Trembling Before G-D

798 votes and 0 Reviews

In Theaters: January 19, 2001 (limited)

October 24, 2001 (limited)

1h 34m | Documentary

A powerful documentary that shows the profound dilemma facing Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian - how do they reconcile their passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions forbidding homosexuality?

One of the stories is that of David, who tried to change his homosexuality through remedies recommended by rabbis, including biting his tongue whenever he felt an attraction to men. He revisits the rabbi he first came out to 20 years ago, a kindly man who loves David as a Jew but who cannot condone his sexuality. The two engage in an honest, difficult conversation.

And there are many more such stories. Steven Greenberg is the world's first openly gay Orthodox rabbi. Mark, the son of an Orthodox rabbi, has been kicked out of seven yeshivas (schools) and is suffering from AIDS-related infections. Devorah is an ultra-Orthodox lesbian (and grandmother) who is falling apart after 20 years of marriage. Michelle (a former Torontonian) is a lesbian who grew up Hasidic and was disowned seven years ago by her family.