Harel Yana

Bio

Harel Yana lives in Munich, Germany and is originally from Israel. He works as a director and is the co-founder of Florentin Film production company.

Reflection

In September 2013 I spent the Jewish new year Rosh Hashana with my camera in Uman, Ukraine, my fifth time there. I’d been counting on this trip for a while since I felt all year long as if things were not going really the way I hoped for, and I felt as if the fact that I had not been to Uman the last year had a lot to do with it.

This time my older brother Elad joined me. He wanted to thank the Rebbe. Last year in Uman he prayed for a wife and soon after he found his perfect match and got married.

For me, Uman in Rosh Hashana is the ultimate party and purification ceremony, the only way I would ever want to start the year. A place and time where Jewish people from all ranges of society come together to celebrate, in something that for me resembles a great trance music festival, but without having to use any psychedelic substances, it somehow comes with the place. When you add Rebbe Nachman’s unique flavor to it, the picture comes into sharp focus, enabling us to view the day with a new clarity. We suddenly realize that a Rosh Hashanah with the Rebbe is not one to be missed: it gives us a chance to tap into the intrinsic power of the day itself. And, with the Tzaddik’s help, we can get the most possible benefit – opportunity awaits us.

Sacred gave me the opportunity to experience Uman through other people’s eyes, and furthermore to share one of the happiest and holiest festivals of the Jewish calendar with the world.