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.
A classroom in a Ger school for girls. (Part 6)
00:00:02 - Girls with paper crowns in a Ger school for girls. They chant and sing hymns.
00:04:20 - A special day: the girls are to be given their first sidurim (prayer books). The teacher gives a lesson on how to handle and treat a sidur: what should and shouldn't be done with it. Teacher: Who knows how to treat a sidur? When you have a pile of books, where does the sidur go? On top, excellent. On top of a sidur you are allowed to place a Khumesh (Five Books of Moses) or a Navi (Prophets) but the sidur has to go on top of all your English books. Can you stand on a sidur to reach something? No. Can you open up a sidur and eat if the crumbs will fall inside? No . When you go into the bathroom, can you take along a sidur? No. Can you spill water on the sidur? No. if you have hands that are dirty with chocolate, can you turn the pages of a sidur? No. Are you allowed to fold the pages of a sidur? No. Are you allowed to write in a sidur? No. Coloring? No. It always has to be clean and nice. And you have to keep it in a respectable nice place. May a sidur be on the floor? No. What are you supposed to do when you close a sidur? Kiss it. A sidur is like a phone you use to dial God. (Yiddish)
00:07.30 - The principal tells the children what a great joy it is for her to be able to give them sidurs. I see you are dressed in your Shabbos clothing. Today is almost like Shabbos. Why is today such a special day? Because today you're getting a sidur. You'll be able to pray with the sidur. Is it enough to just say the words in the sidur and not think that you're praying to God? No. What should you do? Like you dial a phone with your fingers you're supposed to use your fingers to follow the words in the sidur and think that now I want to speak to God. When I speak to God, I use the holy words of the sidur. I ask God to help and give me good things, health for those who need it, and whatever people need. So today is a very happy day for all the children.
00:19:17 - Snack-time. Girls sing a Yiddish song, say the blessings over the food, and eat their snack.
00:21:38 - Girls pose for portraits with their new sidurim.
A classroom in a Ger school for girls. (Part 6)
00:00:02 - Girls with paper crowns in a Ger school for girls. They chant and sing hymns.
00:04:20 - A special day: the girls are to be given their first sidurim (prayer books). The teacher gives a lesson on how to handle and treat a sidur: what should and shouldn't be done with it. Teacher: Who knows how to treat a sidur? When you have a pile of books, where does the sidur go? On top, excellent. On top of a sidur you are allowed to place a Khumesh (Five Books of Moses) or a Navi (Prophets) but the sidur has to go on top of all your English books. Can you stand on a sidur to reach something? No. Can you open up a sidur and eat if the crumbs will fall inside? No . When you go into the bathroom, can you take along a sidur? No. Can you spill water on the sidur? No. if you have hands that are dirty with chocolate, can you turn the pages of a sidur? No. Are you allowed to fold the pages of a sidur? No. Are you allowed to write in a sidur? No. Coloring? No. It always has to be clean and nice. And you have to keep it in a respectable nice place. May a sidur be on the floor? No. What are you supposed to do when you close a sidur? Kiss it. A sidur is like a phone you use to dial God. (Yiddish)
00:07.30 - The principal tells the children what a great joy it is for her to be able to give them sidurs. I see you are dressed in your Shabbos clothing. Today is almost like Shabbos. Why is today such a special day? Because today you're getting a sidur. You'll be able to pray with the sidur. Is it enough to just say the words in the sidur and not think that you're praying to God? No. What should you do? Like you dial a phone with your fingers you're supposed to use your fingers to follow the words in the sidur and think that now I want to speak to God. When I speak to God, I use the holy words of the sidur. I ask God to help and give me good things, health for those who need it, and whatever people need. So today is a very happy day for all the children.
00:19:17 - Snack-time. Girls sing a Yiddish song, say the blessings over the food, and eat their snack.
00:21:38 - Girls pose for portraits with their new sidurim.
Collection
Subject
Duration
00:24:48 (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:194941
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