Commandment 613
A 23-minute documentary film by Miriam Lewin and Randi Cecchine, 2020
In this short documentary, Rabbi Kevin Hale practices the sacred craft of a Torah scribe, bring new life to scrolls that were saved in Czechoslovakia during the Shoah. In conjunction with an at-home virtual screening of the film, Historic Northampton and Circles for Jewish Living are honored to co-sponsor a virtual calligraphy demo and class led by Rabbi Kevin Hale and a virtual film discussion with Rabbi Hale and producer/director Miriam Lewin and cinematographer Randi Cecchine. The film discussion will be moderated by Larry Hott of Florentine Films/Hott Productions.
March 5, 2021
link available as of 9:00 am Watch the
documentary at home |
Sunday, March 7, 2021
at 10:30 AM Attend the virtual calligraphy demo / class*
|
Monday, March 8, 2021
at 7:00 PM Join the
virtual film discussion |
By clicking the registration button, you will be directed to the website
of the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival to register for these programs.
of the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival to register for these programs.
*For the demo/class, you will need paper, pencil, ruler and a calligraphy pen or chisel-tip marker.
Watch Commandment 613 at home
Friday, March 5, 2021, as of 9:00 am, the link will be available for 96 hours.
DOCUMENTARY | 2020 | 23 MINUTES
DIRECTED BY MIRIAM LEWIN CINEMATOGRAPHY BY RANDI CECCHINE UNITED STATES | ENGLISH |
Torah scrolls are written by hand, following rules that go back thousands of years. Made to last for centuries, they are central to Jewish ritual; what is contained in them – the first five books of the Hebrew Bible – is the foundation of Jewish life. The final commandment in the Torah, number 613, is to write the scroll for yourself.
In this short documentary we meet Rabbi Kevin Hale, a joyful Torah scribe who restores scrolls that were saved in Czechoslovakia during the Shoah. As he goes about his sacred craft, this son of refugees from Nazi Germany reflects on his own path to a life of faith and practice. And, at communities now entrusted with the scrolls, congregants and clergy explain the powerful bond they feel with these precious objects – and with the generations that previously cherished them. Register through the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival website. Watch Commandment 613 at home beginning March 5, 2021 at 9:00 am. The link will be available for 96 hours.
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Virtual Calligraphy Demo/Class with Rabbi Kevin Hale
Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 10:30 AM
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Join us for an online calligraphy demonstration with Commandment 613 film subject Rabbi Kevin Hale of Northampton. Rabbi Hale will be showing us the traditional tools, materials and techniques used to write and restore Torah scrolls and other sacred texts, as he guides us in writing Hebrew letters. All ages are welcome. Free and open to the public.
* For this instruction, you will need paper, pencil, ruler and a calligraphy pen or chisel-tip marker. Click here to register for the workshop. |
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Film Discussion: Zoom Conversation and Q&A
Monday, March 8, 2021 at 7:00 PM
This Zoom Conservation and Q&A will feature Miriam Lewin, producer/director; Rabbi Kevin Hale, sofer; and Randi Cecchine, cinematographer/editor. Larry Hott of Florentine Films/Hott Productions will moderate the film discussion.
Miriam Lewin
Producer/Director |
Rabbi Kevin Hale
Sofer |
Randi Cecchine
Cinematographer/Editor |