HOFSHAT KAITS (SUMMER VACATION / MY FATHER, MY LORD)

Israel, 2007, 74 minutes, Colour.
Assi Dayan, Sharon Hacohen, Ilan Griff.
Directed by David Volach.

Hofshat Kaits is a brief film from Israel, taking the audience into the world of the Ultra- Orthodox Jews in Israel. David Volach, writer and director of the film, grew up in this community but rejected it and left. His film is a critique of the fundamentalist and literal interpretation of the Bible promoted by the rabbis.

The film shows in some detail the work and teaching of the rabbi, Abraham Eidelmann (Assi Dayan). He is an older man, venerated by his students, continually quoting the Scriptures and the blessings for every aspect of the day and of life. His wife is loving, caring for their young son, but in some ways uneasy with the strictness of the Orthodox life. Their young son, Menahem, is made to sit at his father’s desk (even going to sleep) and attend Torah school.

However, the little boy is far more interested in the summer holiday and suggests the Dead Sea. The group goes to the Dead Sea and, in a moment of distracted prayer, the rabbi loses his son who drowns. He accepts this death as God’s will, with prayer and stoicism. His wife, on the other hand, mourns in silent grief and cannot accept the death – finally, in a gesture of rebellion, pushing the books over a ledge onto her husband’s table.

Previously, there had been a scene of symbolism where the rabbi, quoting Scriptures, sent a mother dove away from her nestlings in the nest.

The film moves slowly and with some dignity, immerses the audience in this Orthodox world, shows interesting glimpses of the Dead Sea as a holiday resort. However, the film is highly critical in more subtle ways in the extreme religiosity and faith exercised by the rabbi.

1.The impact of the film? For Jewish audiences? For the Orthodox? For non-Jewish audiences?

2.The presentation of the Orthodox world, the veneration for the rabbi, the quoting of the Scriptures, the study of Torah, the blessings for every moment of the day? The literal interpretation of the Scriptures? Their guiding every aspect of life and decision-making? The film, in its story of the death of the boy, and his parents’ reaction, offering a critique of this literal faith?

3.The settings, the rabbinic school and its detail, the home life, the Dead Sea and the resort? The musical score?

4.The character of the rabbi, his age, his pondering the Scriptures in his study, going to the school, lecturing the young men, sharing experiences and prayer? At home, working in his study, his son sitting in front of him, their not communicating? The meals? The decision about the holiday, his agreement? Enjoying the holiday on the beach at the Dead Sea? His letting go of his son? His reaction to his son’s death? God’s will, prayer? Trying to comfort his wife? His wife’s rebellious action in pushing the books onto his desk at the end?

5.Esther, her role as a woman in Orthodox society, as a cipher for her husband? Mother of her son? Her devotion, love? The housekeeping, the meals, deference to her husband, sending her son in to him, the discussion about the holiday, arranging the transport? The separate beach for the women? Her son’s death, her grief, lamenting that she should have been with him? Her final rebellious act?

6.Menahem, his age, absent from the school, his father looking at his desk? At home, with his mother, the perspective of a little boy? Their looking forward to his bar-mitzvah? With his father, going to sleep? The distractions in class, looking at the dove, the chicks? His father quoting the Scriptures, sending the dove away? His not being able to understand this? His card, asking whether it was idolatry, his father’s lecture, having to tear the card up? In the streets, seeing the ambulance, the dead woman, the devotion of the dog, his asking his father about a Heaven for dogs? His exhilaration with the holiday, enjoying it, his death and drowning?

7.The students, their deference to the rabbi, study, prayer?

8.The effect of an audience entering into this world, watching the characters, experiencing their situations? Critique?