Perusal Script

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Perusal Script by Cary Gitter PERUSAL SCRIPT www.stagerights.com THE SABBATH GIRL Copyright © 2020 by Cary Gitter All Rights Reserved All performances and public readings of THE SABBATH GIRL are subject to royalties. It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, of all countries covered by the International Copyright Union, of all countries covered by the Pan- American Copyright Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention, and all countries with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations. All rights are strictly reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Publication of this play does not necessarily imply that it is available for performance by amateurs or professionals. It is strongly recommended all interested parties apply to Steele Spring Stage Rights for performance rights before starting rehearsals or advertising. No changes shall be made in the play for the purpose of your production without prior written consent. All billing stipulations in your license agreement must be strictly adhered to. No person, firm or entity may receive credit larger or more prominent than that accorded the Author. For all stage performance inquiries, please contact: Steele Spring Stage Rights 3845 Cazador Street Los Angeles, CA 90065 (323) 739-0413 www.stagerights.com Artwork by Muse Graphic Design PRODUCTION APPLICATION Title of Musical/Play Promotional Code __________________ Today’s Date p ORGANIZATION INFORMATION ☐ Check here if you have worked with us before. Name of Producing Organization Contact Name & Title Mailing Address City State Zip Phone Fax Direct Phone for Contact E-mail Website Your theater is: ☐ Regional ☐ Dinner ☐ Community ☐ School ☐ Children’s ☐ Commercial ☐ Other (please specify) Your theater is a member of: ☐ LORT ☐ TCG ☐ AACT ☐ NAMT ☐ NDTA ☐ PACT Your organization is: ☐ Equity (AEA) ☐ Non-Equity Are your actors paid? ☐ Yes ☐ No How did you hear about us? ☐ Online Search ☐ Word of Mouth ☐ Saw a Production ☐ I’m a Past Client ☐Advertisement : ☐ American Theatre ☐ AACT Spotlight ☐ Southern Theatre ☐ Other (please specify) PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE & VENUE INFORMATION Opening Date Closing Date # of performances Seating Capacity Average Audience Size Ticket Price Range Average Ticket Price Date of First Rehearsal (Musical Only) Previous Two Musicals Presented (Musical Only) Royalties Paid for Above Name of Venue Venue Address City State Zip E-mail, Fax or Mail completed form to [email protected] • Fax: (818) 232-9158 Steele Spring Stage Rights • 3845 Cazador Street • Los Angeles, CA 90065 A Royalty Quote/License Agreement will be returned via e-mail within 3-5 business days. Visit www.StageRights.com for more information. The Sabbath Girl had its world premiere at Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Founding Artistic Director; Andrew M. Horn, Executive Director) in Stony Point, New York, on August 2, 2019. It was directed by Joe Brancato. The scenic design was by Christopher and Justin Swader, the costume design was by Gregory Gale, the lighting design was by Todd O. Wren, the sound design was by Matt Otto, the projection design was by Yana Birÿkova, and the stage manager was Michael Palmer. The cast was: Angie .......................... Madison Micucci Sophia ......................... Patricia Mauceri Seth .................................. Jeremy Rishe Blake ..................................... Ty Molbak Rachel ..................... Lauren Singerman The Sabbath Girl opened Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters on February 11, 2020, presented by Penguin Rep Theatre in association with Morton Wolkowitz and Joseph Grosso. The cast was: Angie ....................... Lauren Annunziata Sophia ..................... Angelina Fiordellisi Seth .................................. Jeremy Rishe Blake ..................................... Ty Molbak Rachel ..................... Lauren Singerman CHARACTERS Minimum Casting Requirements: 3F, 2M ANGIE: Female. 30. Italian-American. A gallery curator. Smart, passionate, alone. SOPHIA: Female. 77. Italian-American. Angie’s grandmother. Romantic, magical, funny. SETH: Male. 32. Jewish-American. An Orthodox Jew. A knish maker. Bookish, awkward, lonely, but charming. BLAKE: Male. 31. A hotshot painter. Sexy, arrogant, brooding. RACHEL: Female. 35. Jewish-American. An Orthodox Jew. Seth’s sister and partner in the knish business. Overbearing but well meaning, traditional, a yenta. SETTING Now. Summer. New York City. APPROXIMATE RUNNING TIME 80 minutes. AUTHOR’S NOTES NOTE ON THE TERM SHABBOS GOY Shabbos goy [SHOB-iss goy] is a Yiddish term for a “Sabbath Gentile,” or a non-Jew who is asked by Jews to perform tasks that are forbidden to them on the Sabbath, e.g., operating elevators, turning lights on and off, using appliances, heating up food, etc. Famous one-time Shabbos goys include Colin Powell, Martin Scorsese, Harry Truman, and Elvis Presley, who all helped out Jewish neighbors when they were young. Colin Powell even learned to speak Yiddish. NOTE ON ORTHODOX JUDAISM The characters of Seth and Rachel are observant Orthodox Jews. This isn’t to be confused with Hasidic or ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Seth doesn’t wear all black or have a beard or sidelocks. He looks basically modern, except he dresses a bit formally and wears a yarmulke. Rachel dresses modestly and wears a head covering. They observe the Sabbath, keep kosher, attend synagogue, and socialize mostly with fellow Orthodox Jews, but otherwise they appear and talk like young, contemporary Americans. What sets them apart are their private religious beliefs and practices. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I’m grateful to Joe Brancato, Andrew Horn, and everyone at Penguin Rep Theatre; the casts, creative team, and crew of The Sabbath Girl; Morton Wolkowitz and Joseph Grosso; the staff of 59E59 Theaters; David Winitsky and the Jewish Plays Project; Mark Orsini and Bonnie Davis at Bret Adams, Ltd.; Courtney Conwell and Michael Claassen at Writ Large; Jacob Schiff and Jiah Shin at CAA; Colette Robert; Dan Winerman; Jason Liebman; Leah Gitter; Virginia Gitter; Doug and Susie VanArsdalen; and Meghan VanArsdalen. For my mother, Virginia Gitter, and in memory of my father, Sidney Gitter “Three things have a faint savor of the world to come: Sabbath, the sun, and love.” Talmud, Berakhot THE SABBATH GIRL – PERUSAL SCRIPT 1 1. AIR CONDITIONING FRIDAY NIGHT. ANGIE, 30, and her grandmother SOPHIA, 77, at Angie’s new apartment on the Upper West Side. It’s hot. SOPHIA: Angie! ANGIE: Nonna! What do you think of my new place?! SOPHIA: I think it’s… very nice. ANGIE: But… SOPHIA: Well, maybe it could use a little pizzazz. ANGIE: Nonna, I just moved in— SOPHIA: I know! And I can help you decorate. Get some color in here. ANGIE: That would be wonderful. SOPHIA: What are you paying? ANGIE: You don’t wanna know. SOPHIA: So… it’s just you in here? ANGIE: Yeah, it’s a one-bedroom. SOPHIA: A little lonely, no? ANGIE: No! It’s what I want! No more roommates. At age thirty. In this city, that’s like a heroic accomplishment. SOPHIA: Okay, have it your way. ANGIE: Thank you, I will. SOPHIA: It’s awfully quiet, though. How about some music? ANGIE: Nonna, it’s ninety degrees. I think it’s too hot for dancing— SOPHIA: Angie, darling, it’s never too hot for dancing. So how’s everything? How’s your job? ANGIE: It’s great, actually. SOPHIA: What are they calling you now? ANGIE: Head curator. I’m head curator of the gallery. SOPHIA: “Angie Mastrantoni, head curator.” I like the sound of that. ANGIE: So do I. SOPHIA: And how’s your social life? ANGIE: Nope! SOPHIA: Nope? ANGIE: We’re not doing that right now! SOPHIA: Doing what? Since when can’t a grandmother ask her beloved, brilliant, beautiful granddaughter about her social life? THE SABBATH GIRL – PERUSAL SCRIPT 2 ANGIE: Nonna— SOPHIA: Yes, my darling? ANGIE: It’s 2020. SOPHIA: My God, it is. ANGIE: A woman’s worth isn’t determined by whether or not she’s in a relationship. SOPHIA: I didn’t say it was. I just want you to be happy. ANGIE: I am happy. I’m busy. SOPHIA: “Happy” and “busy” are not the same thing. ANGIE: For me maybe they are! I mean I’ve got so much going on at the gallery right now. Shows to plan. Artists I’m excited about. And they trust my eye. They trust me to see what’s new, what’s interesting. And then I get to share it with the world. That’s what I love. That’s what makes me happy. SOPHIA: Okay, but can I tell you something? ANGIE: I feel a Nonna aria coming on. SOPHIA: That’s right. ANGIE: All right, let’s hear it. SOPHIA: When I was young— nineteen or twenty— I thought I was doing fine. I had my job at Macy’s. I had my girlfriends. I went out dancing all the time. ANGIE: Roseland. SOPHIA: Roseland. You got it. But when I came home at night— you know, I was still living with my parents in Bensonhurst then— I’d look out the window at the moon, and it felt like… my life was a movie without a soundtrack. No music. Something was missing. And then I met Nonno that day at Coney Island, and suddenly there was music. And it lasted for forty years, until he died. That’s what having another person in your life does for you. ANGIE: I hear you, Nonna— SOPHIA: It doesn’t matter if it’s 1960 or 2020. We all need someone to dance through life with. ANGIE: That’s not actually true, /but— SOPHIA: You never feel that silence at night? ANGIE: When I get home at night, I check my email, eat a bowl of cornflakes, and pass out. SOPHIA: Sounds magical. ANGIE: Oh, and also, pretty much every guy in the city is an asshole in one way or another, so that’s an additional factor.
Recommended publications
  • The Audacity of Holiness Orthodox Jewish Women’S Theater עַ זּוּת שֶׁ Israelבִּ קְ Inדוּשָׁ ה
    ׁׁ ְִֶַָּּּהבשות שעזּ Reina Rutlinger-Reiner The Audacity of Holiness Orthodox Jewish Women’s Theater ַעזּּו ֶׁת ש in Israelִּבְקּדו ָׁשה Translated by Jeffrey M. Green Cover photography: Avigail Reiner Book design: Bethany Wolfe Published with the support of: Dr. Phyllis Hammer The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA Talpiot Academic College, Holon, Israel 2014 Contents Introduction 7 Chapter One: The Uniqueness of the Phenomenon 12 The Complexity of Orthodox Jewish Society in Israel 16 Chapter Two: General Survey of the Theater Groups 21 Theater among ultra-Orthodox Women 22 Born-again1 Actresses and Directors in Ultra-Orthodox Society 26 Theater Groups of National-Religious Women 31 The Settlements: The Forge of Orthodox Women’s Theater 38 Orthodox Women’s Theater Groups in the Cities 73 Orthodox Men’s Theater 79 Summary: “Is there such a thing as Orthodox women’s theater?” 80 Chapter Three: “The Right Hand Draws in, the Left Hand Pushes Away”: The Involvement of Rabbis in the Theater 84 Is Innovation Desirable According to the Torah? 84 Judaism and the Theater–a Fertile Stage in the Culture War 87 The Goal: Creation of a Theater “of Our Own” 88 Differences of Opinion 91 Asking the Rabbi: The Women’s Demand for Rabbinical Involvement 94 “Engaged Theater” or “Emasculated Theater”? 96 Developments in the Relations Between the Rabbis and the Artists 98 1 I use this term, which is laden with Christian connotations, with some trepidation. Here it refers to a large and varied group of people who were not brought up as Orthodox Jews but adopted Orthodoxy, often with great intensity, later in life.
    [Show full text]
  • Our Shabbos in Shebreshin
    Our Shabbos in Shebreshin As Ashkenazim — Jews of Northern/Eastern European ances- try — we called it Shabbos; for the Mediterranean Sephardim, the word was Shabbat. It was our Sabbath, and it started on Fridays — to be exact, about six o’clock every Friday morning. I would hear my mother get out of bed and prepare herself for the big event of baking the bread that was to last all week. One day, as a young child, I too got up, announcing to my mother that I would go with her. She didn’t resist very much. She pulled down my nightshirt, took my hand, and led me in my bare feet across the few yards to my grandfather’s house. Grandma was already awake and moving about. The kitchen was brightly lit, the large brick stove and oven were fired up, and there were piles of sifted flour on the table. Some dough was already rising. The kitchen was adjacent to my grandparents’ bedroom, and the door was seldom closed. Zaida saw me coming in, smiled, and beckoned me to come join him in his bed. He put me on his chest. I buried my face in his beard. It smelled of spices. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the warmth. We watched the two women prepare the baking — sifting and kneading. First, the white flour for the twisted Shabbos challah and other white-dough baked goods; later, the dark rye OUR SHABBOS IN SHEBRESHIN 127 to bake in round loaves, sprinkled on top with caraway seeds. When fresh, the bread was soft and delicious.
    [Show full text]
  • Rosh Hashanah, Yom Leading Us in High Holiday and the U.S., Cantor Levy Has Kippur, and Shabbat Services
    Editorials ..................................... 4A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................11A Year in Review ..........................12A Synagogue Services ..................20A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 45, NO. 52 AUGUST 27, 2021 19 ELUL, 5781 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ Shana Tova 5782 PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, AUGUST 27, 2021 JAO students score two grade levels ahead of peers For the sixth straight or also reads they are 3 years student. Through differenti- techniques, philosophies, year, on average, students at and 4 months ahead of their ated learning, it’s not just and instruction to ensure Jewish Academy of Orlando current grade level. about the speed at which a our students reach their full are performing at least two “We are always grateful student covers the material; potential.” grade levels ahead of their to see our students’ scores,” more often it is about the In addition to JAO’s strong peers nationwide. The test said Amy Polacek, principal. depth of their study. This academics, the school scores, from April 2021, were “We are proud that Jewish could include opportunities provides a multi-faceted taken using the nationally Academy of Orlando is a top- for instruction beyond their whole-child development re c og n i z ed Io wa Te st of B a sic ranking school, not only in current grade level to more program. Emily Watson, cur- Skills® (ITBS®) – commonly Orlando but in the nation.” challenging material.” riculum coordinator stated, known as the “Iowa Assess- The test is used by a large Teaching to the test is not “Jewish Academy of Orlando ments.” The Iowa Assessment number of private schools the practice of the Jewish truly believes in educating is a nationally standardized and various states to measure Academy of Orlando.
    [Show full text]
  • KIDS NOT at RISK HEARD in the BAGEL STORE Mosholu Rebbe in 5Ts Light and Darkness This Shabbos
    See Page 80 $1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 10 NO. 5 12 CHESHVAN 5770 lk lk ,arp OCTOBER 30, 2009 INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK THE NEW AND IMPROVED KOTEL Soupy Sales BY LARRY GORDON Danny O’Doul 22 Guilty As Charged KOPEL VS. TOBACK Hannah Reich Berman 32 Those of you outside the Five The Daily Jews Towns area might feel a little Rabbi Avi Shafran 36 lost as we analyze and explore MindBiz what promises to be a hard- Esther Mann, LMSW 37 fought race between the incum- bent Nassau County Legislator Positive Parenting for the 7th District, Jeff Toback Jeff Toback and Howard Kopel C o u r t of the Democratic Party, and e Rochelle Miller 64 s y o f I the Republican challenger, one resides is how we are bom- s r a e l i A Howard (Chaim) Kopel. What is barded through the mail with n t i q u i t i relevant to all our readers is the colorful oversized cards featur- e s A u t h electoral dynamics of the ing sensational accusations that o r i t Jewish community that is on each candidate levels at the y An artist’s rendition of the Kotel Plaza archaeological park being display in this race. other. Mired beneath some- developed with excavations taking place at the Western Wall in What also may be easy to Jerusalem. A new area, at the level used in ancient times, is to be added relate to regardless of where Continued on Page 8 under the existing plaza.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to Jewish Practice, Vol
    Shabbat Jacob J. Staub More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel. —Ahad Ha’am Over the long and rich history of the Jewish people, the weekly observance of Shabbat has played a central role. The actual details of how Jews have observed Shabbat As a cultural/spiritual Zionist, Ahad Ha’am wanted to shift the notion of what bound Jews to each other from an emphasis on nation state and territory to an emphasis on language and cultural practices. The Sabbath here is construed as a moral or spiritual Jewish practice, not necessarily as a religious one. Ahad Ha’am was concerned about saving Judaism, not Jews; hence, the emphasis on the Sabbath preserving Israel (Jews) rather than the reverse. Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, of course, felt that one had to save Jews so that they could save Judaism. Thus Kaplan’s com- mitment to reconstructing Judaism. —D.D.M. EVERYDAYLIVING: Shabbat [3] "Guide to Jewish Practice, Vol. 2" is available at http://stores.jewishreconbooks.org have evolved over the centuries and varied according to where Jews have lived and which cultural traditions they have inherited. In all communities of which we are aware, however, Shabbat has been the primary axis upon which Jewish life has turned: preparing for Shabbat, lighting the candles before sunset on Friday, sanctifying the day over wine and hallah, eating, singing, praying and studying Torah. The day revolves around putting aside the cares of the week to create 25 hours devoted to holy, restful living until the moment on Saturday evening when the Havdala ceremony marks Shabbat’s end.
    [Show full text]
  • Tall Buildings and the Sabbath Elevator
    ctbuh.org/papers Title: Tall Buildings and the Sabbath Elevator Author: David Pilzer, Director, Division of Planning & Building Guidelines & Regulations, Israel Ministry of the Interior Subjects: History, Theory & Criticism Social Issues Vertical Transportation Keywords: Adaptability Energy Efficiency Façade Integrated Design Passive Design Sustainability Publication Date: 2015 Original Publication: Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City Paper Type: 1. Book chapter/Part chapter 2. Journal paper 3. Conference proceeding 4. Unpublished conference paper 5. Magazine article 6. Unpublished © Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat / David Pilzer Tall Buildings and the Sabbath Elevator Abstract David Pilzer Director, Division of Planning & The commandment to keep the Sabbath as a day of rest appears in the Bible many times. Building Guidelines & Regulations Jewish law prescribes an intricate set of rules regarding which activities may be performed and Ministry of the Interior, Jerusalem, Israel which are prohibited. A Sabbath elevator is an elevator which operates in a special automatic mode as a way to circumvent the prohibition of operating electric switches on the Sabbath. David Pilzer is an urban planner specializing in building regulatory matters. He is director of the Division of Planning Sabbath elevators can typically be found in Israel, where they are mandated by law, and in and Building Guidelines and Regulations in the Planning other countries with large Jewish populations. These elevators enable observant Jews to reside Administration of the Israel Ministry of the Interior. David is actively involved in revamping the building regulatory in tall buildings and take full advantage of facilities in hotels, hospitals, synagogues, and other system in Israel.
    [Show full text]
  • Dvar Tora from Shmini Atzeret, 5769
    Prolonging the Mitzva of Sukka Virtually if not Physically R. Yaakov Bieler Shmini Atzeret, 5769 Life seems to be filled with comings and goings. And we adopt different sensibilities concerning how we deal with the onset of new events in contrast to dealing with situations that are concluding. Shakespeare writes: Time is like a fashionable host That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand, And with his arms outstretched, as he would fly, Grasps in the comer: welcome ever smiles, And farewell goes out sighing.1 It was only a relatively short time ago when we entered the Sukka and uttered prayers reflecting our hopes for inspiration, spiritual uplifting and even actual Heavenly Protection via the experience of dwelling in this structure as much as possible during the coming week: May it be Your Will, my God and God of my forefathers, that You Cause Your Presence to reside among us, (and that You Spread over us Your Sukka of Peace), in the merit of the Mitzva of Sukka that we are fulfilling… And to Surround us with the aura of Your Honor, Holy and Pure, spread over our heads from above like an eagle arousing its young…2 Although the Talmud records a dispute regarding the nature of the symbolism represented by our spending so much time in the Sukka at this season of the year— Sukka 11b As it is taught (in a Baraita): (VaYikra 23:43) “…Because in Sukkot I Caused the Jewish people to dwell…”—They were Clouds of Glory: the words of R. Eliezer.
    [Show full text]
  • Is Keeping Kosher in 21St. Century Dublin a Challenge for the Jewish Community?
    Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin Other resources School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology 2013-4 Is Keeping Kosher in 21st. Century Dublin a Challenge for the Jewish Community? Diarmaid Murphy Technological University Dublin, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/tfschcafoth Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons Recommended Citation Murphy, D. (2013). Is keeping kosher in 21st. century Dublin a challenge for the jewish community?. Dissertation. Dublin Institute of Technology. This Other is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology at ARROW@TU Dublin. It has been accepted for inclusion in Other resources by an authorized administrator of ARROW@TU Dublin. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License Dublin Institute of Technology ARROW@DIT Research Theses Conservatory of Music and Drama 2013-04-08 IS KEEPING KOSHER IN 21ST CENTURY DUBLIN A CHALLENGE FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY? diarmuid s. murphy Follow this and additional works at: http://arrow.dit.ie/aaconmusthe Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Conservatory of Music and Drama at ARROW@DIT. It has been accepted for inclusion in Research Theses by an authorized administrator of ARROW@DIT. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. IS KEEPING KOSHER IN 21ST CENTURY DUBLIN A CHALLENGE FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY? An investigation into the difficulties faced by the Dublin Jewish community in following the dietary laws and food practices required to remain observant at table.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Studies in the Nordic Countries Today
    JEWISH STUDIES IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES TODAY JEWISH STUDIES IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES TODAY Based on papers presented at the conference arranged by the Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History, Åbo Akademi University, Turku/Åbo, Finland, on 25–27 March 2015 Edited by RUTH ILLMAN and BJÖRN DAHLA Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis 27 Turku/Åbo 2016 Editorial secretary Maria Vasenkari Linguistic editing Sarah Bannock ISSN 0582-3226 ISBN 978-952-12-3367-8 Aboprint Pargas 2016 Table of contents Ruth Illman and Björn Dahla Jewish studies in the Nordic countries today 7 Cecilia Wassen The Jewishness of Jesus and ritual purity 11 Karin Hedner Zetterholm Jesus-oriented visions of Judaism in antiquity 37 Antti Laato Celsus, Toledot Yeshu and early traces of apology for the virgin birth of Jesus 61 Riikka Tuori ʿĂqēdōt: the binding of Isaac in early modern Polish-Lithuanian Karaite poetry 81 Claudia Welz Trauma, memory, testimony: phenomenological, and ethical perspectives 104 Sofie Lene Bak Repatriation and restitution of Holocaust victims in post-war Denmark 134 Vibeke Kieding Banik The faith of the fathers, the future of the youth: being Jewish on the periphery of the diaspora 153 Laura Ekholm and Simo Muir Name changes and visions of ‘a new Jew’ in the Helsinki Jewish community 173 5 Jan Schwarz Transnational Ashkenaz: Yiddish culture after the Holocaust 189 Christhard Hoffmann Jewish history as a history of immigration: an overview of current historiography in the Scandinavian countries 203 Risto Olavi Nurmela Moses:
    [Show full text]
  • Asking Their Egyptian Friends for Silver and Gold": Two Insights the Judaism Site
    Torah.org "Asking Their Egyptian Friends For Silver and Gold": Two Insights The Judaism Site https://torah.org/torah-portion/ravfrand-5771-bo/ "ASKING THEIR EGYPTIAN FRIENDS FOR SILVER AND GOLD": TWO INSIGHTS by Rabbi Yissocher Frand Parshas Bo "Asking Their Egyptian Friends For Silver and Gold": Two Insights These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 710, Checking Teffillin by Computer. Good Shabbos! This week's parsha contains the following pasukim: "...Yet one more plague will I bring upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here...Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his friend and every woman of her friend, jewels of silver and jewels of gold." [Shemos 11:1-2]. The Gerer Rebbe focuses in on the use of the word "v'yishalu" [let them ask]. Usually, the word yishalu connotes borrowing. We all know that in this situation the Jews did not intend to return the items for which they were asking. Why then does the Torah use the word "v'yishalu"? The Gerer Rebbe explains that this is the first time that the Jewish people as a nation were "coming into money". Money, as we know, is a powerful force. On the occasion of the first time that they came into money, G-d instructed the people that it can make people or break them. Therefore, whenever one acquires wealth like this, it they should always consider it "borrowed money".
    [Show full text]
  • BULLETIN Words
    TTEMPLEEMPLE AADATHDATH YYESHURUNESHURUN RABBI’S MESSAGE Beth D. Davidson Monadnock Piques TAY Hikers BULLETIN Words: Bridges or Blocks? __________________________________________________________ Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? William Shake- speare famously thought so, though I have to wonder, if we were to call members of the Rosaceae family “skunk cabbages,” would we find them fragrant or odiferous? The words we use, how we use them, and our tone of voice often reveal our thoughts and feelings. Language is crucial, which is why I have spent virtually my entire rab- binic career using gender free lan- guage when talking about God! Why use He or Him or His, know- ing full well that we don’t really think God has a gender? Iyar/Sivan You may have noticed that many Jews don’t use BC or AD, rather we 4-30-17. On Sunday, these 6 hikers—ages 7 to 67—climbed Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH, on use BCE and CE. Why? As Jews we don’t mark time with theological a trip organized by the JFNH. From left, TAY member Jeff Crocker of Peterboro—who is also the timestamp of “Before Christ,” or Chair of JFNH this year. Next to him, TAY member Mary Singer of Goffstown, then JFNH Board member Matthew Jordan Lee of Francestown (his two adventurous daughters are in the fore- 5777 “Anno Domini, Year of our Lord.” ground), and Udi Goren, Israeli photographer, wearing knitted cap. Goren organized this picture “Before the Common Era,” and at the peak and then handed his camera to a skilled amateur who snapped the shot.
    [Show full text]
  • 5774 2013/2014 Pr Og Ram G U Id E
    Front Cover Scholars-in-Residence Classes Lectures Men’s Club, Sisterhood, Youth & Children Concerts Jewish Film Series ! 5774 2013/2014 PROGRAM GUIDE 2013/2014 5774 7’ wide x 11” High Inside Le – DOCUMENT PAGE 2 Table of Contents CLASSES p.3 LECTURES p.7 Shabbat Afternoon Torah Study Monday evenings at 8 PM with Barry Mael Oct. 21 75 minutes before Mincha services, Jewish Music: through Nov. 2, 2013. Study resumes The Sacred And February 2014. The Secular Torah On Monday with Rabbi Malomet with Rabbi Samuel Barth Starts Oct. 7 at 12:12 PM Torah On Tuesdays with Rabbi Malomet Nov.18 Starts Oct. 8 at 10:30 AM Images Of The Past: Torah Reading And Trope Jews In The with Jonathan Ehrlich Civil War Starts Monday, Jan. 27, 2014 at 8 PM with for six weeks, additional dates TBA. Bruce Form Talmud On Sundays For Everyone and Mira Starts Oct. 6 at 9:30 AM Katz-Form Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz Dec. 2 Women In Jewish Law Silence and Memory Thursday, Oct. 10 at 8 PM In The Aftermath Of Rabbi Judith Hauptman The Shoah Judaic Classics with with Professor Judith Gerson Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz Thursdays at 8 PM – 6 week sessions Jan. 13, 2014 “The Shabbos Goy” Starts Oct. 17 The Jewish Afterlife “The Last Trial” Starts Mar. 6, 2014 …And Getting There Gently with Bruce Birnberg Hebrew Ulpan with Ilana Rozett Starts Sunday, Oct. 6 & Tuesday Oct. 8 Feb. 10, 2014 Beginners: Sundays at 9:30 AM Intermarriage: Intermediate: Tuesdays at 7 PM How Do We Respond? Advanced: Tuesday at 8 PM with Rabbi Kerry Olitzky Spirituality And Synagogue Music: The Song Remains The Same Mar.
    [Show full text]