Hanele Page #2

- So, what does that make us?

We don't beg.

Let us praise the name of the Lord.

lojme Kac? Haven't we had

enough misfortune already?

The son of a parasite, a beggar,

and the daughter of Abram afar!

You've got to keep your eye on her.

You have to go everywhere with her.

Unhappy nation of Israel!

Again there is heresy in your midst.

A new golden calf.

A new idol, a false science.

Mark my words, man came from animals.

Lejb Abrahamovich told us that the world

was older than our epoch.

It was all Lejb's fault. In Mukachevo

they unhinged him for good.

Every 100 years they find something

new. Tomorrow it'll be another story.

Lejb's not alone. There are plenty

of skeptics here.

- There's supposed to be something in it.

- Unbelieving nations!

You use science to vainly seek what was

revealed to us thousands of years ago!

- Science is for infidels.

- May the Almighty liberate us.

You forget that the Lord scattered nations

much greater than ours like sand.

Where are the Babylonians? Where

are the Romans?

But we live because we observe

the Commandments of the Highest.

Tell Lejb that I'm warning him.

If he keeps on with this nonsense

the village and the rabbi

will have to act.

- What do you say to that?

- This has to be stopped, now!

- It's not only a ball but it turns round.

- Wouldn't the houses collapse?

- No, we've got proof.

- Yeah, from goys. - Jews as well.

- What's that?

- Wait, watch this.

The houses won't fall and the water

won't pour away.

- Why do we have earthquakes, Lejb?

- Why earthquakes?

Why do they happen?

Everyone knows that land stands on

water, in which there's a big fish.

- His tail flaps, causing an earthquake.

- Kids' fairytales.

- The papers write that...

- Can you read, Lejb?

Wolf read it to me. He goes to the

Hebrew school in Mukachevo.

- What did he read to you?

- That Polana is full of thick-heads.

They get fleeced by the rich and

slog away for them for a pittance.

The Fuxes have everything and we get

nothing. But there is hope.

It's called Palestine.

The return to the Promised Land.

A new life. And brotherhood.

Atheism has penetrated Polana.

- Something has to be done.

- I know. But what?

The regional chief says there's no

cause for official intervention.

Crazy Lejb, prattling cobbler! Scoundrel!

I wouldn't give him any more work.

He's got to pay his debts. And those

schismatics who listen to his stories.

- They can go to afar instead.

- They won't buy much there.

If someone wants a piece of soap,

he has to cut some from his own.

Run them into the ground!

Now, listen carefully.

A wise rabbi asked some learned men

where God lived.

- What did the scholars say?

- They just laughed at this question.

The world is full of wonderful places.

He created them, He can choose.

So, what then?

The rabbi said:
No. God lives where

man allows him to go.

The desire to bring Jews together in

their ancient homeland under Mount Zion.

That's Zionism. And Palestine, our

eternal home, is our destination.

Work equality. For everyone.

- Any questions?

- Do you think that the earth turns round?

Yes. Everyone knows that now.

Except people in Polana.

Away with the darkness of lands

where only a few are privileged.

- You eat pig meat, student?

- I'll smash your face, you oaf!

We have to found an organization

in Polana.

False prophets.

Schism in the Jewish faith.

Woe to the children whom the father

rejects, and to the abandoned father.

Zionism!

Well? Are you coming with

us to Palestine?

- No way.

- Prettiest girl in Polana doesn't want to?

- You like it here so much?

- The hachshara doesn't even tempt you?

- Never heard of hachshara.

- Well, we'll see about that.

A group of about 20 boys and girls

go to find work in a different town,

they live together and share everything.

- They learn Hebrew in the evenings.

- They sing songs and dance together.

- They're starting a hachshara in Ostrava.

- What are you waiting for?

- We'll send some instructors to Polana.

- We'll be back soon.

- Shalom, Hanele!

- Shalom.

Shalom!

Does anyone call out shalom

to the Fux girls? No.

Hanele!

- What are you doing here, lojme?

- Don't look at me like that.

You're avoiding me.

I can't even get to talk to you.

Let me go!

You know we can't do that.

My parents would get mad.

Go home, lojme!

You know you're not allowed

to kiss me like that!

Like what?

The world doesn't turn round

and Lejb is a fool.

Has everyone forgotten the oath

the Lord settled upon us

when he scattered us to all

four corners of the globe?

Do not demand to return

to the Promised Land,

wait until the arrival of the Messiah.

He will take you there.

Those who lure you there before Him

will make God's chosen people

just one of many nations.

They provoke the Lord's anger and

nations will rekindle their hatred of us.

What's going on?

Help!

- Get under the covers!

- Paupers!

Wretches! Bastards!

- Who did this?

- Who do you think?

- We never had broken windows before?

They deserved it! - What for?

Just look around you.

Not one window spared.

- Brother stands against brother.

- They put paraffin in the well.

- The community is split.

- Salamon Fux sent for the gendarmes.

Think of your neighbor!

What are you looking at, Pinches?

Don't look at me.

Just look at Fux instead.

He's the one hanging round our necks.

Ignoring debts from one day to the next

and then getting his lawyers onto us.

He's threatening court action. Don't say

you knew nothing about it.

- Lejb might be right.

- He talks rubbish.

But your business is rising

from the dead. Here's your flour.

The pillar on which our world

stands is being felled.

The selection of people for the

hachshara requires utmost care.

Each new member brings two sets

of clothing and a blanket.

Shared accommodation is arranged.

Everyone's earnings

go into a joint coffer.

Everyone pays for his journey to

Ostrava by himself.

There will be exams at the end of term.

He who is considered competent

will be able to move to Palestine.

The trip to Palestine costs 1,500.

Everyone has to pay for his own ticket.

No-one earns enough for that.

Who wants to register for the hachshara?

No-one from the Polana galuth

is registering for the hachshara?

Will no-one see Palestine,

the land of fortune and work?

Will no-one taste the grapes

from the land of Canaan

of which each one must be

carried individually by two men?

So no-one wants to go?

I will.

Hanele afarov is registering.

Praise be to the name of the Lord.

Is anyone against?

No. Hanele afarov is chosen.

You'll be there all on your own.

Aren't you afraid?

That's the lot of my parents,

to grow old and end up alone.

Hanele! I know you're awake.

I have to see you, even if it costs

me my life.

This is the second night I've come.

I'll wait until morning.

It'll be dawn soon. If you don't

come, I'll do something drastic.

I don't yet know what,

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