By: Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 1/4/2025 – Anyone familiar with Judaism knows the role tradition plays in it. Tradition in Judaism, known as mesorah (tradition or transmission), is a cornerstone that helps maintain continuity between faith and practice. This includes adherence to halakha (Jewish law), which governs religious, ethical, and social conduct, based on both the written Torah and oral teachings which has been passed down through generations.
Orthodox Jews view their practices as a direct link to the revelation at Mount Sinai. This connection symbolizes a divine covenant and ensures the perpetuation of Jewish identity. Alongside the written Torah, the oral Torah and rabbinic interpretations are vital in guiding daily life. The Talmud and other rabbinical texts codify and adapt these laws for changing times while retaining their essence.
Daily practices also hold an important place, from dietary laws (kashrut) and prayer to observing the Sabbath and festivals, rituals that reinforce spiritual discipline and community cohesion. There also is an emphasis on education, particularly the study of Torah and Talmud, ensures the transmission of tradition within families and communities.
This adherence to tradition reflects a balance of faith, discipline, and community cohesion, embodying the Orthodox commitment to living in alignment with divine will. It serves as the foundation for their beliefs and practices, ensuring a direct connection to the teachings of the Torah and the interpretations passed down through generations of rabbis, essentially acting as a guiding principle for living a life fully aligned with Jewish law (“halakha”) by strictly adhering to established customs and rituals across all aspects of daily life.
So, it may come as a surprise to some that a 39th generation Rabbi has blended these traditions into a ministry that includes his identity as a drag queen and a ministry that includes activism in areas like interfaith marriage and Israeli Palestinian peace efforts.
Sabbath Queen, a feature-length documentary film from director Sandi DuBowski explores the 21-year journey of Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, capturing his struggles with faith, identity, and tradition as he transitions from an Orthodox rabbinical heir to a groundbreaking queer spiritual leader.
The film looks at his creation of Lab/Shul, a God-optional, artist-driven congregation and his drag persona as Rebbetzin Hadassah, as well as highlighting his personal and spiritual evolution, reflecting on themes of inclusivity, modern Jewish identity, and cultural reinvention.
DuBowski, who also is the film’s co-producer, visited with The Hollywood Times this week ahead of its West Coast premiere to talk about the project. DuBowski came to the story late 1990s while making another film, Trembling Before God, which examined Hasidic and Orthodox Jews that were lesbian or gay.
Click below for our exclusive interview:
“I was looking for people to be in the film,” DuBowski said. “I was in Jerusalem, and everyone said the Chief Rabbi’s nephew is gay. So, I asked Amichai to be in the film, and he refused because he’s too much of a diva and he wanted his own movie.”
Thus began a friendship that ultimately led DuBowski to make this thought-provoking documentary. She began chronicling the Rabbi’s journey 21 years ago, and the film reflects an amazing picture of a man dedicated to inspiring dialogue around faith and community in today’s complex world.
The film also is about family and how the Rabbi’s own family has embraced their gay family member.
“This is really historic that this very religious traditional family is coming forward and embracing their gay member publicly. That’s a big deal.”
The film was written for the screen by DuBowski, Francisco Bello, and Jeremy Stulberg. Benjamin Lowery and Simon Mendes were co-producers for the film, along with DuBowski, who also was one of seven principal cinematographers on the film.
Sabbath Queen will show at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 4th, and premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival to solidly positive reviews and reaction. For more updates on screenings and availability, you can visit the official Sabbath Queen website.
