Sabbath Queen

Free-spirited queer drag queen Amichai Lau-Lavie has founded his own inclusive, arts-driven Jewish community in New York City. He stands on the shoulders of 38 generations of Orthodox Jewish rabbis before him, a huge responsibility.

Does staying true to the traditions of your ancestors mean following them exactly, as his uncle, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, says? Or can you adapt them to the insights of the present time and your own moral conscience? Amichai wrestles with these kinds of questions during the 21 years in which he is closely followed. He stands up to injustice, but pays a price for it. At peace and human rights demonstrations he is confronted with outright hatred.

Amichai reflects candidly on the choices he makes. His brother Benny Lau, an orthodox rabbi, comments on the steps Amichai has taken. There is criticism, disapproval and pain, but also love and a need for connection. Sabbath Queen jumps back and forth in time and sketches the family history, which was almost stopped in Auschwitz. Survival is of enormous importance. The question is how?