Original subtitles

Religious Jews have been practicing for centuries the ritual of the 'wake of the dead'.

If a member of the community dies, the dead are watched around the clock ...

by a sjomer, or supervisor who recites psalms ...

to reassure the soul of the dead and protect against unforeseen harm.

This regulator is usually a family member or a friend ...

but there are also paid sjomers.

They are hired to watch when no one else can.

We give you the resources to change your life.

But like everything else, it takes time.

It's not always easy.

Adinah.

Do you want to tell the group about what you have recently experienced?

This is going to be a good story.

Wait.

I was on the subway, on my way to work ...

and a man spoke to me in a strange way.

He just chatted said something about my dress.

It was clear what he wanted.

And I thought: don't sit to whine at my head.

He wanted to pick you up. If only I had.

But that guy looked like someone on TV.

He had such a quick chat.

I mean, he totally hurt no punches.

That's how it goes. They see a beautiful girl and it is stronger than them.

That's normal... It's the culture. Do you understand?

It's rude. -It is different.

Life here is different.

This is exactly where the rabbis to protect us from.

No, they don't want that we get to know that.

There are things that are better left unknown.

Like was? A big old goy with rotten teeth?

Drunk on the street.

Well...

tell me...

About last week?

Your application.

I did not get the job.

Too bad, Yacov. Do you want to talk about it?

I had the application ...

and had a good feeling about it.

They wanted me to submit my resume ...

I wrote it on a piece of paper.

That's what I meant. We need more lessons in that.

About everyday life. -And your rent?

I'm struggling ...

What shall I say?

I never have enough money.

I have to choose...

between my medicine and food.

That's not easy.

This is a journey.

And this struggle here is just one leg of that journey.

When we get stuck and this as our see destination, we lose hope.

I just want to be normal.

And part of that is letting go. Let go of the pain.

The trauma that is holding you back. -What matters is we left.

No, the most important thing is that we are moving forward.

Hang in there.

Oh no.

Are you all right? -Yes of course. I'm fine.

Will you join us for a coffee? -I do not drink coffee.

Tea then.

Or hot chocolate? -Now?

No, tomorrow or ...

Okay. -Really?

Are you sure? -Yes for sure.

Fun.

Do you want my phone number?

Put it in your mobile. It's 917 ... -I just got that phone.

Does not matter. That green ... Yes.

And then 'contacts'.

No, will I do it? -Please.

That thing is crazy. I was watching and found the flashlight. That's my favorite.

And that you have internet on your phone. -You can receive messages, right?

Yes. -Okay, cool.

Send me a message tomorrow and then we'll see.

Okay. -Fun.

Does not matter.

I still have a lot to learn. -Does not matter. We also.

Day, see you next week. -It looks so natural.

It comes naturally.

Is it back?

Excuse me.

I said that you leave our members alone must leave. Should I call the police again?

Never mind, Lane. It's alright. -I need to talk to him.

Yacov knows where to find you. -It's alright. I'll be fine.

I want to ask him something. - Call me when things get boring.

Thanks. It was nice tonight.

Good, goodbye. Call me.

How are you?

You look tired. -I'm fine.

How do you like your new lifestyle? -Good. I have made my choice. Okay?

I had my reasons for leaving. -I'm sorry if I ...

if you've left for me.

I don't want to be rude or interfere in your affairs.

I think of you all the time. You understand?

What did you want to ask me now?

I want you to be lazy.

Tonight.

I'll pay you.

Rather not. No I do not want.

You need money, don't you? I know you're having a hard time with your rent.

How do you know that?

Does not matter. I'll give you $ 200 cash.

I'll pay you.

How long? -Five o'clock.

From now until sunrise.

We had someone ...

but suddenly he didn't want to anymore. You are cut out for it.

200?

I'll do it for 500.

300.

You came to me, right?

You are desperate. You need me, right?

Well, then it's 500.

I've done it before.

People in the community without family or friends.

Then I watch over the body.

I can give you 400, but no more.

Okay. -Good, do we have a deal?

Yes, agreed.

I knew you would because...

you need money, but you don't have to be ashamed of that.

I really wanted to ask you ...

because if you do the wake, you bring that closer to the community.

Wow, this is ...

this is divine providence.

Sorry. I said that because keeping vigil is pious.

It brings you back to us.

You are depressed can't we talk about that?

Shulem, who is the deceased?

It's Rubin Litvak. Do you know him? -No.

A good person, a bit bizarre.

He has the Holocaust and the war survived but lost all his family.

Later he started a family here.

But then he began to isolate and became estranged from everyone.

It was a real hermit. - He never showed up?

He said as soon as he got his nose out the door hit, he got terrible pains.

And the other sjomer? -That was family.

He left because he was afraid. -Anxious?

He said so. -What for?

Mr. Litvak's wife is suffering to Alzheimer's.

She is very weak.

She probably sleeps all night.

It will be quiet.

Here it is.

Mrs. Litvak?

Mr. Shulem?

Hello, Mrs. Litvak. Sorry for your loss. Blessed be the true judge.

Who is that man? I thought you were going to get a litter.

This is the sjomer. -No.

He was also the shomer at Moshe Kelner, Chaim Sturman ...

He is not suitable.

I know you've had a rough day but...

It'll be fine. - He has to leave immediately.

You have to go.

She's going to sleep. Do not worry.

The undertakers come at sunrise.

The undertakers be here in five hours.

If anything, I'm around.

There will be no problem. -I'm close by.

It would be fun if you came to pray tomorrow.

I do this because I need money. I have agreed, and we'll leave it at that.

I don't want to force you. But perhaps it's hard all night here.

If you want to talk about it come to the synagogue.

Okay, I hope everything goes well.

Okay, should I go then? -Okay.

See you tomorrow.

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Mrs. Litvak?

Is someone there?

Is someone there?

Mazzik, July 27, 1979 ...

You said Leib could do magic.

He couldn't do anything. -I never said he could do magic.

Yes. -Only tricks, nothing more.

I'll show them. Promised?

If God wants it.

Look, two drunk Jews.

Hey, little man. -Small smous.

Look at that jerk.

Why do you ignore me? I'm just asking you a question. Not so fast.

Sarah: Hello

Hi

New message from Sarah

Sarah: What are you doing?

To work. I am the litter for the night.

I may actually not use my phone.

Okay. Sorry.

It does not matter.

What are you...

It's a beautiful night. The moon shines. Have you ever seen the rabbit on it?

Rabbit?

His nose sticks up, tail at the bottom. It's silly. I leave you alone.

Not...

foolish.

I talk to you soon.

(Call me or Face Time if you are bored :)

New message from unknown number

What is this supposed to be?

Mrs. Litvak.

Mrs Litvak ...

are you down?

Media file not found

Don't pretend.

I keep going.

I'm going crazy.

Hello, this is voicemail by Dr. Kohlberg.

I cannot respond now, but speak your name and phone number ...

and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

If this is an emergency, Hang up and call 112. Thank you.

Hello, Dr. Kohlberg. This is Yacov Ronen.

Sorry to call you in the middle of the night. I don't want to disturb you, but ...

I'm having a hard time.

I see things.

And I hear things.

That's how bad I am never seen before and ...

I...

I'm running out of pills and I was hoping I could talk to you.

I don't believe me again must be included.

But I would like to talk to you so if you can call back quickly. Gladly.

They are not nightmares.

They are memories.

Not your memories, but ...

Sorry about the mess. I'll clean it up right away.

Why are you here?

I am Yacov, the shomer.

I protect your husband's soul and reassure him. -What are you protecting him from?

Do you know my kids?

I chased them as far away as possible.

They think they have left ...

of its own accord, that it was their choice.

But I chased them away.

I expelled them.

Do you know why...

I made them leave?

This is not a place for children.

It was a bunker.

In the wilderness. A place you went ...

but from which you will never come back.

Do you know my husband?

He was broken by memories.

The kind of memories you saw.

They bite.

They bite and the biting never stops.

He was so lost that he didn't know what to do anymore.

I'm sorry I woke you up.

You better go back to sleep.

Your hand.

Let me help you, you're bleeding. Please. Wait.

Wait.

Let me help you.

Rabbi Greenwald ...

once said ...

that these demons ...

who suck us out ...

are born between the creation days.

They were brought back to life ...

but without soul ...

nor form.

They are not creatures ...

in the truest sense of the word.

They have no will of their own ...

a band of the highest power.

They are animal.

These demons ...

are parasites.

In the tracts ...

and the Berachot ...

the Mazi germ are interchangeable with the shedim.

But for the past five decades I have ...

researched the person who followed me home ...

from Buchenwald.

I don't know where he comes from ...

but as he has shown himself, it is very, very old.

I think he was waiting ...

on its way hibernated in the forest ...

sleeping ...

to my pain ...

woke him.

The mazzik ...

appears as a figure with a turned head.

So.

Backwards.

He is doomed to look back.

To stare ...

to the past.

This demon ...

showed me terrible things.

Ten years ago ...

I found an inscription in a text ...

by Moses Ben Shem Tov.

It read:

'You can only use the mazzik escape ...

if you burn his true face on the first night he appears.

If you don't do it before sunrise ...

he will never leave you. "

For me ...

That is a long time ago.

When I'm gone ...

finds the mazzik ...

another broken human being.

Someone else chained by a terrible pain that will not let him go.

When he finds his next host ...

he will slowly consume his soul.

As he did with me.

Chewing ...

gnawing at the spiritual sides ...

of the five essences of the soul.

He winds his way through the nefesh ... (physical soul).

the ruach (spiritual soul) ...

nesjama (Divine soul) ...

chaja (source of life) ...

and finally to the Jechida ... (unification of soul with Gd).

the direct link ...

with Hashem (YHWH).

Behind you.

That's why I include these videos ...

I write it down ...

I paste it to the walls and I explain ...

in the hope that the next that hits the mazzik ...

is not doomed ...

and being digested ...

like me.

Yacov.

With Dr. Kohlberg.

Dr. Kohlberg, thank goodness.

I'm not doing well.

What do you mean? What's going on?

I see things and I hear things.

It is much.

A lot and I ...

I took a pill ...

a sedative, just a moment ago.

Who are you seeing, Yacov?

Who do you see?

I do not know.

Where are you now?

I am in Borough Park.

I've taken on work as lazy for the night.

Mr. Shulem pays me.

Are you safe? -I do not know. I think so.

The things you see ...

do you think they are real? -No, you can't.

Dr. Kohlberg ...

the man who lived here ...

and his wife, I think she is gone mad together in this house.

She is very demented.

It's very sad. And he...

is obsessed with demons.

Demons?

He calls it the mazzik.

And is that what you think you saw? A demon?

Shadows, shadows.

We talked about what happened to your brother ...

about post-traumatic stress and your anxiety.

Yes, yes. I know.

Tell me if your heart like a raging thump ...

Like it will break your ribs?

Yes. - Are you sweating?

Are you shaking? -I'm trying to calm down.

Yacov, tell me what you see.

You said it was a person.

They are shadows. As if someone is standing in the darkness.

The person you see, the one in the darkness ...

do you think he's real looking at you?

Of course not. I know it is not. -Perfect. That's very good.

I want you to take your time now and think about my question.

Can you describe that person?

Blurred. It is...

Its always...

I do not know. It's sketchy.

I understand. Fine.

Is his head turned backwards?

What?

Is his head turned upside down?

Yacov, what do you see?

What do you see?

Dr. Kohlberg, can you wait a minute?

With Dr. Kohlberg. I have received your message.

Sorry I didn't call before. I hope everything goes well.

Dr. Kohlberg, can you linger for a second?

Who is this?

He has to leave me alone.

Why did you let me die?

Mrs. Litvak.

Would you like some tea?

He won't let you go. -We have to get out of here. Now.

I've often left but where else can I go?

It's my duty to stay home with my Rubin.

I can take suffering.

My pain was not his.

Mrs Litvak ...

what won't let me go?

The mazzik.

He plays with you.

Like a cat with a mouse.

He wants to hurt you.

And that you see things.

Awful things.

I am not enough for him.

He wants your torment.

We are leaving.

We have to go now.

There is something here that is very wrong.

If your flight ...

takes care of the mazzik that you come back crawling.

Let's go.

You've been in this house too long.

I'm going to get Rabbi Shulem. We will be back to get you.

Give me five minutes. I'll be right back.

What do you have? I'm just asking you something.

Don't be so annoying. -Quiet.

We're dealing with a tough guy.

A tough one.

How you doing, Jewish girl? -Beautiful curls.

Shall we cut them off?

Calm down.

Burech.

I let them hurt you.

I could not...

I couldn't move.

I let them hurt you.

Of course.

Hi, this is Sarah Feldman. I can't answer right now.

Speak something ...

FaceTime video Sarah

Sorry to wake you up. -What time is it?

Half past four.

Where are you, Yacov?

Sarah, I'm ...

This house is haunted.

Something has been chasing Mr. Litvak and tarred on him.

What?

It wants me now.

Have you tried to leave?

Yes, I tried.

Have you tried it?

Yes, but it stops me.

You have to go upstairs, Yacov.

What?

You have to go upstairs, Yacov.

There is no point in resisting it.

You watched Burech scream.

You watched him call for help and you did nothing.

You just let him die like a dog.

You just watched him die.

Why did you let me die?

I know.

I was scared.

I didn't have the courage to defend you. I was too weak.

Forgive me please.

Please.

I'm so sorry, Burech.

Forgive me please.

I dropped you.

I was...

I was scared.

Thanks for the connection.

I did not connect you, but my Rubin.

Mrs. Litvak, where is your husband?

In the corridor.

Wait a second.

Here.

That can come in handy.

In 1919 ...

saw my grandfather ...

how his parents were murdered in Kiev.

The neighbors have it helped to flee.

As for my grandfather ...

I especially remember how he prayed with his prayer rug and prayer belts.

Every day.

In those moments he was really ...

at ease with the world and himself.

If you find my Rubin ...

Let him go.

Let him go.

Let him go.

Let him go.

Let him go.

Mr. Litvak, let him go.

Mr Litvak ...

Mr. Litvak, let go.

Are you OK?

My poor Rubin.

I often wonder what he had become what kind of father he would have been ...

if his life had been different.

My darling.

I miss you so much.

I'm going outside now, to the sunlight.

Did it go well last night? Have you had any problems or anything?

Not really? -Sure.

I will give you what I promised.

And Mrs Litvak?

She went for a walk.

As I said yesterday ...

I hoped this experience would give you a different outlook on life.

We can talk about it after prayer.

Do you come to prayer?

Shulem ...

I know you mean well ...

I know.

But not today.

I wake up early. How was your night?

Coffee?