Adass documentary for SBS

Filmmakers Dan Goldberg, Adam Kay and Danny Ben-Moshe have teamed together to produce a documentary for SBS television on an orthodox Jewish community in Melbourne.

For the first time in Australia’s television history, cameras were allowed inside the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel Jewish community.

Following three of the members of this reclusive sect, the documentary offers a unique insight into how this hidden subculture exists alongside Melbourne’s trendy latte society, as they attempt to maintain their age-old rituals in the face of contemporary frivolities.

 

The 2000-plus members of this virtually self-sufficient society have their own shops, schools, butcher, baker, synagogue, cemetery, and even have their own ambulance service!

Filmed over the Jewish calendar year 5775, this is a fascinating exploration into how the conservative Adass Israel community strive to maintain their ancient faith in a modern world.

Goldberg told J-Wire: “We followed the routines of three members of the community and dealt with this who shunned the cameras sensitively. After all, we were filming a community which has a reputation for having homes without televisions.”

Their company Mint Pictures was approached by SBS who were planning a TV series on subcultures.

Kay and Goldberg continue to meet with success. The duo have received their second

nomination for a Logie for their children’s series “Bushwhacked!” and working with Ben-Moshe won a Walkley for their ABC TV Compass program “Code of Silence” dealing with child sexual abuse within the Yeshiva community.

They learned today that “Bushwhacked!” had won the coveted Gold REMI award for a Children’s/Family series at the Worldfest in Houston.

Strictly Jewish will screen on Wednesday April 27 at 8:30pm on SBS-TV