Shtisel (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 8 - Jerusalem Customs - full transcript

We're going back to Antwerp tomorrow.

PREVIOUSLY ON

I miss you a little.

I miss you a little, too.

-I want to come see you, Libbi.
-It will only cause me pain.

-Good morning, Shtisel.
-How are things?

It's been a while since you've shown me
a new piece.

This is the fifth time
we're meeting, Shulem.

Let's take it up a notch.

Congratulations, Dad.

-I hear congratulations are in order.
-Thank you, Aliza.



-Who was that?
-The secretary.

I suggest you replace her.

This is Mom's kitchen, our memory!

Menukha is in charge now

and she wants to renovate.

-I'll pack a bag and leave.
-Where will you go?

Do you think I could sleep
in my studio for a few days?

Just open the window at night

so you don't get high
on the turpentine.

Abot Hameiri Barkai Productions

Talisma Productions

Created by
Yehonatan Indursky and Ori Elon

Dov Glickman

Michael Aloni



Sasson Gabay

Neta Riskin

Zohar Strauss

Shira Haas

Hadas Yaron

Casting
Hila Yuval

Executive Producers
Eitan Abot and Guy Hameiri

Line Producers
Isca Gur-Luzon and Aviv Ben Shlush

Art Director
Shimri Gal Novak

Music
Avi Belleli

Cinematography
Roey Roth

Editor
Gilad Ariel

Screenplay Editor
Sayed Kashua

Screenplay
Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky

Executive Producer and Editor
Dikla Barkai

Director
Alon Zingman

SHTISEL

So this is what you're doing
instead of painting.

What are you doing here?

I haven't heard from you in two weeks
so I'm checking up on you.

Actually...

I just completed a painting.

Can I see it?

The canvas is over there.

-This one?
-No, no, the one against the wall.

Reminds me of me.

That boy.

When my grandfather took me to synagogue,
I'd fall asleep during the service,

he would wake me and say,

"The synagogue is sacred,
you mustn't sleep in a sacred place."

That's true, Jewish law says so.

Okay, then, I'm going,
you do what you have to do.

Yes, I'll be in touch.

Shtisel...

studios are sacred,
you mustn't sleep in a sacred place.

I won't have you sleeping here.

-Good morning.
-Good morning.

Hadassah, did he talk to you too?

-Who?
-Kaufman. He was here.

No, I just got here.

He doesn't want me sleeping here.

-He doesn't?
-No.

-Where will you stay?
-I'll work something out.

Maybe I'll stay in a hotel
for a few days.

I could use the peace and quiet.

I can't go home to all the chaos.

You can stay at my place.

I mean, my parent's place,
they have a separate guest house.

You can sleep there,
I'll stay with them.

No, really...

I'll manage.

All right, but it's an amazing place.

You can look out on the valley
and paint if you want to.

"Blessed are You, God,
at whose word all came to be."

Amen.

Where do they live?

In Ein Karem, southwest Jerusalem.

-You grew up in Ein Karem?
-I'm still growing there...

So the local Haddasah hospital

was named after you.

Good one,
I've never heard that before.

So? Are you coming?

-You're Weiss, right?
-Yes.

-What brings you to our yeshiva?
-I want to study.

Fine, fine. And why here?

I attended the yeshiva Shabbat,

-the intense studies captivated me.
-Fine, fine.

-And you're the eldest son, right?
-Yes. I have an older sister.

Doesn't sleeping away from home...

-scare you?
-No.

-My uncles studied here too.
-Your uncles?

-Shtisel.
-So you're a Shtisel?

-Grandson of Reb Shulem?
-Yes.

Fine, fine.

Let's talk the Talmud.
What are you studying?

-"Merube."
-"Shinui"?

-Yes.
-So tell me why is it, if a man...

steals from his friend

and modifies the object,

instead of being punished,
the object becomes his?

There's the well-known lesson
whereby the issue is the modification,

it's not about the thief
stealing the object,

rather once he modifies it,
he doesn't have to return it

and the object becomes his.

Fine, fine, very fine.

-I think he was impressed.
-Did you know all the answers?

Yes. We talked for around 30 minutes.

The other kids were only in there
for a few minutes.

That's a good sign.
I guess he enjoyed studying with you.

I'm so proud of you.

Your father will call your teacher
to find out if you got in.

Amen. I really hope I did.

I don't doubt it.

-Things have been so weird recently.
-What do you mean?

I walk around Meah Shearim, Geula,
everything looks so strange.

As if I've never been there before.

I met...

this woman not too long ago,

I liked her.

It didn't work out?

-It did, but she left.
-I see.

Do you still think about her?

Sometimes, yes.

I'm worried, I haven't seen him
since yesterday.

Last time I saw him,

-he was already walking.
-What?

He's not a baby, Shulem,
he's a big boy.

Let him get lost,
maybe he'll find himself.

I like that.

Mother, how are you?
Why are you standing up?

Shulem, I'm glad you're here.

I brought Menukha with me.

Menukha is my bride,
remember I told you about her?

Hello, Mrs. Shtisel.
I'm so pleased to finally meet you.

Who are you?

Mother,

this is Menukha, my bride.

Your bride. Very nice.

Very nice.

Does Dvora know about this?

Mother,

Dvora is no longer with us.

-Well then, let's have some tea.
-Yes, yes.

Shulem, take me to the sea.

The sea? Why the sea?

I haven't been in 60 years,

I miss it.

What's so nice about the sea?

I don't understand
why people like it so much.

It's always the same smelly water
with foam.

-Fine, we'll go to the sea, why not?
-It's very important to me.

I can't this week, Mother,
but we will go someday, don't worry.

Now Menukha is here,
she wants to get to know you

and you must want
to get to know her too.

Fine...

I searched a lot until I met Menukha,
divine providence sent her to me.

Yes. You know, Mrs. Shtisel,

I always say life is so strong.

-It's a lie.
-A lie?

Life is not strong,

life is so weak.

Weak, strong,
as long as we're alive, thank God.

"Blessed are You, God,
at whose word all came to be."

How old are you?

-Over 90?
-In just a few months.

You'll get there.

-May you live until 120.
-Yes.

Your kids, grandkids and great grandkids
will bring you great joy.

-Amen.
-Happiness, no fear.

Good health until 120.

I always say, we must thank God
for every breath--

Shut up already, you klafte!

Yes, praise God.

I credit you for all his knowledge.

What?

How can this be?

Was anyone accepted?

All right,

I'll talk to my wife
and get back to you. Be well.

They were very impressed by you.

And?

But they decided not to accept you.

They have so many candidates
this year...

But if they were impressed,

-why wouldn't they accept him?
-You heard our conversation, right?

He said there's nothing he can do.

They didn't accept any student
from your Cheder this year.

I guess I didn't pray hard enough.

It has nothing to do with that.

It's all in God's hands.
I guess it's not the place for you.

I always said you should attend
Grossberg's yeshiva.

It's smaller,
every student gets personal attention,

it's close by, you can come home
every night.

I can't accept this.

-What can we do?
-He's the best in his class!

Why didn't they accept him?

I want you to talk to your uncle,

he's knows the dean.

I don't think that's a good idea.

They don't want him,

-you want to force them?
-Yes.

Your uncle...

will use his clout.
That's how these things work.

What for? Look at him,
he's such a sensitive boy.

He'll crumble under the pressure.

You know why they didn't accept him.

Giti, don't start.

-It's time you assumed responsibility.
-I won't go to see him and that's that.

Akiva, meet my house.
My house, meet Akiva.

Nice to meet you.

You'll be staying down here.

-Come in.
-Thank you.

Make yourself at home.

I'll bring you clean sheets.

-This is nice.
-Yes, I worked hard on it.

No need... I'll do that.

Okay, then...

-I'll leave you alone.
-Thank you.

Are you hungry?

No, that's okay, I'll buy something
to eat.

You can eat with us, if you want.
The food's kosher

and I'm sure my parents
would be glad to meet you.

No, that's okay. Thank you.

Sure. Enjoy.

Thank you, I'll tell my father.

Hello.

-The office is downstairs.
-No, I need the rabbi.

-Me?
-Yes.

How can I help you?

I'm Giti Weiss, my son is Yosa'le Weiss.
You interviewed him.

Yes, I remember.

I wanted to know
why you didn't accept him,

-did he not do well on the test?
-Actually, your son is very talented.

Then why not?

He's not God fearing?
His family isn't distinguished enough?

Listen, your son is very special,
I enjoyed talking to him,

but as I said to his teacher,

any other year
we surely would have accepted him,

but this year we had
so many candidates.

So why not him?

We have all kinds of considerations.

I'd like to know what they are.

Mrs. Weiss, it doesn't work this way.

My brothers and cousins studied here,
my son will study here too.

You don't have the right
not to accept him.

Mrs. Weiss, please calm down.

I'll bring it up again
with the staff tonight, all right?

What a privilege I have
with such grandchildren.

"Blessed are You, God, at whose word
all came to be." Amen.

Amen.

-What are you doing now?
-I'm home with Zelig.

I meant right now.

I'm visiting you.

So, how about
we go to the sea together?

I can't, Grandma,
I have to pick Yehoshua up.

But we'll go some other time.

Fine, fine.

Giti, my dear,

what's troubling you?

Yosa'le is trying to get into a yeshiva.

I wanted him to go to Tiferet Torah but...

they didn't accept him.

Really, Giti, there's no shortage
of yeshivas in Jerusalem.

Yes, but this is the best,
our entire family went there,

-I don't understand how this happened.
-Giti, dear,

give me your hand.

Open it up.

We can't control everything.

You know,

my great uncle studied
with the Alter of Novardok,

and the Alter taught his students

to shatter their pride.

How?

He would send them

on foolish errands

to shatter their pride.

What do you mean by foolish?

Once I went to a pharmacy with him

and he asked to see the manager.

You know what he wanted to buy?

Nails.

Everyone started to laugh,
they thought he's not right in the head,

but he always said,

"Man must control his pride,

if not, pride will control him."

-How much is this, please?
-30 shekels.

-And this?
-20 shekels.

Is it made of plastic?

Plastic?

Why does such a beautiful plant
only costs 20 shekels?

Those are the prices,
20 shekels, 30 shekels,

Fifty, 100, 200.

I can order a plant for you
for 1,000 shekels too.

Whatever, money is no object.

I'll take this one for 20 shekels.

Good job. Wonderful.

KONIGSBERG

If I may, I'd like to apologize.

You didn't do anything wrong.

I'm taking a nap, Shulem,
come back at five.

Fine, at five.

I just came to apologize.

I should have warned you,
I knew what would happen.

What do you mean, you knew?

Do you think you're the first woman
my mother ever insulted?

She used to call my Dvora
a klafte too.

She calls...

every woman she meets a klafte.

That's my mother,

she can be harsh.
I should have warned you, I apologize.

And I almost took it personally.

Personally? It wasn't personal at all.

Not at all.

I was just making ice cream
from a local recipe.

Would you like to taste it
and tell me what you think?

Ice cream! Of course.

Thank you.

-Is it plastic?
-Of course not, they're real.

I actually like plastic flowers.

Hello? Taxi?

Yes, I need a taxi.

Hello?

Yes, this is Shulem Shtisel.

Yes, ma'am, I'm listening.

Yes, Shulem Shtisel,
son of Malka Shtisel.

What is this about?

In Tel Aviv?

What... is she doing there?

-Lippe, can you get that?
-Yes.

Hello.

Yes, Shulem, how are you?

I'm so sorry.

Yes, yes.

Yes.

Blessed is the True Judge.

I'm sorry, Giti.

Who? Tell me.

Your grandmother.

They found her on a bench
by the sea in Tel Aviv.

Hello.

I came to see if you were all right.

Better than all right.

Nice.

-Not too quiet for you?
-On the contrary.

It's as if I had this...

noisy air conditioner in my life and...

someone came and turned it off.

Finally, peace and quiet.

Is that a wolf?

No, jackals. They howl at nightfall.

-Maybe they're Breslovs.
-Could be.

When I was a child, my father
taught me how to silence them.

-Really?
-Yes.

You stretch out your arms towards them

and they simply quiet down.

-No way.
-You'll see.

But you have to do it with me
so it works.

Okay...

Unbelievable.

Yes, I thought it was crazy too,
but it always works.

Can I paint your portrait?

-If I can paint yours too.
-All right.

-Who will go first?
-We'll do it together.

-Zvi Arye.
-Yes, Dad.

Call Zusman from the burial society,

-I can't deal with him today.
-All right, Dad.

Tell him we're waiting for Nuchem
to come from Belgium

and then we must bury her tonight,
according to the Jerusalem custom.

After Zusman, go to Anshin
and ask your brother's friends

if they have any idea where he is.

-Kive? He doesn't know that Grandma died?
-Slap me if I know where that kid is.

Don't worry, Dad.
Did you inform the cheder?

-Oh, thanks for reminding me.
-You want me to call?

No, I'll... I'll do it myself.

-Hello.
-Hello, Aliza, it's Shulem.

Aliza, I won't be coming
to the cheder tomorrow...

my mother passed away.

No, I'm so sorry.

Thank God, she lived
a long life, etcetera.

You must be so sad.

She had grandchildren
and great grandchildren and...

she took many good deeds with her.
What else can one ask for?

-Are you being taken care of, Shulem?
-Of course. All the children are here

and I'll call my fiancée, Menukha,
to let her know...

Of course.

It's at times like these
that you need someone close.

True, and I know you're there

to look after the Cheder.

Shulem, I don't work there anymore.

Oh, that's right, I'm-- Forgive me.

I'm confused, Aliza,
this is a sad day for me.

You'll be fine.

Give your heart the time it needs.

God willing.

It's not easy.

Aliza, good tidings.

-Zvi Arye.
-Yes, Dad?

Call Menukha Konigsberg

from my phone

and tell her that Grandmother died.

-Don't you think you should tell her?
-No, I think you should tell her.

The number's on the display.

-Hello, Rabbi Shtisel, yes?
-Yes.

Please accept my condolences,
I'm Aronovsky.

-Thank you.
-Hilik Aronovsky.

I met your mother at the nursing home.

You worked there?
I'm sorry, I don't remember you.

I work there with my sweet friends
from time to time.

-Your sweet friends?
-The residents. Our sweet parents.

Thank you, be well.

People don't realize this,
but the elderly were children too.

-That's true.
-And another thing they don't realize,

-every nursing home is an orphanage.
-An orphanage?

Ever seen an elderly person
whose parents are alive?

Fine.

Well, we haven't yet had the funeral,
we're waiting for my brother...

-Thank you for your condolences.
-Yes, wait.

I have regards from your late mother.

What do you mean?

Is there anywhere we can talk?

Thank God the blessing was fulfilled

and I delivered a beautiful, healthy baby.

Velvale asked me,

"Can we name him

after my father, Shulem?"

I laughed, I knew his late father.

He had a long beard and big belly.

So I asked him, "How can we
call such a small baby Shulem?"

This is wonderful, where did you get it?

About a year ago, when I worked
in the nursing home, I had a camera on me.

Your dear mother told me stories

and I filmed her for a minute or two.

When I found out she died,
I said, this is the least I can do.

It's so wonderful. Can you make me a copy?

Did she say anything else?
I'd like to see all the footage you have.

I have two whole hours
where she talks about her life,

her troubles, you name it.

I have her on film dancing,
lighting candles, singing.

But if you want a copy...

I'm asking for a small fee.

How did you film her for two whole hours?

It's my job.

-Your job?
-I believe it's sacred.

I don't understand...

-why my mother?
-No, not just your mother.

I go to nursing homes with my camera,

I sit with each and every old person

for as long as it takes.

I believe it's a good deed.

And how much do you want
for this good deed?

Nine hundred ninety dollars.

-A man's got to live.
-Yes.

If you don't have all the money
you can pay in installments

or I can give you a small discount.

I'll wait for your call, Rabbi Shtisel.

Take care.

No one has ever painted
my portrait before.

Certainly not a woman.

Me either.

Really?

Yes, I never wanted it done.

What's wrong?

Akiva, are you all right?

I didn't put on Tefillin.

This has never happened to me.

I'm so sorry, it's my fault.

I'll go. I have to go.

Always remember the good days.

I'm sure you had beautiful moments.

Of course.

Menukha, I feel like an orphan.

Your mother was very special.

Yes.

-Yes?
-Rabbi Shtisel,

-this is Aronovsky. How are you?
-Thank God.

You had the funeral already, right?

My brother still hasn't arrived
from overseas.

Overseas. I was there, I didn't like it.

-Where there? Overseas is a big place.
-Didn't like it at all.

In any case, my hard disk is full,
I have to empty it out.

So either we settle on a price

and you'll have a disk full of memories
in one hour

or you tell me you don't want it
and I'll erase it all, you decide.

-The guy with the camera...
-The crook.

Look, I can pay you

-Two hundred shekels.
-Seven hundred and we have a deal?

-Seven hundred shekels?
-No, 700 dollars.

You get four copies, HD,

otherwise I have to erase it.

Fine, 700 dollars.

Seven hundred dollars to that crook?

But Menukha,
how else will I get it?

Tell him you'll pay 100 dollars,
no more.

-Listen.
-Yes?

Seven hundred is too much.

I'll pay 100...

One hundred and fifty dollars
and we have a deal.

One hundred and fifty dollars
doesn't cover the digitizing.

Either you pay my price
or I'm erasing the footage.

-He said he'll erase it forever.
-No he won't, he's just saying that.

Who's the klafte in the background?

The nerve, your grandmother's a klafte!
You won't get a shekel from me.

Good for you, Shulem.
That's the way you talk to these people.

Come, I'll make you something to eat.

Here you go.

-Hello.
-Hello.

-I'd like some nails.
-Nails?

Nails. Two boxes please.

This is a pharmacy,
not a hardware store.

-So you don't sell nails?
-No.

-Advil, please.
-Yes.

That's that, Mother is gone.

Shulem, stop, we're not kids anymore.

Come, sweetie.

Libbi.

Make some tea for your orphaned uncle.

Yes, Zusman,

12:30 is fine. Take care. Amen, amen.

We gather at 12:30
to go to the cemetery.

-Where is everyone?
-Who's everyone?

Kive?

Don't ask me about Kive.
He disappeared.

-What do you mean?
-As if the earth swallowed him up.

He changed
since he took up painting again.

Totally forgot who he is.

That's wonderful, praise God.
Thank you.

Take care.

Giti, I have some good news.

-What?
-Yosa'le's teacher called.

Tiferet Torah changed their minds.

-Have you told him?
-No, he just called.

-Don't tell him.
-Why not?

I gave it some thought

and you're right,

it's best he study with Grossberg.

To have the personal attention
and to be close by.

Are you sure?

Lippe, this is best for him.

-Can I make you a cup of tea?
-No, thank you.

HILIK ARONOVSKY DIRECTOR, VIDEOGRAPHER,
THE ELDERLY WHISPERER

-Aronovsky.
-This is Shulem Shtisel.

-Who?
-Shulem Shtisel.

I'll pay the 700 dollars.

It's a high price to pay,
but memories from Mother are priceless.

Rabbi Shtisel,

-I erased the footage, I'm sorry.
-You did what?

I erased your mother's tapes.

You're just saying that
to get me to pay more, right?

No, I erased everything.

I'd say, "maybe next time,"
but there won't be a next time...

Sorry.

Shulem, I was about to call you.

-Shulem, are you there?
-Menukha,

listen, I...

I've been thinking about it and...

I think I made a mistake.

-The funeral's not today?
-No, the funeral is tonight but,

please don't come.

What?
What do you mean?

I just realized...

that we're not suited.

We're not getting married.

When did you realize this?

I've made up my mind, I'm sorry.

-Shulem...
-Take care.

MALKA SHTISEL

Malka Shtisel.

The funeral
of the esteemed Malka Shtisel,

daughter of Rabbi Zondel Pomerantz,

will leave the funeral home tonight
and make its way to the cemetery...