Film name: A Life Apart
Source: Netflix Instant Watch
Rating: 8/10
This is a movie that is narrated by Spock from Star Trek and Carrie Bradshaw from Sex In The City. It is about Hasidim Jews in NYC. Hasidim came to America after WW2 and much differently than other folks who immigrated at that time they did not in fact melt, so to speak into the great melting pot of USA. They held on to their ideals and their strict by our standards, religious values and formed their own communities that still exist. They do not watch popular tv shows nor listen to pop music. Gender roles are well defined and the family spends most of it's free time studying the Torah. If I had to boil Hasidim down to someone that had never heard of it the conversation might start off something like this, "ever heard of Matisyahu?" or maybe even "Have you visited Amish Country? OK, then its somewhat likens to Amish Jews." That is how I introduce people to this group, but that's just me.....
These people are devout in their beliefs, but also in their day to day lives, they will pass on the names of their ancestors and the places they d welled to their children, nothing is going to be lost to time or location or culture. They truly do live A Life Apart.
These Jews believe that God is in all of us and in everything around us, they aspire to lose themselves in a state of pleading to God. How does one find fault with a group of people that believe in something that hurts no one and only they must work toward their goals? After all, they are not looking for you or I to convert? They live in large communities and they do not have children out of wedlock nor do they aprove of philandering husbands or "desperate housewives." They do not use our tax dollars for public school or even Universities for their grown children.
Hasidim was founded in the mid 1900's by a humble mystic who wanted a spirituality that was sincere and accessible to all and said God could be served by every act in a normal day. I personally like this kind of down to Earth direct phone line to God. I know it seems trite but I am translating this film into words and acts, that I and others could practice in their everyday lives, if so desired. I like that the uneducated can reach God with out formal education. I like that one can be sanctified through stories and parables and an oneness to religion. Every Hasidim looks up to their local leader who is a Rebbi. He teaches songs and stories and is like a Holy Father to each group that follows him, and is able to glean advice and help and care from. And this is their everyday life, all over the world.
I really enjoyed this movie immensely! It was really so different and far apart from my life that I was eager to watch and learn. I admire any group that can come to a new land and take care of their business and carve out a life that does not include complete assimilation. This film was so unique because it answered questions I did not even know I had about a group of people in my country that have never crossed my mind. When humans can under go pogroms, concentration camps and revere prayer books and come here to continue their culture and devotions there is a lot to be respected. I think any family that is intact and fighting hard against taboos to do so should be praised. I know what is in this country and in this world and how it can tear people down and the fact that those things are non issues do not happen in their world is admirable.
If you are curious about a different life that is dignified and kind and devout I think you could learn so much from this movie just like I did. It was easy to watch and easy to understand and fair. I enjoyed many things about this movie, and I feel I know much more about a minority in my country.
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