RISING: More Than a Film, An Act of Civic Responsibility
- Hatikvah Australia
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
There are moments in a nation's history when remaining a spectator is no longer enough.
Over the past three years, hundreds of thousands of Israelis chose not to stand on the sidelines. They stepped into the public square because they believed the future of their country was too important to leave to others.
RISING is an Australian documentary, created by an Australian filmmaking team, that has just concluded its premiere screenings in Israel. The film follows Israel's unprecedented protest movement, which brought hundreds of thousands of Israelis into the streets in defence of the country's values and democratic future.
As associate producer of RISING, I had the privilege of working alongside writer, director and producer Esther Takac on a project that became far more than a documentary. For us, making RISING was never simply about documenting history. It was our way of taking part in it. It was our contribution to the future of the country we love.
Responsibility takes many forms.
Some protest. Some volunteer. Some educate. Some build communities.
RISING tells the story of ordinary Israelis who chose to step forward when remaining on the sidelines was no longer enough. It does so not to celebrate a protest movement, nor to offer political answers, but to remind us of something far more fundamental: that democracy depends on citizens who are willing to take responsibility for its future.
When RISING premiered across Israel, I hoped it would spark meaningful conversations.
What I did not anticipate was the depth of the response.
The screenings sold out, and the response from both audiences and the media was overwhelmingly positive. Yet what stayed with me was not the full theatres.
It was what happened after the lights came up.
People stayed.
They talked.
They shared personal stories.
They listened.
Many spoke not only about what they had seen, but about what comes next. They spoke about responsibility. About remaining engaged. About the belief that Israel's future will not be shaped by leaders alone, but by ordinary people who choose to take part.
The film seemed to remind people of something they already knew, but perhaps needed to hear again: that even in moments of uncertainty, they are not powerless.
The screenings became more than screenings.
They became spaces where people reflected, questioned, and rediscovered a sense of shared responsibility. Watching those conversations unfold, I realised that RISING is not really about the protest movement.
It is about something much bigger. It is about the belief that ordinary people have both the power and the responsibility to help shape the future of their country. That responsibility does not end at Israel's borders.
For Jews around the world, supporting Israel has always taken many forms. Some advocate. Some educate. Some strengthen their communities. Some volunteer. Some build bridges. Each contribution is different, but each reflects the same belief: that Israel's future matters, and that each of us has a role to play in shaping it.
Perhaps that is the most important message RISING leaves us with.
Not that we all have to act in the same way.
But that none of us should underestimate the difference we can make.
The future of Israel will be shaped by millions of individual acts of responsibility.
This film is one of ours.
This Article was originally written for the weekly Hatikvah Newsletter. Please consider subscribing using the link below to stay in touch with all things Hatikvah Australia and the progressive Zionist world. The newsletter brings weekly content, news, events and more from Hatikvah Australia as we continue building the progressive Zionist community of Australia
