The path of the righteous man (הַדֶרֶךְ שֶׁל הַצָדִיק Ha-derekh shel ha-tsadiq) — from the film The Bodyguard (1976), adapted by Jules Winnfield in the film Pulp Fiction (1994)
Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., abduction, Hebrew translation, lonely man of faith, Prayers in Film, Psalmsploitation, vengeance
Excerpt: Tired of people who can’t tell their ḳiddish (blessings for the Sabbath) from their ḳaddish (prayer for the dead)? Well, it sets Samuel L. Jackson off too! But he found a way of making a bracha (blessing) and mourning the dead at the same time. Now I can’t vouch for the origins of his nusaḥ (custom) but it sounds very effective! Most people haven’t noticed, the only real part from the Bible is that last section, the first part is actually his own spiel: . . .
Content:
Tired of people who can’t tell their ḳiddish from their ḳaddish? Well, it sets Samuel L. Jackson off too! But he found a way of making a brakhah and mourning the dead at the same time.[1] Cf. PULP FICTION (dir. Quentin Tarantino, 1994) Now I can’t vouch for the origins of his nusaḥ but it sounds very effective!
Most people haven’t noticed, the only real part from the Bible is that last section (adapted from Ezekiel 25:17), the first part is actually his own spiel.[2] Jules Winnfield’s spiel was adapted from a reference to the verse which first appeared in the THE BODYGUARD (1976), an American release of the Japanese martial-arts film, ボディガード牙 (Karate Kiba, dir. Ikki Kajiwara and Ken Nakagusuku, 1973). Here is Reb Jules Winnfield, in the name of Marsellus Wallace, circa 1994.
The path of the righteous man[3] Cf. Proverbs 4:18. THE BODYGUARD (1976) has “the righteous man and defender.” (translated: הַצָדִיק וּמָגֵן)
is beset on all sides[4] lit. “confronted at every step.”
with the iniquities of the selfish
and the tyranny of evil men.
Blessed is he who[5] Cf. Psalms 1:1 in the name of charity and good will
shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness,[6] Cf. Psalms 23:4
for he is truly his brother’s keeper[7] Cf. Genesis 4:9
and the finder of lost children.[8] THE BODYGUARD (1976) has “the father of lost children,” (translated: וְאַב שֶׁל טָפִים אֲבּוּדִים).
וְעָשִׂ֤יתִי בָם֙ נְקָמ֣וֹת גְּדֹל֔וֹת בְּתוֹכְח֖וֹת חֵמָ֑ה(יחזקאל כה:יז חלק א׳)
וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה בְּתִתִּ֥י אֶת־נִקְמָתִ֖י בָּֽם׃(יחזקאל כה:יז חלק ב׳)
“And I will strike down upon those with great vengeance and with furious anger” (Ezekiel 25:17a)
those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.
“And you will know that my name is the LORD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.” (Ezekiel 25:17b)
Pulp Fiction was written by Quentin Tarantino, however, this segment was adapted from the the THE BODYGUARD (1976), a re-cut American release of the Japanese martial-arts film, ボディガード牙 (Karate Kiba, dir. Ikki Kajiwara and Ken Nakagusuku, 1973). As this segment was included in the opening sequences added by Simon Nuchtern, we suspect he (or someone working for him) probably wrote it, but we are not certain. If you know, please leave a comment (or contact us).
The Hebrew translation presented here was made by Aharon Varady. The introduction was offered by Shmueli Gonzales, first published at his blog, Hardcore Mesorah (with a Hebrew translation found in the official Hebrew language captions to the Pulp Fiction DVD.
Jules Winnfield’s spiel was adapted from a reference to the verse which first appeared in the THE BODYGUARD (1976), an American release of the Japanese martial-arts film, ボディガード牙 (Karate Kiba, dir. Ikki Kajiwara and Ken Nakagusuku, 1973).
THE BODYGUARD (1976) has “the father of lost children,” (translated: וְאַב שֶׁל טָפִים אֲבּוּדִים).
Contributor: Shmueli Gonzales (transcription)
Co-authors:
Name: Shmueli Gonzales (transcription) Bio: Shmuel Gonzales is a Mexican-American punk and ḥasid, of Sephardic Bnei Anusim roots. He shares his transcriptions of Jewish liturgy here at the Open Siddur; with the bulk of his work dedicated to the preservation and proliferation the historic liturgical texts of the Sephardic, Mizraḥi and the ḤaBaD Lubavitch Nusach ARI z”l traditions. His divrei torah are available via his blog, Hardcore Mesorah, Since the mid-1990s Shmuel has served as lay leader and shaliaḥ tsibur for several communities across the Los Angeles Eastside, while doing kiruv (Jewish outreach) and teaching Jewish education throughout the inner-city in working-class communities. He is the founder of the Boyle Heights Chavurah – a grassroots Jewish community in East Los Angeles. He is also a community organizer, serving Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) and was elected as President of the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council. He is privileged to be recognized as a renowned professional historian, as founder of Boyle Heights History Studios (& Tours) and author of the Barrio Boychik Blog. He is a proud volunteer for the Pico Union Project, which has successfully transformed the oldest synagogue building in Los Angeles into a thriving community center under the leader of famed musician and Cantor Craig Taubman; which is serving as a model for renewing vibrancy for older historic Jewish communities in what are today’s BIPOC landscapes. Website:http://hardcoremesorah.wordpress.com Profile Link:https://opensiddur.org/profile/kosherchorizo
Name: Aharon N. Varady (translation) Bio: Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer translator for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his translations, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot Naqeniשְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also transcribes prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes for the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.) Website:https://aharon.varady.net Profile Link:https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady-translation
Name: Unknown Author(s) Bio: Sometimes the best we can do in attributing a historical work is to indicate the period and place it was written, the first prayer book it may have been printed in, or the archival collection in which the manuscript was found. We invite the public to help to attribute all works to their original composers. If you know something not mentioned in the commentary offered, please leave a comment or contact us. Website: Profile Link:https://opensiddur.org/profile/unknown
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