This week we watched the Hebrew film Ushpizin (Aramaic for "[Holy] guests") as a way to look at attitudes towards prayer and God.
Some background about the context.
The main characters are Chasidic Jews of the Breslov community. The Breslov Jews are known for their diversity and many members who are hozer b'teshuvah ( חוזר בתשובה - those who have become observant/returned to traditional Judaism) as opposed to other groups that have many frum (having led pious lives). This community is also well represented in the film by the heavy "foreign" accents in the characters' Hebrew. The more numerous Chabad Jews around the world are members of the Lubavitch community. Many of the Chasidic movements are considered both charismatic and embracing mysticism. Some like the Satmar Chasids are anti-Zionist.
The setting represented in the film is that of an Ultra Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood which are known for little tolerance of secular/profane behavior.
The antagonists may come across as cartoonish but are easily recognizable as tshach-tshach-im (hard to translate but perhaps "low lifes"). These characters have some depth and from my own past experiences mirror reality very well.
Key Points in the film:
· 00:00 Moshe is revealed as a poor married Chasid who cannot afford to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot, which is about to begin. He notices a $100 Citron which is well beyond his means.
· 00:06 We are introduced to two criminals, Eliyahu and Yossef, who are escaped convicts on the run. We also learn of the desperation of Moshe and Malli in poverty and in childlessness turning to argumentativeness.
· 00:12 Moshe and his wife Malli are so desperate that they our out their hearts to God and pray (petition God) for a miracle. Is it answered prayer when they receive $1000 and another's Sukkah?
· 00:18 We see their joy and celebration with praise and thanksgiving to God. Moshe dutifully tithes 10% to a friend in need.
· 00:24 With all of these blessings why do they suddenly discover some "flies in the ointment"? The convicts are headed their way, is the sukkah stolen, is the purchase of the citron exorbitant (what does the citron represent?), is the purchase of a pair of nice earrings responsible? There is seeking forgiveness for the stolen sukkah.
· 00:30 The convicts arrive and they are considered a sign from God as the Ushpizin and are begged to stay. Why is this considered a mitzvah? What would you do in their position?
· 00:35 During the first dinner in their Sukkah we start to see the depth of the characters. We see how they deal with temptation, we understand how childlessness is straining the couple, we see doubt and deep seated anger revealed. This couple appears less as religious stereotypes and more human.
· 00:41 We question whether these Ushpizin are really sent from God - they certainly don't act Holy. We see heavy drinking and an urge to fight in Moshe.
· 00:48 Moshe visits to the Rebbe who advises Moshe to make sure he listens to his wife. This section deals with prayer and revelation - confession/resolve and our guests are revealed to Malli. Moshe gets caught up in lie about leaving to travel to Gadera on a pretext. In their circumstances does this seem reasonable/prudent/believable?
· 00:53 Moshe's guilt is revealed (again) - is it reasonable to expect a blessing as a result of deceit? The "miserable" guests take advantage of their hosts' generosity and guilt - is this foolishness? Are Moshe and Malli repaying evil with good (consider Abraham) or are they receiving their just reward? Notice that Moshe and Malli are not unaware of the exploitation and they seem to be happy even those they are being used. Who is using them? Who are they serving?
· 01:00 Now even the crooks are suspicious don't understand why they are allowed to get away with their actions. Where do we see doubt? Do you see sin? Not satisfied with the explanations - what are they trying to sort out? Moshe seeks forgiveness from his "victim".
· 01:05 Instead of redemption now events in the 'hood turn to a near riot. We see the crooks looking for forgiveness as they pushed the limit and the accusations fly - we see a sense of disgrace? We see crooks being hidden (calling to mind a scene out of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah - perhaps the reverse?) The crooks are completely revealed as fugitives to Malli and Moshe
· 01:12 The deceit catches up with Moshe, Malli leaves miserable and her trust broken in her husband. The truth continues to be wrung out of people - even the crooks take pity on Moshe, asking for forgiveness from Moshe who says (knowingly) 'you didn't do anything'. Why didn't Moshe just blame the crooks for his circumstances?
· 01:18 Moshe goes to the Rebbe again (the wife having been advised to take some time away) who lures Moshe into prayer. Change in our lives is progress but it tests us and these tests get harder. Why is the prayer to not get angry so pivotal? Upon returning home the crooks are now serving Moshe! When they try to do good and make him a meal with the 'diamond' citron why is this the breaking point? (A symbol to ward off childlessness and representative of Moshe's life and relationship with Malli.) Moshe goes from acceptance (ignorant of the citron) of their gift to a complete breakdown into anger (upon discovery). This is the climax and heart of the film.
· 01:24 Moshe experiences his greatest threat (anger) and instead of killing his guests turns in abject frustration to God in prayer. Moshe is humbled, a broken man. The holiday ends, the guests having left. But Malli returns (is this reasonable?) and her news is a shock. How does this show redemption? Is there a lesson in this about patience? Humility? Coming to terms with our shortcomings? Is there a lesson about pain? What lessons do we learn from this film? What does this tell us about our relationship with God? What does this film tell us about prayer?
We go from answered pray to things falling apart rather quickly. Instead of stereotypical characters we see authentic people struggling to hold on to their beliefs when challenged. One might ask, 'with blessings like this who needs them?' Then we see the crisis’s compound themselves until people are pretty raw and how we find resolution. Recall how the Breslov Rebbe states that when we pass a test we think we can rest, but then things get harder and we can never rest. Consider the personal ‘evolution’ of Moshe as he struggles with his nature and the true miracle is internal rather than external.
The next lesson is Siddur (the Jewish prayerbook).
