The Vigil (2019)
Menashe Lustig: Reb Shulem
Photos
Quotes
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Yakov Ronen : So, Shulem, who is the deceased?
Reb Shulem : He's Rubin Litvak, did you know him?
Yakov Ronen : No.
Reb Shulem : He was a good man, a little weird. He was a Holocaust survivor who made it through the war, but lost his entire family there. After the war, he started a family here, but then he became a recluse, estranged from his kids and grandchildren. He hadn't left his home in years, it's a really sad story.
Yakov Ronen : I never saw him out.
Reb Shulem : He used to say that whenever he stepped out of his house it was like he was in absolute agony.
Yakov Ronen : And the other Shomer, why was he leaving?
Reb Shulem : The other Shomer just ran out, I trusted him, he's family, but he left the job because he was afraid.
Yakov Ronen : Afraid?
Reb Shulem : That's what he said.
Yakov Ronen : What was he afraid of?
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Reb Shulem : I knew right away you would take this job. And I know you're doing it for the money. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I honestly wanted to ask you because sitting the vigil, it brings you closer to the community. Wow... this is truly God's plan.
[Yakov looks at him]
Reb Shulem : Oh I'm sorry. It's just that when you sit the vigil, it's holy. It brings you back to us.
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Reb Shulem : The mortuary guys will be here at dawn.
[prays in Hebrew]
Reb Shulem : The mortuary guys will be here
[looks at clock which reads 11:45]
Reb Shulem : in five hours.
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Reb Shulem : Mr. Litvak's wife suffers from Alzheimer's and is quite frail. She'll likely sleep through the night. It'll be quiet.
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Yakov Ronen : You said you had a question.
Reb Shulem : I need you to be a Shomer, tonight.
Yakov Ronen : Ah, no.
Reb Shulem : I will pay you.
Yakov Ronen : No.
Reb Shulem : No? I know you could use the money, I know you have trouble with the rent.
Yakov Ronen : How do you know that?
Reb Shulem : [shrugs] Why's it matter? I will give you $200 cash, right now.
Yakov Ronen : For how long?
Reb Shulem : 5 hours. From now until the morning, that's all. We had someone, but he changed his mind and left suddenly.
Yakov Ronen : 200? I'll do it for five.
Reb Shulem : 300.
Yakov Ronen : You came to me, right?
Reb Shulem : Yeah.
Yakov Ronen : You're desperate, right? You need me, right? Okay, so $500.
[in English]
Yakov Ronen : I used to do this all the time. People in the community that don't have any family, and no friends, it's me, okay? I'm watching the body.
Reb Shulem : I'll give you $400, not a dollar more.
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Yakov Ronen : Hello, Mrs. Litvak, I'm extremely sorry for your loss.
Mrs. Litvak : Who is this man? I thought you were getting a shomer.
Reb Shulem : He will be the shomer tonight.
Mrs. Litvak : No.
Reb Shulem : He's an experienced shomer, he sat the vigil for Moshe Kellner, Chaim Sturman.
Mrs. Litvak : He won't work.
Reb Shulem : I know that you had a very difficult and upsetting day, but this will be good, it'll be good.
Mrs. Litvak : He needs to leave now! You have to leave now.