Leap of Faith, a film exploring the phenomenon of religious conversion to Orthodox Judaism, will be screened on Motzoei Shabbos, February 11, (15 Shevat), 8:30 pm, at Bais Levi Yitzchak Shul 556 Crown Street in Crown Heights.
The documentary’s director Yehuda Benjamin will introduce the film and there will be a Q + A after the screening.
The feature-length film follows the path of four American families — a young woman from Trinidad; a family who leaves their dream home in the remote mountains of Colorado; a career soldier and single mother; and an elderly couple from Kansas — as they struggle with the life-altering decision to abandon the faith of their childhood and opt for religious conversion to Orthodox Judaism.
The film takes an in-depth look at one of modern man’s more dramatic and difficult spiritual journeys: a journey that moves the voyager to forsake the religion of parents, abandon the traditions of childhood and enter into a wholly new, often radically different system of belief and practice of worship.
It is a decision that some will find courageous, others utterly absurd. We will witness a host of crises and triumphs and often surprising consequences.
Filmed over a three-year period, with intimate access to the often insular world of Orthodox Judaism, Leap of Faith is the rare documentary that chronicles not only the deeply emotional process of religious conversion — from Gentile to Orthodox Jew — but also its effects on children and extended families. Seen from one perspective, Leap of Faith is a story of ultimate devotion; from another, ultimate betrayal.
Leap of Faith was an official selection of the New York Jewish Film Festival at Lincoln Center, The Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival, The Berlin Jewish Film Festival, The Boston Jewish Film Festival, as well as Jewish film festivals in Hong Kong, Rio di Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Bucharest, Detroit, Austin, Stamford, Sarasota, Detroit and Denver.
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance (please indicate the number of men and women) through the Bais Levi Yitzchak PayPal account: www.blys.org (see PayPal link) or by check to: Bais Levi Yitzchak, 383 Kingston Avenue, Suite 249, Brooklyn, NY 11213. For more information contact info@blys.org or call:
917 327 9493 or 917 941 3973. As space is limited, advance reservations are highly recommended: Separate seating.
Stories that need to be told!
It has to be open to the public so that Jews can understand WHY there are Laws to protect,love and care for converts. Too many people i know have tons on opinions on the topic they know absolutely nothing about. its a wonderful thing. Enjoy the documentary.
I believe the conversion process is one of the most amazing and courageous processes there are for a person to choose. That being said I’m not sure that opening up this topic to the main public considers the raw emotions involved. Every single person has a different experience and many don’t realize the sensitivity involved. I have yet to see this film yet I’m a bit nervous because of all the many impossible to understand angles that can not be readily explained if not having lived it. BH
I’m sure that the Rabbis who did the conversions know what you know and perhaps a bit more. Let’s let them do their job while we do our job of being good welcoming and accepting neighbors and friends.
To “Awesome,” Converts are always told and encouraged to keep the Noahide laws before they start the Orthodox conversion process. Only the sincere converts make it through the emotional and absolutely life altering process.
How can we see this if we are not in NY for the possibility of showing in our Chabad house?
This is amazing, but I understand they should be encouraged to be a follower of the Noahide laws first and understand they can be fine human beings if they do this. Only after some significant time if they are truly not satisfied can conversion be considered a possible option.
Where can I watch it online? Can I rent it
Thank you in advance!