(78 min.) Directed by Amy Geller and Gerald Peary, USA, 2019, English
A Chabad rabbi, Chaim Bruk, has moved from Brooklyn out to Bozeman, Montana in order to bring his brand of Judaism to the American West. Part of his Chabad mission is to place a mezuzah on the doorpost of every Montana Jew. That’s about 2,000 families spread across a state fourteen times larger than Israel. Rabbi Bruk has a huge personality. He’s funny, intelligent and endearing. But he faces objections to his proselytizing from two of the state’s rabbis, one Reform and one Conservative, who appear threatened by his presence. While acknowledging that he is beloved by his congregants, they seem to fear his success. His wife, Chavie, speaks passionately about it not being necessary to have all the same opportunities as a man in order to be independent and play an important role in Orthodox culture.
This film has been sanctioned for viewing by the Hasidic community.
Preceded by short film Sushi, Meatballs & Everything (10 min.) Florida Premiere