The drama about the good life of the senior son of the Shas was filmed in a yeshiva in Netanya.

April 19, 2016   

Filming is currently underway for a new television drama series from HOT, which follows four wealthy yeshiva students studying in a prestigious yeshiva. 

The series - 'The Elevated' - deals with Haredi yeshiva boys dressed in tight suits from Zara, wearing Borsalino hats and pointed shoes, who divide their world between the pleasures of study and the pleasures of life, and although studies do not interest them at all, they do not have the courage to leave the yeshiva.

According to a report on the Kippa website, the series was filmed, among other things, at the Beit Midrash of the Bnei Akiva-Yad Avraham Yeshiva in Netanya, a few days before leaving for the Passover vacation.

The series was created by Eliran Malka, a graduate of Ma'ale, and directed by Ariel Benavaji, produced by Dori Media.

The actors who play the characters of the yeshiva head and the boys are well-known figures from the world of Israeli acting.

לפי דיווח של רן בוקר באתר ynet, בסדרה מגלם השחקן דניאל גד את אבינועם, מנהיג החבורה ובנו של חבר כנסת בכיר בש"ס, שמסתובב עם כרטיס האשראי של אביו בכיס, אוהב את החיים הטובים, ומתקשה להסתדר עם השיפוטיות של העולם החילוני כלפיו. הסדרה מתמקדת בצד מוכר פחות של החברה החרדית: החיים של עשירי הקהילה, כולל מקוואות מפוארים, חנויות יוקרתיות של כובעים, מכון כושר לגברים בנפרד ודייטים בלובי של מלון נחשב. בעלילה, גיבורי הדרמה ייאלצו לוותר על החיים הנוחים הללו, לאחר הגעתו של משגיח חדש, שיחליט לשים סוף לחיי הנהנתנות בישיבה. According to the report in Kipah, it is possible that this time, unlike Shtisel, for example, the script will include criticism of the Haredi yeshiva students and will arouse a sense of defensiveness among those who claim that the series is intended to shame the yeshiva students.

When asked how a yeshiva allows a film to be shot within its boundaries, the yeshiva's management explained to Kipah that the script passed the review of the yeshiva's head: "The Bnei Akiva Netanya Yeshiva, with its many educators, has always sought to integrate the life of Torah and holiness into practical life. Television is an existing and influential thing in society, and sometimes it also contains positive things that can have a positive impact, bring hearts closer together, and even strengthen Torah study.".

""The Rosh Yeshiva of Bnei Akiva Netanya, Rabbi Eli Friedman, read the script before meeting with the creators, producers, and director, and understood the essence of the series, which deals with yeshiva students and their world.

""Rabbi Friedman met several times with the creators to ensure that there would be no offensive content, neither in words nor in clothing nor in message, and only after he was convinced that the series was positive and worthy of being filmed in the yeshiva did he approve the filming on its grounds.".