I missed the first part of this movie so I couldn't understand why she is married to her husband's (dead) younger brother. They weren't living as husband and wife so I can't understand why they married. Hope someone will take the time to explain this to me. This is not a movie you should get into after 30 minutes or so. Too many questions....I got the answer to the wigs.
shareI don't know a lot about the Jewish Religion but his brother was a Rabbi, the brother had to marry the widow and then they divorce later...I'm actually still confused as to why they had to do this...sorry.
If I had a dollar for every time I got distracted,
I wish I had some ice cream
they way it goes. the brother died, so the widow , who was childless has to marry the younger brother to further the brothers name.
same thing happened to my aunt. my family is muslim. My aunt who is the oldest passed away. the younger sister had to marry her husband. this was also in the 70s in the middle east
who was childless has to marry the younger brother to further the brothers name.
the eldest son of Leah and Jake would be raised as Benjamin's heir; all other sons would be Jakcob's securing his place in Israel. From the monment of time wae saw in the movie, Benjamin and Jacob - as sons - suggest that their children woul be mostly male, continuing both nanes
BUT what if Leah were to bear only daughters to Jacob and in Ben's name?
"Vademecum..."
That explains a lot. Thanks!
Great question concerning if only girls were born to them!
They said at the beginning that they had to wait 3 months to see if Leah was pregnant. If she was not, there was a ceremony releasing them from the obligation.
But Jake would have to deny his dead brother's existence, and he couldn't do it, and talked Leah into going through with it, to live like roommates
It's an ancient Jewish custom.
I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.
Like most religions, they have rules for marriage that really make no sense, were created by (nominally) celibate men who know little or nothing about marriage or human nature or genetics. They're too blinded by the Divinity they seek.
I'm Catholic, divorce is forbidden to us by doctrine, but the Church does nothing to enforce it. Nor do they review a divorce and move to help the one left inside the Church after a divorce occurs.
Even if a couple who were divorcees met, fell in love and could build a solid Catholic family - they can't marry without special, costly dispensation from the Church. What happens? The leave the Catholic Church, convert and raise their childern in another faith.
Point to consider: What if Leah was gentically dominant and gave birth to only female children, despite the Levers having had two boys? Who preserves Benjamin and Jacob Lever's names in Israel then?
"Vademecum..."
This should explain to you the why and wherefore of a Levirite Marriage, an marriage to keep a dead brother's name alive in Israel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levirate_marriage
I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; AND I WILL BE HEARD!