Filmmaker Explores Complex Legacy of Jewish Settlement in Hebron
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Filmmaker Atia Zar's new documentary, "Natzurot," explores her childhood experiences in the Beit Hadassah building in Hebron, a key site in the Jewish settlement movement. The film, co-directed with Shira Bilig, delves into the personal and ideological complexities of this history, featuring interviews with Zar's late mother, Rabbi Miriam Levinger. Zar aims to present a nuanced view of the settlement's impact, acknowledging both its significance and the personal hardships it entailed, particularly for children.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Filmmaker Atia Zar's documentary "Natzurot" examines the complex legacy of Jewish settlement in Hebron.
- The film focuses on the 1979 occupation of the Beit Hadassah building by women and children.
- Zar, daughter of prominent settlers, grapples with the personal and ideological costs of her upbringing.
- Interviews with her late mother, Rabbi Miriam Levinger, highlight unwavering ideological commitment.
- The documentary explores generational differences in perspective on settlement life.
- Zar seeks to present a nuanced view, acknowledging both pride and personal struggle.
Filmmaker Atia Zar discusses her new documentary, "Natzurot" (Besieged), which premieres at the Jerusalem International Women's Film Festival. The film, co-directed with Shira Bilig, delves into Zar's childhood memories of living in the Beit Hadassah building in Hebron, a pivotal event in the renewal of Jewish settlement there. Zar, the daughter of Rabbi Moshe and Rabbi Miriam Levinger, prominent figures in the settlement movement, grapples with the personal and ideological costs of this history.
The film revisits the 1979 event where a group of women and children from Kiryat Arba secretly occupied Beit Hadassah, a historic building in Hebron. The occupation, intended to re-establish a Jewish presence after decades of absence following the 1929 Hebron massacre, faced harsh conditions and a military blockade. The situation escalated with a deadly attack in May 1980, which killed six yeshiva students, ultimately leading to government authorization for Jewish residency in the building.
Zar, who was four years old during the initial occupation, describes the experience as deeply unsettling, feeling a loss of home and family structure. She explains that her personal journey, including therapy in her 40s, brought these childhood memories to the forefront. The film includes interviews with her mother, Rabbi Miriam Levinger, conducted shortly before her death, where Levinger discusses the hardships and her unwavering commitment to the settlement ideology, even comparing the difficulties to the Warsaw Ghetto and stating that the struggle for the Land of Israel is more important than children.
Zar expresses her own complex feelings, acknowledging the ideological significance of the settlement while also recognizing the personal toll it took. She aims for the film to present a nuanced perspective, allowing for both deep identification with the cause and an honest portrayal of personal struggle. The documentary also touches upon the generational shift, with Zar's daughter expressing a desire not to live in Judea and Samaria, reflecting a different emotional landscape for younger generations.
The film's creation process, spanning seven years, was influenced by personal life events, including Zar giving birth at 47, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Zar hopes "Natzurot" will spark open dialogue about the complexities of the settlement movement and the personal sacrifices involved, particularly highlighting the strength and agency of the women involved.