Editor's Notes: Documentary filmed weeks before Oct. 7 essential viewing for elections years later
We know what talking about each other instead of talking to each other costs in a way no generation of Israelis has ever known. We cannot afford to learn it twice.
In 2023, the Israeli filmmaker Jonathan Jakubowicz was frequently asked, "What did he say about us?" This question echoed from both the right and left sides of the political spectrum, including both government supporters and protesters. Despite sharing the same country, people often stopped engaging with one another, turning to the Venezuelan-born documentary maker instead.
Jakubowicz's film, "Soul of a Nation," chronicles the tumultuous year leading up to October 7, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Filmed just weeks before the election, the documentary provides an unfiltered perspective on the events that tore Israel apart.
As an outsider, Jakubowicz, a Venezuelan-Jewish director, offers a unique viewpoint on Israel's politics. Born and raised in Venezuela, he witnessed his own nation descend into chaos, providing insight into how a society can fracture and lose its sense of unity.
In 2023, Israel saw the most right-wing and religious government in its history, introducing laws to curb the power of the Supreme Court. Supporters claimed it was necessary, while opponents saw it as a threat to democracy. The debate divided the nation, leading to widespread protests, mass resignations, and a sense of paralysis.
However, the film avoids taking sides, showcasing the perspectives of key figures from both the right and left, including former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Ehud Olmert, and Nobel laureates Aaron Ciechanover and Dorit Beinisch. The film also features Arab lawmaker Aida Touma-Suleiman, who stresses that while Arab women in Israel share legal rights with Jewish women, they often face wage disparities.
Jakubowicz's film refrains from selecting a winner, instead focusing on the experiences of everyday Israelis. The film highlights the differences within the Israeli population, such as the predominance of Sephardi, Middle Eastern, and Ethiopian Jews in the right-wing base. The documentary also delves into the Jewish calendar, revisiting the significance of Tisha B'Av, when Israel withdrew from Gaza on the eve of the fast.
By preserving the raw emotions and conversations of Israelis, Jakubowicz's documentary provides a vital record of the country's internal struggle, remaining relevant even years after October 7. The film's timing, released in Israel after the election, underscores the importance of confronting the nation's past, as Jakubowicz himself notes that Israel wasn't ready for this story until now.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
