Roots and Wings

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 27, 1995 by Michael K. Holleran

A study of Judaism

Also in this series is "Roots and Wings," a remarkable study of modern American Orthodox Judaism. The title is excerpted from the remarks of one of the rabbis interviewed, who experiences his religion precisely as his roots and wings. This film, too, is low-key and unobtrusively sympathetic, neither too scholarly and detailed nor too general. It achieves this effect by allowing several rabbis and their families to speak of their observances for themselves.

Extremely informative, their accounts leave us struck by the single-minded dedication, even of the children. To hear one housewife, while shopping, describe how Jewish law has consequences even for the choice of chocolate chips for baking, is startling and thought-provoking. We also comprehend their feeling that, perhaps for the first time in history, they risk being "killed by kindness" and assimilation in America more than by persecution.

"Teen Spirit" was apparently aired on ABC-TV in 1994. An hour long and hosted by a young actor who has played teen roles on television, the video showcases the results of a nationwide teen video contest. Created by teens themselves, the films are grouped according to category of spirituality, relationships, racism, violence, education and social action.

As might be hoped if not expected, the "God" question comes up frequently throughout. out. The variations in length (from one to five or six minutes) are nearly as great as the range of styles: from animated clay figures to MTV-type videos. Perhaps the most impressive and instructive entry was a series of poems on the battle of the sexes, seen from the viewpoint of teens. Many other segments also are quite moving.

At least one choice of subject seemed. odd: an environmental video making use of the refrain "Give the rake a break," exhorting us to leave the grass clippings on the ground after mowing our lawns.

Technically, the only annoyance was a one-minute blank two-thirds of the way through the video, which accommodated a commercial break in the original version. For information, call 1-800-870-2574.

Finally, "Dream's End: Recovery from Divorce and Separation" (Oblate Media, 1944 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63114) is a sequence of interviews and personal testimonies, including those of two priest counselors. It is not clear until the end that all the laypeople form a group and have been in the same room. What is extraordinary about this video, on so controversial a topic, is its total absence of party-line moralizing, as if one should stay together at all costs, or of facile, fix-it solutions. Rather, it is a sensitive reflection on the trauma and necessity of recognizing that the dream is over and on having the courage and confidence to pick up the pieces and begin life again. Emotions are squarely faced, from the initial shock and numbness to the cathartic realization that they will survive "this best and worst thing that ever happened" to them. The honesty and insight are haunting and empowering.