What Is And Thou Shalt Love About?
The premise of And Thou Shalt Love in 271 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the austere world of a Hesder yeshiva‑military program, a young soldier lives at the intersection of devout Orthodoxy and the stark realities of Israel’s defense forces. The film paints a quiet, sun‑baked landscape where prayer, study, and the cadence of drills blend into a rhythm that leaves little room for anything that does not fit the prescribed pattern. Within this disciplined milieu, the unspoken weight of personal desire becomes a source of relentless inner turmoil, setting a tone that is both reverent and suffocating.
Ohad is a freshly conscripted trainee whose private attraction to men clashes violently with the teachings he has internalized since childhood. To reconcile—or perhaps erase—this dissonance, he reaches out to a discreet religious helpline, Atzat Lev, and throws himself into an austere regimen of fasting, repeated recitation of the Tikkun HaKlali, and the constant, prick‑like reminder of a rubber band wrapped around his wrist. The ritualistic austerity he adopts is portrayed with a meditative intensity, underscoring his yearning for redemption while hinting at the fragility of a soul bent on self‑purification.
The arrival of Nir, Ohad’s close friend from the yeshiva who has just returned from active service, adds a new layer of emotional complexity. Their reunion awakens feelings that challenge everything Ohad has tried to suppress, prompting a quiet but powerful contemplation of love—both divine and human. As the two navigate familiar corridors of faith, study halls, and the ever‑present hum of military life, the film sustains a lingering tension between adherence to ancient doctrine and the inevitable pull of personal truth, inviting the audience to linger in the charged space between devotion and desire.
What Happens in And Thou Shalt Love?
The complete story of And Thou Shalt Love, from the first scene to the last, in 436 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
The film follows Ohad, a Hesder student serving in the Israel Defense Forces, as he grapples with a secret that sits at odds with his strict religious identity. He has not told anyone about his attraction to men, and the inner conflict drives him to seek spiritual guidance from a discreet religious helpline called Atzat Lev — a name echoing the real-world Atzat Nefesh. In his effort to resolve the tension, Ohad throws himself into ritual acts, hoping to reshape his feelings through faith.
He begins by reciting the Tikkun HaKlali and undertaking a grueling forty-day fast, convinced that this period of devotion and discipline will suppress his same-sex attraction. A small, painful rubber band worn on his wrist becomes a constant reminder of the struggle to control forbidden desires, turning his body into a site of penance and proof.
As the forty days draw to a close, the emotional tone shifts with the arrival of Nir, the beloved friend from Ohad’s yeshiva who has just returned from the army. The reunion floods Ohad with powerful, confusing emotions and fierce questions about his relationship with God, his community, and his own sense of self. He comes to realize that the changes he sought may not have taken root, and the supposed “correction” feels hollow.
When Nir discovers Ohad’s feelings, he responds with blunt hardness, urging him to depart from the yeshiva with the force of someone who believes Ohad must choose a different path. At one point, Nir—who rejects Ohad’s ability to remain within the bounds of the tradition as a Cohen—asks, “> You should leave the yeshiva.” The tension between fidelity to tradition and personal truth reaches a breaking point, and Ohad confronts a crucial moment of choice.
In a pivotal turn, Nir refuses to permit Ohad to participate in the priestly blessing, arguing that it would be inappropriate given the Torah’s prohibitions. This moment compounds the internal conflict but also clears a path for Ohad to decide how to proceed. He removes the rubber band from his wrist and steps forward to perform the blessing, a decisive act that signals his acceptance of his situation and his place within the spiritual world he inhabits.
Throughout the story, the film stays close to Ohad’s internal dialogue and the external pressures of his environment, painting a portrait of a young man who is torn between devotion and desire, and who ultimately seeks a form of peace that does not erase who he is. The narrative avoids sensationalism, presenting a thoughtful meditation on faith, identity, and the meaning of belonging within a tradition that often demands conformity.
And Thou Shalt Love Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Ohad seeks help for his sexuality” to “Resolution: living with truth”. 10 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Ohad seeks help for his sexuality
Ohad, an Israeli Hesder student, hides his sexual orientation from everyone and wrestles with the idea that it contradicts his religious identity. He turns to the anonymous call center Atzat Lev for guidance, initiating a process that mirrors conversion-therapy rhetoric. This moment sets the trajectory for his forty-day period of attempted correction.
When:before the forty days Where:Atzat Lev call center
- 2
Beginning the forty-day correction
Following the phone consultation, Ohad begins a rigorous forty-day regimen, including the Tikkun HaKlali and fasting. He clings to the belief that disciplined prayer will extinguish his attraction to men. He also wears a painful rubber band on his wrist as a physical reminder to suppress forbidden feelings.
When:start of the forty days Where:Yeshiva
- 3
Endurance under self-imposed discipline
Throughout the forty days, Ohad lives under intense self-denial and hope that his desires might change. The routine becomes a crucible for his faith and identity as he searches for a sign that the ritual is working. The process is emotionally taxing, shaping his view of God and self.
When:during the forty days Where:Yeshiva
- 4
Nir returns and rekindles inner conflict
Towards the end of the forty-day period, Nir, Ohad’s beloved, returns from the army to the yeshiva. Their reunion overwhelms Ohad with powerful feelings and questions about his identity and his relationship with God. The encounter destabilizes the assumption that the forty days have transformed him.
When:toward end of the forty days Where:Yeshiva
- 5
Realization of the method's failure
Ohad rapidly recognizes that he has not truly changed and that the forty-day correction was ineffective. The realization forces him to confront the limits of ritualistic remedies for his sexuality. The internal conflict intensifies rather than resolves.
When:end of the forty days Where:Yeshiva
- 6
Nir confronts Ohad’s feelings
When Nir learns of Ohad's romantic feelings, he responds with little sympathy and urges Ohad to leave the yeshiva. The rejection compounds Ohad's spiritual crisis and questions about belonging within the community. The moment marks a turning point in their relationship and Ohad's path forward.
When:after the confession Where:Yeshiva
- 7
Cohanim blessing denied
Nir refuses to permit Ohad, who is a Cohen, to perform the priestly blessing, arguing that if Torah declares such feelings an abomination, one cannot pray in that role. The scene highlights the perils of labeling and the conflict between identity, faith, and ritual duty. Ohad is forced to confront the boundaries of his religious duties.
When:after the confrontation Where:Yeshiva / synagogue
- 8
Ohad sheds the rubber band
In a decisive moment, Ohad removes the rubber band from his wrist, choosing to stop external attempts to suppress his identity. The act signals a shift from attempted control to acceptance, even as pain and uncertainty linger. It marks a turning point in his internal reconciliation.
When:soon after the confrontation Where:Yeshiva
- 9
Ohad performs the priestly blessing
With an uneasy blend of courage and peace, Ohad proceeds to say the blessing of the priests. The act embodies his reconciliation with himself and his God, regardless of others’ judgments. It represents a personal resolution rather than a conquest of the external world.
When:after removing the rubber band Where:Synagogue/Yeshiva setting
- 10
The central confrontation
The film centers on Ohad's confrontation with himself, his God, and his environment, weaving personal doubt with questions of faith and belonging. This struggle drives the narrative and reframes what it means to live authentically within a traditional community. The arc culminates in a quiet but resolute stance toward his truth.
When:throughout the narrative
- 11
Atzat Lev and the critique of conversion therapy
The story critiques the promises of conversion-therapy-centric centers like Atzat Lev, showing how such approaches attempt to reshape identity through ritualized suffering. Ohad's experiences reveal the harm and emptiness of those promises. The center’s role becomes a catalyst for his crisis rather than a cure.
When:early actions Where:Atzat Lev call center
- 12
Resolution: living with truth
In the end Ohad finds a sense of peace by embracing his truth and performing the blessing. The resolution is intimate, rooted in personal authenticity rather than conformity. The film closes on his quiet acceptance of himself within his faith and community.
When:final
Who Are the Main Characters in And Thou Shalt Love?
2 characters, among them Ohad (Ori Lachmi) and Nir (Omer Zonenshein): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- O(
Ohad (Ori Lachmi)
Played by Ori Lachmi
Ohad is a Hesder student who has not disclosed his sexuality. He feels his sexual orientation conflicts with his religious identity and seeks external help from Atzat Lev, attempting conversion therapy and a forty-day fasting ritual. The rubber band on his wrist symbolizes the coercive attempt to control his feelings. Throughout the story, Ohad wrestles with guilt, faith, and the fear of rejection, and his arc moves toward self-acceptance.
- 🪞 Identity
- 🕊️ Faith
- 💔 Forbidden feelings
- 🎭 Internal conflict
- N(
Nir (Omer Zonenshein)
Played by Omer Zonenshein
Nir is Ohad's beloved who returns from the army to the yeshiva, reigniting Ohad's emotional turmoil. He is unsympathetic to Ohad's feelings and tells him to leave the yeshiva, reflecting a hard stance shaped by religious norms. His reaction complicates Ohad's struggle between love and doctrinal boundaries.
- 💔 Rejection
- ⚖️ Religious law
- 🔥 Tension
Where and When Is And Thou Shalt Love Set?
And Thou Shalt Love is set in Israel, Hesder Yeshiva and Israeli Army base (Present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present day
The events take place in present-day Israel, within the system of Hesder yeshiva life and compulsory military service. The social pressures around sexuality and religious identity are shown through Ohad's struggle. The setting illuminates how faith, duty, and personal truth collide in a modern context.
Where
Israel, Hesder Yeshiva, Israeli Army base
Set in contemporary Israel, the film unfolds mainly within a Hesder yeshiva and the surrounding military environment. It depicts the daily life where religious study and mandatory service intersect, shaping the characters' choices and fears. The setting highlights the pressure to conform to traditional norms while hinting at personal possibility and change.
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🕍 Religion
- 🪖 Military
What Are the Themes of And Thou Shalt Love?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Forbidden Love and Religious Authority.
-
01
Identity
Ohad's inner conflict between his sexual orientation and his religious identity drives the narrative. He tests the boundaries of faith through rituals and prayer, hoping to change himself. The tension reveals how rigid definitions of identity can be both oppressive and formative. The film asks what it means to be faithful to oneself and to one's beliefs at the same time.
-
02
Forbidden Love
The relationship with Nir becomes the catalyst for Ohad's emotional turmoil. The film portrays love that society labels forbidden, intensifying the stakes of self-acceptance. Nir's harsh response underscores how fear and dogma influence personal relationships. Ultimately, Ohad chooses to acknowledge his feelings rather than suppress them.
-
03
Religious Authority
The couple’s struggle is framed within the power dynamics of religious authority. The Atzat Lev call-center and the idea of conversion therapy expose coercive tactics used to police sexuality. Nir's harsh stance and the prohibition against the Cohanim blessing illustrate how tradition can override empathy. The film questions the legitimacy and humanity of such authority when faced with personal truth.
-
04
Self-Acceptance
Ohad's decision to remove the rubber band marks a turning point toward self-acceptance. The moment signals the possibility of living openly without pretending to be someone else. The film portrays healing as a personal choice rather than a change imposed by others. By the end, Ohad's peace comes from choosing his truth over fear.
What Kind of Film Is And Thou Shalt Love?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A slow-paced, somber drama that immerses the viewer in the protagonist's painful internal conflict between his religious identity and sexuality, culminating in a bittersweet moment of self-acceptance.
- introspective
- conflicted
- somber
- painful
- spiritual
- internal
- religious conflict
- internalized homophobia
- conversion therapy
- self-discovery
Content notes: conversion therapy, self-harm, religious trauma, homophobia.
Quiz
How well do you remember And Thou Shalt Love? Test yourself on the story.
