Chanoch Daum Meets Late Father in New Series Scene

A new series premiering on Keshet 12 features a particularly poignant moment: comedian Chanoch Daum coming face-to-face with his late father, Rabbi Yechezkel Daum z"l. In "Life Is a Difficult Period," actor Lior Ashkenazi portrays the elder Daum in an intimate scene that captures a son's longing for his departed father.

The encounter unfolds as Chanoch sits on a bench surrounded by wheat fields. Opening his eyes, he discovers his father beside him. "Dad?" he asks in surprise. "Chanuchik," his father responds with a smile. When Chanoch asks what he's doing there, his father answers simply: "Dead."

As the conversation continues, Chanoch grasps the significance of their meeting. "So what am I doing here?" he asks, and his father looks at him with a knowing smile. Chanoch lowers his eyes and quips with characteristic humor: "I knew sports weren't healthy." His father offers comfort: "Well, at least we're together."

The most touching moment arrives when Chanoch says: "I missed you." Their dialogue turns to the years that have passed since his father's death. "How long has it been since we saw each other?" Chanoch asks. "Since I left," his father replies. Chanoch reveals: "You know I almost passed your age? I was one day short."

His father responds with dark humor: "That's how it is with us, we get stuck at 52." The scene concludes with Chanoch's quiet acknowledgment.

Rabbi Yechezkel Daum z"l, Chanoch's father, was a well-known figure in the religious-Zionist community. His passing at age 52 left a profound void in both his family and the broader community. The new series offers Chanoch a creative and moving way to come full circle and process his yearning for his father.

"Life Is a Difficult Period" promises to be one of the season's most emotionally resonant series, blending humor, feeling, and profound messages about life, death, and family.