Under The Domim Tree

In winter 1953, a large search is launched for Misha, the boy from the boarding house. He is found drowned in a river, revealing that he and Yurek and Ze'evik had been sneaking through the woods at night after hiding in forest for two years during the Holocaust. Their nocturnal runs expose a haunting link to past trauma and a danger the community must confront.

After Misha's death, Yurek and Ze'evik temporarily stop their night runs, offering relief to the headmasters and peers. But the urge to revisit the woods returns after several months, threatening a repeat recurrence of the danger they seek to escape. The community braces for the fragile balance between safety and memory.

Spring brings a new arrival, Miriam 'Mira' Segal, to the boarding house. She proves uncooperative with the living arrangements and often acts hostility toward the other girls. Her presence unsettles the routine and stirs tensions within the group.

Aviya continues to hope that her mother Henya can recover from years of institutionalization. She visits the hospital regularly to understand Henya's memory of the war and Europe. Henya's condition and confusion add emotional strain to Aviya's already difficult life.

Henya becomes romantically involved with Yurek, a development that worries Aviya and the others as they navigate fragile family dynamics. They voice concerns about how this relationship might affect Henya's stability and Yurek's behavior. Henya, Yurek, and Ze'evik often seek solace sitting under the domim tree.

The domim crab apple tree near the boarding house serves as a quiet sanctuary for the group. Aviya, Henya, Yurek, and Ze'evik gather there for warmth and companionship as their lives remain unsettled. The tree becomes a symbol of resilience amid trauma.

Weeks later, the community plans to plant hundreds of tulip bulbs around the domim tree to symbolize renewal. Yola learns that her father may still be alive in Warsaw, igniting relief and anticipation among the youths. The joy is short-lived when tragedy strikes as Yola's father dies before they can meet.

Aviya receives a letter from an aunt containing a photo of her father and the cemetery's name, guiding her to his grave in Haifa. The visit anchors her with a tangible link to the family she thought she had lost. The moment brings a mix of grief and a fragile sense of belonging.

Facing pressure to separate Yurek and Ze'evik to avoid another tragedy, headmaster Ariel contemplates drastic measures. The two boys retreat to the woods and return with a defiant vow: 'We stay together or we die.' Ariel agrees not to separate them, acknowledging the depth of their bond and the risks involved.

A couple arrives claiming Mira's parents are alive and well, but Mira resists, insisting she has no memory of a family before the war. She explains she was found in an Italian orphanage after the war and later brought to Israel where abusive behavior drove her to flee. The revelation tests the group's solidarity and Mira's sense of trust.

The case regarding Mira's parentage goes to court, and the youths support her, putting aside past grievances. Through the process, Mira begins to recall her mother's face, casting doubt on the couple's story. The kindness of her peers helps her learn to trust again and to envision a future with the group.