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Herbert J. Cohen

Kosher Movies: Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant

In visiting a local supermarket, an old acquaintance of mine whom I had not seen for several years came up to me and handed me a 200 shekel note. He said I had lent him 1000 shekels a few years ago and this was the first payment towards paying me back completely. I had forgotten about the debt, but now remembered the transaction.

I was both surprised and pleased that the good deed that I had done for him long ago was still on his mind. Indeed, an act of kindness should be remembered. In his thinking, I still needed to be repaid no matter how much time had intervened. Such is the narrative arc of Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant.

US troops were sent to Afghanistan in Oct 2001, after the 9/11 attacks. Fifty thousand Afghans were employed as interpreters with the understanding that they would be eligible for Special Immigration Visas and relocation to America. Unfortunately, the interpreters were regarded as traitors by the locals and the Taliban for collaborating with the enemy.

In March 2018, during the war in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sergeant John Kinley and his unit are ambushed by a truck bomb attack orchestrated by the Taliban. The attack claims the life of their Afghan interpreter. In need of a replacement, he is introduced to Ahmed Abdullah. Ahmed is very well connected locally and is of immense benefit to the Americans, providing Kinley with the locations of Taliban arms caches and preventing them from being ambushed.

On another raid, Kinley’s group is attacked by Taliban fighters and Kinley is badly wounded. Ahmed does not abandon Kinley but rather carries him over rough mountain terrain while being hunted by the Taliban. Finally rescued by US troops, Kinley is taken to a hospital. Regrettably, Ahmed is left in Afghanistan where he has to live in hiding with his family.

Kinley recognizes that Ahmed has saved his life and, in spite of lots of time passing, he tries to procure US visas for him and his family. Unfortunately, he is unsuccessful.

Undeterred by bureaucracy, he still wants to pay his debt of gratitude to Ahmed; and so he decides to make a personal rescue attempt to save his friend. This is a formidable task in the face of a Taliban that is hunting Ahmed, forcing him to frequently move in order to avoid detection and survive. How he eventually achieves safety and freedom is the heroic narrative of The Covenant.

Kinley’s gratitude to Ahmed personifies the Jewish notion of hakarat hatov, acknowledging the good that both God and people do for us, no matter how much time elapses between the performance of the good deed and showing appreciation for the good deed.

Adina Strom, a Jewish educator from Manchester, England, writes about the concept of hakarat hatov, always recognizing the kindnesses that are performed for us. She begins by citing the very first words that a Jew utters upon awakening:  Modeh Ani, thanking God for giving us another day to live. Every moment of life is a gift, not to be taken for granted. Therefore, we should recognize these blessings daily.

Strom further elaborates on the Hebrew term for gratitude. Etymologically, it means “recognition of the good.” This is more than simply being grateful. It means acknowledging the good that others do for you. She poetically observes: “The more we thank – be it the teachers, the milkman, our family members, or God – the more we continue to remind ourselves that we have much to be thankful for. And so, the good in our lives is illuminated before our very own eyes, in every moment of every day. Gratitude isn’t just an attitude. It’s a life choice.”

John Kinley recognizes the good that Ahmed has done for him and does not forget Ahmed’s sacrifice and bravery. John reminds us that we should always be aware of the kindness of others, which should motivate us to help those who have helped us. Sadly, the film’s coda reveals that in the aftermath of the Taliban’s recapture of Afghanistan, over 300 Afghan interpreters affiliated with the U.S. military were murdered by the organization, with thousands more still in hiding.

About the Author
Originally from Mt. Vernon, New York, Herbert J. Cohen served in the pulpit rabbinate in Atlanta at the beginning of his career. After six years, he moved into the educational rabbinate and served for 23 years as Principal of Yeshiva High School of Atlanta. In 2010, he and his wife came on aliyah to Israel. His latest book, published by Urim Publishers, is "Kosher Movies: A Film Critic Discovers Life Lessons at the Cinema." He may be reached at rabbihjco@msn.com.