Srugim takes as its starting point the generation of Modern Orthodox Jews who are simultaneously extremely observant and also, genuinely, contemporary. (The title means knitted, and refers to the stitching of a style of yarmulke, as well the characterss’ full integration into Israeli society). It begins with its characters going on a familiar series of bad dates: the blind date, the speed date, the date that devolves into a fight about salaries—cliches that, as with everything about Srugim, are lightly reinvigorated by religion. The closet case, sleeping with an ex, losing one’s virginity, trying to advance one’s career, weekly dinners with friends: Srugim puts all of these recognizable beats in a new cultural context. It is comfort food you’ve never tasted before. Eat up.
Meet roommates Yifat and Hodaya, and their friends Reut, Nati and Amir—five modern-Orthodox singles looking for love in the singles-centric Katamon area of Jerusalem, affectionately known as “The Swamp,” as they approach the big 3-0. Captivating and alive with characters and story, this episode is what starts off the entire series.
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 1: Amjad is stopped regularly on the road for a security check by police and does not understand why, because he thinks he looks like an average Israeli. Meir tells him that it is because the Subaru he drives is considered an Arab car. Amjad decides to trade in his Subaru and gets into trouble with the owners of the chop shop. Meanwhile, Amjad the journalist has to explain in the media why Arabs are involved in more traffic accidents.
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 2: Amjad moves from the news desk to the magazine. The editor asks him for a colorful, sexy piece. Amjad is not sure what to write and deliberates over what to do, until he hears from his father about a very special sheep who understands what the soldiers say. Amjad makes up an interview with the sheep, and becomes a hot item on all of the local and international television networks. As he becomes famous for a false article, can he get himself out of this bind?
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 3: Amjad understands that it is time for his parents to stop babysitting his daughter every day and for her to go to kindergarten and broaden her horizons. At first, he tries an Islamic kindergarten with a good reputation in the village. The little girl becomes religious, and Amjad decides to look for a strictly kosher Jewish kindergarten for her. He tries several options and encounters some unexpected difficulties.
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 4: After Amjad and Meir interview the Arab Miss Israel, Amjad heads home while Meir stays back to take pictures. Riding back to the city alone, Meir believes he is being kidnapped by his Arab taxi driver and his cronies. The driver struggles to understand Meir’s pleas in Hebrew to spare his life, and thinks his erratic passenger needs to go to the bathroom. Meir calls on Amjad for help when his clueless driver “locks” him in an outhouse. Amjad and his father set out on a rescue mission to free Meir from his “kidnappers.”
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 5: It is the week of Passover. Meir, Amjad’s coworker, meets with Amal, an attorney and friend of Bushra. He invites her to the Passover Seder. Amjad is also invited along with his wife and children to the home of a reform family whose son goes to kindergarten with Maya. Amjad is enthusiastic about the Seder ceremony and decides to adopt the concept of the Haggadah into Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice).
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 6: Amjad is called into the police and asked to help supply information to the security forces. Scared, he tries to find a way out. His mother-in-law, who just moved in with them while her apartment is being remodeled and, as always, manages to annoy Amjad, will be his way of giving the GSS (General Security Services) what it wants…
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 7: Amjad interviews the leader of a new political party that advocates a repartitioning of Israel between Jews and Arabs. Amjad, who is not at all sure of which side he wants to be on in this new partitioning, goes to a psychologist to figure out what he truly wants. But things only get more complicated…
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 8: Bushra, Amjad’s wife honks at a BMW that is blocking them, and Amjad is afraid that he is about to get into a clash with one of the village criminals. He goes up to them to apologize for his wife’s honking and gets into even more trouble. In the meantime, Meir is beside himself with jealousy because of a Palestinian student who is courting his crush Amal.
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 10: Everyone wants to make a quick buck, but is the delivery room really the place to do so? When a known millionaire declares that he will award a million Israeli shekels to the first baby that is born on Independence Day, Bushra and Amjad compete with the Chen couple on who will give birth first.
For more information visit the Israel Film Center
