Filmmaker Statement

When I was in high school, my uncle passed away. Soon after, my close cousin passed away at twenty-two. Then, my other cousin at twenty-six. Growing up, I felt occupied in trying to reconcile my family’s pain, viewing grief as this mysterious weight. It wasn’t until recently that I began to feel angry at my family’s reaction. These losses built a feeling of deep cultural abandonment. Traditions were lost, holidays became a rarity, family members began to drift apart, unable to reconcile their pain, casting feelings onto each other of guilt and blame. Through this lens, I began to see my family’s grief as a cautionary tale. I felt an urgency to shed light on the importance of tradition, especially in the Jewish community where generations of trauma made us afraid of being ourselves. When I am in the Kosher Market with my mother and grandmother it is this magical feeling of puzzle pieces fitting together, a curiosity for my own family which I feel an inspiring connection to. I’ve alw