Ushpizin
"Ushpizin", the Aramaic word for "guest," is also the title of this 2004 Israeli film written by Shuli Rand and directed by Gidi Dar. Rand, who also starred in the film as Moshe, won the Best Actor award from the Israeli Film Academy for his role.
The story takes place in Jerusalem during the festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). Moshe, an orthodox Jew, has been reformed from his past life as a criminal. He lives and studies at a Yeshiva (religious school) in Jerusalem. During the festival, criminal guests from Moshe's past life arrive. Seeking to fulfill a primary mitzvah (commandment) of Sukkot to entertain guests, Moshe invites the men into his home creating a tense situation for Moshe and his wife.
Christians will find their theology challenged as the movie depicts a very substantive relationship between Moshe and God. Romans 11:13-18 comes alive as we see once again that believers in Jesus owe a historical, contextual, Biblical debt to God's chosen people Israel. We highly recommend this film. It will enrich the viewer's faith and deepen understanding of modern, orthodox Jewish life.