Experiencing Interruptions?

Let Me Hear Thy Voice

After generations of silence, more and more women dare to give their own personal and musical interpretation to ancient Jewish texts - a territory known only for men. The film “Let Me Hear Thy Voice” unravels an intimate conversation with four talented female musicians - Alma Zohar, Victoria Hanna, Maureen Nehedar and Lea Avraham who open their hearts and speak about their personal experiences, inspiration, femininity and Jewish roots. Combined with beautiful musical segments, the film gives the viewer an opportunity to dive into an ancient space that is still ever-changing.

  • Mili Ben Hayl and Tamar Shippony
    Director
  • Mili Ben Hayl
    Producer
  • Tamar Shippony
    Producer
  • Lea Avraham
    Key Cast
  • Maureen Nehedar
    Key Cast
  • Alma Zohar
    Key Cast
  • Victoria Hanna
    Key Cast
  • Mickey Noam-Alon
    Director of Photography
  • Steve Sebban
    Colorist
  • Keren-Or Biton
    Sound Editor and Mixer
  • Mili Ben Hayl
    Editors
  • Tamar Shippony
    Editors
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    השמיעיני את קולך
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    48 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 13, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    Israel
  • Country of Filming:
    Israel
  • Language:
    Hebrew
  • Shooting Format:
    HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Epos International Film Festival
    Tel-Aviv
    Israel
    April 6, 2017
    Middle East Premiere
  • Jewish's Womens New York Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    March 4, 2018
    North American Premiere
  • Washington Jewish Film Festival
    Washington
    United States
    May 3, 2018
    Washington Premiere
  • Jewish Motifs Film Festival
    Warsaw
    Poland
    May 24, 2018
    European Premiere
Director Biography - Mili Ben Hayl and Tamar Shippony

Mili Ben Hayl is an independent director and screenwriter who studied at the the Dept. of Film and Television in Tel Aviv University. For over 15 years she has been giving workshops in creative writing and directing in diverse communities all around Israel.

Tamar Shippony is an experimental filmmaker and artist who studied at Pratt Institute in NY and Bezalel Academy of Arts in Jerusalem. She holds an active art studio in Jerusalem.

Mili and Tamar, a couple in real life and in film, they have their our own production company called '288 Sparks' where they produce & direct films together.

Filmography

2017 “Let Me Hear Thy Voice” - Documentary Film, 48 min
2011 - 2016 “Cheer Me Up” - Independent Feature Film, 75 min
2009 “In Between” - Experimental Film
2001 - 2004 “Forerunners” - Documentary Film, 60 min

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Director Statement

Director's Q&A:

1. What inspired you to tell the story of your subject or the story depicted in your film?

The film actually was an idea that came up from the website called "Invitation to Piyut" (it is an amazing database that archives and preserves Psalms and traditional Jewish prayers that come from all over the world, ancient and more modern).

They asked us to create a 5-minute film while documenting three women who deal with Jewish liturgy. We chose three female musicians and started filming.

During the editing process we realized that the subject is so important that it cannot only be a 5-minute film. So together with the Invitation to Piyut website, we produced and expanded the film (adding an additional female musician). After creating this film we realized how much potential there is in this subject and it might expand to a series documenting many female musicians who deal with Jewish liturgy.

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2. What was a particular obstacle you faced while making this film?

As many films, the budget was an obstacle. We created this film on a shoestring budget (lots of volunteer work) and so the film is quite basic in it's visual display as well as sound recording that was not perfect. But we are happy with the way it came out, the spirit and insight it gives to people is priceless!

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3. What do you want audiences to walk away with after screening your film?

First of all Inspiration. That they be inspired from the conversation and from what it brings up. The quote that ends the film by Rabbi Kook says it all for us "The old shall be renewed, and the new sanctified; together they will become torches that illuminate Zion". And the subtext that comes up in the film is that the Halacha (Jewish law) is a flexible thing, and that it can be suited to modern times in order to be relevant to what is important nowadays - in many Orthodox groups women are not alowed to sing in public in front of men as to not arouse them, the women in the film challenge this idea and talk about it throughout the film.

We hope the film will open people's mind to new ways of thinking and inspire them, especially Jewish religous people.