Experiencing Interruptions?

No Child Spared

Meni Philip believed the days of teachers physically disciplining students belonged in the past, along with vague memories of abuse he suffered in school years ago. A viral post online proved otherwise, detailing brutality suffered at the hands of teachers in ultra-orthodox Jewish schools and eliciting hundreds of similar stories. The responses sent Meni on a journey to lift the veil on this ongoing system of abuse that transcends generations and happens all over the world.

“No Child Spared” is an empathetic exploration of this previously undisclosed trauma experienced by countless children each day and the immeasurable difficulty in breaking free of its effects.

  • Meni Philip
    Director
    Sinner, Let There Be Light
  • Meni Philip
    Writer
    Sinner, Let There Be Light
  • Penina Adler
    Writer
  • Meni Philip
    Producer
    Sinner, Let There Be Light
  • Meni Philip
    Key Cast
  • Nasich Katan Philip
    Key Cast
  • Yosef Shalev
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    החיידר
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 12 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 2, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    400,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Israel
  • Language:
    Hebrew
  • Shooting Format:
    RED, Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Haifa International Film Festival
    Haifa
    Israel
    January 5, 2025
    World Premiere (in the country of origin)
    Official Selection
  • Punta del Este Jewish Film Festial
    Punta del Este
    Uruguay
    February 11, 2025
    South America Premiere
    Official Documentary Films Competition
Distribution Information
  • HOT8
    Distributor
    Country: Israel
    Rights: Video on Demand, Paid TV
Director Biography - Meni Philip

Meni Philip is a critically-acclaimed filmmaker renowned for his empathetic storytelling and engaging audiences with his captivating artistic vision. In his evocative first documentary "Let There Be Light," Meni shared his transformative journey from a successful Orthodox Jewish singer to fighting for his paternity rights amidst family turmoil. The film offers a rare glimpse into a religious family's rift and a secular family's reconciliation. His short film "Sinner" won the Best European Short Film award at the Venice International Film Festival. “Sinner” told the story of a teenage boy’s shattered innocence at the betrayal of the people around him.
In his new film "No Child Spared," Meni returns to his childhood and recounts his experiences with violent educators in the classroom. He reveals the enduring impact of systemic abuse in ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools on himself and everyone involved.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"I grew up in a world where violence was normalized, where discipline came with pain, and where silence was expected. For years, I believed my experience was an isolated one—until I began listening to others. The stories in No Child Spared are not just stories; they are lived realities that shape the futures of individuals and entire societies.

No Child Spared is the film I wish had existed when I was a child. The violence, the humiliation, the fear—they were not isolated incidents but a systemic issue, and they are not a thing of the past. There are countless others who share the same scars and are still suffering that violence today—in Israel, the USA, Europe, Mexico, Australia, and all over the world. This film exists for those who still wake up at night, haunted by the hands that were supposed to guide them. It exists for the children who are still trapped in that world today.

No Child Spared is not just a film about pain—it is a film about change. For too long, the suffering of children in ultra-Orthodox schools has been dismissed as ‘tradition’ or ‘discipline.’ But silence enables abuse, and I refuse to be silent. By sharing these stories, we are not only exposing the truth but also planting the seeds of change. The moment people see, hear, and acknowledge the truth, change becomes possible. This film is just the beginning."