What did you think?

very, very powerful and awe inspiring

By: Adelman on September 19, 2008
at 9:34 pm

Great video, very inspiring, but (and you probably don’t know this), you need to change the thumbnail picture that Youtube chose for your video there. The title is “Who Shall Live” and the photo is Obama. This could be easy misconstrued.
Thanks,
Gershon

By: Gershon on September 21, 2008
at 3:28 am

Pretty amazing.

By: Elie Hirschman on September 21, 2008
at 3:30 am

This made me cry, it was lovely. Made tangible all my feelings about this past year and the year to come. Very well done, I hope that the rest of my elul will be better thanks to you!

By: S Cooper on September 21, 2008
at 6:50 am

Very moving. I believe that this would appeal to an additional audience if U’Netaneh Tokeh were available chanted in Tzephardit. Eshkenazis is used by a specific, yeshivish or Haredi audience, the two not necessarily being the same.

The universality of the themes shown may not always be appreciated by the latter audience. (See the blog, “Vos Iz Neias,” for examples in content and comments.)

Thank you.

By: Norman E. La Cholter on September 21, 2008
at 9:23 am

Gadol! May all those involved go from strength to strength.

By: Briana Simon on September 21, 2008
at 12:26 pm

very well done.

By: anonymous on September 21, 2008
at 1:04 pm

Yehudah Solomon vocals and the musical arrangement style is very good.

By: Judah on September 21, 2008
at 1:30 pm

I very nearly wept. Truly moving.

By: judy cardozo on September 21, 2008
at 3:55 pm

The video successfully communicates the “high stakes” of Yom HaDin, so that one cannot state that he or she went into “trial” uninformed.

By: Robert W. Hirsh on September 21, 2008
at 6:38 pm

Interesting, moving, provocative.
Your headline about Lehman should include this info:

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200809150751DOWJONESDJONLINE000296_FORTUNE5.htm

By: Seinfeld on September 21, 2008
at 6:45 pm

kiddush hashem – you guys are doing something so amazing please do more to bring more yedens to the fold… time is running out.
thank you so much, may you see hashem dwells in all you do.
Hagit

By: hagit on September 21, 2008
at 8:10 pm

this is one of the most inspiring video i have ever seen, thank you

By: anonymous on September 21, 2008
at 10:59 pm

Very inspiring and powerful images. A must see.

By: Sruly on September 22, 2008
at 2:19 am

B”H This was great
where can we get the Yehudah Solomon song to listen to?

By: will on September 22, 2008
at 4:42 am

Thank you; gave me a moment to reflect.

By: theo on September 22, 2008
at 6:49 pm

Thank you for putting everything in such clear perspective… this tefillah is so powerful, but your video brought it to life; i’ve never felt that emotionally impacted by unetaneh tokef. it made me cry… for all the loss and suffering others experienced this year. and it jolted my mind and heart in a good way… rosh hashana is not about meal plans and guests; it’s about teshuva, tefilla and tzedaka… it made me feel that i should be thinking about the pivotal impact this day can have on the rest of my life…and to take it very seriously…
so thank you for the emotional and spiritual wake-up call. it’s good to have that BEFORE rosh hashana starts…

By: Sarah Lerner on September 22, 2008
at 7:04 pm

So important to make Rosh Hashana real in our lives…beautiful…so much to think about…your creativity is such a tool for good in the world….

By: Anonymous on September 22, 2008
at 9:08 pm

So appropriate during the week of Slichos – as we approach Rosh Hashana may your video touch the lives and prayers of many, as it has for me and my family.

By: Av on September 23, 2008
at 12:19 am

Powerful, frightening, real. Thank you.
Ketivah vechasima tovah

By: Shira on September 23, 2008
at 12:57 am

This 6 minute video was very powerful.
May we all daven very hard this year and may we all give up lashon ha’rah.

Kol Hakavod to all who had a hand in creating this fantastic video. May all of you and may all of us be blessed with a k’tivah v’chatimah tovah.

It is amazing how creative technology can “kedushify” [make holy] the Internet.

By: Lenny Davidman on September 23, 2008
at 1:32 am

great editing. how did you do the effect near the end where the pictures “rush” into the center of the screen???

please advise.

By: jon on September 23, 2008
at 5:47 am

I plan to post your inspirational video on my blog about coping with medical crises http://itsmycrisisandillcryifineedto.blogspot.com/

Shana tova u’mevorach, Yochi

By: Yocheved Golani on September 23, 2008
at 10:17 am

Absolutely fantastic. I’m sending this off to all my friends and family and it will be mandatory for my children to watch.

By: RB on September 23, 2008
at 10:47 am

Excellent video. All yeshivot of all types should see this as part of their Yamim Noraim Curriculum. This can also be made into posters for classrooms.

By: Elchanon on September 23, 2008
at 1:01 pm

I found the video very confusing. Is it saying that if we pray hard enough then there will be no famine or disaster this coming year?

By: Anonymous on September 23, 2008
at 1:24 pm

Wow, very powerful! it gave me the appropriate wake up call to the reality of what happens on Rosh Hashana. I feel inspired to repent and prepare better for the day when we all “pass” in front of Hashem for judgment. thank you for this very special piece of media inspiration.

By: esther on September 23, 2008
at 3:15 pm

Excellent Video thank you for sharring this!
We can make a difference each and everyone of us can make changes to help heal this sick world.
Only if we know how to we can succeed! and Believe!
THank you
May Hashem bless his people to be the greatest light for all!
B’ezrat Hashem!!

By: Catherine Manna on September 23, 2008
at 4:03 pm

Thank you so much! it was really inspiring!

By: chana spira on September 23, 2008
at 5:00 pm

done very well. Just one point, why foucse on all the decrees G-D judged on the rest of the world, what about the judgments we The Jewish People have been reciving through out this pat year? Should we not foucs more on that?

By: dave on September 23, 2008
at 6:44 pm

wonderful. Shkoyach to the Rubins, Rabbi Korobkin, Yehuda Solomon and all involved.

What two minute videos were created for.

In the zechus of sensitizing all to the reality of the ymei Hadin may you all be “yotzay b’dimus” and merit a sweet new year.

By: The Bray of Fundie on September 23, 2008
at 7:14 pm

I thought it was wonderfully done as well.

My only partial critique is the inclusion of the Piru Lake tragedy to concretize “who will die”.

Not sure this takes the families heartbreak and sensitivities into account.

By: Schwartz on September 23, 2008
at 7:17 pm

So as I understand that video – that guy who drowned in the lake and the people who were killed in manyar didn’t give tishuva tifelah or tzedakah?

And who will be enriched applies to bill gates and wallmart?

And then after all that it says its amazing all that can happen in a year… I’m not so much inspired as terrified.

By: Anon on September 23, 2008
at 7:20 pm

very very very very very very very GOOD, it bought to life the entire meaning of “YOM HADIN”, it sent chills up my spine, i regretted all the bad i did after seeing this clip,

it also brings out the mighty power god has over his world.

thanks,

Ketivah Vchatima Tova

By: repent on September 23, 2008
at 7:24 pm

Very moving–it brought a tear to my eye and a chill to my spine.
There should be an Academy Award or equivalent for this short film, with its authentic niggun and moving music.

By: Moe Neuer on September 23, 2008
at 9:00 pm

Very moving.

I think there should be a warning at the beginning though–some of the scenes are very graphic (the images of starvation, strangled people)

By: Batsheva on September 23, 2008
at 9:37 pm

Moving video, except the latter part of the tefilah suggests (erroneously) in my opinion that repentence, prayer, and charity will somehow remove the “evil decree”. While I do believe in God, what evidence do we have that this formulation works? Why do we believe that we can manipulate God in this fashion? Many of the 6 million (including 1.5 milion children) who died in the Shoah, for example, repented, prayed, etc. to no avail. God did not punish these righteous Jews, evil people did.

By: Jason on September 23, 2008
at 11:06 pm

Excellent video.

To those who demand an explanation why bad things happen to good people, and to use that phenomenon as proof that prayer doesn’t work, I say that we can never truly understand why the good suffer or why prayer might not work, since we have limited understanding of the world, unlike God.

There will never be proof because we never can prove what might have happened had we not prayed. Since we can’t prove it one way or other, I choose to just believe in prayer. I believe that somehow, my prayer created an affect somewhere and resulted in a better outcome than had I not prayed.

To the commentator who said that praying manipulates God, I would say it’s more like praying changes US, not God. So the bad decree that God had in mind for us may no longer apply once we pray, since we are not the same people who deserved the bad decree before we prayed.

All this is true on a global sense. But in specific cases, no one can possibly say that the man who drowned in the lake died because he didn’t pray, give charity or repent enough, or the same for the 6 million, 1.5 children included, who perished in the Holocaust. We don’t know why anyone “deserves” death. The existence of good people suffering should not negate the power of prayer.

By: Esther on September 23, 2008
at 11:44 pm

thank you it was very inspiring.

Kativa ve hatema tova

By: Leah on September 24, 2008
at 12:04 am

Truly awesome… the video, but more so G-d

By: Izzy on September 24, 2008
at 12:40 am

Jason,

There is a famous analogy in judaism which explains how all Jews are connected to each other and that is a finger on a body. If a finger will turn on an air conditioner, then the whole body will get cold.
While it is true that there are plenty of people who don’t deserve bad things to happen to them, we have to understand that we are all individual limbs that make up the Jewish body as a whole. And of all the parts of the body, the brain is the first part to recognize change because it is the part of the body with a general awareness.
So too, in the jewish nation, those who are closer to g-d (the brain) sometimes are affected the most by the actions of the rest of nation.
Like Esther said above “we can never truly understand why the good suffer or why prayer might not work, since we have limited understanding of the world, unlike God”.
However, we should each strive to be the best person we can be in G-d’s eyes in order to strengthen the Jewish nation as a whole.

I wish you and all a Happy and Healthy Year.

By: Izzy on September 24, 2008
at 12:56 am

Magnificent. I will be thinking about it for a long time.
Thank you.

By: Gisela on September 24, 2008
at 1:35 am

Awe inspiring. I am truly touched and moved. Blessings!

By: Patrick on September 24, 2008
at 2:07 am

Great Movie!! well done.

By: simcha on September 24, 2008
at 3:12 am

excellant excellant. very well portrayed really touched my heart…..

By: anon on September 24, 2008
at 12:19 pm

Izzy and Esther, thanks for your responses. In essence however, what you are saying is that there is NO justice in this world. Despite the fact that God explicitly promises us in the Torah that reward and punishment are based on good and bad deeds respectively, you are arguing that this is not the case. So either the Torah is true or the facts before us prove (as it did to Alisha Ben Avuyah in the Talmud) that it is not. You cant have it both ways. Either the Torah reveals to us to some extent (and at the very least, to the extent that it is explicit like in the case of reward and punishment) the nature of God, or it reveals nothing to us. I dont have a problem you stating that we simply dont understand God. Fine. Then why is it that so many Orthodox claim that they do fully understand God?

By: Jason on September 24, 2008
at 12:31 pm

It’s a nicely done clip, but it requires one to believe that there is order in this world, when the evidence points to the contrary. This world is chaotic, and true justice is elusive. Finding order in the Torah, or any theology that attempts to explain this life, is an exercise in futility.

By: Rachel on September 24, 2008
at 1:44 pm

It was a beautiful and inspiring video, however, you only showed one side of the incredible tefila of unetane tokef. Where was the glory of Hashem? all you showed were disasters. Why couldn’t you show the beauty of Hashems world and the good that he gives us on an everyday basis rather than just the disasters. I cant send this to my cousin who is not religious, because it puts Judaism in a very negative, depressing slant.

By: phoenix on September 24, 2008
at 2:43 pm

amazing video, I passed it on as well
This video put even more meaning into my tehillim this Yom Tov

By: Anonymous on September 24, 2008
at 4:49 pm

My interpretation is: Everything is mandated by G-d, fate will be fate but, to be cognizant, fearful and humble before G-d the King brings an awareness to this particular tefilah that shouldn’t be taken for granted. That is why I want my kids to see this video so that they, in their media world can see images that depict this tefilah so movingly.

I was quite impressed and have sent it out to many.

By: RB on September 24, 2008
at 7:06 pm

“Seeing is believing!”

The Rambam writes that his favorite writing is to strengthen faith and character. You are doing it!

By: RG on September 24, 2008
at 7:25 pm

This was beautifully done and really touched my heart. My choice of some of the pix might have been different, but overall, kudos to the whole team that put this together. May you have a chasiva vechasima tova and hatzlacha in all you do.

By: y. Lock on September 24, 2008
at 7:32 pm

Just read the above comments and would like to say that in honesty, we understand very little, because we are human and we are not G-d! What we do is BELIEVE even when we do not understand. I cannot say, but perhaps the Holocaust would have been worse (scary thought) had there not been repentance, charity, and prayer. The Jewish people are still here and thriving, the Torah is thriving; we have much to hope for. The formula is in Shema: Love Him, believe in Him, heed His word… and the blessings WILL come.

By: y. Lock on September 24, 2008
at 7:42 pm

Feel free to add a link to
http://www.partnersintorah.org and/or to http://www.partnersintorah.org/parsha/roshhashona60.pdf to download a free pamphlet designed to enhance your Rosh Hashanah experience.

Tizku l’mitzvos!

By: RabbiG on September 24, 2008
at 8:30 pm

Amen. The cinematic equivalent of a shofar blowing.
Love and peace to us all.

By: BCB on September 24, 2008
at 8:36 pm

very impressive….

By: Lea Farkash - Jerusalem on September 24, 2008
at 9:05 pm

amazing. I must admit, when i saw 6:40 minutes i was annoyed. But as i was watching it, i was so into it, it was over too fast. Trully what i needed before yom tov. So beautiful. So relevent. So close to home. I was moved.

By: N on September 24, 2008
at 9:25 pm

I did cry. Thank you for this powerful visual tool in these brief days before Rosh Hashanah. May Hashem bless us all with a good year.

By: Mrs. K on September 24, 2008
at 9:59 pm

Very moving video, but as mentioned, almost only shows the negative. Also — Is this a plug for Aish? If not, why aren’t there links to http://www.chabad.org and other good organizations?

By: Anonymous on September 24, 2008
at 10:11 pm

AMAZING video. So well done. LOVE the music. Mix of Yiddish chazanut and more mizrachi style.

But I don’t know if anyone noticed that there is way more bad stuff to show than good?

Thanks for making a really special video. I hope you’ll make more!

By: Deena on September 24, 2008
at 11:55 pm

The video struck fear into my already trembling heart. We are walking in prophecy. Israel is a disgrace among the nations. Evil has raised it’s head, has no fear of G-d and wants to erase the name of Israel off the face of the earth.

I pray that Hashem hears our prayers. We are living in incredible times – definitely not ordinary.

By: Moriah on September 25, 2008
at 12:16 am

Jason,

First of all, if we could understand G-d then what would be the point, any one of us could then run the world. The fact that we don’t understand Him just adds to His glory.
Second, in order to understand where the justice is we have to understand what the purpose of this world is. The Mesilas Yesharim (written by Rabeinu Yonah… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonah_Gerondi ) states that G-d created us in order that we should gain the greatest of pleasures through Him and that being to experience this world through Him. In other words, when Adam was in the garden of eden (before he ate the apple and commited the first sin) he was eating, breathing, and sleeping the word of G-d without any effort. This was the ultimate pleasure of this world. After the sin however, Adam’s perception of the world changed in that now, in order to get the greatest pleasure from G-d’s existence he would have to work at conquering his evil inclination and through his triumph he would experience the ultimate pleasure.
Each person, in his own life has to set a goal for himself to “experience G-d”, to understand that G-d controls everything and IS everything. When bad things happen to good people, we don’t say “why did this happen”, we say “why did G-d let this happen”. It is unfortunate that G-d’s presence can sometimes only be seen through bad events, but nevertheless that is when it is seen the clearest and the most powerful.
Now to get back to where the justice lies… Truly righteous people believe that there is another world after this one in which we are scrutinized for all the deeds which we have done and where all the good deeds will get rewarded ten-fold. So you see, the justice which we are looking for is actually something which can only be seen IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES.
Wishing you the best of both worlds…

By: Izzy on September 25, 2008
at 2:56 am

A friend sent me the link to your film. Thank you for a professionally down, profoundly moving work.

By: Chaye on September 25, 2008
at 4:47 am

I would like to thank you for making this incredible movie. Thank you also to those who left comments. It made it all the more powerful. Izzy, when you wrote, “So you see, the justice which we are looking for is actually something which can only be seen IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES” It really helped explain the concept that is so hard to understand- because we CANNOT understand it.
Thanks again
Hatzlacha to all! Shana Tova

By: MG on September 25, 2008
at 4:51 am

Thank you for responding by adding the Chabad link to your blog. I will read your intermission response a little later — kinda busy right now — maybe will print and read on yomtov.

Kol tuv! May you be inscribed in the book of LIFE for this coming year, and till 120 — or 180!

By: Anonymous on September 25, 2008
at 5:50 am

*CORRECTION*

It was the Shaarei Teshuvah (written by Rabeinu Yonah… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonah_Gerondi ), not the Mesilas Yesharim.

By: Izzy on September 25, 2008
at 10:40 am

Izzy, in what other area of your life can you honestly state that despite knowing very little about that person or thing, you are willing to succumb to whatever that person dicates?

Also, where in the Torah does it state that justice will prevail only in the next world? In the Torah in front of me, it states just the opposite. Read the Shema for example. Read the Tochacha. read the rest of the Torah. God puts forth a very simply equation. If you follow the rules, you will be rewarded, if you do not, you will be punished. Relying on the next world is simply a cop out in my humble opinion.

By: Jason on September 25, 2008
at 1:24 pm

The time , effort and thought put into this outstanding and powerful production put it into a catagory all of its own
You deserve all the accolades .
It is a masterpiece- – – Mazeltov!

By: Australia on September 25, 2008
at 3:13 pm

I’ve been watching this video over and over, all day long, and I have yet to see it without bursting out in tears. This is so moving, so beautiful. In that “Life is beautiful in all its guises” way. And the canting, Whoa, can I buy a MP3 somewhere?

ps. Today is elul 25. The day the world was created 5769 years ago. So happy birthday world! May Hashem grant you worlds of simcha this coming year and a ksiva vichasima tova.

By: Achinoam in Amsterdam on September 25, 2008
at 6:57 pm

This video is very well done and really is very moving. Its amazing to see that everything we daven for and against on RH truly does still occur…its not expired with time on the contrary the more advanced with it our rewards and punishments. For those who think Judaism is old fashioned… Everything is still very much so applicable.

By: CP on September 25, 2008
at 7:59 pm

Fab video. Hits home.

Regarding certain people that commented and seem to have some deep rooted issues with their yiddishkeit, answers are there for those who seek – but this is not a forum for that. And if you are searching for answers here, then you are not really asking questions in the first place, rather just venting issues that you don’t wish to seek answers to.

May we all be blessed with a good year.

p.s. Anyone interested in why “bad” things happen to “good” people (whatever that means), R’Shaul Rosenblatt’s book – Finding Light in the Darkness – does address these concepts.

By: Shira on September 25, 2008
at 9:34 pm

Thank you so much for this truly awe-inspiring video. I pray that I can recall the emotion that it evoked in me so that during davening, I will recall that awe and all the emotions I felt watching the video to help my kavanah, before the book is closed and sealed. May everyone who sees this be able to get the message that speaks to them to inspire them. May we all be blessed with a sweet year, a year of peace, good health and prosperity, feeling closer to HaShem and to our fellow human beings. Amen.
(By the way, I can recommend Benjamin Blech’s book, If God is Good, Why is the World So Bad? Quite a different point of view than Harold Kushner’s Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?)

By: Bryna Lee Jacobson on September 26, 2008
at 12:01 am

Thank you for spreading this powerful and awe-inspiring message. I commend the producers for their vision in creating this moving video that I am certain will inspire me in my own Tefillot. May we all be blessed with a good year.

By: N. A. Steinman on September 26, 2008
at 1:27 am

Jason,

In regards to succumbing to dictation…
G-d is not a person, nor is He a dictator. Rather, He is G-d: All Knowing and always looking out for the good of the Jewish nation. Like a son to a father, we look toward Him for direction in living our lives.

As far as reward and punishment…
The Chofetz Chaim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chofetz_Chayim) was once approached by one of his students in a time when the economy was very bad. The student asked if it was possible that he trade in some of his Olam Habah (reward in the next world) and receive some Olam Hazeh (reward in this world). The Chofetz Chaim replied that even the slightest bit of Olam Habah is greater than all of Olam Hazeh.
Think of it like this: if a person would attempt to purchase a piece of candy from a store, with a million dollar check, he would get laughed out of there because there isn’t enough change just lying around for that sort thing. The same applies with Olam Habah.
R’ Samson Raphael Hirsch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_Raphael_Hirsch) asks on this story: “then what does it mean in the Torah when it says that a person will be rewarded for his good deeds?” He answers that all the blessings which the Torah speaks of are NOT reward. Rather, they are provisions provided for a person in order that he should be able to continue doing good deeds without any outside interruptions. When a person is focused on performing the will of G-d, G-d provides him with all that he needs in order to continue. The truly righteous who perished in the holocaust undoubtedly had a firm belief that what was happening to them was the will of G-d. While those who were praying to save themselves might not have had G-d’s will in mind. Please don’t get me wrong. I weep every time I think of what they went through. I also weep on Tisha B’av when I read about how the ten martyrs gave up they’re lives in order to praise G-d. Unfortunately, we are living in the “me” generation and this concept is hard for us to grasp, but if we were living in the days when there were kings, we would understand what true loyalty and selflessness is.
Have a great Shabbos!

By: Izzy on September 26, 2008
at 1:47 am

Beautiful and, while frightening, also inspiring. Finally moved me into the “teshuva mode” for Rosh Hashana. To the producers and all involved, phenomenal job and kol hakavod.

By: Dayan E Gross on September 26, 2008
at 2:38 am

Shira, please do share with us as to why bad things happen to good people. This is an age old problem, with no satisfactory conclusions to date, so I would be delighted to hear your take of the book’s solution.

By: Jason on September 26, 2008
at 12:20 pm

I dont ascribe to “fate” and that everything has already been decided or fated. We have been blessed with free will and ending the video with the message that we should rely upon “prayer, charity and repentence” to me is appalling!

and it frankly insults the very moving message of the entire video.

it removes the obligation of tikkun olam by DOING something about it–something MORE than “just” repent, pray and give charity.

Until and unless we ALL start doing, nothing will ever change and for that we cannot “blame” nor “accept the decree of” God…how are we to know whether this period of tribulations werent meant to inspire mankind for greater deeds and greater caring about our fellow man??

those we “exalt” are hollow, and often havent earned that respect by their own deeds and actions. The fact that we arent “exalting” those risking their lives by flying into Darfur to feed those people; those flying into other areas to give vaccines and medicines; shows where mankind has failed!

I think this video should instead be a wakeup call that we ALL need to reassess what WE have done beyond writing a check for charity, more than praying for someone, and much more than expressing regret or atonement for past deeds!!

and to try to do more…MUCH more while we have the blessed life and strength to do so!!

By: Faiga Nessa on September 26, 2008
at 5:26 pm

Very well done. but what about the part of the slaughter house? i thought it was rebuffed a million times that it was all antisemitism? What’s going on. in a Jewish promoting video, do you think you have the correct knowledge of Torah to decide on that matter? Maybe you should take it out until you have looked into it. or otherwise quote a source stating your decision. Likewise, i don’t know if it is correct to show about a Jew making mistakes. But alas, I know you’re only trying to get people to think. So I am now also. thank you.

By: NesanelS on September 26, 2008
at 7:22 pm

thank you Izzy and Esther for your beautiful words- I work daily with ‘good” people to whom “bad” has happened, and your words were beautifully expressed. It all comes down to knowing and believing that G-t fir di velt…..

By: emunah on September 26, 2008
at 8:54 pm

I agree with Faiga Nessa… Further, I believe you have twisted the words in the prayers and have ascibed to G-D horrible things for which human being have perpetrated upon each other…!!! You CANNOT ascribe to G-D those things which we do to ourselves…!! And then overlay the prayers on top of human attrocities…!!! TERRIBLE…!!! Are you implying also that G-D wipes out thousands of lives by sending us a hurricane or other disaster…?? For what reason..?? To amuse himself..?? A slick, well done, and beautiful film which is so very far off the mark that it’s infuriating..!!!

By: Martin G. on September 27, 2008
at 1:40 pm

B”H for what you have done…The time is nigh when Messhiac brings home His bride and all is restored…Keep watching and expecting, and know Hashem is sovereign, He will do as He will do; I see it as foolish to believe He is and then believe we control Him- and we are too far below His ways to understand; yes, return, pray and do good, know and do His Torah, and leave the rest to Hashem..

By: Shaul L. on September 28, 2008
at 12:07 am

how can i download or get a copy of this video?

By: shlomoh on September 28, 2008
at 12:35 am

how can i download or get a copy of this video

By: shlomoh on September 28, 2008
at 12:36 am

Fear tactics. This is not accurate.

By: Yoni on September 28, 2008
at 12:44 am

Your film is indeed awe inspiring looking at the other comments, of course one can criticise mankind’s behavior, of course we should all help those devastated by war and famine in the third world but its the message to us as the Jewish people regardless of our affiliation that counts. This is a most magnificent wake-up call that we as Jews need to examine ourselves both individually and collectively with Hashem and this your film achieves magnificently.

To my mind this film is far and above criticism. If people feel that strongly about elements of this film then they should get off their backsides and do something about it. Go to Darfur or do whatever else they wish to do but don’t just sit there and bitch about it ! To quote Marshall McLuhan, “We look at the present through a rear-view mirror. We march backwards into
the future.”

Your film is a magnificent wake up call and a reminder not just to us but to all people of all faiths all around the world Kol Hakavod to a magnificent job well done.Ketiv Vechatima Tovah

Alex Igel.

By: Alex Igel on September 28, 2008
at 3:21 am

An excellent, moving video by some very talented film makers. It would be nice if they could also put their talents to countering some of the Arab and Muslim anti-Israel and anti-semitic propaganda that is seen so much in the main stream media.
For example, a video showing many of the scientific inventions and engineering developments originating in Israel that are helping the rest of the world.

By: Wallace on September 28, 2008
at 5:57 am

thank you, thank you.. for waking me up just in tme for the Day of Judgement. As a mother of young kids, i have been so involved in their needs that i have not addressed my own spiritual needs. I was dreading rosh hashana. Until i saw this little movie.

It has moved me enough to be able to take the day seriously again. Thank you.

it was brilliant.

By: Anonymous on September 28, 2008
at 9:51 am

Can you post this to GodTube? YouTube has alot of non-kosher stuff on it, and GodTube is clean.

Todah rabbah, may you be inscribed for a good year, full of health, life, and spiritual revelation from HaShem.

By: Benjamin on September 28, 2008
at 3:44 pm

Thank you for putting this together. It made the holiday seem more real especially since my family does not live here and we are alone.

By: Sheri on September 28, 2008
at 4:25 pm

This whole effort would be more inspiring if our comments weren’t CENSORED!!!!

I posted a very respectful criticism of the movie here and I see it has now been removed! All I said was that although the film was well made, I found it’s message vague and unconvincing.

I understand the need to censor profanity and outlandish comments but simply to censor ANYTHING negative ill-behooves a group professing openness, peace, and understanding.

Let’s see if this comment stays up….

Ed. note: We didn’t censor your comment, it’s posted in “Response to Commentators,” at a different section of this blog. Just go to the top of the page and click on that section, and you’ll see your comments. Shana tova!

By: Anonymous on September 28, 2008
at 5:01 pm

I apologize and stand corrected.

By: Anonymous on September 28, 2008
at 5:53 pm

Thank you; this was very much needed!

By: Rishona on September 28, 2008
at 7:36 pm

I was very inspired by this video. It really puts life in perspective especially for just before Yom HaDin.

By: Michal on September 29, 2008
at 12:44 am

Awesome..Hit me in my Gut…Heart…and the depths of my SOUL.
Awareness raises 10000% Reminder level 10000%.
Thank You.
JUST IN TIME ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME
If not NOW
W H E N
Thank you

By: Cronegoddess Margo on September 29, 2008
at 12:22 pm

Izzy,

Once again, where in the Torah is there ANY explicit evidence of Olam Habah?

By: Jason on September 29, 2008
at 12:27 pm

Very good and powerful, and very inspiring. Great job!

By: N'Djamena Marmon on September 29, 2008
at 1:39 pm

WOW, Just WOW!

By: Menachem on September 29, 2008
at 2:50 pm

Great video, powerful, contemporary & gives one pause to think/reflect. Moved me!!

By: Neal Russell on September 29, 2008
at 4:15 pm

This video is very impressive and thought provoking. I would like to show it in my Church. Is there a way to download it? Do you have copy right concerns? Thanks for a quality web site. I will post a link to this on my blog.

Peace,
Ed

By: Pastor Ed on September 29, 2008
at 6:05 pm

Fantastic video. I will be thinking about these images as I recite the prayer this holiday. Thank you for putting this together – it was very powerful.

By: Jackie on September 29, 2008
at 10:26 pm

Well done video – It brings to mind these passages:

“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.” –Ecc 7:2

“How blessed are those who mourn, for it is they who will be comforted!” –Mat 5:4

By: David Keys on September 30, 2008
at 1:42 pm

Very exceptional moving; certainly moved me. However, where you have “Who Shall be Exalted”… you have Al Gore with those words under his name, someone from the Olympics with those words under his name, John McCain with those words under his name, Sarah Palin with those words under her name, Joe Biden WITHOUT those words under his name, and Barack and Michelle Obama WITHOUT those words under their name. I was wondering if there is a “not so subtle” message to be had???

By: Bev on October 2, 2008
at 12:06 pm

I can’t wait to see Bill Maher’s “Religulous”, which intelligently points out the folly of ALL organized religions (Scientology, anyone)?

By: Anon on October 2, 2008
at 5:26 pm

My Tefillot will never be the same again.
A truly moving and brilliant video.

By: ck on October 3, 2008
at 2:36 pm

Very meaningful. After viewing it twice I forwarded it to the 38 people on my family distribution list plus a dozen or so other friends, some who are not Jewish with the following message….

“Who shall live” is a very poignant, moving and beautifully produced video. It is a far reaching message, even for those of you who do not actively or passively celebrate the holidays.

If you will be fasting this Yom Kippur, we wish you an easy fast, as the doors begin to close

By: Bill in AZ on October 3, 2008
at 5:56 pm

May G-d bless each and everyone of the persons involved in this beautiful project, from inspiration to implementation. It was a very moving statement of the human experience and may we all be worthy to be inscribed in the Book of Life for another year!
May you continue your good work.
Thanks!

Boris

By: Boris on October 3, 2008
at 10:48 pm

I must say, this was an incredible piece of work. Very well done and powerfully moving. I did not think I could watch the entire movie because it was long, but I was mesmerized throughout.

By: Nancy on October 5, 2008
at 3:13 am

Well done!!

By: Yechezkel on October 5, 2008
at 3:12 pm

How soul stirring.

You have changed the way I daven.

It was worth it.

For those that have questions on Judaism I found http://www.askmoses.com to be very helpful.

By: CookieMonster on October 5, 2008
at 8:49 pm

Very powerful and moving!

By: redrussak on October 5, 2008
at 10:14 pm

The video was offensive in its depiction of mass death from cyclones and famine (and even from the drought in Australia!!) due to insufficient “repentance, prayer and charity”…
At best, the video borders on late night evangelical infomercials that ‘guarantee’ financial wealth and good health if proper repentance is given.
Further, the video’s twisted logic that improper “repentance, prayer and charity” leads to certain death is all the more offensive if extended to the 6 million victims of the holocaust. overall, i found the video creepy, blindly fundamentalist, and deeply disheartening.

[Please see our response to these kinds of criticisms in our “Response to Commentators” section]

By: mike on October 6, 2008
at 6:26 am

Mournful Jewish music. And the reason I disliked being Jewish when I was young. Am76 now and still recall my dismay at what my grandmother listened to on the radio. When Israel was founded and the Newsreels were showing Jews with Sten guns and I learned more about our history I began to feel pride in being a Jew.

By: David Wiesen on October 6, 2008
at 11:42 pm

Inspiring, motivating, awesome, able to take anybody’s breath away. In a few minutes summarized what G-d had in store for humanity.
Let’s pray that he has many blessings to come for all.

I am proud of being a Jew, I especially like the part of “through repentance, prayer and mitzvah…”
I thank the visionary people that through this video gave me a moment of inspiration.

By: Consuelo Madero on October 7, 2008
at 12:49 am

This has been very inspirational. It brings everything to reality and shows that these are not just ancient words repeated out of a prayer book, but an actual “tefila” begging for a good year. Very well done; thank you.

By: Izzy on October 7, 2008
at 3:41 pm

I´m not jewish, however, I´ve been studying kabbalah for a couple of years now, and I truly believe that the high holidays are rather cosmic windows of opportunity for all human beings, regardless of creed and religion, to affect the energy of our planet and the course of our lives. We’ve been all created by the same Force, we are one and separation is an illusion we will eventually overcome to achieve final redemption. The video is very powerful and inspiring if one understands is not about religiosity, but rather consciousness.

By: Juan José Goldaracena on October 7, 2008
at 3:52 pm

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: RGS on October 7, 2008
at 5:41 pm

I haven’t seen the movie yet.

The fact is that many Jewish values are also human values. Many of these ideas have been around for thousands of years and still, fundamentally, are sound.

If there is a G-d that created all – including the Big Bang, then G-d also created people to have the ability to make decisions and choices. Some decisions are good or wise and some not.

Why, if there is a G-d ,do we think G-d created people to be able to make poor choices that affect not only selves but others? Is G-d fallible too? After all, people are created “in the image of” G-d and that means that not everything is perfect. A gentle breeze is one thing, a hurricane is another. A ripple is one thing, and a tidal wave is another. Some birds can eat the berries of poison ivy but many people cannot touch any part of it. Poison ivy looks beautiful as it grows, sometimes resembling a full tree perhaps a red maple in autumn in the northeast USA.

Some good people suffer not because G-d is necessarily punishing them and letting the bad prosper but because the effects of any individual’s actions and decisions (and not deciding to act, is an action and a decision) affect everyone. There is a ripple action or a wave.

The truth is that wise people can behave stupidly and those seemingly lacking wisdom can have profound insights.

I know this from personal experience working with special needs populations.

Also, I have seen brilliant people hurt themselves – perhaps unintentionally…
cardio – thoracic surgeons smoke cigarettes due to the stress of medical school and get emphysema although they are the ones to open someone’s chest to save them. One would think they would “know” better.
Students dislike a subject and so do not complete work, thereby failing but not because of lack of ability but lack of action. Perhaps the consequence is to have to re-take a course one didn’t like the first time around and the second time is painful again. This makes no sense to waste time re-doing something one didn’t like in the first place and could have avoided.

The fact is that all actions have consequences. Some consequences are unintended.

An economy in trouble leads us not only to be hurting financially but perhaps to wiser decisions and awareness of what we can do differently.
It can be a blessing in disguise. Maybe we will drive less and take public transportation more often or eat more at home with our families or friends or pets or the view out the window.

If there is a G-d, she might be a woman.
G-d may have no form and humans created in the image of G-d are just cells, liquids, and so forth.

To me, Judaism is not scary but people can be.
There may or may not be a G-d.

Whether there is a G-d or not, it is still powerful to reflect on one’s behavior and think about what worked and what can be changed – for the betterment of self, family and others.

Yes, consequences can be powerful motivators.
Also, rewards don’t always work the way we might expect.

The fact that we as humans often don’t agree on”what’s good” and “what’s not” leads us to differences and that makes our world better.
It is only through change that we grow.
We grow by learning about our differences. Sometimes what was thought of as a difference turns out to be a similarity.

Typically, slower thoughtful reflection yields better results than reactions more often than not.

Think about good parents spanking their children – because the child hit someone. The child learns then that violence is okay. In fact, the action that provoked the spanking was reinforced by another violent act.

People who have verbal altercations can communicate better if they write. It takes time to organize thoughts and express them but it’s quieter and enables calm to descend. Families then, can be at a greater peace even if parents, for example are warring through writing.

The whole topic of motivation is complex.

Just because a little of something is good, doesn’t necessarily mean more is better.

Really, it is through our struggles that we grow and change. Without the struggle, there is no growth. Think of the butterfly. If one frees the caterpillar from its’ cocoon too soon, it will not survive.

We really must wrestle with self.

Though we have an obligation to help others, we must help ourselves first.

We send money and troops around the world, but we are hurting here. We have homeless here.

Without personal and national health, we cannot help others.

Sometimes, the helping of others, though, helps ourselves. Someone afflicted with recurring depressive thoughts can be distracted or re-directed through work with others and thereby help the self.

Our country can work on intra-national problems and thereby gain world respect.

I have a unique perspective here.
I am a member of a faith community married to an atheist.

It’s not either/or.
I can be both.

By: Cats3 on October 8, 2008
at 3:17 am

Kol HaKoved.

Gamar Hatimah Tova.

Truly the ‘mahoot’ (essence) of the hagim.

By: Elana on October 8, 2008
at 3:19 am

Life is great, too much life is overpopulation.

The idea here is that everything in moderation.

To those that wonder about “G-d’s Will” in sending hurricanes and so forth, maybe it is not connected to lack of prayer, turning and repentance and so forth. Maybe it just happens as an “act of G-d”…

Maybe horrible things happened to six milllion because of the greed of one.

Life, it has been stated, is the best revenge.

Life is great but not if one has no quality of life (you can define that yourselves)…

Death seems horrible but not to someone dying of malignant skin cancer, or a family watching a loved one suffer or all going down due to an excessive burden financially and as caregivers.

One learns the most about life through working with the terminally ill.

Sadly, it frequently takes a tragedy of monumental proportions to get people to act, to work together.

Likewise, love and hate are on a continuum, if imagined on either ends of a rope, when formed into a circle, love and hate would be next to each other and indifference would be the opposite.

The key is not to be indifferent.

Another key is to understand that belief in G-d is comforting to some, but not all, and that can be okay.

There is room in this world for many stripes.

By: Cats3 on October 8, 2008
at 3:37 am

Meaningful. A rare gem and useful resource.

Keep up the great work. Thank you.

btw, your link to Ohr Sameach is spelled wrong, should be Ohr Somayach.

By: Alan Levin on October 8, 2008
at 1:55 pm

I think there were good intentions for making this video, but I found it very insensitive. I think it was wrong to put a picture of Mr. Smolyansky that passed away just a few weeks ago to prove a point! It’s very tasteless.

By: S.M. on October 8, 2008
at 5:35 pm

I thought the video was very moving and powerful, and I plan to write about it and post it in my blog today on Erev Yom Kippur — since I only saw it today. But what better day?

I actually was struck by the fact that at the end of the video you clearly say that repentance, prayer and charity remove the evil OF the decree not the decree itself, which is an often misunderstood point. In your comments to the commentators, you say, “Repentance, prayer and charity” do make a difference,” but that these three things cannot always succeed in averting the decree. They can, however, “avert the evil (or harshness) of the decree.” And I think that is the point.

When we take time out from the terrible things going on in the world around us or in our lives and repent for the things we ourselves have done wrong – which means looking at ourselves and trying to do a better job of “hitting the mark” (not sinning) and being better people, then we don’t contribute to the wrongdoing in the world.

When we pray or turn to God – have faith and that we will one day realize either why this happened or is happening or find some good that will come out of it or simply trust in God, we don’t allow ourselves to dwell in victim mentality or to become depressed and hopeless. We can look to the future with promise.

And when we give charity, we look beyond our own suffering and trouble to what other people are going through, and see that we always have somethign to give. We get out of our own problems for a while, stop focusing upon them and feel better by helping others feel better. Plus, it isn’t charity, because tzedakka actually means to “do the right thing,” so we are simply being just…becoming a “tzadik,” a just person, a righteous person, a person who does the right thing.

All of these things “take the bite” out of whatever tragedy has happened in our lives or in the world. HOwever, they also focus us on the positive and on action. And in that way we begin, with both our thoughts, and our feelings and our actions to begin creating our year – writing ourselves into the book of life for the new year. In that way, repentence, prayer and charity do, indeed, allow us a chance to CHANGE the evil of the decree. We can create change in our lives and in the world around us with our thoughts, feelings and actions — with repentence (improving ourselves), prayer (faith and hope and trust — positive feelings) and charity (right actions in our lives and in the world.)

Thanks for the video and for the chance to voice my thoughts…which I will now transfer into a blog along with the video!

May you be inscribed for a healthy, happy, peaceful, fulfilled, prosperous year. And may your video bring about much change.

By: Nina Amir on October 8, 2008
at 5:58 pm

Please bear with me. For me, while I’m certain that the intent was good, the video had the exact opposite of the intended effect.

For individuals depicted in the video, it felt to me like we were judging them by depicting them explicitly and I found that both insensitive and incompatible with the spirit of the Yomim Noraim. For example, did you explicitly ask for permission to use Smolyansky’s image and story as a tool to inspire? It should be known that he was a huge baal chesed of incredible midos. Did he not do enough tzedakah?

Similarly, for groups of individuals depicted, there is the tacit implication of blame and just deserts. It’s almost like saying that Hashem killed innocent babies and righteous Tzadikim in the Holocaust because of sins.

Simply put, we don’t know Hashem’s cheshbon, and while Teshuva, Tefillah and Tzedakah will help us on the individual level the Video, by pointing at individuals and groups of individuals, quietly (and highly inappropriately) engages in the logical fallacy of denying the antecedent (meaning that these people and all others like them including those murdered by the Holocaust died because they didn’t do enough Teshuva, Tefillah or Tzedakah).

The Yomim Noraim are indeed frightening and awe inspiring. I believe that this Video was well intentioned but highly insensitive to the memory of those who have suffered or passed away in the past year.

I think it would have been infinitely better to have focused on how Teshuva, Tefillah and Tzedakah have helped the lives of others in difficult situations over the past year. I think you should have focused on heroes who out of the blue decide that they are going to change who they are and change the world in the process, the people who lead by example and inspire others to connect to Hashem through tefillah and the heroes and volunteers who at great personal sacrifice help the world.

By: Daniel Weisman on October 8, 2008
at 6:12 pm

beautifully and sensitively written and produced
every frame held my interest

a tribute to humanity!!!

bobbie

By: bobbie goodrich on October 9, 2008
at 2:07 pm

It is a magnificent video that assembles in a perfect harmony the music and what the world is all about, what we live every day and how we can improve our conditions trough tefilah, teshuva and tzedaka.
Excellent lyrics and excellent content.
Thanks for creating it and for sharing it with us

By: Mauricio and Sonia Saad on October 10, 2008
at 4:11 am

Mike,

Let’s continue prayer, repentance and mitzvah, regardless of what the outcome is, we were chosen for this, and we must carry our commitment.
I went to shul today, it is indeed inspirig to pray, to chant, I feel charged, just like a battery.

By: Consuelo Madero on October 10, 2008
at 5:13 am

This is a moving and thought-provoking video, very well produced. I was puzzled, though, as to why the picture of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was placed under “who shall be degraded,” along with several people whose integrity was seriously impugned. Both Clinton and Obama showed us much of the best about America. Which of them do you consider degraded?

By: Jim on October 11, 2008
at 8:35 pm

Before you “kick me off” for being a Christian, please allow me to say that your video was PERFECT, and I emailed it to everyone I know. Not only was it gorgeous, it was theologically and scripturally accurate. I loved it! Please do more. Shalom!

By: Joyce on December 7, 2008
at 12:46 am

Amazing! Even after the High Holy Days. Look how much has come to pass in just 3 short months!
Powerful video.

By: tovmaodevents on December 15, 2008
at 7:58 pm

All That I can is, Even so Lord Jesus Come Quickly
Amen And Amen

By: William Cosper on January 3, 2009
at 5:04 am

When I first saw this video right before Rosh HaShana, I broke out crying because it made me think of all that I did wrong and what could have and still could happen to me. It made me daven harder on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur

Thank you for the great video.

By: Jeff on January 13, 2009
at 3:36 am

The film was very awe inspiring, and I was wondering if an updated version for the occurances of 2009 is being produced.

Please advise.

By: Rafi on August 26, 2009
at 5:08 pm

I loved the video last year and came back today hoping there would be an updated one for this year. My friend showed it to me on erev rosh hashanah last year and it really prepared me for davening….wher eis this years?

thanks!!!

By: scott on September 15, 2009
at 7:47 pm

Beautiful, this video needs to be updated for Mumbai as well.

By: Avi on September 17, 2009
at 2:48 pm

Very moving….I have always really thought deeply about unetaneh tokef, this production helps share the thoguhts broadly. It would be good if the chant were continued over each of the images shown.

By: Barry on September 22, 2009
at 12:17 pm

unetaneh tokef has always been an incredibly dramatic part of the High Holiday liturgy. The video only adds to the awe inspiring drama of our Grand holidays
Job well done

By: shlomoh on November 27, 2009
at 3:38 am

Amazing video. It puts Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in a visual perspective. Please come out with one for 5771. (2010)

By: Mordechai on June 15, 2010
at 2:04 am

I would like to say that it is a very powerful video.It does make you wonder what would happen this upcomming year.

Hopefuly that it would be better than last year.One could only hope for.Although I do like this video it was well produced.

By: amaryllis on September 6, 2010
at 11:04 pm

I have resolved my discomfort with the theology that “Repentance, Prayer, and Tzedaka” can impact what has been decreed for me, by appreciating that if I do those acts I can ameliorate the severe or evil decrees that others experience. For example, if I pray in a shiva minyan my presence can comfort mourners who may be experiencing extreme grief; if I apologize and make whole someone whom I have wronged, that person’s decree may be softened; and if I give tzedaka to persons in need, their decrees may become less harsh.

By: Norman Sider on September 7, 2010
at 1:32 am

what an amazing short film, it was very moving and greatly awe inspiring.

By: Anonymous on September 17, 2010
at 4:21 pm

I showed this to my congregation, it is moving. I hope that was ok.

By: Anonymous on June 8, 2011
at 10:42 pm

Awesome. Beautiful and inspiring Video. Just one suggestion: Update the examples, and maybe have the current enemies of Israel on the “those who will die” list, and Jewish Tzadikim (past and present) on the “those who will live” list.

By: David Avraham on September 23, 2011
at 10:44 am

Is there a way to download this?

By: arno on November 14, 2012
at 7:54 pm

Who Shall Live Blog