From Orthodox to Queer
SEX – Jewish Positions in Film. Part of the program of events accompanying the exhibition Sex: Jewish Positions
In cooperation with the Jewish Film Festival Berlin Brandenburg (JFBB), we are showing three contemporary films from Israel that look at very different ideas and practices around sexuality, reproduction, marriage and family.
Past event
Where
W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
Klaus Mangold Auditorium
Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
(Opposite the Museum)
Programme
2.30 pm | WEDDING NIGHT Israel | Documentary film | 2023 | 75 min | directed by Rachel Elizur | Produktion: Avigail Sperber |
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IN SERVICE OF THE KING Israel | Short movie | 2023 | 15 min | directed by Brachi Haisherik |
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5.00 pm | TWO Israel | Drama | 2020 | 72 min | directed by Astar Elkayam |
Wedding Night
2.30 pm, documentary, IL 2023, 75 min. directed by Rachel Elizur
Original version with English subtitles
In the ultra-Orthodox community men are educated not to look at women or think about them and a girl practices modesty in clothing, actions and thoughts. Marriage requires complete strangers to suddenly encounter their partner for the first time in an intimate situation with only rudimentary information. According to Jewish law, they are required at that first intimate encounter to consummate the marriage. What was considered sinful transforms to the Holy of Holies. The film draws a portrait of a society and a place: women and men speak bravely about their hidden feelings during matchmaking, the engagement period, the guidance of brides and grooms, the canopy, the special "Yihud" room, until the morning after marriage.
In Service of the King
Short film, IL 2023, 15 min. directed by Brachi Haisherik
Original version with English subtitles
In an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community, Minkush, a young wife and new mother, discovers a way to circumvent the law prohibiting sexual relations until six months after childbirth. She must convince her observant husband to choose her path over the community's law and his conscience in this dramatic story about love versus religious loyalty.
TWO
5.00 pm, Drama, IL 2020, 72 min. directed by Astar Elkayam
Original language version with English subtitles
An Israeli drama about a lesbian couple who hope to start a family. Bar (Agam Schuster), a chef, and Omer (Mor Polanuer), a dancer, love each other and want to take the next step – having a baby and starting a family. To achieve this, they want to use the “services” of a sperm bank. Initially optimistic that they will quickly find the right sperm donor and that fertilization will go well, they face one failure after another. They finally decide to consider Omer’s ex-lover Yoni (Gil Desiano). How will he react and is he even suited as a potential donor?
In cooperation with the Jewish Film Festival Berlin Brandenburg (JFBB)
Sex: Jewish Positions: Features & Programme
- Exhibition Webpage
- Sex: Jewish Positions: Exhibition, 17 May to 6 Oct 2024
- Accompanying Events
- From Orthodox to Queer. SEX – Jewish Positions in Film: 23 Jun 2024
- JMB Bookclub: Let’s read! The Song of Songs, 26 Jun 2024
- JMB Bookclub: Let’s read! Portnoy’s Fear of Flying, 24 Jul 2024
- Holy Rebellion: Feminist and Queer Approaches to Halacha With Ronit Irshai and Avigail Ben Dor Niv (in English) 19. Sep 2024
- Publications
- Sex. Jüdische Positionen: Catalog accompanying the exhibition, German edition, 2024
- Sex: Jewish Positions: Catalog accompanying the exhibition, English edition, 2024
- Digital Content
- Letʼs Talk About Sex: Online feature accompanying the exhibition
- What do the artists say? Interview series accompanying the exhibition
- Listen to the exhibition’s soundtrack: Playlist on Spotify
- The Song of Songs. Between Literal and Allegorical Loves: Essay by Ilana Pardes
- “Sex Is A Force”: Interview with Talli Rosenbaum
- Androgynous Characters in I.B. Singer’s Literary Shtetl: Essay by Helena Lutz
- Jewish Places: Find information about Jewish sites related to the exhibition on our interactive map
- Tours & Workshops
- Public tour: Tour with fixed dates, in German
- Public tour: Tour with fixed dates
- Public tour: Tour with fixed dates, in Hebrew
- Bookable tours: Tours for groups
- Sex: Jewish Positions at the JMB library: Public guided tour through the museum’s library
- Hey you! Flirting without Sexism: Workshop for students with drama-pedagogical elements on the exhibition
- Duty and Pleasure: Workshop for adults
- See also
- Jüdisches Film Festival Berlin | Brandenburg: Film series in cooperation with the Jewish Museum Berlin