Death of Menahem Fleischman
Help wanted
Can I use a phone here?
Here you are.
I'm still in Jerusalem.
You don't answer, so I'll try again later.
Are you all right?
Kid...
Yes.
You are not from here.
I've come from a yeshiva.
Good. Which yeshiva?
"Daat Menachem".
Are you sure? I think they closed down a year ago.
I'm looking for a yeshiva.
You can stay here for a while, until the rain is over.
Thanks.
You're looking for help?
Why?
Because I'm looking for a job.
Have you ever worked in a butcher shop?
No...
but I registered students at the yeshiva.
Here it is quite different, you know.
I know.
You have a place to stay here?
I'm supposed to stay with a friend for a while, till I get settled.
The friend that doesn't answer the phone?
He'll answer.
You better find a yeshiva, this is not a place for you.
Alright... although it's not that simple...
What?
What are you doing?
Leave it!
I came for you.
I have nowhere else to go.
Come on, talk to me...
I don't believe you.
Bless God and His Kingdom.
May He rest the souls of our dead in heaven.
Are you still looking for a job?
Did you eat anything? Are you hungry?
We will go to study in the evening?
My father, may he rest in peace, used to rest here sometimes.
Let's go back. Got work to do. - And you?
A young man must work and pray.
Rest brings about idleness.
And idleness causes madness.
You can stay here until you find a yeshiva.
I would have given everything to study.
Hello.
Yaakov. Yaakov, take these books.
Hello.
Bring some more meat.
What? - More meat.
What's going on here?
Nothing. Sorry.
It's OK.
What's that?
Nothing really...
You can have a look.
You drew these?
I sketched them. - Sketched.
Where did you learn to draw?
I taught myself.
I could also draw you if you want.
I'm going out for a moment.
Where to?
Is it OK?
How are you? - I'm fine.
It's been a long time. - Yes.
Please... - I don't want you to do that!
He who dwells in abstinence is a sinner.
A man who prevents himself from drinking wine
is a sinner. He makes a sacrifice.
Why?
God doesn't want a man to suffer. He shouldn't cause himself sorrow.
Why has God created the world?
To make good for us, to ease our souls.
Rabbi,
this doesn't satisfy me.
He who drinks wine, doesn't want to deal with the challenge.
Worshipping God is an everyday duty.
It means loving the difficulties.
Being a slave of God...
means loving the hardship.
Thank you.
Where are you going?
I'm going to the spring, for an immersion.
There's Sabbath dinner. Aren't you coming?
Do you want me to come?
Yes.
Then come with me to the spring.
I can't. I promised Rivka to be home to help before Sabbath begins.
When did you last leave Jerusalem?
Don't you want to come in?
Come in.
Is the water not too cold? - Freezing.
The waters are good.
Dad has arrived! - Dad, who is he?
Yaakov, give me a hand.
Where did you study?
In "Or Vachesed".
It's all delicious.
Give me a little piece.
Aaron doesn't eat much meat and fish.
Give me a little bite. - Eat as much as you want.
It's too much.
Take a piece of it.
That's it.
Yaakov, take more. Why don't you eat?
I don't like it.
Everything your mama makes is delicious.
You have a beautiful family.
Thanks.
So, what are you doing in Jerusalem?
Saving some money, working...
Where do you live?
In the small room at the butcher shop.
In the storage room?
It's only temporary.
Do you have family here? - No.
And what about a wife?
With God's help, when the time comes.
I see... If you need something, don't be shy, OK? Just tell us.
Cut that in smaller pieces.
These ones? - Yes.
One by one. Separate them.
Not like that. Never cross your arms.
The knife is always pointing towards the board. Strong.
Why do you smile? Have you ever seen a butcher smiling?
The knife is your tool, you must respect it.
We need to put the meat in the slicer.
I'll do it.
No, you can't do it on your own. Wait for me.
Shalom Alechem...
Shalom to you!
Shalom.
People are waiting for us, Reb Aaron.
Waiting, waiting...
All this is for me?
That's for you.
Ah... my steaks.
Go by yourself. I'm very busy.
I don't have a driving license, Reb Aaron.
But I'm busy.
That place is at the end of the world.
It's OK.
You can go, I'll do it.
Shouldn't you put a bandage on it?
He's from Sefad... - Who?
Your apprentice.
I know, he studied at "Or Vachesed".
I know. He was thrown out.
Why?
He did too many good deeds...
Nothing good can come out of this. Send him away.
What about the community's duty of charity?
My father would have hired him. It is his shop.
I help him to get closer to God.
Your father would have hired him? Are you sure?
He helps me to get closer to God.
What?
You don't know him.
People are talking about him. I'm concerned about you.
It's OK.
I don't care what people say about him.
With all your knowledge and wisdom,
you should understand this.
God gave Ezri life and substance. And Ezri's work of worshipping God
can only be accomplished by Ezri.
Look at this loser.
Israel Fisher.
He was seen around with Mordechai's daughter,
Sara.
Another trouble-maker.
What's up?
Does this place inspire you?
Sometimes.
I didn't want to interrupt you. Carry on painting.
It's drawing. You're not disturbing me.
Carry on.
Could you draw me?
Sit down.
Take the hat off.
Relax, be natural.
Relax your face, too.
So, why did you come here?
Were you looking for me?
No. I forgot something in the shop.
Restrain yourself.
We have an opportunity to rise,
to overcome, to fulfill our destiny in this world.
This challenge wouldn't have come to us if we couldn't face it.
Why did God create lust?
For the catharsis of the soul.
We have a mission.
The Lord didn't create broken tools. There is no such thing as 'broken'!
Look, what beauty,
what complexity... You are a masterpiece.
This is our challenge.
This is the challenge that only we can overcome.
No ordinary men can deal with this challenge.
I was at the ritual bath today.
Aaron?
- What?
Could you help me with the delivery?
Come.
Easy.
Lift it. Help me.
You finished? - In a second.
Are you OK?
Fine.
Why are you always so serious? Smile. We finished.
Smile.
Are you OK?
Are you hungry?
I'm hungry-
Let's eat something.
What? Haven't you eaten yet?
No, I waited for you.
Were you busy at work today? - Yes, thank God.
So that's good, isn't it? - Yes.
I met Rabbi Weisban. He said he passed by the shop.
He's happy you reopened.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
I think it's good that the shop is open again,
especially now for the holidays.
Bless God and His Kingdom.
May He rest the souls of our dead in heaven.
He continues to see Sara. - Who?
That Israel Fisher I showed you.
Look at her father, Mordechai suffers.
It wasn't easy to find her a decent match.
How are you, Sara?
Good, with God's help. Did you prepare the meat for me?
Dad! - Don't run around here, Yaakov!
Dad, I need to go to the toilet.
Thanks, how much is it? - Never mind, pay later.
Yaakov, don't stand here.
Dad, I need to go to the toilet... - What? -I want to pay now.
Go cut the meat. You want to pay now...
It's 90 shekels. - Aaron, what about my meat?
Dad, I need the toilet... - Enough!
Try to come home early today.
OK, we'll see.
Goodbye.
God promises the righteous men to sit around him in heaven.
It's written not only for the righteous.
It is meant for each one of us.
Even the lowest people among Jews are full of good deeds.
Even the sinners.
If someone makes a mistake and sins, he always has another opportunity.
If he corrects the mistake, it will be considered as success.
"Your wisdom is better for me than any gold and silver"...
Enjoy.
This is good.
Menahem Fleischman
Shalom. - Shalom, welcome.
Look, Reb Aaron,
the boy that works for you doesn't belong here.
What do you mean?
Nothing good can come out of this.
There are rumors.
He is a curse to righteous men.
Butcher, don't bring him to our home.
Don't take him to the synagogue and not to our neighborhood.
Ezri.
I didn't wake up.
Do you know what time it is?
Why didn't you wake me?
CLOSED
You have been warned...
Watch out for these sinners,
looking as our own. They've come here to ruin us.
Good morning, Sara. How are you?
Did you see Aaron?
No, sorry. Have you checked the shop?
It's closed. - I haven't seen him.
Bless me...
Yaakov!
How was your day?
Really busy.
What's wrong?
Everything is fine. It's only in your head.
Aaron isn't here?
No.
It's a good sign.
What?
If he left you alone in the shop it's a good sign.
I need 2 kilos of this meat.
Sure.
Is there a bigger piece?
It is fresh, right?
Yes, from yesterday.
I'll take it all.
Can you clean it for me?
Thanks.
You learned well how to do this.
Thanks.
It's probably hard to be alone.
Come to dinner tonight.
I will do all the talking. - You go without me.
He is going crazy.
Who? - Mordechai.
Enough.
Sara is a wandering sheep. We have to help her.
I have my own troubles now.
That's exactly why it's the best time.
Dad, where are you going? - I should've done this long ago.
Dad, wait.
Drive!
Yes?
Shalom to you all.
Shalom.
Why are you here?
You know very well why we're here!
Come, let's sit and talk. - I'm fine here.
Israel, you know who we are...
We have to talk.
We have nothing to talk about.
Israel, it's better not to start like this.
Sara is engaged to marry a righteous man.
From today on, you will have nothing to do with her.
No dates, no telephone calls, nothing...
Do you really want to ruin your daughter's life?
Don't tell me how to bring her up.
We're not playing games. She's my whole life.
Leave my little girl alone! - She's not a little girl.
If your mother wasn't here, I'd knock you down!
I love her!
I'd do anything for her!
Do you love her?
Don't say that in front of her father.
We stopped the 'modesty guards' from coming here.
They'd knock, and when you open, they'd turn your home upside down.
They'd beat you up and your mom would scream,
but nobody would come to help you.
You could flee to the synagogue,
but nothing would help, because everyone knows about it.
You can't do what you feel like here. Do you get it?
Give this to Dad.
Eat up.
Daddy, I got 100 in Humesh.
Very good.
We came to the shop to show it to you, but you weren't there.
A sinner in our neighborhood
Who knows what unholy meat is being prepared in our butcheries?
He is unholy.
Congratulations!
A sinner in our neighborhood
Bless God and His kingdom.
May He rest the souls of our dead in heaven.
We cannot go on like this.
I have a family, a wife, children.
And I have only you.
I'll take care of you.
Righteous man, you didn't listen to us.
Do you want people to stop buying here? We'll boycott you.
You are feeding them forbidden food.
Not only will you have to close your business,
but your family won't be able to live here anymore.
You'll have to leave this neighborhood.
You won't be left any choice, righteous man!
As righteous as you are, you don't decide here anymore.
Shalom Alechem.
What's going on here?
Is all the meat gone?
Rabbi Weisban, listen... - I'll talk to him.
It's a shame. It should have been taken care of yesterday already.
There's no time to waste.
I know him, it will be fine. I knew his father.
His father was an honest man.
We don't want to risk our children's future.
It's a matter of life and death!
You're just making a mountain out of a molehill. You have no proof.
We don't have to suffer for the experiment you're running here!
Go upstairs and see what's going on.
We don't want to endanger our children's souls.
It's already gotten to you.
Others will be affected by what you're harboring here!
What do you know about children, you menace? Get out!
What kind of Torah students are you? - We're staying.
I decide here! Don't argue with me.
You're Torah students? You're criminals.
Get out of here! Get out!
Why is it so hard just to tell him to go?
Why do you insist on having him here?
Answer me, Reb Aaron.
What's the matter? Did your father cut your tongue?
Talk to me!
I feel alive.
I need him.
I was dead,
and now I'm alive.
This is yours?
Sinner!
Sinner and seducer!
You have no place in the afterworld. Sinner.
We have to keep distance from you.
We have to cast you out.
No one should come close to you.
Go away!
Go away! Go away!
I know.
I know what you are praying for, Aaron.
Where do you want to be?
I want to be here.
Do you want me to go? - No, but you have to decide.
There is nothing to decide. I want to be here.
What are we going to do? This is our home.
I didn't bring anything into our home.
It's not mine, it's not in me.
It's the evil that took over me.
I didn't bring it into our home.
Protect me.
Mom, what is this? - Something Shimon wont eat.
Put this in the bag and divide the coins.
Take the sandwich for now.
Good. come over here.