MovieChat Forums > The Chosen (1982) Discussion > saw this film in hebrew school

saw this film in hebrew school


I don't know what made me think of this movie now after having not seen it in 10 years, but I was wondering how long it would take someone else to come across this post since I imagine the only people who've seen this movie watched it an equally long time ago.

I'm guessing no reply untill March 2006. Please reply if you read this and no one else has.

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Hi BlueKirby,
I'll reply to your posting seeing as how you chose my birthday to write.
I came across this film when reading through the Rabbi Gershom Website, not that I am Jewish but just interested in life and customs generally.
I may even buy the DVd as it looks quite interesting.
So you didn't have to wait so long at all for a reply did you?

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is this movie any good? i absolutely love the book. if anyone has an opinion one way or the other i'd like to hear it.

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[deleted]

"Can you imagine if everyone in America would live like these people do in their religeous and family life? There would be no broken families. America would have no crime or corruption and our jails would be empty."


Yeah and everyone would have 9 children even if they can't afford it, and one of them would be mentally retarded which would increase taxes for more special needs students, Women would not be allowed to drive so public busing would increase taxes EVERYWHERE, everyone would vote as the main Rebbi votes so there would be a ONE PARTY system of government (as if our limited two party system is shortsighted enough)I can go on and on if you want. Ofcourse you're just going to say I'm antisemetic because I dare to call these people out..Even though I respect mainstream and orthodox jews.

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[deleted]

"Dude,calm down. Your secular socialist world wins. For now. "


What does Socialism and Secularism have to do with my statement? I don't know if you live near a Hasidic community but I do and I assure you that their community is a drain on the surrounding communities. The average Household income is like 15 grand and they have 8 to 10 kids and they don;t "allow" their women to work, Guess who supports them?

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[deleted]

Yep, I knew you would "go there". If anyone brings holds them accountable for unjust pratices they are automatically compared to nazis. How very short sighted. No they are not using MY public schools. They are using there own segregated PUBLIc schools. In other words they use schools that I pay for but only THEY use. My "final solution" as you put it (how subtle) is to raise awareness that these people are not the peace loving isolationist that they are made out to be in movies such as "the Chosen" and "a stranger among us" but they are instead a community that shows no control over their own population growth as compared to resources to support it. For example, due to their out of control birthrates they require that their "town" (if you can call it that) has their water tapped into the NYC pipline. yet, they don't want to pay for it. They expect the responsible tax payers of the surrounding communities to pay for it.The enviromental consequences will also be damaging to the surrounding communities. They don't allow their women to drive so the tax payers in the surrounding communities must pay for public busing in their communities. They continue to have children way past the age for a woman to have a health child so naturally they have alot of mentally retarded and special needs children that we have to educate. I can go on and on about what irritates me about them but in a nut shell, they seem to take and take from public programs but they give nothing back.


"What are you gonna do about us Jews???"

Are you part of the hasidm? There are plenty of jewish people in my community who are just as outraged about these people as i am.

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[deleted]

oh for crying out loud, you have no idea what you are talking about. Making people aware of them will not make them go away but it will show people in my community to not support the cowardly politicians who want their block vote and therefore allow them to have all their handouts at the expense of the surrounding tax payers. I'm not interested in sending them away I'm just interested in having them play by the same rules I play by. You want to talk about cowardly, instead of researching the Kiryas Joel community in Orange county New york ( you didn't even ask where these people where you just assumed antisemitism), you assume that I (snicker) "hate God's chosen people" I presented some examples of how they take from the greater community without reciprocating. I gave you facts and figures (ie salaries and birth rates) and all you can give me is the "I'm a tough guy marine so don't mess with me rebuttal"


"Why don't you at least have the guts to admit your Jew hating like the supremicist do"

because thats what you want me to do. If I just say that then you can just dismiss my point without learning about or debating the actual issue and then I would let you off easy.

"You try to mask it with some phony environmental concern "
I can see why it's not important to you. You live in smog town USA and you're used to polution and a corruped enviroment.
but, you don't live here. You don't see what their expanding community has done to our beautiful country side so how can you assume my enviromental issue is
phony?
Its a real issue as proven by this link. The powers that be consider it important. Are they Jew haters too?

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/10/21/pipe21.htm

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/01/11/11myview.htm

"There is nothing worse or sneakier than a coward who mask his hatred with "social concerns" Dont be a sissy"

Again, you assume. You have no idea about how active I am in my community to prevent the KJ pipeline or how many protest I've been in and envelopes I stuffed. I guess it doesn't count until I get in a fist fight with someone in your shortsighted overly simplistic views.


"And I truly believe after reading your stuff that you are an anti-semite."

Well, you're not alone. Whenever their community is held accountable for their actions or challenged , the word antisemite is bought up. It's easier to just assume that then to actually have to look at the issues and realise whats fair and not.

yahoo id rebelscum820. You can Pm me there. I'm not going to give my name on here and you posting yours was foolish,

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[deleted]

Exactly what do you contribute to society? Certainly not your great wit, nor your prowess in writing. Thank G-d we are protected by the enormity of your stupidity.

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"Exactly what do you contribute to society?"

Lets see? I make a difference in the life of a developmentally disabled individual on a daily basis? I pay taxes like you would not believe. I donate blood on a regular basis. I'm a good father and husband who procreats responsibly and does not expect others to support me as I isolate myself from society. I'm politically active and fight what I believe to be an injustice in a legal and respectful way.It's real funny how you also refused to research the issue and decided to just be insulting. You don't know what you're talking about and when you actually gain some understanding of the issue then I will debate you and my "great wit" will crush you. Have a nice day.
PS I will only respond to debates on the issue . Your pathetic insults because you lack understanding will not be responded to any longer. I provided links in my other post that should help you along.

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[deleted]

No offense, but I think you're over reacting, and I'm Jewish myself.

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I don't understand why not driving would make taxpayers pay for bussing, and how txes are paying for their schools, since they're private, and recieve very little government funding. (food and books, if I'm not mistaken)

About the school for disabled children.. are you referring to the Kiryas Joel case?

Additionally, it is the secular world where women bear children "way past a healthy age", especially (medical fact) since they have not have any children previously.

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[deleted]

Doubt you will see this since so much time as passed, but may I ask why you are obscessed by their "out of control birth rates? But maybe it is that, like some Muslims or the Christian Amish, do take their religion seriously, and that maybe their notions of family--and life--and literally more fruitful
than those at the other extreme, of couples who bear no children at all or reveal in their "complete" families of a boy and a girl. The result is a dying society which has so little trust in the future that
their land will soon be plowed under and better farmers will plant their crops. So much for "truth, justice, and the American way!

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Put your money where your jealous Gentile mouth is!! Provide me with proof that the average Hasidic family earns $15K per year. Jews (as a whole) are still the wealthiest ethnic group in America. Yet, they comprise a measly 2% of the American population. Yes, there are some poor Hasidic families in NYC. Just as there are poor Gentile (non-Jewish) families in NYC. However, there are just as many wealthy Hasidim who own businesses in the most expensive city in the world. That being NYC (with Bklyn & Manhattan as its epicenter for Jews). Are large, poor families only indigenous to Orthodox Jews? Why aren't you kvetching over New Yuericans, who breed like rug rats? IOW, when you focus solely on one group of people, it then becomes suspect. -D, NYC "The Jews of New York City today make up the largest, richest, most creative Jewish community in the world. Yet little more than a hundred years ago, most of them were desperately poor, living in teeming immigrant neighborhoods. How these Jews - through struggle, education, and determination -transformed themselves and their city is a great American success story. Jewish New Yorkers powered major city businesses such as the garment and media industries, reinvented Broadway theatre, and helped invent the modern labor movement. They also won Nobel Prizes and introduced the United States to such delights as pastrami, Egg Creams, and an intimitable form of Jewish comedy" - GREATEST JEWISH CITY IN THE WORLD, excerpt from JEWISH NY: NOTABLE NEIGHBORHOODS & MEMORABLE MOMENTS BY IRA WOLFMAN


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You accused yourself of being antisemetic. I imagine you know thy self.

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Ok, I understand why you think that people having nine cildren can't afford it, but why would one of them be mentally retarded? I live in a Chassidic neighborhood, and know the people very well, and I cna assure you that they do no all have one retarded child.

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[deleted]

This is a film on my all time favorites list. I am not Jewish but it really raised a lot of interest in Jewish life and culture. Its a really beautiful movie. The ending drove me to tears.

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[deleted]

Hello, It's March 1st! I actually saw this movie for the first time 2 years ago, and it has become a real favorite. The book is equally compelling. It was interesting to learn a bit about the Hassidim and Judaism, but I don't normally look to movies for complete accuracy. I loved the performances by all involved, and I am a big Robby Benson fan. The Chosen is available on DVD now. I would recommend adding it to your collection if you get the chance.

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[deleted]

I'm a rural Iowa Methodist Church preacher's kid so I really have no idea about Jewish lifestyle is in general, but I have the impression that's it's similar to the Amish that I live nearby...only they're rural compared to Hassidics as urban....15 kids, etc. My impression of Hassidics in New York is that all the men are diamond dealers. That true?

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thank you for actually asking as opposed to assuming but NO, they are not like the Amish. They are also not all Diamond dealers. From what I understand about the Amish, the Amish are self suffecient and rely on traditional technology to achieve their means. They believe in self preservation through hard work and honesty. the hasidic community near me relies on government funding and special programs to support their special religious considerations.

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Tis a pity that you have made this thread your life's work. I shant visit it again. The essence of the film (brilliantly acted) the subtleties of just Rod Steiger alone are staggering and breathtaking. This is a film not about Hasidic Jews or for that matter any Jews. It is a film about life and meeting life on one's own terms. It is summed up at the very end with this quote "There is a story in the Talmud about a king who had a son who went astray. The son was told, `Return to your father.` The son replied that he could not. The king then sent a messenger to the son with the message... `Come back to me as far as you can, and I will meet you the rest of the way.`"

Now you can rant and rave about all that you find negative about Jews. Please indulge yourself; and enjoy yourself; fulfill yourself. May your hatred sustain you for many years to come.

Alas, farewell!

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[deleted]

Tis a pity that you have made this thread your life's work"

I didn't. I made some comments about a particular Hasidic Community that is near me. You decided to challenge my position by calling assuming antisemitism. You go on and on about the movie. I never criticized the movie. Another poster made a comment about how nice it would be if we all lived like hasidic jews and I responded to that. Bdesides , it appears you deleted your post a few times before you posted this one. Looks like YOU took alot of time in this. Who's life work is it?


"you find negative about Jews."

Wrong again. "tis a pity" that you can't differenciate between Jews in general and the injustices commited by the hasidic community located by me. It's almost as if you are being an antisemite by stereotyping all jews based on the hasidic community.

"May your hatred sustain you for many years to come."

Hey, it's not hatred and if you actually took the time to research the issue as opposed to name calling you may have realized that. (then again you probabaly would not have because you're obviously of the opinion that since you are jewish other jews must be above criticism. How very insecure of you)
I do not believe anyone is above critism (included myself, but you need to back up your criticism with honest debate)

"I shant visit it again"

Visit or don't visit it. Post or don't post. I don't care. I only ask that if you acuse me of antisemitism and racism you have facts to educate me as to why I am wrong about my point of view.

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U REBEL SCUM!!

if you are not antisemetic then why do you come on a jewish board and offend jewish people, i am a jew not a hasidic jew but very religous!!! i happen to go to the jewish school (yeshiva), and happen to have many people in my family and, i wear a skirt so stop with your comments!

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I would not have responded at all but I had to respond when that one poster made a point to say something about how great things would be if everyone lived like the hasadics. He/She made a comment and I responded to it and I was then accused of antisemitism. Why do you feel that people are above criticism because they are jewish? Nobody is above criticism . I don't know why my comments offend you. I was only making a well researched and well informed comment about the practices about a particular hasidic community and as far as I know from your post you're not part of that community. If you want to have solidarity with this community then I suggest you research them so you know what you're signing onto. You say you're a Jew well, I'm not, but I will tell you that there are plenty of Jewish neighbors around me who are also outraged by this community.


PS I don't care if you wear a skirt, a dress or aqua socks. Why must I stop with my comments? (even though I stopped months ago so I don't know what you're talking about)If you want me to stop then don't have a counterpoint in my inbox when I check my email because obviously I'm going to defend my position if challenged. I'm entitled to my opinion and if you care to debate with me my yahoo id is rebelscum820 and we can IM for hours if you want.

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I don't think he is Anti- Semitic...

I see his points, especially coming from an someone looking in from the outside. It's very easy to see the negative side of that particular community that I think he's talking about... Kiryas Joel.

He's been very rational, and we all do the same thing to differnet communities ourselves. (races, actually)

The decent thing to do would be to respectfully disagree and backup your opinion with facts.

It seems that people think that because these posts are anonymous, they can write whatever they want and act completely nasty. This is a complete disgrace. (chilul Hashem, for all you co-religionists)

An Orthodox Jew

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"I don't think he is Anti- Semitic"

WOW, thank you..I know I'm not antisemetic.

"He's been very rational, and we all do the same thing to differnet communities ourselves. (races, actually)"

Thank you so much for your open mind. I basically come from the stand point that NOBODY is above criticism.


It's very easy to see the negative side of that particular community that I think he's talking about... Kiryas Joel.

Well, you obviously live somewhere in or near the hudson valley...therefore I will respect your opinions of KJ, because you actually KNOW of it.

"An Orthodox Jew"

And I wish you and your loved ones all the peace and fullfillment and happiness that life has to offer. If I was an anti -Semite I probably would not..lol

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This is the most intelligent and rational post on this thread. I happen to agree completely. Kudos, mrfl.

"Milk's one of nature's... non-temperature hang on-ers."

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John (I am assuming this is your name from your username),
I could not agree with you more. I am not technically Jewish because my mother is not, but my Dad gave me this book when I was 12 or so and it touched me and made me think. Honestly, it continues to make me think to this day. I think it is a book about family dynamics and how we always have to make choices based on what we think is right. It also deals with the conflicts that sometimes occur between our beliefs and our aspirations and that there is a price to pay for the choices we do make. I also read My Name is Asher Lev, which I also loved for the same reasons.
I'm not sure why this guy that lives near a Hasidic community resents their existence/practices or why he feels that this is the place to present his frustrations. I have met many people in my life that simply don't understand the truth that we are the masters of our own destiny and that obsession on how someone else is getting it easier than we are is simply a distraction from the path to success/fullfillment. I also believe that respect is the first step in understanding... another lesson that many forget.
I join you in celebrating the book and this movie.
Best Regards,
Dan

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The hasidic community seves society by studying the torah. they believe that without study, the world will not be able to stand by itself. i respect 'em for that. hasidim pay taxes like everyone else. the reason why they dont go to public schools is that boys and girls learn seperately at a young age (women learn certain parts that pertain to them, men learn other parts of the torah). they dont teach torah in public school.

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A lot of us...

Depends which community you go to...

In some places it's the steroetypical doctor, lawyer, accountant professions, (some do so after a few years of Jewish studies)and in others, it isn't considered religous enough to pursue a profession instead of learning (Jewish studies) full time. (Men) What ends up happening is that the ones for whom a college building is equatable to a church or mosque, ofr example, are foced to make by doing things like opening up stores, somehting which for most people, is far beneath their intellignece level.

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...But I am currently reading the book. I found it on a book shelf in my parent's library while in PA for Thanksgiving. It looked interesting so I started reading it. I find it to be very beautifully written. I am in a relationship with a Jewish man and have been for 2 1/2 years. It will be three years in Feb of 2007. I, myself, am not Jewish. I find that I am learning a great deal about the Religion and the culture. My boyfriend is also Russian. I would really love to see the film.

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just watched it with my 12 year old son, beautiful, moving film..C.

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There are different groups of Hassidim just there are is variety among the Amish, the mormons etc.

There are problems, yes there are and KJ is definitely not an untroubled paradise. But then again, don't think all Chassidim are like that, they are not a homogenous group.

Another Orthodox Jew

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You can not hold up one small sliver of these people and say they are all like this. Granted there are good and bad in every religion and race. The over whelming majority of Hasidic Jews would prefer to be left alone. I really do not see them doing any harm.

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