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by Ronni Mott
January 14, 2009
At 13, Lior Liebling is a kid with a great sense of humor. He is innocence personified, pure joy and happiness, living fully in the present moment. His favorite joke? April Fools, where he can tell a little white lie just to see your reaction.
Lior, which means my light in Hebrew, was born with Down syndrome, giving him a host of physical and mental problems. Hes high-functioning, which means he can communicate fairly well, although without the films captions, you might have trouble understanding his garbled speech.
The film centers on Liors Bar Mitzvah, a defining event for every devout Jewish boy at his age, celebrating a boys transition to manhood. Lior must lead a congregation in Hebrew prayers, read from the Torah and make a speech, daunting even for normal boys, much less for a disabled 13-year-old.
The documentary, though, presents Liors life and challenges without the saccharine dramas often used to generate pity for those less fortunate. In the context of his faith, his supportive family and community, what youll see are Liors similarities instead of his differences. Praying with Lior provides viewers with an open, airy avenue for examining what faith, family and community mean, while gently torpedoing preconceived notions about disabled peoples abilities to contribute. Lior and his family dont ask for pity; they dont need it.
Some claim Lior is a spiritual genius. He delights in prayer, chanting with total abandonment and joy, easily carrying listeners into his ecstatic state. But, as one member of his community notes, if his upbringing were devoutly Christian, he might be singing hymns, instead. His father admits that he is certainly not a Rabbi or teacher, as he is unable to pass his spiritual knowledge on; actual understanding seems just out of his grasp.
But understanding, some say, is inconsequential when it comes to matters of the heart; the devout find spirituality in their hearts, not in their minds. And Lior, with his unabashed enthusiasm and wide-open demeanor, feels the spirit of God; of that, there is no doubt. Ultimately, Lior is an unusually happy, well-adjusted young man, and isnt that what every parent wants for their children?
Winner of several independent film awards, Praying with Lior will have you laughing, and unless your heart is made of stone, you might also shed a tear or two.
COMMENTSNov 16, 2009 - This panel discussion raises concerns and awareness about domestic violence. more