Life in a (Jewish) Movie
You might be surprised, but it exists: a cinema yeshiva. Between Shacharit and Mincha, students learn scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, and editing, always remembering to thank Hashem in the closing credits. Take a peek at 'Torat HaChaim' - the Jewish School of Cinema.
#VALUE!
The Jewish School of Cinema, 'Torat HaChaim,' has been working for about five years to train artists and creators in the field of cinema, offering two tracks - a full track requiring two days of study per week, and an enrichment track. The school aims to be a home for authentic Jewish art, drawing from the depths of the Jewish soul and the teachings of the Torah, without foreign influences. The school maintains continuous contact with creators and communication professionals with a Jewish spirit, aiming to meet the increasing demand in the Jewish people and the world for a different kind of communication: clean, clear, truthful, balanced, and value-driven. The school was established by Rabbi Shmuel Tal to revolutionize the world of communication and bring the messages of Jewish sources to the world.
"The world is undergoing a change," says the school's director, Segev Cohen. "People are looking for something different, something internal and soulful. Anyone involved in cinema knows this field is very creative and requires a lot of inner listening and spiritual depth, which we as Jews have in abundance thanks to the holy Torah and the lofty soul we received from the Creator of the Universe. We carry the burden of two thousand years of long exile, and we have much to say. Nowadays, cinema is a very powerful tool, both in its influence and in its ability to disseminate messages like these."
How can a Jewish message be conveyed through cinema in practice?
"You can broadcast a lecture on the trait of arrogance, and it will surely have an impact, but if you make a film about the trait of arrogance, it is much more impactful because cinema illustrates the issues and works on emotions. Hashem brought this powerful force into the world, namely communication, to purify it and transform it for the better, but people taint it. Our goal is to use this tool to spread God's name and be partners in the world’s spiritual repair in Shaddai's kingdom."
The idea sounds good on paper, but how do you put it into practical terms? Clearly, there are quite a few limitations along the way.
"Like in any field in life, there are difficulties and limitations, but everything can be handled with Hashem's help. With some will and initiative, professional and quality cinema can be made without violating halacha. It does require a lot of thought and checks, but it is certainly possible. For example, a woman can direct women, and a man can direct men, and so on. It is most important to remember that we Jews have the true inner content the world craves, so we do not need to lower ourselves to the general media's lowest common denominator. Although there are constraints along the way, with dedication, Hashem provides divine assistance, and unique ideas and wisdom spring forth to overcome obstacles."
Let’s ask it this way: what are your red lines?
"Jewish law is the red line that we do not cross under any circumstances. There is a collection of laws called Psikat, which contains basic guidelines in the field of cinema. When a question arises from the field, it is directed to Rabbi Shmuel Tal, the head of the institutions, who in consultation with great Jewish sages decides how to proceed."
Cohen looks on with sadness at the influence of cinema in today’s Western world. "We are in a kind of spiritual holocaust, and impurity is taking over," he says categorically. "Western culture penetrates through the media almost everywhere in the world, unfortunately even into religious homes. Many youths are corrupted by this. To fight this culture we must use these tools, while changing the content of course, just as in the past, great sages used parables and legends to convey messages, so today Torah scholars and thinkers must use the power of media to bring the 'Torat HaChaim' to the world."
Cohen concludes that the vision of the school is to create a large production house that will produce a variety of independent productions. Even today there are various productions in development, and soon, he promises, we will see the first signs.
