Shtisel

Who it's for

Shtisel moves slowly and treats every character's longing with respect, which invites reflection rather than judgment.

Feelings it meets

• Family Conflict
• Faith
• Grief
• Identity
• Family Roles
• Loneliness
• Unrequited Love

What it is

Shtisel is an Israeli drama created by Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky that ran for three seasons (2013–2021). It follows the Shtisel family, Haredi Jews living in the Geula neighborhood of Jerusalem: widowed patriarch Shulem, a rabbi and teacher, often clashes with his son Akiva over Akiva's romantic choices and his pursuit of painting.

Where to find it

Originally aired on yes (Israel); distributed internationally by Netflix from 2018 (Wikipedia reports Netflix removed it in 2023, though the Netflix page still lists it). Streaming availability rotate.

Before you start

Heads up: Death of a spouse and grief.

Age: TV-14 (suggested 13+)

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, “On Children”