Reviews by Tim J.

In the late nineteenth century, Fania (Tamar Alkan), a shy but beautiful mother with a baby, arrives in Jaffa in Palestine from Russia in search of a new life. Since her parents were all killed in a pogrom, she is traveling with her uncle and traumatized brother. They are able to stay at an inn thanks to a charity program. However, when Fania's uncle can't find work, they are left without many options.

The Jews believe that God works in strange and surprising ways. At the inn, Yechiel (Zion Ashkenazi), a widower with two children, is very much taken by Fania. In an act of boldness, he asks her to marry him and come away with him to northern Palestine where he lives in a Jewish community trying to cultivate the rocky land they purchased from local Arabs. She agrees to marry him only if she is allowed to bring along her brother.

This stubborn young woman is determined to take good care of her new family. She is given a royal welcome by Riva (Levana Finkelstein), her next door neighbor. Fania is a naturally nurturing person. She is always there with a cold compress for someone who is sick. She patiently removes bugs from the children's heads. She restrains her husband when he flares out at his son in anger.

Fania is proficient in several languages including English, which she uses to communicate with her sister in America. In two of the most startling scenes in Valley of Strength, she unleashes two more special talents. When Riva is very sick and desperately needs milk and food to live, Fania goes to an Arab gathering spot and trades her blouse for the needed items. And in front of a group of strangers, she plays a piano piece.

Dan Wolman directs this engrossing drama based on a bestselling 1983 novel by Shulamit Lapid. Tamar Alkan was named Best Actress of the Year by the Israeli Film Critics Association for her performance, and it is certainly worthy of such acclaim. When her neighbor Riva calls her "a pearl" that is only half of it. Fania consistently puts others before herself, works hard in the fields without complaint, is willing to have Arab women look after her baby when she can't do it herself and has a smile for everyone that lights up the room.

After waiting just the right amount of time, this extraordinary woman shares with Yechiel the secret that has put a roadblock in the further evolution of their relationship and their marriage. Her willingness to trust him at this point is a powerful exclamation point to her survival skills and strength."

~Film Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
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Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]

Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]

Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]

Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]

Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]

Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]

Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]

Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]

Crucial information to know about Doreen Virtue regarding radical changes in her spiritual path.

"When the notoriously saccharine and paradoxically-named doyenne of the oracle divination deck known as Doreen Virtue left the ranks of the New Age after an alleged vision of Jesus, I left it alone...

"But, fast forward and now [as of January 2019 writing], [Ms.] Virtue has released a pontificating polemic entitled “An A-Z List of New Age Practices to Avoid, and Why.” Despite my belief that Witchcraft is Witchcraft and not a subgroup of the New Age as some would argue, there are many practices shared between the two groups and Ms. Virtue has come full force in attacking them so I’m going to comment.

"While Ms. Virtue claims she’s not “hating on anyone, or judging anyone,” that’s exactly what she’s doing when she outright attacks the ways and beliefs that people hold dear.

"When Virtue states that “The new age teaches that demons and the devil don’t exist, so that demons can operate undercover without being noticed,” she’s essentially accusing New Agers, Witches, and occultists of knowingly and consciously peddling both...

"Virtue also claims that, if her 'list offends or upsets you, it’s likely because the demons which have been oppressing you are offended and upset...'”

~Christian Day (blog post dated January 24, 2019)

[Link removed - login to see]