Slaves of the Lord (Avdei Hashem)

Thursday, March 17, 2005 – 7:30 pm
Israel 2002. Director: Hadar Friedlich

In a Jewish Orthodox village in Israel, Tamar – a twelve year old girl – prepares for her Bat-Mitzva (Confirmation), which will take place on Passover. She becomes convinced that she is impure and grows increasingly scared and depressed. She forces herself into an endless ritual of cleaning, while attempting to silence her unyielding whispering inner obsessional thoughts which detail every inch of her relentless guilt, over and over again. To make matters worse, Tamar’s only friend, Rachel, lures her to sinful mischief: peeping into the Mikveh (Bath House), turning a light on during the Sabbath, etc. The girls even dare to secretly bathe at the Mikveh when Tamar gets her first period. Will Tamar succumb to her fears? A dark and unflinching portrayal of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and the inner turmoil of an adolescent girl. Avdei Hashem was awarded Best Script at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
Hebrew with English subtitles. Colour, Beta, 50 mins.

The program will include a post-screening discussion with:

Rabbi Bregman is the Spiritual leader of Temple Sholom, a reform synagogue in Vancouver. Rabbi Bregman holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto. He also holds a Masters of Hebrew Letters, Rabbinic Ordination and a Doctor of Divinity from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.

Dr. Steve Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a Professor and Clinical Psychologist in the UBC Department of Psychiatry. His clinical and research interests concern the etiology and treatment of anxiety disorders. He has published over 160 scientific articles and book chapters, and 9 books. He is currently working on a book on obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Evening moderated by:

Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Director of Continuing Medical Education and Professional