Become a Member
Film

Review: Praying with Lior

Ilana Trachtman’s tender look at the barmitzvah of Lior, a boy with Down's Syndrome, should be compulsory viewing.

November 16, 2009 16:54
lior

ByJessica Elgot, Jessica Elgot

1 min read

Lior Liebling is 13 years old. He likes wrestling with his brother, annoying his little sister, and is finding it hard to concentrate on writing his Dvar Torah. But Lior is no ordinary barmitzvah.

Lior has Downs Syndrome. That he can undertake a barmitzvah at all is astounding. But perhaps even more compelling is that what Lior loves most in the world is davening, leading some in his congregation to believe he is ‘close to God’, a spiritual genius.

Ilana Trachtman’s tender look at a modern religious family whose faith is strengthened by the faith of their son and brother should be compulsory viewing.

From how he inspires his congregation to how his schoolmates at his Orthodox yeshiva accept him with the unquestioning faith that “Hashem doesn’t make mistakes”, Lior is fascinating to watch.