questioning god with Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof was such a popular musical that it manifested quickly into a movie. Like most popular quality films, it gained such a following because large audiences could sympathize with its characters. They understood the feelings of Tevye and of his daughters. A great shift in culture occurred during the 60’s and 70’s from the conservative mentality of parents and grandparents to the rebellious active attitudes of the youths. Tevye, a poor Jewish man in the town of Anatevka at the beginning of the 20th century, has to try to understand the great changes that are going on around him. His daughters are going against the traditions he clings to so tightly, and the outside world and authorities beyond the Jewish faith are forcing hardship upon his community. Because tradition is a central theme of the film, and of great value to our main character, we learn a lot about the practices of the Jewish faith.
The films opening sequence.
The film’s opening sequence alone is overflowing with symbols. We see flashes of the inside of the town’s Jewish temple. The walls are covered with beautiful old murals. These painted images include bulls, scorpions, scales and foliage that surround text written in Hebrew scripture. We also see the Star of David both painted and sewn onto cloth. There is also a Menorah, without candles, as it isn’t the time of Hannukah. The temple seems to be gilded with gold or some other metal in some places. Anatevka is a poor town, so the fact that such metals would be used to enrich the beauty of the temple shows the dedication of the people for their religion. The wooden walls of the temple are also beautifully carved into swoops and swirls.
Tevye even cuts in to explain some symbols and beliefs to us in the opening sequence. As Tevye works delivering milk to customers, he explains that “Here in Anatevka we have traditions for everything, how to sleep, …eat, …work, even how to wear clothes. We always keep our head covered and always wear a little prayer shawl. This shows our constant devotion to God.” Almost all of the men also have beards, as shaving is forbidden in the Torah in Leviticus 19:27. Tevye quotes “the good book” several times during the film, as he has a passion for studying it, though he has little time to do so. We also learn that at the age of 3 boys attend Hebrew school and that the men of the family are meant to study the holy book.
As the story progresses we observe several rituals and practices. One of the first is that of the matchmaker pairing young men and women for marriage rather than deciding themselves. The father must then approve the match. The wedding is the next step. It happens after sunset, with the whole village bearing candles to light the event. The couple must stand under a canopy. Rings are exchanged. The groom breaks a glass under his foot. The couple is lifted on chairs by wedding attendees. Gifts are given to the bride and groom by the bride’s parents. At this point in the scene, arguments break out as it is revealed that the couple decided to get married out of love, rather than trusting the matchmaker’s suggestion. Making the moment more controversial is a young man who asks girl to dance, a scandalous suggestion in this community of strict Jewish faith. This moment is also an example of religious conflict, as though the boy is Jewish, he has a different interpretation of what should be acceptable for members of the Jewish faith.
Another ritual we observe is the Sabbath. The mother tells her children to hurry to prepare themselves and the table, because the ritual must be performed in the few minutes before sundown on Friday. When everyone is settled and standing around the table, the mother lights two candles in silence then places her hands over her eyes and face as if crying. The parents then begin to say prayers. They may also sing songs, as the Sabbath is meant to be sacred but also a period of joy and reflection. It is a time when family and friends gather to remember and reflect on their faith while also rewarding themselves with leisure time.
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