A unique one-night-only screening of the award-winning documentary Sabbath Queen will take place, offering an insightful look into the life of Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, who serves as an openly queer Orthodox Jewish rabbi.
This screening will be hosted by Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh, in collaboration with Chizuk Amuno Congregation and School & Camps at The Charles Theater in Baltimore on March 19, 2026, at 7 p.m. Following the film, there will be an engaging talkback featuring Lau-Lavie and Sandi DuBowski, the film’s director and producer. Together, they will delve into the themes presented in Sabbath Queen and discuss their impact in Baltimore and beyond.
Filmed over a remarkable span of 21 years, Sabbath Queen chronicles Lau-Lavie’s journey as he grapples with his role as the inheritor of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis, some of whom were influential Chief Rabbis of Israel. Throughout this extensive period, he wrestles with the intersection of faith and identity, ultimately finding a way to embrace both aspects of himself. Lau-Lavie transforms into a drag-queen provocateur, a queer-bio-dad, and the founder of Lab/Shul—an inclusive, God-optional, artist-driven, and experimental congregation.
Throughout his life, Lau-Lavie has sought to redefine religious practices and rituals, challenging norms of patriarchy and supremacy, advocating for interfaith love, and standing firm for peace. The documentary captures his unique ability to navigate traditional practices while fostering the sustainability of Jewish culture in the 21st century. Although Orthodox Judaism is frequently perceived as rigid concerning issues of gender and sexuality, the Talmud has long recognized a spectrum of non-binary identities and up to eight genders.
Rabbi Jessy Dressin, the founding executive director of Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh, expressed enthusiasm about the screening, saying, “From the moment Sabbath Queen premiered, we knew it was imperative to host a screening here in Baltimore. The film is engaging and thought-provoking, rich with challenging questions, and features both a subject and producer dedicated to exploring complex issues in a profoundly Jewish and artistic manner, making it an ideal addition to our community.”
Having debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2024, Sabbath Queen has since been showcased at over 80 film festivals and more than 50 arthouse theaters around the globe. DuBowski is also known for his earlier works, which include “Trembling Before G-d,” “A Jihad for Love,” and “Budrus.”
The arrival of Sabbath Queen in Baltimore represents a significant moment for DuBowski, as his last film screened in this city sparked considerable discussion. In 2002, “Trembling Before G-d,” which investigated LGBTQ+ themes within the Orthodox Jewish community, was shown at The Charles Theater. During its run, protests occurred as various Orthodox Jewish and Evangelical Christian groups condemned the film. These protests were the only ones witnessed during the film’s international circuit. DuBowski’s presentation of Sabbath Queen at The Charles Theater now offers a fresh opportunity for meaningful dialogue, reflection, and discussion.
For further details and to purchase tickets for the one-night screening of Sabbath Queen, click here. Tickets are priced at $18 each*.
*The number 18 holds special significance in Judaism. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet also serves as a numerical value. The letters that form the number 18 also spell “chai,” which translates to “life.” The letter “chet” holds the numerical value of 8, while “yud” has a value of 10. This is why many Jewish people choose to donate or gift money in increments of 18, symbolizing life and good fortune.
