The Women's Balcony 2017

Bar Mitzvah Celebration

The orthodox congregation in Jerusalem gathers to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah, a significant religious milestone for young boys in Judaism. Unfortunately, the joyous occasion soon turns into a disaster when a section of the synagogue's balcony collapses, leading to chaos and tragedy.

Balcony Collapse

The collapse of the balcony injures several congregants, with the rabbi's wife sustaining severe injuries that leave her in a coma. This incident casts a shadow over the community, leaving the elder rabbi devastated and struggling to fulfill his spiritual duties during a time of crisis.

Zion Steps In

In the wake of the disaster, Zion takes on the responsibility of caring for the elder rabbi, providing him with emotional support. The congregation, however, faces a daunting challenge in organizing themselves for the rebuilding efforts due to a lack of leadership amidst the turmoil.

Struggle for Minyan

During morning prayers, the congregation finds itself short of a minyan, the required quorum of ten men. To resolve this, they stop a passing man in Hasidic garb, who turns out to be Rabbi David, a dedicated teacher willing to help.

Rabbi David Takes Charge

Rabbi David steps up to oversee the repairs of the synagogue, but his approach is controversial. He prioritizes obtaining a new Torah scroll before addressing the damaged women's balcony, citing financial constraints as the reason for delaying the repairs.

Increased Religious Demands

In an effort to strengthen the congregation's religious practices, Rabbi David urges the men to encourage their wives to cover their heads and to gift elegant headscarves. This request, however, encounters significant resistance from the women, highlighting a growing rift.

Women Take Action

Frustrated by their exclusion from decision-making, the women, led by Etti, resolve to raise funds for the museum's reconstruction themselves. They successfully collect enough money and deposit it into the synagogue’s bank account, ready to initiate the repairs.

Conflict Over Reconstruction

Despite the women's fundraising efforts, Rabbi David vehemently opposes the balcony reconstruction until a new Torah scroll is obtained, creating tension within the community. This disagreement further illustrates the divide between the male and female congregants.

Romantic Complications

Adding complexity to the community's struggles, Rabbi David's assistant becomes romantically involved with Etti's niece. This relationship complicates the already tense atmosphere as the women vow to leave their husbands until the balcony is repaired.

Protest from the Women

The women, dissatisfied with the lack of progress, decide to stage a protest outside Rabbi David's school. Their actions emphasize their urgent demands for attention and respect for their needs in the face of the ongoing conflict regarding the synagogue's reconstruction.

Treasurer's Evasion

The synagogue's treasurer is deliberately avoiding Rabbi David to escape the pressure of co-signing construction checks necessary for the restoration. This adds another layer of difficulty as Rabbi David seeks guidance from the elder rabbi on handling this dilemma.

Old Rabbi's Confusion

In a moment of distress, the elder rabbi, still reeling from the recent tragedy, struggles to give coherent advice to Rabbi David. This further highlights the turmoil and disarray affecting the entire congregation during this challenging time.

Forging the Treasurer's Signature

In a desperate act to move forward, Rabbi David forges the treasurer's signature to obtain the necessary funds for the new Torah scroll. He entrusts the check to his assistant, insisting that he use it to fund the new scroll while also addressing the romantic connection that complicates the situation.

Picketing Women Concessions

Observing the protest from his office, Rabbi David's assistant approaches the picketing women not with legal documents but with the check needed for the balcony repairs. This unexpected move leads to a significant breakthrough in the community's rebuilding efforts.