Bavaria Fiction Preps Akiva Weingarten Documentary

Bavaria Fiction is currently filming a documentary about Akiva Weingarten, showing his journey from an ultra-Orthodox community in New York to becoming a liberal rabbi in Germany.

The 60-minute Ultra-Orthodox: Rabbi Akiva’s Journey to Freedom (w.t.) is set to broadcast on March 6 on 3sat and will be available from February 28 on 3sat Mediathek.

All rights outside Germany, Austria and Switzerland are held by Bavaria Fiction.

Emanuel Rotstein, executive producer and head of documentaries at Bavaria Fiction, said: “Our documentary tells the moving life story of Akiva Weingarten and his search for freedom and personal development. The repercussions he faced for leaving the ultra-Orthodox community have been severe. We take a look at the struggle for his children and his inner conflicts but also show the diversity of Jewish faith, culture and traditions.”

Weingarten added: “The documentary project is very close to my heart, as I want to show those that encounter a similar situation that they are not alone on their path and that there is help available. At the same time, it is very important to me to show the incredible hurdles we face when we decide to live outside the ultra-Orthodox community.”

Natalie Müller-Elmau, senior VP for 3sat, said: “The film tells a personal life story and at the same time something universal, namely what happens when you have to break with traditions and constraints in the fight for your own freedom. We like to give space to such stories with extraordinary protagonists because existential questions are explored here—profound but not top-heavy.”