19th Portland Jewish Film Festival
36 RIGHTEOUS MEN
DIRECTOR: DANIEL BURMAN
ARGENTINA, 2011
For his first documentary, Daniel Burman (WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH, LOST EMBRACE, BROTHER AND SISTER) joins a group of Orthodox Jews on their annual pilgrimage to the tombs of Tzaddikim (righteous men) in Russia, Ukraine, and Poland, culminating at the tomb of the 17th century spiritual leader, the Baal Shem Tov. Intrigued by the Jewish mystical belief in 36 hidden Tzaddikim who are always on this earth yet must remain anonymous, Burman takes us on an intimate journey across 2,500 miles and into his own identity as a Jew. (70 mins.)