Abstract
Footage from the 1997 documentary “A Life Apart: Hasidism in America” (directed by Menachem Daum and Oren Rudavsky), the first in-depth documentary about Hasidic Jews, members of a distinctive group within Judaism that has roots in pre-World War II Eastern Europe.
Hasidim on a pilgrimage to the grave of the Vizhnitzer rebbe in the Jewish cemetery in Vizhnitz, Ukraine. (Part 3) Satmar Hasid Nuta Kaufman and others at Jewish summer camp in Uman, Ukraine. (Part 1)
00:00:07 - (Partial audio) Hasidim praying in the Vizhnitz Jewish cemetery at nightfall, led in prayer by Vizhnitzer Rebbe (?). Gravestones. Cemetery caretaker. Townspeople looking on.
00:06:42 - Hebrew signs on buses: "Holy Pilgrimage - from Vizhnitz to Vinnitsa, 16 to 21 Menachem Av 5754"; "Trail of the Tsadikim."
00:07:51 - Townspeople watching the men praying. Buses leave and man shoos cow off the road.
00:08:41 - At a summer camp on or near the site of Rabbi Nahman of Breslov's grave in Uman: women and men praying, a conversation in Yiddish with Hasidic men, including Mr. Kaufman from Brooklyn. Men direct a clean-shaven man to the correct place in a prayerbook.
00:09:00 - A conversation in Yiddish with Hasidic man: he compares the power of a Rebbe to a doctor. The rebbe can change the heart of the worst person and give him a new soul, as long as one believes.
00:10:00 - Mr. Kaufman from Brooklyn. Men direct a clean-shaven man to the correct place in a prayer book.
00:11:12 - (No audio) Charity is given to an elderly woman. Kaufman shows the filmmakers around. Memorial candles.
00:15:41 - Interview with Kaufman (Yiddish): Nuta talks about below-ground radar that determined the resting place of Rebbe Nahman of Breslov: before he died the Rebbe said he wanted to be buried in Uman because many Jews were killed here in pogroms: 35,000 Jews. He came here a half year before he died because this is where he wanted to die. A year ago they were digging a sewer line near here and came across many many bones,
00:17:45 - The Rebbe died when he was 39, he was a novelty and when he was a young man the world trembled before him, but he had his opponents also. He told his followers I brought you a gift: dissension and arguments. Everything worthwhile has its opposition. He announced that whoever comes to him for Rosh Hashanah will be happy the entire year. 3,000 people come here for Rosh Hashanah and we hope this year it will be even more. He said: Rosh Hashanah belongs to me. The Rebbe talked about giving 10 coins to charity and saying the Tikkun Klally prayer (as expiation for sins), he said his flame will burn until the coming of the Messiah. Until now only the Breslavers came but now more and more people from all Hasidic backgrounds come here, so it seems we’re getting closer to the redemption... In Jerusalem for years there was a small Breslav shtibl in an attic with a very small congregation but now it’s really grown and it’s amazing especially considering Breslav doesn’t even have a Rebbe. Reb Nachman said: I am always here.
00:21:00 - Interview with one of the Hasidic men: The Rebbe took upon himself all the sins of those who come here and now they start afresh and he said: Whenever you come here I am always here for you. (Yiddish) Charity box.
Hasidim on a pilgrimage to the grave of the Vizhnitzer rebbe in the Jewish cemetery in Vizhnitz, Ukraine. (Part 3) Satmar Hasid Nuta Kaufman and others at Jewish summer camp in Uman, Ukraine. (Part 1)
00:00:07 - (Partial audio) Hasidim praying in the Vizhnitz Jewish cemetery at nightfall, led in prayer by Vizhnitzer Rebbe (?). Gravestones. Cemetery caretaker. Townspeople looking on.
00:06:42 - Hebrew signs on buses: "Holy Pilgrimage - from Vizhnitz to Vinnitsa, 16 to 21 Menachem Av 5754"; "Trail of the Tsadikim."
00:07:51 - Townspeople watching the men praying. Buses leave and man shoos cow off the road.
00:08:41 - At a summer camp on or near the site of Rabbi Nahman of Breslov's grave in Uman: women and men praying, a conversation in Yiddish with Hasidic men, including Mr. Kaufman from Brooklyn. Men direct a clean-shaven man to the correct place in a prayerbook.
00:09:00 - A conversation in Yiddish with Hasidic man: he compares the power of a Rebbe to a doctor. The rebbe can change the heart of the worst person and give him a new soul, as long as one believes.
00:10:00 - Mr. Kaufman from Brooklyn. Men direct a clean-shaven man to the correct place in a prayer book.
00:11:12 - (No audio) Charity is given to an elderly woman. Kaufman shows the filmmakers around. Memorial candles.
00:15:41 - Interview with Kaufman (Yiddish): Nuta talks about below-ground radar that determined the resting place of Rebbe Nahman of Breslov: before he died the Rebbe said he wanted to be buried in Uman because many Jews were killed here in pogroms: 35,000 Jews. He came here a half year before he died because this is where he wanted to die. A year ago they were digging a sewer line near here and came across many many bones,
00:17:45 - The Rebbe died when he was 39, he was a novelty and when he was a young man the world trembled before him, but he had his opponents also. He told his followers I brought you a gift: dissension and arguments. Everything worthwhile has its opposition. He announced that whoever comes to him for Rosh Hashanah will be happy the entire year. 3,000 people come here for Rosh Hashanah and we hope this year it will be even more. He said: Rosh Hashanah belongs to me. The Rebbe talked about giving 10 coins to charity and saying the Tikkun Klally prayer (as expiation for sins), he said his flame will burn until the coming of the Messiah. Until now only the Breslavers came but now more and more people from all Hasidic backgrounds come here, so it seems we’re getting closer to the redemption... In Jerusalem for years there was a small Breslav shtibl in an attic with a very small congregation but now it’s really grown and it’s amazing especially considering Breslav doesn’t even have a Rebbe. Reb Nachman said: I am always here.
00:21:00 - Interview with one of the Hasidic men: The Rebbe took upon himself all the sins of those who come here and now they start afresh and he said: Whenever you come here I am always here for you. (Yiddish) Charity box.
Subject
Duration
00:22:52 (HH:MM:SS)
Language:
English
Copyright Date
1997
Rights Declaration:
This recording is protected by copyright. You are free to view it but not download it. Please contact the Brooklyn College Archives for further information about how you may use this recording.
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PID
njcore:194878
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