“One Little Hour”

Jess and I watched Defiance tonight. It was well made if a bit ponderous. A group of Jews find refuge in the forest from the Nazis. What captured my attention was Director/Writer Edward Zwick’s decision to heroize humanism. At one point the disillusioned rabbi intones a prayer:

Merciful God, we commit our friends Ben Zion and Krensky to your care. We have no more prayers, no more tears. We have run out of blood. Choose another people. We have paid for each of your Commandments. We have covered every field and stone with ashes. Sanctify another land. Choose another people. Teach them the Deeds and the Prophecies. Grant us but one more blessing – Take back the gift of our holiness.

That moment is truly powerful. God had demanded more from them than they felt they could endure. Choose another people.

The director shows where he places his hope of salvation. Towards the end of the film as the German army chases the Jews through the woods and they come to what appears an impassable marsh, the main character, Tuvia, who has given up hope is confronted by his younger brother Asael:

Asael: We must keep going!

Tamara: In there?

Rona: It is impossible!

Murmuring. Asael raises his voice.

Asael: Nothing is impossible! What we have done is impossible!

Murmuring quiets.

Asael: God will not part these waters. We will do it ourselves.

Rona: But how?

Asael: Not by miracles. By our strength.

Compare the response of these Jews with those of their forebearer, King David in II Samuel 24:

I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.

Without Christ we would have no hope either. Praise God for our deliverer!