Produced for Religious Films Ltd. in the United Kingdom, “The Synagogue and the Passover” (1941) is a black-and-white educational film that sheds light on religious practice in the synagogue and customs around the Jewish holiday of Passover. Directed by Mary Field, the film is part of a larger series called “Two Thousand Years Ago: A reconstruction of life in Palestine” that sought to offer insight into religious life in Jerusalem during the time of Christ.
Opening credits, title page (0:07). View of Jerusalem (0:27). View of housing, passageways in old-walled city of Jerusalem: Families walk along narrow winding paths to the synagogue, shops closed on sabbath (0:30). Synagogue located on high ground in relation to rest of city, congregants ascend stairs and enter synagogue; Men enter prayer hall on lower level while women climb stairs to gallery where they observe through wood-lattice screen prayer service below (1:46). Men wrap their tallit (prayer shawl) around their backs before entering into prayer hall (2:24). Interior set-up of men’s prayer space: Elders sit in row to right of ark, stone building with wooden pulpit, stone benches, star of David covers window opening (2:42). The hazzan (verger) stops to young boys who are running through the prayer space, instills order (2:57). Camera pans up to view of women’s gallery, women and young girls peer out through wood-lattice screen (3:21). Ruler rises and draws tallit over his head, rest of congregation follows suit, leads congregation in prayer (3:59). Hazzan opens ark and removes Torah Scroll, each scroll in embroidered cloth case, hazzan passes through prayer space and men touch scroll with tassel of tallit and kiss tassel (4:38). Hazzan carries Torah Scroll up wooden pulpit and prepares it for reading, as Jews at this time spoke Aramaic scholar of Hebrew stands by to translate scripture (5:53). Ruler chooses member of congregation randomly to read, translator translates after each sentence (6:21). When reading over, ruler asks rabbi to go to pulpit and preach; Active discussion and debate among congregation with rabbi about sermon (7:20). Ruler stands, congregation follows, and hazzan holds up Torah Scroll marking end of debate; Scroll rolled up and returned to ark while psalm sung (8:58). Scroll returned to ark, hazzan, ruler, rabbi say special prayer facing congregation; Men rover tallits and exit prayer space (10:00). Families reunite outside (10:55). Boy asks father about Passover, father kneels down and draws map of Egypt and Palestine in sand to explain origin story (11:02). Jerusalem during Passover: Caravanserai bustling with travelers, some turned away (11:30). Other travelers set up tent, cook over open flame in outskirts of city (12:18). Young boy servant turns spit roasting lamb, most important part of feast (12:39). Home of wealthy Jewish family: men gather in garden courtyard; Host rises and leads prayer to mark start of Passover feast; Male servant serves first glass of wine and washes hands (13:03). Steps of feast: Men eat bitter herbs from platter, host prepares Afikoman and hands out rest of matzah, second serving of wine, youngest guest asks story of Passover to which host recounts story, men rise to sing song while lamb is prepared for serving, host says another prayer and third glass of wine drunk, sing another song, fourth and last cup of wine drunk, host rises and pronounces final blessing (13:58-19:40). Camera pauses on iron Star of David candle holder, flame burns through center of star (19:44). Closing credits (19:50). Film ends (20:09).
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