And Thou Shalt Love

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And Thou Shalt Love
Directed byChaim Elbaum
Written byChaim Elbaum
Produced byPazit Lichtman
StarringUri Lachmi
Omer Zonenshein
Running time
29 minutes
CountryIsrael
LanguageHebrew

And Thou Shalt Love (Hebrew: ואהבת, translit. V'ahavta) is an Israeli short film. It was directed by Chaim Elbaum. The film examines the difficulties of being both an Orthodox Jew and gay. The story is based on Elbaum's experiences with being gay.

It won the best drama award at the 2008 Jerusalem Film Festival.

Plot[edit]

Ohad, the protagonist, is serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a Hesder student. He has not told anyone that he is gay. He tries various ways of dealing with the conflict between his religious beliefs and his sexual orientation, including Atzat Nefesh. He is told to spend forty days fasting and repenting to help rid him of his homosexual inclinations. He does this and believes himself to be cured.

After this, his best friend, Nir, returns from leave. Ohed is torn between his homosexuality and his religion. The film deals with the struggles Ohed faces when it comes to loving God and loving Nir.

Cast[edit]

Actor Role
Uri Lachmi [he] Ohad
Omer Zonenshein Nir
Yehonadav Perlman [he] The Rabbi
Itzik Haikeh Benni
Yariv Kook The voice of Menachem
Sigalit Ya'akobi The voice of the woman

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]