Bringing Etty Hillesum to Life

Overview

How is it that the words of this Jewish woman, murdered in Auschwitz over 75 years ago, still inspire so many people today? The documentary follows a Jewish Israeli woman (Emma Sham-Ba Ayalon) and a Palestinian woman ( Dina Awwad-Srour) who were touched by Etty Hillesum's diary, and started a peace project in Israel and the occupied territories. Using short excerpts from Etty's diary, they have developed cards that they use for peace work and inner work. Etty Hillesum's personal quest for a humane future resonates with the participants of these gatherings and help them to renew their vision of peace. When the names of all deported Jews are read in Westerbork, Emma and Dina join a retreat of the Zen Peacemakers.