Ultra-Orthodox: Rabbi Akiva’s Journey to Freedom

Biopic 2023 to 2024 3sat
Productions Documentaries
Photo: Dirk Heuer

Akiva Weingarten, born and raised in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish Satmar community in New York, decides to break out of his world in 2014. He flees to Germany and begins a new life in freedom.

But his escape comes at a high price: he has to leave his three children behind. A long and bitter battle to get his children back begins. Weingarten not only had to overcome the legal hurdles, but also the resistance of the ultra-Orthodox community.

Today, Weingarten lives as a rabbi in Dresden and is the chairman of a liberal Jewish community that supports those who leave ultra-Orthodox communities and helps them to integrate professionally into modern society.

9:45 pm 3sat
Broadcast Date
Watch now

Ultraorthodox: Der Kampf des Rabbi Akiva

Rabbi Akiva Weingarten (39) auf der Staten Island Ferry (New York), im Hintergrund ist die Freiheitsstatue zu sehen.

Copyright: Leon Spanier/Bavaria Fiction

Ultraorthodox: Der Kampf des Rabbi Akiva

Rabbi Akiva Weingarten steht in der Wüste in der Nähe Jerusalems und ist in traditionellen, ultraorthodoxen Gewändern gekleidet. Er trägt einen Schtreimel (Kopfbedeckung), einen Kaftan und ein Tallit (Gebetsmantel). Er trägt Vollbart und Schläfenlocken.

Foto: Emanuel Rotstein/Bavaria Fiction

Ultraorthodox: Der Kampf des Rabbi Akiva

Rabbi Akiva Weingarten ist mit seinen Töchtern Miriam (links) und Malky (in der Mitte) in seiner Synagoge beim Beten. Malky feiert ihre Bat Mitzwa.

Copyright: Emanuel Rotstein/Bavaria Fiction

Ultraorthodox: Der Kampf des Rabbi Akiva

Rabbi Akiva Weingarten steht in New York nachts auf dem Time Square.

Foto: Emanuel Rotstein/Bavaria Fiction

Cast & Crew

Executive Producer
Emanuel Rotstein
Producer
Tina Leeb
Commissioner
3sat, ZDF
Commissioning Editor
Harald Hamm, Dirk Heihoff
Screenplay
Emanuel Rotstein, Leon Spanier
Director
Emanuel Rotstein, Leon Spanier
Director of Photography
Leon Spanier sowie Dirk Heuer & Alexander Vexler
Protagonists
Akiva Weingarten, Sarah Weingarten, Josef Weingarten, Miriam Weingarten, Malky Weingarten
Narrator
Armand Presser, Claudia Burges, Lucy Leopold, Leni Wangler
Line Producer
Sascha Ommert, Astrid Holz
Unit Production Manager
Anna Friedrich
Editor
Rodney Sewell, Maja Zylberszac

Executive Producer

Emanuel Rotstein

News about "Ultra-Orthodox: Rabbi Akiva’s Journey to Freedom"

Thu, 18. Jan 2024
Ultra-Orthodox: Rabbi Akiva’s Journey to Freedom
Bavaria Fiction shoots new moving documentary