Welcome to our class blog for Israel Identity Through Film and Literature! I am excited for us to have the opportunity to respond to and react to the material which we will explore together this semester!
I look forward to reading your thoughtful comments!
Happy blogging!
Savyon Librecht writes, "The influence of the Holocaust on my work cannot be separated from the influence of the Holocaust on my life," declaims Savyon Liebrecht, "The very subjects which trouble you and inspire you and haunt you as a person, are those which are — in all sorts of disguises — going to reveal themselves in your work. And since the Holocaust is the event, which more than any other has left its marks on my life, it has become a subject in my life." (Liebrecht in Yudkin 1993, 125) At the core of Liebrecht's motivation for her work is the desire to shock the reader into the awareness of how disinterested and indifferent the present generation of Israelis can be to the murder and pain of millions. Moreover, she expresses how the unspoken code of silence encouraged by the state (aided and abetted by official and educational utilities) has resulted in young Israelis believing they must dissever and repress any attachment with those perceived as passive victims. How do we see these themes expressed in “Hayuta’s Engagement Party?” Which single character do you identity or sympathize with the most? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe themes of the current Israeli generation are portrayed through Hayuta's character. Rather than appreciating her grandfather's willingness to open up about his experiences during the Holocaust, she feels as if they are a burden. Hayuta is insensitive to her grandfather and her desire to send him away on the day of her engagement party when he would like nothing more than to be there and celebrate with her. Hayuta is ungrateful for the gift that is her grandfather's oral testimony which is chracteristic of what Librecht believes that generation would act. I can identify with Bella's character the most because I understand her desire to make both her daughter and father happy. Bella appreciates her father's willingess to share his experience and wants to hear more but also understands why her daughter does not want the graphic and disturbing images he describes to be anounced to all the guests at her party. She is stuck in the middle and I agree with her in that Grandpa's testimony is very important and should be heard but I also agree that to hear it while one is celebrating a wedding is not the correct time.
ReplyDelete~Michelle "Michizzy" Koblenz
Hayuta's Engagement Party reflects the theme of young Israelis feeling the need to repress their attachment to the Holocaust because the characters in the story try to stop the Holocaust from being discussed in their family. This is especially seen through the character Shifra because she openly expresses that she does not feel connected to the Holocaust, nor does she want to feel that connection. Shifra says, "we have suffered enought, and we have heard enough," which shows how Shifra portrays a young Israeli who represses her connection to the Holocaust. By having Shifra constantly try to end the discussion of the Holocaust during the family meals, Hayuta's Engagement Party reflects the theme of detachment between young Israelis and the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteThe character that I sympathize most with is Grandpa Mendel. I sympathize with Grandpa Mendel because he was silenced for so long about his experience during the Holocaust and he never got a chance to really tell his story. Even when he started to share his story, he was immediately stopped, so he never told the full story. Also, since Grandpa Mendel died at the end of the story, he died without his full story being told. Therefore, I sympathize with Grandpa Mendel the most because he was silenced completely and was not able to share his experiences in the Holocaust to the extent in which he wanted to.
~Emily Balbier, period 4
The themes are expressed at Hayuta's engagement party because we find out Hayuta's feelings about her grandfather’s Holocaust stories. We find out that Hayuta is embarrassed to listen to her grandfather’s stories and because of this does not want him at the engagement party because she does not want him ruining it, even though her fiancé says it is fine and thinks the grandfather should be there. I sympathize with Bella because she wants to make everyone happy because she knows how important this day is for her daughter but at the same time does not want to ruin this special occasion for her daughter because of her grandfather’s very vivid stories that can bring someone down. However Bella knows that her father can not control it and is not doing it on purpose.
ReplyDelete-- Lauren Garfinkle, Period 4
Hayutas Engagement Party hits on many of the points quoted by LIbrecht in the starter. This story clearly portrays the second generation family who is pushing the Holocaust aside and choosing to ignore the horrible but important event. One character that especially caught my eye was Shifra. Shifra was portrayed as very against speaking of the Holocaust not only because of her choice of words but also because of her actions. At one point we read that Shifra glares around the room with a disgusting look on her face as Grandpa Mendel begins to speak, and at another point she even goes so far as to stand up at walk out of the room as Grandpa Mendel is speaking. One character i sympathize with is Bella. She is clearly put in the middle of both her father and her daughter. She knows that her fathers stories are important and cares for his past but also wants her daughter to be the happiest bride and that her father coming to the party might compromise her daughters happiness. I also think it is interesting that Ran decides that Grandpa Mendel should be invited and they all listen to him. It is interesting that Librecht chose to parallel one family that agreed with the "second generation" theory with Ran who decides that Grandpa Mendel should be invited because thats what is right no matter what he says or does.
ReplyDelete--Jillian Racoosin, Period 9
The themes of the present Israeli generation is portrayed through Shifra's character. Shifra feels no connection to the Holocaust. We, as Jews, are afraid of this moment where the younger generation wont find the Holocaust as important to discuss and in all "forget" that it even happened. Shifra's character displays this idea very well, "We have suffered enough, and we have heard enough. Don't we have Memorial Day and Holocaust Day and commemorative assemblies and what have you? They never let you forget for a minute" (88). This passage proves that Shifra feels that the Holocaust is talked about and drilled into peoples heads too much, and the reason for that is because her connection to the Holocaust has weakened. It also shows how she thinks a memorial and/or commemoration for the Holocaust is enough, and that is doesn't need to be a topic for discussion anymore. By having Shifra's character express her thoughts and feelings about the Holocaust throughout "Hayuta's Engagement Party," it shows perfectly how the current Israeli generation is detaching themselves from the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteI think that I can identify with Bella the most. My grandfather is exactly like Grandpa Mendel, therefore I understand where they are coming from. My grandfather has never told me his story and I am too afraid to ask, but if he ever began telling us during a meal, I too wouldn't try to shut him up. Bella may feel that Grandpa Mendel is a slight burden but whenever he starts to mention his experience in the Holocaust she never shush him. Bella is always attentive and wants to know more of his story since she haven't heard it. It might be hard at times for Bella, but she understands that her father finally wants to share his experience with the family and that she should appreciate it because one day he wont be there to tell his personal testimony.
Hayuta's family reflects Librecht's view of the present generation in Israel being more unwilling to hear the testimonies of Holocaust survivors. In the story Hayuta's Engagement party Hayuta does not allow her grandfather to share his oral testimony to the Holocaust with both her and the people around her. Hayuta's family does not appreciate the fact that Grandpa Mendel is willing to share his testimony of the Holocaust. they did not even want him to go to Hayuta's engagement party out of fear that he might discuss the Holocaust. I sympathize with Mordechai who's view is that this is not the time and place to discuss the Holocaust, and is also trying to appease his wife who does not ever want to hear Grandpa Mendel's testimony.
ReplyDelete~Adina Klingman, Period 4
I believe by the story, "Hayuta's Engagement Party", that Hayuta and some of her family members, don't want to have their grandfather, Mendel share his Holocaust stories because it makes them feel depressed from his horror stories. And since, Hayuta and some of her family members, didn't live throughout that particular era of time, it is difficult for them to associate themselves with the Holocaust. So, whenever Grandfather Mendel shares a Holocaust story, it is meaningless to Hayuta. And I sympathize with Grandpa Mendel, because he doesn't mean to tell horror stories about the tragic events of the Holocaust during family meals. And in my opinion it would upset Mendel deeply, if he couldn't observe his grand daughter at her Engagement Party, just because his grand daughter is selfish enough just because Mendel tells horror stories that he can't view one of the first steps of viewing Hayuta going off into the pillar of marriage.
ReplyDelete-Josh Tessler, Period 9
In Hayuta's Engagement Party, the idea of not talking about the Holocaust can be found in various places. As many other have already said, one of the greatest examples of this is when Shifra leaves the table when Grandpa Mendel starts to talk about his experiences in the concentration camps. While Shifra and other Israelis believe that there are already proper occaisons to remember the Holocaust, the Holocaust is something that traumatized all its victims (including Grandpa Mendel) and is therefore not easy to let go of on the other 364 days of the year. This same concept can somewhat also be expressed through the quote from Librecht who believed that the Holocaust became essentially integrated into the lives of all the survivors. I identify with Bella's character the most because, despite the circumstances, she was trying to make everyone happy. She was trying to make Grandpa Mendel feel included by inviting him, but also trying to make Hayuta feel better about the dinner by trying to silence Grandpa Mendel. It would have been interesting to see more of Bella's feelings about the Holocaust somewhere in this story.
ReplyDeleteThe reader is able to see in, "Hayuta's Engagement Party," how the average Israeli reacts to Holocaust stories and memories. Many Israeli's today wish to appreciate the fact that they have escaped such a harsh genocide as the Holocaust and go on living their lives to the fullest. In the story however, we see Grandpa Mendel wanting to bring his stories and his past life into his now Israeli family's life. I sympothize with Grandpa Mendel the most because what he has to share is something that can not be easy for him. His family should be thankful that he is willing to share his harsh experiences with them. Though his timing is not always perfect he is just trying to get the entire family together at once and it just so happens that this only occurs on major holidays and joyous events. As an American who has heard many Holocaust survivors talk I have learned how important it is to survivors to tell their story and make sure that the next generation is able to pass it down. I sympothize with Grandpa Mendel in the story because I see that his family is not giving him that opportunity to express himself and reveal himself of this huge burdening past that he carries.
ReplyDeleteThis theme manifests itself in the story both in the characters actions and the undertones behind their actions. Nowhere is the theme more visible than in the grandfather, as the author states that he simply did not talk about his Holocaust experience until six years before this narrative. However, theme appears more subtly in other characters. The family displays this theme by talking about not inviting the grandfather to the engagement party, simply because he may talk about the Holocaust. Hayuta displays the theme when she yells out "Grandpa, no!" at the party, an action again to prevent his talking about the Holocaust. And Mordechai displays this characteristic when he tries to Shush the grandfather at the dinner table and tries to divert attention from him when he dies (which is symbolic of diverting attention from the Holocaust, as the grandfather embodies the Holocaust in this story). I think it is he that I sympathize with most. Although he does try to suppress the grandfather's speaking about the Holocaust, he is much less overt about it and seems to have more than his own needs in mind. When he diverts attention it is on behalf of others. At the dinner table he stands up on behalf of those who clearly cannot handle the talk. But the fact that he made a shushing motion implies that he himself did not mind it so much (he would not have made this particular motion had he taken offense). And at the party when he diverts attention from the dead grandfather, it is so the guests can continue to have a good time. It is because he is the most sincere in his actions that I sympathize the most with him.
ReplyDeleteIn Hayuta’s Engagement Party, we definitely see the theme of young Israelis trying to repress their attachment to victims of the Holocaust. The most evident example of this is Hayuta’s character, who selfishly focuses on how her In-Laws will judge her family instead advocating for them. Hayuta is portrayed as completely lacking any interest in her grandfather’s Holocaust experience by choosing not to invite him to her engagement party. Not only does she show no interest in her grandfather’s story, but she tries to keep him quite so he doesn’t embarrass her. Due to this fact, it is evident that Hayuta is embarrassed of her attachment to a Holocaust victim, as discussed by Liebrecht. I sympathize with Hayuta for this reason. Not only will she feel guilty for trying to quite Grandpa Mendel seconds before his death, but I believe that she will never truly understand the importance of her grandfather’s tale. I identify most with Bella because while I understand a Holocaust story could ruin the mood of an engagement party, I also believe that his story is worth hearing and that as a member of the family and a survivor of war, he deserves to be shown respect.
ReplyDeleteWe see holocaust themes presented in Hayutas Engagement Party mainly in the character of the Grandfather. His charachter is given significance in the story through his holocausht experience and stories. The problem is that once he starts with the stories, he can't stop. Which frusturates his family. I'm sure they all love him but people can only hear the same story so many times before interest turns to annoyance. I sympathize the most with Hayuta because she is forced to make a decision that she doesn't want to make due to her grandfathers inablity to keep quiet. She wants him to attend the party but actually considers sending him off because she is worried he will ruin the experince for everyone. Stories from the holocaust are more valuble that gold, but there is a time and a place for them.
ReplyDelete-David Steren, Period 4
In Hayuta's Engagement Party there is a trend of people finding that events of the present are more important than events of the past. All the characters participate in this trend in one way or another. There are more extreme cases like Shifra who does not want Grandpa Mendel to talk about his experiences at all because it ruins the festivity of the holidays. There is also Hayuta who is willing to send Grandpa Mendel away so that he will not come to the Engagement Party. Even the more understanding character like Ran and Bella, who insist that Grandpa Mendel should be at the Engagement Party, follow the trend; neither of them wanted Grandpa Mendel to talk about his experiences at the Party. While Ran and Bella did the right thing by letting Grandpa Mendel come to the engagement party, it would have been better if they found a way to help Grandpa Mendel’s need to talk about the past.
ReplyDeleteJosh Raanan Period 4
In Hayuta's Engagement Party, Hayuta definitely represents the new generation that has a hard time creating any sort of attachment to her grandfather who was a Holocaust victim. This is shown by her considering to not invite him to her wedding. A wedding is a milestone moment in someone's life and most often people want to share it with their family. In addition she was caught up worrying about how her husband will perceive her grandfather when he constantly talks about the Holocaust. If she had a close relationship with her grandfather she would not have felt embarrassed about him. She would have understood why he needed to talk about it so much, rather than be embarrassed of it. The characters I sympathize the most with is the grandfather and Hayuta. The grandfather obviously went through a traumatic experience and it did not seem as if his family was as considerate as I would expect a family to be when someone is talking about such a traumatic experience. I sympathize with Hayuta because she was not able to have a relationship with her grandfather in which she could hear all his stories and be able to understand him and how and why it has affected him.
ReplyDeleteThe characters in Hayuta’s Engagement Party express different reactions to the grandfather’s retellings of his experiences in the Holocaust. The majority of the family listens as a matter of routine yet seems unmoved. Bella feels sympathy for her father. Shifra has no patience for Grandpa Mendel’s stories and harshly shuts him down. Hayuta is self-concerned to the point of cruelty. Yet I think that the most important reaction is that of the rest of the family members. After Grandpa Mendel had repressed his stories for so long, the family is initially shocked by his first outburst, yet eventually they accept Grandpa Mendel’s stories as a matter of routine. They seem to be completely unmoved by his experiences. Librecht addresses not only the repression of Holocaust memories but the irony in the fact that once the stories are brought to light, people seem to be numb to them.
ReplyDeleteI sympathize the most with Bella. She recognizes both the need to respect and remember the past and to move on into the future. She is unable to find a comfortable compromise, perhaps because the tragedy of the past is incompatible with anything that she, and even more so the new generation, would find comfortable. I sympathize with Bella because I too believe that finding a fitting way to remember the past can be a struggle.
Ruth, period 4
In “Hayuta’s Engagement Party” we see these being expressed in the manner in which the grandfather decides to tell his story. He kept the story bottled up, as was expected of him, but he simply could not do it anymore. Although his family loved him, they did not know how to handle the information. They were unprepared and as a result blocked the memories out. Furthermore there was no proper time and place from the family to discuss this tragedy. Since no other time was set aside, these memories came out at times that were not really the right moment. I most sympathize with Hayuta, because although I do not condone her actions, I don’t entirely blame her for her reaction. She grew up not hearing about the Holocaust and not discussing it. Now she is in a relationship and she does not know how to handle these comments. She is scared of alienating her new family. Perhaps if she had heard her grandfather talk about this all her life, it would become easier. Instead as she is trying to fit in with her new family she is forced to reckon with something she never had to deal with before.
ReplyDeleteWe see these themese in "Hayuta's Engagement Party" through Hayuta's embarassment of her Grandpa when she doesn't want to invite him to her engagement party. She doesn't think that her Grandpa should be telling his Holocaust stories to her family, and she doesn't think it is appropriate. She thinks any talk of the Holocaust, of the vulgarities, should be mentioned.. ever. Escpecially not in front of guests at her engagement party, for she is deathly afraid of anyone thinking her family to be crazy. Because crazy is what that generation of Israeli's is taught to think when someone would speak out about their history in the Holocaust. I sympathize most with Grandpa Mendel. After saving his childrens' lives while he was suffering in concentration camps (not that he didn't want to I just mean he was a good Dad), he gets treated like the old loony bin by his whole family? And his own daughter who the story seems to show us has a special connection with can't even muster up the courage to tell her daughter she is being a complete witch. Even though I do understand what VJC is saying about how one can understand why Hayuta acts the way she does, it's the world she lives in and everything but come on. This man has an entire mind full of experiences that the world and especially his family MUST KNOW ABOUT and he is hushed and put away whenever he opens his mouth. I feel terrible for him, and can only hope that if this story is real somewhere somebody speaks out and defends Grandpa Mendels everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHayuta's engagement party is a direct reflection of the thoughts expressed by Savyon Librecht. Hayuta, the third generation in her family and who characterizes the way the majority of this generation thinks, rejects her grandfather’s holocaust stories because she doesn’t feel she is connected to them whatsoever. As a matter of fact, Hayuta believes that her grandfather’s memories of such a horrible event in Jewish history should never be discussed at holiday events and celebrations because they ruin the happiness and mood of the present situation. Savyon Librecht writes, "The influence of the Holocaust on my work cannot be separated from the influence of the Holocaust on my life” which is parallel to the way in which Grandpa Mendel acts around his family. Grandpa Mendel begins to bring up the holocaust after he becomes triggered by certain variables, such as food and the thought of his wife. In response to her Grandpa’s uncontrollable ways, Hayuta refuses to have him at her engagement party due to the fact that she fears he might bring up the holocaust in front of all of her guests. However, after speaking to Ran, Hayuta has no other choice but to invite her Grandpa to the party which pleases her mother Bella because Bella had been caught in a conflict between trying to please two people at once. I sympathize with Bella because she is attempting to make her daughter happy as well as respect her father; two aspects extremely important to her. Bella wants the best for Hayuta and understands her frustration but at the same time, has a very hard time with the idea of not inviting her very own father who was married to the woman who Hayuta was named after! As far as I’m concerned, if it weren’t for Grandpa Mendel, Hayutah wouldn’t even exist, so for Hayuta to shut him out of one of the most exciting times of her life would be completely wrong and extremely disrespectful.
ReplyDelete- Sam Trenk, Period 9
The themes that Liebrecht talks about are shown in the short story specifically through Hayuta’s attitude towards her grandfather. She seems to not only be disinterested in her grandfather’s stories and memories of the Holocaust, but also very negative towards them. In the story she doesn’t care about his wellbeing, she only cares about her wedding and making sure it goes smoothly. She even goes far enough as to embarrass him at the party in front of all of her guests.
ReplyDeleteI think that I sympathize most with Bella. She was in the very tough position of having to deal as a middle man between her daughter and father. She had strong feelings towards what her father said, but they differed from what Hayuta thought. She really respected his words and memories. On the other side, she had to deal with her daughter and definitely understood her issues. She had to find the balance between respecting her father, and doing the right thing for her daughters future.
Alon, Period 9
In the stor we read, "Hayutas Engagement Party" there are a lot of themes which relates to themes of the Holocaust. Hayuta would never let grandpa talk about the Holocaust. The nazis would try and keep the Jews quiet as well. Grandpa died before he could even tell his entire story. There are many stories of what happened to people during the Holocaust that we have either heard a little bit of it, or none at all. At first, Hayuta did not even want grandpa at her engagement party. Non Jews that were anti-semitic did not want any Jewish people around. I sympathize with the grandfather because he was like many people in the Holocuast; the voice that was never heard.
ReplyDelete-Michelle Dabrow Period 4
The disinterest and indifference to the Holocaust of the present generation of Israelis is expressed very vividly throughout "Hayuta's Engagement Party," especially in Hayuta's character. Hayuta's embarrassment of her grandfather and his stories are shown throughout the story when she is strongly considering not to invite him to her engagement celebration, and later when she shouts "Grandpa, no!" as soon as he looks like he might say something about the Holocaust. The character I sympathize with the most is Grandpa Mendel, who never seems to have been given a proper opportunity to ease the burden of the Holocaust that he carries with him every day and I find it unacceptable for his family not to have ever allowed him to continue with his stories when he had begun to tell them, even at family dinners or celebrations. However, I do still have a lot of sympathy for Hayuta, who was stuck in a very difficult situation and was under a lot of pressure by her own generation to present herself and her family in a certain way.
ReplyDeleteIt’s kind of an awkward situation, because although Hayuta is from the same generation that we live in I can’t relate to the extent of her detachment from the holocaust. I believe that everyone born in our generation is inbred with a certain detachment from the holocaust, simply because we were not able to experience it. We hear stories from family members, survivors, and teachers about the atrocities that were committed, and we feel sympathy toward it but we can’t empathize with the older generations. This is where Hayuta fits in. She is aware of the many events that occurred, but feels smothered by her grandfather and his untimely outburst. Anyone who lived through the holocaust would understand the grandfather’s odd habit because they went through the same tortures. But to anyone else it’s an unnecessary burden, which they prefer not to endure. I’m surprised that Hayuta was not more compassionate in regards to her grandfather’s outbursts; but at the same time I can relate to her detachment and understand her frustration with the untimely outbursts.
ReplyDeleteI think a very important reflection of israeli society's suppression of holocaust survivors' stories is not just within the family but all those present at the engagement party. When Grandpa Mendel falls and dies, the people at the party continue their dancing and festivities. To stop and admit what happened was unacceptable in that society especially in the face of constant danger, Israelis learn to push through hardship.
ReplyDeleteI can easily sympathize with Grandpa Mendel because of the ease with which his own granddaughter was willing to dispose of him for the engagement party.
Jeremy Halpern
Hayuta's family reflects Librecht's in a sensitive way especially when the touchy subject of the holocaust comes up. Of course there will be tons of generations that may have many views, beleifs, and different ways to take the holocaust to heart. The grandpa really did not seem to hurt Hayuta, it was just hard to relate when someone has experienced it full on compared to hearing and learning about it. I sympathize for Bella because you can see she doesn't really know how to approach being in the middle of it all.. I'm pretty sure she understands the significance of passing on the stories straight from someone who has been through it, the problem is he did not choose a good time to go into detail and rant on.
ReplyDeleteIn Hayuta’s Engagement Party, the theme of young Israeli society trying to distance themselves from any attachment to the Holocaust is extremely evident. The character that best shows this is Hayuta. Hayuta selfishly disregards any connection that her family has to the Holocaust. I think that it would be fine for Hayuta to privately ask Mendel to save his story for a different, more important moment, but to consider not inviting him at all to her engagement party out of fear of him sharing his story is extremely disrespectful to him. Having a grandfather that survived the Holocaust should not be a point of embarrassment for Hayuta; she should be proud of it. Like Liebrecht, the Holocaust is something that was stuck with Grandpa Mendel his entire life and it is not something that should be completely disregarded. I sympathize with Grandpa Mendel the most because he is never given the proper time nor respect needed to share his feelings and stories with his family. The way that his granddaughter was able to put her engagement party over her grandfather was very disrespectful and it followed the theme in which young Israeli society tried repress any attachment to the Holocaust.
ReplyDelete- Ari Witten, Period 4
This was an issue that was completely new and surprising to me. Coming from a community where listenting to stories and learning about the holocaust is so important, and where holocaust survivors are revered and honored it seems impossible to me that it wouldn't be the same in the Jewish state. The character I sympathize most with is Grandpa Mendel. Living in a country that has a policy to repress talking about the Holocaust could be seen as disrespectful to many survivors. A survivors own family not wanting to listen is even more disrespectful. The position Grandpa Mendel is placed in by his country and family in a way hurts me. His stories should be listened to closely and carefully, since soon there will be no survivors left. Instead he is shut up and passed off as senile. I really hope that Israeli teenagers interest and respect for the Shoah and it's survivors will increase before it's too late to hear it first hand.
ReplyDeleteHayuta's Engagement Party expresses the themes of the generation that is right now alive in Israel, is shown through Hayuta's character. She does not want her grandfather, which is her connection to the holocaust, to embaress her at her own party. She should really respect the fact that her grandfather was part of that great tragedy, instead of try and distance herself from him. I sympathize with the grandfather the most because he just wants his family to understand or try to understand, as much as they can, what he went through, and for the most part they don't want to hear it. But really, they should take the time to listen, because that generation of survivors is now fading and soon enough we will only have stories in writing and that were passed down, instead of from the orginal sources, which are those that went through the nightmare of the holocaust.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Goldstein I did not know where to post this so I am doing in on the old blog. I find the movie the Lemon Tree to be extremely biased, over-exaggerated, and frustrating. The movie does not show why Israelis would need to be so careful about their security. And seeing footage of a terrorist attack and how they affected the victims and their families I am sure an audience would feel sympathetic towards the Israelis. Although, this is based off a real issue that exists in Israel, I feel that they should have showed both sides of the stories. Making it a biased movie does not help in trying to create peace between the two groups because then they are not informed about the other side and what issues.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know where to post my response to the Lemon Tree, so I'm posting it here:
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the film I saw the other side to the story. Of course i thought of how the Arabs felt with the Israeli's occupying the area, but the movie definitely shined a new light on the idea. I felt horrible for Salma and how the orchard was all she had, yet the Israeli government didn't care and thought that it was necessary to destroy it. I didnt like how the Israeli government was portrayed in the movie. It made them look mean and heartless towards the situation and that they will destroy a woman's life just for the possibility of having an attack. I understand that the Israeli army and government will do and has to do whatever they need to do to keep the country safe, but sometimes they need to be more sympathetic towards the Arabs and not come to conclusions. The topic is very complicated and there are so many different sides to it and it all depends on the situation, but the film did a great job showing the different sides and gave me more of an insight on the topic.
Alex Niakani