Original subtitles

Okay Léa, ready?

Turn around... now.

Yeah.

Okay, take your tallit off.

Perfect. And make it... make it swirl around you.

Yes, that's it. Way to go!

- Come on. Go ahead, keep going! - Come on...

Go on, keep going, do it. Even more.

- Yes. Keep going. - No, that's too much.

It's turning into Zorro now.

Look at me.

Smile.

- Nice. - Yeah...

No problem.

Okay, gotta go. There she is.

Now we're talking.

- You okay? Is this for social media? - Mm-hm.

- Check it out. - Oh.

Yeah, that's not bad.

Hey.

- And the kippah? - Right, the kippah.

Come on. Aren't you wearing the kippah for the community?

No, I don't wear a kippah.

Why? We made them on purpose.

Well, yeah, it's a shame, we made them on purpose.

I don't really think I need to take on

all the male liturgical rituals for myself. I think that, um...

I can find my own mode of religious expression in line

with a concept that could be more specifically feminine.

- Well... - Uh...

Yeah, well, you're the rabbi.

But it's a shame, because we made them on purpose, after all. It's a bit of a shame.

And the whole "woman with a kippah" thing makes a real impression.

It's, uh... It's, uh...

It's like a woman with a beard. You don't see that often.

What should the caption be? What do you think?

It said the rabbi, or the lady rabbi? The "Rebitzin?"

Or the female rabbi?

Not the female rabbi. Sounds like "female rabbit," kind of odd.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay, hold on, you know what?

We'll take one with it, and one without, and choose afterward.

- All right, fine. - Yeah? Go ahead.

- Nice. - Yeah, I mean, oof...

It's night and day.

I mean, it's just too bad you're not on this side to see it, because...

...from our angle, it's just wow.

Please, you're not posting it just yet, right?

I haven't told the whole family yet.

Whoo!

REFORMED

Um...

I'm really...

really sorry you found out that way.

I was planning to tell you,

it's just that I haven't found the right time. So, yeah.

I've just started working as a rabbi at the liberal synagogue in Strasbourg.

That's why I came home.

And I start tomorrow.

Oh, don't look at me like that. You said you'd support me, no matter what.

- I did, but I didn't mean it. - Oh?

What do you mean, "oh?" Come on, Léa, grow up, will you?

That's what you say when a kid's about to mess up, you know,

and then you just hope they actually move on.

- I obviously didn't mean it. - Yeah, sure.

He looks like he's let down.

He'll get used to it. He's just overreacting.

There was Galileo, there was Freud, there was Auschwitz.

I thought we'd figured it out:

God doesn't exist. Creation doesn't make sense.

Right?

Yeah, we're alone, we live, we suffer, and we love, but it doesn't last,

and sometimes we even kill each other and we all die.

Wow, way to kill the vibe, Dad.

- By the way, how's Grandma doing? - By the way, Grandma's fine.

- Well, good. - I mean, "fine..."

She just sits in her room collecting dust.

She doesn't talk at all anymore.

- Here. - Thanks.

Here.

- Does this mean you're gonna live here? - Ah, no.

Just...

until I can find an apartment downtown.

Dad seems to be doing well lately, at least.

- Hm. - Should be fun.

Right?

Anyway...

It's weird to have that at the entrance, right?

A father cutting his son's throat. Should I read something into that?

Anyway, I'll see you later.

You know, it makes sense for me to do that.

Deep down...

all I want is to help people. I just want to bring them some comfort.

That's all I want.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened by life's struggles,

and I'll just... I'll give you rest, offering you comfort."

Not funny at all. If you're just going to make fun of me,

you know what? I'm going to bed.

You okay?

Huh? Yeah, I'm fine.

Thanks.

Would you like some tea?

Yes, I'd love that.

- Hello. - Yeah?

Uh... Mrs. Rabbi?

Or is it just rabbi? I'm sorry, I don't...

Call me whatever. Have a seat. I was expecting you.

Tell me.

Uh, well I'm actually here, because I... I just had a child.

Mazel tov.

Thank you. And it's a boy.

- Okay. - And so actually, uh...

Well, the father isn't Jewish.

And we agreed, he was completely fine with the little one being Jewish.

And then, out of nowhere, he started changing his mind.

So, yeah, I don't know what to do.

He... he changed his mind?

About the circumcision.

Ah.

He started doing some research online, and it completely threw him off.

So he explained to me

that it could lead to chronic infections if you cut too much or not enough.

Mm-hm...

So now, his new thing is sending me pictures of, you know...

Ah!

So, um...

It basically comes down to, you can step out of...

of your house and, and...

and get killed by a tile falling from a roof, right?

But that's no valid reason to stop going out altogether.

Well, yeah, I think so too.

- The tile is a good analogy. - Mm.

Would you be able to talk to him?

To whom?

My boyfriend.

Yes.

Of course.

I mean, I was totally prepared for funerals.

And now the first thing I have to do is a brit? Just my luck.

Why? Are you against circumcision?

I'm not against it. I'm all for it.

I mean...

No, I mean, in theory, I'm for it, sure.

For a female rabbi, it's a pain, huh?

Oh. I guess the door handles are optional, huh?

- I guess they are. - Yeah.

- In original state, as they say. - Thanks.

Isn't it totally charming?

Your own little cocoon.

I mean, being in favor of it in theory is one thing,

but actually having to convince a guy

to have part of his eight-day-old son's organ cut off?

I'm sorry, but that's different.

It's perfect, I'll take it.

Well, you're in luck. Got your application?

- Yes. - Thank you.

In America, some people have abolished the practice

and they chop up a cucumber instead. It's called a brit shalom.

- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hm.

- And what do they do with it? - With what?

The cucumber. Do they eat it or throw it away?

I don't know.

I might be wrong, but I don't see the proof of income.

Yeah, I don't have any because I just opened my own business.

- And what do you do? - I'm a rabbi.

It's disgusting.

Symbolically, it's like they're eating their son's shmock isn't it?

That's horrible.

Well, I need to check with the, uh, with the landlord. I'll...

I'll keep you posted.

Rabbi, Rabbi, Rabbi.

- The Reformed... - They opened an account on social media!

We need to respond and counterattack.

You have to go see her to convince her to stop this madness.

See who?

Well, Léa Schmoll.

She was your Talmud Torah student.

A woman rabbi? I mean, what's next? It's just... come on.

Chas VeShalom.

Completely Chas VeShalom even!

You have to see her. She used to really like you.

We're doing this to save her soul.

Mm.

- Mm... - Rabbi?

"Beth Israël. The new woman rabbi at the Beth Israël Synagogue."

Yeah. Joshua, what do you think?

- Do you think I should go see that lady? - No, no, no, no, no, no.

Come on now, it's not like she's the devil.

Ehhh...

Thank you, Astrid. Thank you.

- Start over, Joshua? - Ugh, no way, no way...

- Yeah? - Oh, hello.

Hello.

Julie asked me to come see you today.

Uh, it's for you.

Oh, yeah, I totally forgot.

Hold on, just a sec. Thanks for coming.

- Uh, Philippe, where are you? - What is it?

Just come. The rabbi's here.

The girl at the front door, isn't she the doula?

- Hello. - Hello.

I'm Philippe's mother.

Hello, ma'am, it's a pleasure.

I just started a load, can't this wait?

Come in.

Where does circumcision come from?

Actually, um, when he was 99,

Abraham received the order from God to circumcise himself,

in order to seal his covenant with Him.

And since then, it has become a commandment for any newborn Jewish boy.

Well, I read somewhere online that

the pain is so intense that, apparently, it causes a surge of blood to rush

towards the brain,

and that's why there are so many Jewish Nobel prize laureates.

Ah. Uh, I don't think so... I'd be a little surprised, honestly.

Whatever. Um, what does it mean?

I mean, why do we do it?

So, it's a covenant with God.

What's interesting is this paradox, where you take something away,

often seen as integral, and in doing so, you end up creating a connection.

That's because the word "brit" in Hebrew means both cut-off, and connection.

And it's important. I mean, it's always... It's always existed, right?

When... when was Abraham around?

Well, that depends whether you refer to the Biblical calendar

- or archeological digs actually. - Abraham...

that's not a valid argument.

Just because it's tradition doesn't mean we should keep doing it.

History is full of examples, uh... Slavery, lapidation,

social and racial segregation, smoking in restaurants.

There's lots of examples. We didn't have lady rabbis before.

- Right? - Uh, yes. But...

Now we do. So things are evolving. That's a good thing, it's progress.

Okay, but I told you it's really important to me that he's Jewish.

- Doesn't that matter? You agreed or not? - Well, yeah.

- Why are you mad... - You said you were okay.

- Yeah, but... - Doesn't that count?

Yeah, it does. I really don't mind him being Jewish but...

I love Jewish people, Jewish culture, uh, Larry David, klezmer music, uh...

Yom Kippur is a good idea. But I mean, this is... this is...

different, I mean... It's... it's not the same.

Look, I just... I just can't.

I don't know, look at him. I can't do this to him. It's...

- It's terrible. - Hold on, kids.

We have to listen to one another. It's natural. It's hard for us, too.

It's a very violent act and...

and it's not in our culture.

It's true that it's, um...

important...

to name violence and to listen to...

See? Even the lady rabbi agrees with what I'm saying, so...

Wait, are you serious now?

- Yeah. She agrees. - No, I mean all I'm saying is that...

I mean, it's a complicated subject and...

It's super complicated. It's something...

Very complicated.

Okay, so you don't keep your promises?

- What? How? - You don't keep your promises?

- What do you mean? - Okay, fine, then I'm out of here.

- Wait, are you serious? - I'm serious, I'm out of here.

- You're leaving? - I'm serious, yeah.

- Julie, wait. We're here for you. - Goodbye.

- Where you going? - Bye.

She'll come around. It's the hormones. She just gave birth after all.

Yeah, because I didn't give birth, right?

Every year, on the previous weekend,

I would go pick one up in town with my mom and my sister.

My dad would always pretend not to know what it was.

"Oh, wow, is that a tie?"

Every year, the same routine.

Mechanical. Sad.

Just a tie.

As if he absolutely didn't wanna risk being disappointed by us.

Or being pleased.

And what are you planning on getting him this year?

A bowtie?

Good.

Shall we stop here for today?

Am I already cured?

Oh, aren't you forgetting something?

No, that is for you.

Again?

Well, the book on Lacan, I just had to. But this is totally different. You'll see.

I'm a little afraid to see you reaction.

I figured you might like it.

It's beautiful. Really.

Thank you so much.

- See you Thursday, Suzanne. - Bye.

Léa?

You have a visitor.

Hello, Léa.

Oh. Hello.

Uh, may I?

Yes, yes, of course.

Mazel tov.

- For? - For, uh...

you know, the birth of your son, the birth of your daughter and...

the birth of your other son.

I appreciate it. Thank you.

You know, uh, about...

your letter...

- Yeah. - I'm sor...

I'm sorry. I wanted to respond and then...

One week went by,

then two, then...

I just... I don't know, I figured it'd be weird to respond after such a long time.

Yeah, yeah, I understand.

And if you answered now, three years later...

it'd be totally sociopathic.

It would.

So you weren't in Berlin studying Philosophy, then?

No, I was a rabbinical seminary.

It's my dad who told everyone I was studying Philosophy. He's...

He's in denial.

Léa.

About that...

- Um... - Did you come...

to ask me to stop?

Well, good timing, because...

I was just thinking about that.

Why? What... what's going on?

I just think that, uh...

I'm not capable.

Telling people how to live when I haven't even...

been through anything at all.

And these people expect answers and convictions, and...

These are exactly the two things I'm completely devoid of.

I guess my dad was right. It was stupid of me to do that.

Rabbis who are full of convictions are a dime a dozen.

Maybe it's, um...

all those seeking something different...

who really need you.

You know,

just before he died,

Rabbi Zusya had these words:

"In the coming world, the question they'll ask me won't be:"

"'Why were you not Moses?' No."

"The question they'll ask me

is 'Why were you not Rabbi Zusya?'"

See you later.

I thought about it,

I'd like to have another conversation with your partner.

- Good night. - This is all your fault.

Yeah, I didn't forget.

She was a perfectly normal kid.

You're the one who put all these ideas in her head.

No need, he agreed.

We're doing it this Thursday. Are you available?

Thursday, we have our first circumcision in the community.

And bam, she'll do her first service the next day.

I feel like it's starting to take off.

Because Of Saint-Tropez, Cap d'Antibes, Monaco...

The Côte d'Azur is a unique location

with some of the most expensive real estate in the world.

You're about to discover villages that you...

By Noeh's bar mitzvah, we'll be rolling.

Where the hell is he anyway? Noeh!

Noeh!

- What? - Why did you buy it?

Like, it's a synagogue. I mean...

What's the point? It's a little lame, don't you think?

Can't you buy me, I don't know, a no-license car instead?

...with remarkable honesty,

offering readers an intimate glimpse into his journey...

Blending raw emotion with sharp observation...

I'm late for my circumcision.

- You just slept in? - Yeah.

I forgot to put on my alarm clock.

Oh, well...

Oh, come on.

Hello.

- Hello. Sorry. - Hello.

- Hello. - I'll be right there.

Sorry. Sorry I'm late.

Okay, we can start.

Yes.

Isn't your boyfriend here?

No, he's waiting at the coffee shop with his mom.

But it's okay, he agreed, it's just that he...

he'd rather not be here.

Okay. I understand.

And... are you okay with that?

Yes.

Well, then, let's get started.

He can always have reconstructive surgery later on.

Otherwise, there are also non-surgical procedures where they simply pull

the skin towards the head of the penis, you know.

Yeah, yeah. I've seen a ton of videos on that matter.

Come on, that's absurd.

It's all gonna go well.

Julie?

Uh, just a minute. I'll... I'll be right back.

I got scar-healing powder too, uh...

Oh, gauze and dressing, so...

What's up? Is there a problem?

No, the baby's doing great. It's Julie. She can't seem to let him go.

So we should cancel, right?

I think that's better.

Even I had a hard time with the idea, honestly.

We should cancel.

I think. Right?

I don't know.

I'm not here to tell you how to handle this.

I'm here to help you find the deeper meaning behind whatever choice you make.

Great.

You know, Philippe,

having himself circumcised at 99

wasn't the toughest challenge God ever gave Abraham.

He later asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, by cutting his throat on the altar.

And Abraham obeyed Him.

Is that supposed to reassure me?

No.

Still, back in the day, it was more common.

Pagans used to sacrifice their children to appease the gods.

Ultimately, at the last second, God held back Abraham's hand

and made him sacrifice a ram, instead of his son.

- All's well that ends well. - Yes.

Then why did He ask him,

- if He was gonna hold his hand back? - Well...

- To put his faith to the test, right? - No.

Being omniscient, God is all-knowing, so he knew that Abraham would obey Him.

- Then what was the point? - Precisely so he could hold his hand back.

Maybe to make Abraham understand...

that his son...

did not belong to him.

After that,

Abraham cut the ties that were hampering Isaac...

and each went his own way.

And the father and son never saw each other again.

Isaac's ligature

is actually the moment when Isaac was untied from his father.

God says to the Hebrews, "Your children are not your children."

"They come through you...

but not from you."

Philu!

What if he resents me later?

Well, if you have him circumcised,

he'll resent you for getting him circumcised.

And if you don't have him circumcised, he'll resent you for not doing it.

It's called being a parent.

Julie needs you.

She really became a rabbi.

Can you imagine?

Even though she was finishing medical school.

These people come to see her,

she tells them about the good Lord.

She's Don Camillo.

My daughter's become Don Camillo.

What?

What did you say, Mom?

So you can speak?

What the...

We've performed countless circumcisions here.

Dozens, even hundreds at this point, I'd say.

Here, have some water.

Thank you.

It only takes a second, not even a second. Half a second. Snip!

And bam, it's over. It's over. It's over.

Hello.

So how did it go?

Pretty good, yeah.

And you know, uh...

Do you remember the apartment I visited with Joël?

Well, good news, I got it.

And...

He's the one that was driving too fast. Jerk.

And then he has to balls to stare me down.

- You okay? - Great.

What... What...

What the hell happened?

Nothing. It's just because I...

I hit the brakes a little hard coming back from the retirement home.

Yes, hi sir, this is Léa Schmoll.

Uh, I wanted to tell you that actually, I won't be taking the apartment.

Uh, I, uh...

Well, I'm gonna, uh,

stay with my dad for a little while. I think it's, uh...

for the best. He needs me. He needs someone to...

to-to stay here with him. You know. So, anyway. I'll just, I won't...

Yeah, so there, I just wanted to let you know. Uh...

Big hugs, uh... Ridiculous.

Yes, hello, sir, this is Léa Schmoll.

I won't be taking the apartment, after all. I'm sorry. Have a good night.

Note to self:

If circumcision allows to separate a son from his mother...

then how do we separate a daughter from her father?