Video: Unorthodox – A Jewish Journey

A film about Modern Orthodox kids who leave the fold, and Modern Orthodox kids who 'flip out' and become haredi.

 

 

Comments

[netflix]

this really looks awesome.

[ah-pee-chorus]

trailer got me intrigued. i hope it gets done.

[KJ]

The magic of Israel - amazing. I am looking forward to see just how the transformation from modern orthodoxy to haredi works.

In case it was not obvious this is the link to donate

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/annawexler/unorthodox?ref=video

[Litvish]

I really look forward to seeing this film.

My favorite nephew who also is gay, went to teach English for a year in Israel. He has now started wearing a yarmulke. I guess it is something that these kids have to go through in certain cases. Hopefully, those who become frum will realize the mess they are getting themselves into.

But I am not holding my breath.

[chaim]

Hey..Long time lurker...and reader of this
blog...

Its my daughters movie and would be perfect
for those who love reading this blog.
I was surprised to see it posted here but
if you can donate a few dollars to see the
movie finished...She has some awesome footage and some great characters that she follows for almost seven years.

[danny]

Interesting to see the large range of reactions to spending a year in Israel.

I also went for a year between high school and college, on a secular zionist affiliated program. Some participants became frum, some became very frum, some became settlers, some made Aliya to Tel Aviv, some completely lost their religion.

[Yissy-CA]

Hatlacha to your daughter Reb Chaim.

[Adam Neira]

Many people go through various spiritual journeys and awakenings in their life. An unexplored mind is like confining yourself to only one part of a beautiful tropical island. I don’t really care where people have been, as long as they really are sincere about getting their navigational system right.

[KJ]

Many people go through various spiritual journeys and awakenings in their life.

Exactly, however, unlike America which is basically godless (despite the fact that the dollar "claims" In god we trust), it is not conducive to stir up religious aspirations (unless money is your religion :).

Israel however is dripping with religion so if there is any spark in your soul, Israel will ignite it.

[chaim]

She was able to follow these kids for almost seven years ...

Some pretty wild teens...like her..
and to see how the year in Israel affected them and if it stuck.

She obviously went the other way herself

[adams]

America is not godless there are many fine people in America. And the spirituality in Israel is also mixed. ALot of it is shtus power based violence. If I moved to Israel I doubt I would go to Shule more.
And I do want to move there very much, i may get a lucky break soon.

[Married To A Mick]

Some Americans (like me) think there's too much god in America.

[Hal]

Maybe part of the problem is that her goal as a child was to be a "great Torah scholar." Maybe that goal is better geared to a man and it didn't satisfy her. She got confused. Does the modern world devalue the traditional role of the woman? See what it leads to.

[Brian]

I believe this phenomenon is called "being Aished"

[Jeff]

Maybe part of the problem is that her goal as a child was to be a "great Torah scholar." Maybe that goal is better geared to a man and it didn't satisfy her. She got confused. Does the modern world devalue the traditional role of the woman? See what it leads to.

Posted by: Hal | December 16, 2011 at 06:52 AM

Yes, of course; that must be it.

(Rolls eyes)

[Apikorus Al Ha'esh]

The people funding this should be the members of every Young Israel and MO shul, so they can see what actually goes on when they send their kids to Israel.

[x]

There is something in this film i dont like, namely,the fact that transformation comes within and having a camera stuck in your face while your in israel discovering yourself isnt very conducive to said discovering.

[DBSesq]

I like her use of the Muszikas CD. More seriously, the year in Israel is transformative for many. It was for me. I went hoping to become chareidi, and left disgusted with the entire chareidi enterprise.

[satmarRebbe]

Great film and best best of luck. Left the life, not the schnorring? In any case I hope she is successful

[Eli]

My sister has been telling us about this movie ever since they started filming her during her senior year of high school (she's Tzipi). Please donate and help get this made.

[Neturey karto forever]

Sorry to kill the suspense, but Tzipi flipped, may god have mercy on her soul.

[ah-pee-chorus]

Tzipi flipped

rachmono litzlon. i feel like tearing k'ria and i dont even know her.

[chaim]

as far as I know the cameras only came at
certain points during the year in israel

so I dont think this is a case where the filming of this phenomenon affected its trajectory in any way.

Whatever the actual result is for these kids, I think watching the process should be fascinating. Not just for the orthodox community but I think might be interesting for the entire society.

As for the schnorring...
at least you can say that its not a life style that is BUILT on charity, there is no charity overhead, no professionals to get paid, its not in your face, telephone or at your door. She has a regular job to support herself.

Arguably, the post high school year in Israel has been the savior of many institutions like YU and even the less modern part of orthodoxy. Some people dont want to know "how the sausage is made". But such a critical time in the education of jewish kids, that by now is almost obligatory, should be open to those interested in this phenomenon

[Rochel]

Chaim - not to fear. I also went through a rebellious period (well, rebellious to the orthodox world) where I really needed to stretch my wings beyond the confines of the (for me, claustrophobic) orthodox world and discover who I was. I explored, I discovered, I excelled, and my life has been rich with wonderful experiences and interesting places and people. Your daughter sounds like she excelled too - from what I can see on website she has a double degree from MIT (one in brain and cognitive Science!) and is expressing her talents by creating this film. She just didn't fit the cookie-cutter mold and had to find her own unique way. From her bio on her website, her diversity of experiences reminds me a bit of me. I am looking forward to seeing the film!

[Anna]

In response to x -- if we had the money to stick cameras in the subjects' faces all throughout their year in Israel, I probably wouldn't be on Kickstarter trying to raise a measly $16K.

We filmed at three different time points through the year and we gave the kids video cameras to film themselves during the year. Also, Nadja and I were just students at the time, only a few years older than the subjects, so it wasn't like we were coming from HBO or MTV. It really wasn't clear where the film was going or how widely it was going to be released. (That stuff still isn't clear.)

That being said, it would be foolish for me to argue that a camera in no way affects the situation. I believe that a camera always affects the situation, though it does so to varying degrees. Given what I've explained above, I believe that in this situation the effects were relatively minimal.

Regarding the schnorring: if I had any real skills in that area, I probably would have moved beyond my current job as a freelance writer. The Kickstarter campaign is more of an act of desperation to get my film finished after all these years.

[bishloma]

So now we have flipped out MO shnorrers...

[Sam]

I actually know one girl in the film.She is very religious now lives in Israel married with a child.Cool.

[masortiman]

"Maybe part of the problem is that her goal as a child was to be a "great Torah scholar."

we would LOVE to have her.

Check out http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/

[Jennifer]

Has this come out yet???