After 10 happy years of marriage Meir and Rivka have no children, which is a source of worry for the community's rabbi.
Rivka's sister, Malka, is in love with a man who has chosen to leave the community and the rabbi decides that to ensure his lineage, Meir must repudiate Rivka and marry Haya. He has also decided to marry Malka to Yossef, his faithful helper.
Rivka moves out of the house. She sinks into a life of silence and solitude.
Malka reacts differently to the bleak future imposed on her. She rebels.