Culture, Identity, Israel, Mishegas, Politics, Religion, Sex & Gender

This and That

Catching up with my “post these links to Jewschool” file… A play about Jewish youth that’s really about the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict, a conference about GLBT Jewish youth, and movies, some of which are about Jewish GLBT people, including youth, and one of which is about the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict… So you see, it all fits together…

* * *

New York Theatre WorkshopThe New York Theatre Workshop will be presenting staged readings of Caryl Churchill’s Seven Jewish Children. This is the 10-minute play that has been garnering some controversy around its debut in England. Critics have called it anti-Semitic. Supporters praise its ability to articulate moral outrage. Now New Yorkers will be able to see for themselves, which is precisely the point, according to NYTW’s press release:

As there has been a great deal of public discussion expressed about the play based either on reading it, or merely hearsay, it is our intent to put the play where it belongs—on a stage and in the mouths of actors—so our community can encounter the play firsthand and in a conducive environment for thoughtful and respectful discussion and consideration.

Each reading will include a moderated discussion including speakers from “both sides” of the conflict, to be followed by a second reading of the play.

* * *

Keshet has extended the registration deadline for their Training Institute for Jewish Educators and Youth Professionals, which will be held May 31st to June 3 at the Pearlstone Retreat Center in Maryland. If you work with Jewish youth and are interested in helping to create a more inclusive environment for LGBT kids, here’s your chance to learn techniques and hobnob with other folks trying to do the same thing. More information here.

* * *

Films That Change The World is bringing back the Purim to Passover project, which aims to create 250 community screenings of the films Trembling Before G-d/Trembling on the Road, Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School, and Encounter Point in the coming month. (What better way to celebrate Birkat HaChammah than with a brunch and a film?) Last year I saw Trembling on the Road at one of these events, and even though it was essentially a bunch of people I already knew sitting in our friend Steven’s living room, it felt good to be part of something bigger. This year I’m thinking about screening Encounter Point if I can find a free moment between now and Pesach. Can you host a screening too? Sign up here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.