"What is a Samaritan? One who observes Shabbat, observes kosher, does not eat pork and is accepted by the high priest," explains a member of the Samaritan community in an excerpt from director Moshe Alfi's film, "The Samaritans: Community. Torah. Mount," to his Ukrainian interlocutor whom he wishes to fly to his community near Nablus, so that she would marry him and become a full-fledged Samaritan.
To an observer from the side, it seems as if the Samaritans are sitting on the torn fence between the Israeli-Jewish world and the Palestinian-Muslim world.
Alfie discovered an independent community that believes in its own way and yet fights one of its biggest challenges: passing on the tradition to the next generation and avoiding extinction.
"I didn't create this film for the Samaritans," he explains, "but for the Jews and for a religious and traditional community in the world, which struggles to pass on its tradition. The film dives into a small community and allows us to see its struggle, and from that our struggle - the people who Progressives who love their religion and faith, who are not ashamed of it and who wish to pass it on to future generations."
Moshe Alfi.
"I met the time capsule of the people of Israel", photo: Oren Ben Hakon
He made the film, which will be screened next weekend as part of the Jewish Film Festival in Jerusalem, for six years, during which he immersed himself in the small and closed community in Mount Gerizim.
"When I delved into the research for the film, I was shocked. I - a tenth generation in Jerusalem, a member of an Iraqi family, a graduate of national religious education, including a Seder yeshiva - meet people who observe Torah and do not observe Halacha like us. It struck me with amazement. I felt as if I had met my ancestors before the exile I met with the time capsule of the people of Israel."
The Samaritans claim that they are descendants of the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Levi who lived in the Samaria region and did not go abroad with the ten tribes after the destruction of the kingdom of Israel more than two thousand years ago.
At the beginning of their journey they numbered about a million people, over the years their number dwindled.
About a hundred years ago there were about 150 believers, and today they number 850. Half of the congregation lives in the Nablus area and the other half is concentrated throughout the country, mainly in Holon.
"Some see them as Arabs or Jews," says Alfie, "it is important to understand that this is not true. They are Samaritans. They are not cave dwellers either. There are bankers, businessmen and educators among them. Within this exists the religious world, which is very central and significant."
Samaritan priests.
From the film, photography: Moshe Alfi, Alif Productions
He was hosted by the community in Mount Gerizim, interviewed many of its members and did not hesitate to discuss the community's modern challenges, such as the status of women and the attitude towards the "Masmada" - a situation in which a Samaritan woman who is considered a Nida must reveal this to the community.
Alongside this is described the fact that some members of the congregation migrate as far as Ukraine to find a partner.
Today dozens of Samaritans are actually Ukrainian women.
He also participated in the spiritual climax of the Samaritans - the slaughter of sheep for the Passover sacrifice, during which they mark their foreheads with drops of blood, a reminder of the exodus from Egypt.
"They ask me why I don't confront them with the Jewish religion, but my goal was, as a Jew, to listen. When we moved the struggle 'whose truth is to one side', a place was made to listen. I met amazing Torah people. God is present in their daily lives much more From the lives of quite a few religious Jews," shares Alfie.
"People criticize me for my films and my way of life. They don't understand that if you are firm in your mind and believe in the rightness of your way, the encounter with a different narrative and perception does not scare you. I am a religious, orthodox, right-wing Jew, and I have no intention of becoming a Samaritan. From this place there is no I was afraid to meet the other. When you know who you are and respect the other, the meeting is amazing and contributes to strengthening your faith."
The Jewish Film Festival will be held on December 17-22 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque.
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