Okay, it's a family secret.
In any case, life goes on.
To life!
To the chickens!
You're driving me crazy
with all your mitzvahs.
Reading Psalms, changing
the mezuzahs every other day.
What do I need your mitzvahs for?
When I really wanted you,
you got up and left.
What other choice
did you leave me?
You made fun of me.
You purposely smoked in front
of me on the Sabbath.
Go away, Eliyahu.
I'm not made of stone.
When I see you on the street
with your children,
it makes my stomach turn.
Leave me alone.
I'm begging you.
I can't,
you're my flesh and blood.
That you dumped,
and then went to another woman.
Ronit, I swear to you...
If you promise to observe
the Sabbath and keep kosher,
I'll come back to you.
Then kiss me.
Kiss me.
What are you doing here?
This isn't your house.
And you're judging me?
You're a rabbi. Shame on you.
You pretend to be religious
and come here to be with her.
Excuse me, who are you?
I'm going to tell the Rabbinate
what you're doing here.
So you came here
to blackmail me, eh?
How did you know I was here?
- Everybody knows.
He's religious and comes here.
What does he have here? A girl!
He's religious and you're not.
There!
Eliyahu, what does
this lady want from you?
This lady is trying to blackmail me
to get her own way!
This lady brought an urn and said
that her father's ashes are in it
and that we'd better believe her.
Not only that,
she sent the widow of the late
head of council, the one who...
Schwartz.
So you're here to blackmail me,
darling?
Change your decision or I'll
tell them about your whore!
Shut your dirty mouth
or I'll kick you out!
Chill out.
- But did you hear what she said?
Listen, sweetie.
I'm not a whore, I'm his ex-wife.
We used to be married.
Great, why don't you
offer her a cup of coffee?
Here. 500 dollars.
- What?
Take it, I'll bring you more later,
just change your decision!
Get your hands off me!
But it's my father!
Eliyahu...
I'm calling the police.
Wait a second...
Go after her.
Go after her.
Looking for mitzvahs? A little
one just ran off on you. Go.
Go talk to her.
Call Mrs. Schwartz
to come get her.
My father was Jewish
and I don't know what to do
to make you believe me.
It was his last wish.
That may be true,
but my hands are tied.
I want to help, but...
If you need help with anything
else, like learning Hebrew
or converting,
I can work something out.
But there's the Shulchan Aruch
when it comes to this matter.
Shulchan Aruch?
The Jewish code of laws.
You need a witness, a certificate.
There are no two ways about it.
I hope you can understand me.
There are no two ways about it.
I still don't know
what touched Grandma more:
Anna's sorrow or my sorrow.
Go to your uncle, tell him I
want to meet him.
He won't agree.
So tell him I want to give you work.
But before that
I want to meet the family.
Okay?
Where did you study medicine?
At the military academy
in St. Pittsburgh.
St. Petersburg.
The Kirov Academy?
How do you know?
We have his diploma at home
and the license he got in Israel.
We should've brought them.
But I heard they didn't
accept Jews there.
Jews, non-Jews,
what does it matter now?
The main thing is that
we're all here now,
we have a strong state and army.
And your brother, Yuri,
he didn't serve in the army?
Dad paid so he wouldn't have to go.
When it was my turn,
there was no money, so I went.
But it doesn't matter. The main
thing is that I made it to Israel.
And then he met me.
Tell her, Alex.
Yes, I met you,
like a diamond in the earth's ass,
as they say.
In a hen house.
She was waiting for me.
Especially for me.
- It was my pleasure, darling.
Thank you. - Sacha...
Would you like
some more borsht?
Yes.
Miriam, your borsht
is delicious. - Thank you.
Yummy.
It's okay,
Avishai will get it.
What am I, a waitress?
So you never saw your brother
again after you left? - No.
I met Anna for the first time
here in Israel.
You know... family,
you do what you can.
Avishai, why don't you
sing something for us?
Sing something special
for your grandmother.
It may have been the pressure that
made my voice come out so high.
"She opens her mouth with wisdom
"And the teaching of kindness
is on her tongue
"She watches over
the ways of her household
"And does not eat
the bread of idleness
"Her children rise up
and call her blessed
"Her husband also,
and he praises her..."
That's it, we're leaving.
Yafim.
Yafim, sit down.
Alex, what's with you?
She wants me to testify.
You heard the questions
she was asking me.
These are good people.
- Oh yeah?
Then why was she asking
if Jews were accepted there?
What does it matter now?
- So she asked. Answer her,
finish eating, say goodbye
and she'll take Anna.
Or do you not want
to give her up now?
Look at this wall.
There's a whole Rabbinate here.
This one got a medal.
Don't you guys mind
that I'm here? - What?
I can hear every word
you're saying. Don't you care?
What do you want?
Doesn't my presence make
any difference to you?
I could be a spy
from the Rabbinate.
Are you?
- No, but how would you know?
Didn't you say you're a cantor?
- Yeah? So?
Then keep singing.
Fima, stop gobbling...
Yafim!
They're gone.
What did you say?
I'm an atheist.
I won't go near the Rabbinate.
Why not?
It's a matter of principle.
I'm a rational person.
My brother is dead. It's over.
They're ashes. Go scatter them
at sea, what does it matter?
Don't give me that nonsense.
Go, testify, and then keep being
a man of principle all you like.
Is tomorrow morning good for you?
- Come here.
I want to let you in on something.
He wasn't circumcised.
One brother had it done
and the other didn't?
No. The other brother
didn't have it done either.
When he went to testify for her and
they heard about the butcher shop,
they told him to pull his pants
down and prove that he's Jewish.
Then he should get circumcised.
Your mother should
get circumcised!
Great, she learned a new word.
Circumcised, circumcised.
You're a gentile, and you're telling
him to get circumcised? - Why not?
Because I'm not gonna wait to have
sex for 6 months until it heals.
And what if something happens
to it? Will you fix it?
I won't take the risk.
But it's for her father.
His brother.
It could be his grandmother,
for all I care.
If my brothers find out he's
uncircumcised,
we'll be divorced
tomorrow morning.
They give me a hard time as it is
for bringing home a Russian.
What do you mean?
I found you in a hen house.
34 years old. In chicken shit.
I'm a surgeon,
they treat me like dirt.
But if Anna means a lot to you...
- I mean more to him.
What about her?
I can't. Period.
You don't want to.
I'm sorry. It's my life
against hers. Let's go.
She's pretty, that's true.
But you'll find yourself
a nice girl,
one who doesn't have to convert.
- Yeah, right.
Don't smoke here.
- Great. Nice.
Finally some girl
notices that I exist...
Hallelujah, you're getting laid.
Avraham...
Who noticed that you exist?
Grandma, control your son.
Avraham, watch your mouth,
you're not in Parliament yet.
Just a matter of time,
because tonight the Lord himself
is setting me up for a goal.
I keep explaining to people that
things here are going downhill
and no one knows what I'm
talking about. - Neither do I.
Don't you smell anything?
The whole town is full of smoke.
The black suits are burning
down the Russians' butcher shop.
What?
The smell of an extra large
barbecue. Extra-extra large.
It's all up in flames,
including the meat.
Yafim, call the firemen!
We've already did ten times,
they're not coming!
It's all because of her!
My urn is in there!
Get more water!
My urn is in there!
Whore...
What happened?
Who did this?
Where are you going?
The urn is in there.
You can't go in there,
it's all burning!
Stand here, don't move!
Is there any hot water?
I want to take a shower.
A shower...
This is where I live.
This is the kitchen.
This is where I sleep.
Did you get hurt?
No.
Let me see.
What?
Everything's okay.
The shower is all yours.
Good morning.
Open for business?
The war on Dr. Alexander
was not over.
And this time
grandma dropped
an unconventional bomb.
Good job.
You sold pork, did you think
people would turn a blind eye?
Are you Alex?
What do you want from him?
To start behaving like
a human being, damn it!
We have enough trouble
without you.
I'm here to help you.
How can you help?
Stage one.
In two days, your husband
reports at the council.
He looks the rabbis in the eyes
and says determinedly
that you're Jewish,
your brother is Jewish,
your father is Jewish, your grandpa
and grandma, you're all Jewish,
a family of rabbis,
then they'll cut the bullshit.
Go fuck yourself.
You're a doctor, aren't you?
- How do you know?
Shut up.
Two phone calls to the right
people and I can get Dr. Surgeon
a job at the hospital by
tomorrow morning. - As a doctor?
A pathologist.
- A pathologist?
Why not? It's like a doctor,
but the patients can't complain.
Bomba's promise.
And our debts?
Stage two.
You and your Russian friends
come to our synagogue
on Yom Kippur.
Russians at synagogue.
You've got to be kidding.
Fine.
But when they take away
everything you have
and kick your asses
out of this town,
don't come running to me.
By the way, I'm Avraham Schwartz.
Call me Bomba. Nice meeting you.
- Are you from the Rabbinate?
On the contrary, ma'am.
I'm from the Religious Front
for the Liberation of Bnei Avraham.
This is my platform.
The minute he left, my dad arranged
everything with one phone call.
The guy is an expert surgeon,
don't bury him in pathology.
Speaking of surgery,
I need one more favor...
People are waiting outside,
your honor.
Ask them to wait patiently.
Miriam...
I apologize.
Something must've happened.
It's Yom Kippur eve.
He's a doctor. Perhaps he's
been held up by patients.
This joke has gone too far.
Let's move on to the next hearing.
Absolutely not.
He didn't show up.
What do you want them to do?
Wait a little longer.
Your phone.
Hello?
I asked you
to leave me alone, Bomba.
No, he didn't show up. They're
moving on to the next hearing.
What are you yelling at me for?
Who?
How do you know him?
All right. Stop yelling!
Wait a second. It's for you.
Yes. Ronit?
They're going to operate? When?
It will be all right.
- Are you sure?
Thank you...
Thank you very much.
Bye.
People, this case is
never going to end.
If the witness doesn't come to us,
we'll go to the witness. - What?
He knows there are more
operations today, he doesn't care.
He says it's Yom Kippur
and he's burnt out.
He says you can kiss his ass.
What is this?
Dr. Alexandrov.
Where I am gonna find
another surgeon now?
Hurry up!
Two floors down,
at the end of the corridor.
Let's go.
What?
No, forget it,
no one will come.
This way.
Pathology.
What is this smell...
It's disgusting...
- Come on, get in here.
Alexander Alexandrov. We're going
to end this matter right now.
It's a slaughter-house...
All I'm asking for
is one sentence.
He's not talking. Let's go.
Tell these people
that you're Jewish,
that your brother,
Anna's father, was Jewish too.
My brother's dead, it's over.
Jews have a soul.
The soul is eternal.
Oh yeah? Where is the soul?
Here are the kidneys, the stomach,
the heart.
I've had 5 body-chopping shifts
here. There is no soul.
It's all flesh.
That's all there is.
The divine soul is in every Jew.
Oh yeah? Okay.
You tell me.
Is he Jewish? Arab? Chinese?
Look for his soul.
All right.
There is a soul,
there isn't a soul,
just testify what you promised.
All right.
I'm Jewish,
my father is Jewish,
my mother is Jewish, so was
my brother Yuri, Anna's father.
That's not enough,
that's not enough.
What?
"A claim must be established
by two witnesses."
The judges are out cold.
There aren't enough witnesses.
Then what do you want?
For him to show he's circumcised.
- What?
That's the way it goes.
- That's the way what goes?
No witnesses, no permission.
Dr. Alexandrov, proceed to
the operating room urgently.
Dr. Alexandrov, proceed to
the operating room urgently.
Wake up!
You've gone too far, Miriam.
You could've made
more of an effort.
You think someone made more
of an effort for me? - Yes.
Who? The deceased?
Yes, my deceased husband made
a big effort for your career.
I was his deputy and was appointed
in his place. That's all. Wake up!
It wasn't my fault
there was a financial scandal
or that he got caught.
- And you didn't.
You didn't say a single word
in his defense.
So he commits suicide?
It's against Jewish law.
It's even worse than murder.
There are things that I can't do.
I'm a religious man.
And what do you think I am?
- You?
You do whatever's
convenient for you.
You feel sorry for the Russian girl
so you flush the whole Torah
down the drain.
You want to clear Yekutiel's name
and the whole code of Jewish law
has to bend for you.
Jewish law forbids you
to be buried beside your husband
and you know that,
but you still ask,
you appointed yourself
Chief Rabbi!
All right, enough.
I relieve you of all my requests.
I'm sorry if I asked you to do
things that you can't do.
Things that are against
Jewish law, Miriam.
You're right, Pinhas.
All right. I'm sorry
for raising my voice.
So am I.
We tried.
All right. We tried.
There's something I have to
finish up. Why are you yelling?
I'll have the pre-fast meal here.
I'll see the kids at synagogue.
Make sure to drink a lot, okay?
Mrs. Schwartz.
Yes?
Miriam...
- I'm waiting outside.
I'm truly sorry,
but regarding the ashes...
If he was buried and
no one knew where he was,
no one would dig up
the whole cemetery.
But the way things are now,
I'm truly sorry.
I hope you understand...
All right. I understand.
Have an easy fast.
- You too.
Well, Mom, what do you say?
Don't leave
your gun there.
She's in surgery,
he's in pathology,
what do you have to say?
Good job, Avraham.
I'm like a little elf.
I come at the right time
and fix everyone's lives.
Welcome, pre-fast meal.
Come, kreplach dumplings,
come to Uncle Avraham.
Come, my dears.
Cover up you knees, just a little.
Stop it. I'm not a child.
Let me dress as I please.
He's gonna kill you.
It's Yom Kippur.
People pray and cry...
People will lift their eyes
and boom, there's your ass.
Pull it down a little.
Hello there.
What are you wearing, you jerk?
A white shirt.
What does it say on your pocket?
Christo.
It's the logo.
- Christo. What's Christo?
Christ. Jesus Christ.
You're bringing Jesus Christ
to synagogue on Yom Kippur?
Go home and change
your damn shirt.
I'm not going.
What did you say?
I'm not a child,
I'll dress as I please.
Way to go, you've become a man.
Now get inside.
What was the slap for?
So you-know-what
doesn't go to your head...
Come on.
The house was filled with
the atmosphere of Yom Kippur.
I put on Grandpa's white kittel
and my heart sank to my stomach.
"Who will rest and who will wander
"Who will live in harmony
and who will be harried
"Who will enjoy tranquility
and who will suffer
"Who will be impoverished
and who will be enriched
"Who will be degraded
and who will be exalted
"But repentance and prayer
"and charity remove
"the evil of the decree..."
Let's go,
everyone's waiting, Avishai.
Anna, stay with me
for a few minutes.
Mom.
You go ahead.
I'll come in a little while.
Don't you want to see
your grandson praying?
Your son giving a sermon?
Go ahead.
We'll come in a little while.
Let's go, Dad, we're late.
Happy holiday. - Happy holiday
- Happy holiday. - Happy holiday.
Are you ready?
Where's your urn?
What do you mean?
- Let's go.
So, Bomba,
Bnei Avraham is awakening?
Looks like everyone's
gone to sleep.
Fuck. - It's a shame you didn't
write the sign in Russian.
Have a little faith, Pinhas.
It'll be all right.
If the Russians don't show up,
we're in deep shit.
Start digging.
Your father made you swear
to bring him to Jewish burial.
This is a Jewish burial.
We'll bury him here.
Get started.
I'm scared.
There's nothing to be scared of.
Everyone here is dead.
Go on.
"Let all our vows and oaths
"and the obligations
We incur to You, O God,
"between this Yom Kippur
and the next, be null and void
"should we, after honest effort,
"find ourselves unable
to fulfill them..."
May you merit to do many mitzvahs.
- Thank you.
You kept your promise
to your Dad.
After the holiday
you could fly back home.
Yuri Alexandrov,
everything we've done
was on your behalf.
Forgive us if we've
disrespected you in any way.
Say amen.
- Amen.
Always remember,
it's ten steps from the last row,
right next to this grave.
This is where we all will lay.
Read this.
"May His great Name
be exalted and sanctified
"In the world that
He created as He willed...
"May He give reign...
"In the world that
He created as He willed
"May He give reign
to His kingship..."
"In your lifetimes
and in your days
"and in the lifetimes of
the entire family of Israel."
"Amen."
Ronit.
How are you feeling?
How are you feeling?
Good.
Doctor.
I'm...
Okay, okay.
Feel better.
Miriam, let's go. I'm cold.
Here.
You go ahead. I want to stay
for a while with my husband.
Are you sure?
Go.
They'll be back
from synagogue soon.
You can keep the sweater
as a souvenir from me.
You did great.
- Thanks, Dad. Where's Grandma?
I don't know, I haven't seen her.
Anna isn't here either?
- I'm going to give my sermon.
Good luck.
Good luck.
The campaign's pinnacle moment
had arrived and Bomba went up
to give an election speech
that would make the walls shake.
Dear friends.
On Yom Kippur...
On Yom Kippur,
the heavens open up...
I prepared a sermon, but...
Last Yom Kippur,
the 7-day mourning period
over my father ended.
Most of you knew him,
some of you came here with him
and founded this place,
and we always hoped that
new people would come here.
And they did.
They're here with us today,
but we didn't know
how to welcome them.
If my father was alive,
he'd be standing here today,
emotional,
he'd look at you and say:
You are our brothers.
This place is yours
as much as it is ours.
Welcome.
I'd like to end with a prayer.
"May You regard our
gathering together with love
"and obscure our sins with love.
"May You transform
all hardship and evil
"to joy and gladness,
to life and peace,
"for us and for all Israel
who love truth and peace."
May you be inscribed in
the Book of Life. Thank you.
Anna had no idea
what to do next.
Suddenly she got cold.
So she put on the blue sweater
and sat on the stairs.
My name is Avishai Schwartz.
A cantor and bar-mitzvah teacher.
My wife's name is Anna
and we named
our newborn daughter Miriam.
"The Schwartz Dynasty"
English: Suzy De Lowe
Subtitles by:
Elrom Studios