The Vigil (2019)

Menashe Lustig: Reb Shulem

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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?

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.