BADJEWSTeacher´sPack
Cut,pasteandprintasyouplease!Formoredetailedinformationandpicturesplease
consulttheEnglishTheatreProgrammeortheresourcelistattheend.
SYNOPSIS
BADJEWStellsthestoryoftwocousinswhowagewaroveracovetedfamily
heirloomafterthedeathoftheirbeloved“Poppy”,aholocaustsurvivor.Atoddsare
theannoyinglydevoutDaphnaFeygenbaum,ayoungwomanwhowearsher
Jewishnesslikearighteousbadgeofhonor,andherequallyself-centeredcousin
LiamHaber,anentitledyoungmanwhohasspentmuchofhislifedistancinghimself
fromhisculturaltraditions.Liam’sbrother,Jonahwantstoavoidconfrontation,and
Liam’sgirlfriend,Melodyjustwantseveryonetogetalong.Whenthecombatants
areforcedtospendthenightinclosequarters,theresultisaviciousbrawland
thoughtfuldiscourseonfamily,faith,andlegacy.
CHARACTERS
DaphnaFeygenbaum,22,Liam&Jonah’sfirstcousin.2/3body,1/3hair.Thick,
intense,curly,frizzy,longbrownhair.Hairthatclogs*adrainafteroneshower.
Daphnaisawildlypassionate,honest,andstrong-willedyoungwoman.Shehas
neverbeenandwillneverbeafraidtospeakhermind,evenifthatmeansoffending
peoplealongtheway.Withherintenselywildhair,loudvoice,andargumentative
nature,shecanoftenbefoundatthecenterofattention,whichisapointof
contentionforhercousins,LiamandJonah.Thereislittlethatmattersmoreto
Daphnathanherfamilyandthefoundationthatherreligionprovidesher.
*verstopfen
JonahHaber,21,Liam’syoungerbrother,tendstobebrushedasidebyhismore
abrasivebrotherandcousin.Heissoft-spoken,andfrequentlysecond-guesseswhat
hebelievesandwhathethinksheshouldsay.Hedoesn’twanttofight,almosttothe
pointofbeingafraidofconfrontation.Hewouldmuchprefertorememberand
celebratethepast,specificallythelifeofhisgrandfatherwhomheloved,whilebeing
openandpositiveaboutthefuture.Hesimplywantseveryonetogetalong,orat
leasttostopfighting,andtakethepathofleastresistance.
LiamHaber,25.Daphna’scousin:hismotheristhesisterofDaphna’sfather.Liamis
ascholarly,aloof,andratherseriousPhDcandidatewhoprideshimselfonbeing
opentoculturesotherthanhisown.Heisequallyasargumentativeandstrongwilledashiscousin,butbelievesthatpeoplearedefinedbytheiractions,nottheir
historyandreligion.Heisarrogantlyintelligent,adventure-seeking,andpassionate,
findingsolaceinrelationshipswithpeopleverydifferentthanhe.Heloveshisfamily,
butwantstomakealifeforhimselfoutsideofthetraditionshefeelshavebeen
forceduponhim.
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Melody,24,Liam’sgirlfriend.Stick-straightblondehair.Melodyisakind-hearted,
overlypositive,andslightlynaiveindividualwhostudiedoperaincollegeandnow
worksinacompletelyunrelatedfield.Shesearchesfirstforthegoodinpeople,
tryingtokeepanopenmindandunderstandone’shardships,ratherthanjumping
immediatelytojudgments.Althoughherinnocencemaysuggestsheisabitboring
orreserved,shewillstandupforherselfandherlovedoneswhenpushed.Sheisina
seriousrelationshipwithLiam.
THEPLAYWRIGHT
JoshuaHarmon(born1983)isaNewYorkCity-based
playwright,whoseworksincludeBadJewsand
SignificantOther,bothproducedoff-Broadwayby
RoundaboutTheatreCompany.
Harmonhasalsohadhisplaysproducedanddeveloped
bytheManhattanTheatreClub,HangarTheatrein
Ithaca,NY,WilliamstownTheatreFestival,ArsNova,
theO'NeillandActor'sExpress.Hehasbeenawarded
fellowshipsfromMacDowell,AtlanticCenterforthe
Arts,SPACEatRyderFarmandtheEudoraWelty
Foundation.
AnInterviewwithJoshuaHarmon
BelowisaninterviewthatSpeakEasy(astagecompanyinBoston)conductedwith
JoshuaHarmonabouthisworkwithBADJEWSandthethemespresentintheplay.
Sharethesequoteswithyourstudentspre-showsotheycangetasenseofthe
perspectivefromwhichtheplayiswritten.
SE:Thebigonefirst:whatwasthegenesisofthisplay?
JH:IthinkaseedforthisplaywasplantedincollegewhenIattendedaYomHashoah
service.I'dbeentomanysuchservicesinmychildhood,andateachone,asurvivor
wouldspeakaboutherexperiences,whichwasalwayspowerful.Butatthis
particularservice,thethemewas"GrandchildrenofSurvivors."Insteadofhearing
fromsomeoneolder,speakingEnglishwithathickforeignaccent,mypeersgotup
andspokeabouttheirgrandparents'experiences.Ifoundtheeventstrangely
unmoving.Itwassterileandladenwithclichesbutitlackedpower.Itdidn'tmake
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mefeelanything.Ithinkthatifyou'reaneyewitnesstoanevent,you'reforever
imbuedwiththepowertotellthestoryofwhatyousaw.Evenifyou'renotanatural
bornstoryteller,wewanttohearfrompeoplewhoexperiencedsomethingdirectly.
Hearingaboutsomethinginthethirdpersonwasunmoving,andthefactofmybeing
unmovedscaredme.Itforcedmetoreckonwithquestionsabouthowmy
generationwouldremembertheHolocaust,andwhetherornotwe'repreparedto
handlethatresponsibility.Itprobablylaidthegroundworkforthisplay.
SE:ThisplayisobviouslyspecifictotheJewishexperience,buttheconflictsresonate
immenselywithanynumberofothercommunitiesaswell.Toyourmind,isthere
somethingthatunquestionablymakessomeonea“bad”memberofafamilyor
culturalgroup?
JH:Ican'tanswerthatquestion.Allpeoplearebornwithsomecultural/ethnic/
religious/nationalinheritance.Whattheychoosetodowiththatinheritanceisupto
them.Ifeveryoneinafamilysharesthesamepointofviewonalegacy,there'sno
conflict.Butmoreoftenthannot,whathappensisthatdifferentmembersofa
familyfeeldifferentlyabouttheirsharedlegacy,whichmakesforalotofpainful
interactions.IfsomethingIvaluedeeplyissomethingyouconsiderworthless,that's
painful.IfsomethingyoucherishissomethingIfindoffensive,that'spainful.The
"bad"memberisallintheeyethebeholder.
SE:Remembranceisofhugethematicimporttothisplay:doyoufeelthereisaway
thatweasaculturecanbestrememberimportanthistoricaleventslikethe
Holocaust?
JH:ThemantraofallHolocaustmemorialsis"Neverforget."Embeddedinthat
notionistheveryrealunderstandingthatalmosteverythingthathappensonthis
planetisultimatelyforgotten.That'swhatwe'reupagainst...Iwouldimagineaswe
moveawayfromsurvivorsgivingfirst-handaccountsoftheHolocaustintothirdpersonaccounts,thewayweremembertheHolocaustwillchangedrastically.But
already,ingeneral,itseemsfeweryoungpeopleknowaboutwhathappenedthan
precedinggenerations,andwhattheydoknowislessdetailed.That'sprobably
inevitable,butit'sverypainfulnonetheless.
THEDIRECTOR
JonathanFox
JonathanisdelightedtobebackatEnglishTheatreFrankfurt.Hislastproductionsat
ETFincludeWho’sAfraidofVirginiaWoolf,AStreetcarNamedDesire,VisitingMr.
GreenandCatonaHotTinRoof.OtherEuropeanworksincludeOldWickedSongs,
CrimesoftheHeartandCatonaHotTinRoofattheViennaEnglishTheatre.
JonathanisExecutiveArtisticDirectorofEnsembleTheatreCompanyofSanta
Barbara.HedirectedETC’sproductionsofSweeneyTodd,Woyzeck,Amadeus,
Metamorphoses,ALittleNightMusic,TheLiar,CrimeandPunishment,andadozen
others.HerecentlydirectedOperaSantaBarbara’sproductionofTheConsuland
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collaboratedwiththeSantaBarbaraSymphonyonaMidsummerNight’sDream
project.BeforejoiningETC,Jonathanspent12yearswithTwoRiverTheater
CompanyinNewJersey,whichhehelpedestablishin1994.Heservedasmanaging
directorofthecompanyfrom1994-99,andsubsequentlybecameitsartistic
director.HerecentlydirectedTwoRIver’sworldpremiereproductionofLivesof
Reason.HisproductionofTheUmbrellasofCherbourgwasprofiledinAmerican
TheatreMagazine,aswashisfestivalofworkbySamuelBeckett.Hisdirectingwork
hasbeenseeninNewYork,Philadelphia,SanFrancisco,andCologne,andhas
receivedcriticalacclaiminTheNewYorkTimes,Variety,theLATimes,andother
publications.HereceivedhisMFAfromColumbiaUniversity,andisarecipientofthe
prestigiousAlexandervonHumboldtFoundationFellowship.Hehasservedasan
adjunctfacultymemberintheatredepartmentsatUniversityofCaliforniaSanta
Barbara,ColumbiaUniversity,UniversityofUtah,andMonmouthUniversity.
GLOSSARY:Thisglossaryisavailableintheprogramme.
hora−aIsraelidanceinwhichtheperformersformaring
HowardZinn−(1922–2010)wasanAmericanplaywrightandsocialactivist.
indigenous−originatingoroccurringnaturallyinaparticularplace;native
infantilized−treat(someone)asachildorinawaywhichdeniestheirmaturityJCC−
JewishCommunityCenterkablooie−animaginativerenditionofanexplosionor
splash
KingJamesBible−isanEnglishtranslationoftheChristianBiblefortheChurchof
England,begunin1604andcompletedin1611.
malaise−afeelingofdiscomfortoruneasiness,ofbeing“outofsorts”
MartinvanBuren−(1782–1862)wasanAmericanpoliticianwhoservedasthe
eighthPresidentoftheUnitedStates(1837–41)
menorah−acandelabrumusedinJewishworship,typicallywitheightbranches.
mockery−teasingorbehaviourdirectedataparticularpersonorthingmolten−
liquefiedbyheatmorsel−asmallpieceoramountoffood;amouthfulmunchkin−a
childorshortperson
NicholasSparks−(1965)isanAmericannovelist,screenwriterandproduceronus−
aburdenorresponsibility
aliyah−theimmigrationofJewsfromthediasporatoIsrael,oneofthemostbasic
beliefsofZionismabomination−athingthatcausesdisgustorloathinganti-Semite
−someonewhohasprejudicetowardtheJewishpeopleasareligious,racial,or
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culturalgroup
atrocious−ofaverypoorquality;extremelybadorunpleasant,horrifyinglywicked
Chai−isaHebrewwordfor'live'or'living'thatfiguresprominentlyinJewishculture
cheapskates−ungenerous,stingypersonclusterfuck−adisastrouslymishandled
situationorundertakingdisdainful−showingcontemptorlackofrespectdoodle−
scribbleabsent-mindedly
EatPrayLove−a2006memoirbyAmericanauthorElizabethGilbert
etch−engravebycoatingitwithaprotectivelayer,drawingonitwithaneedle,and
thencoveringitwithacidtoattackthepartstheneedlehasexposed
fathom−understand(adifficultproblemoranenigmaticperson)aftermuch
thoughtHaifa−thelargestcityinNorth-westernIsrael
HillelClub−studentgroupthatservestheJewishstudentsoncampus
Passover−aJewishfestivalcommemoratingtheliberationoftheIsraelitesfrom
slaveryinEgypt
PG−abbreviationfor"ParentalGuidancesuggested"byMotionPictureAssociation
ofAmericafilmratingsystem
quash−toputanendto,tosuppressseder−aJewishritualserviceandceremonial
dinnerforthefirstnight
orfirsttwonightsofPassover
Shangri-La−isafictionalplacefromthe1933novel"LostHorizon"byJamesHilton
shofars−ram's-horntrumpetformerlyusedbyJewsasanancientbattlesignaland
nowusedinJewishreligiousceremonies
slicha−HebrewforExcuseme,Sorrysnide−derogatoryormockinginanindirect
wayrabbi−thespiritualleaderofaJewishcongregationorsynagogue
scintillating−sparklingorshiningbrightlyshiksa−(usedespeciallybyJews)anonJewishwomanorgirlshiva−atraditionalperiodofmourninginJudaismthatlasts
oneweekfortheimmediatefamilystingly−mean;ungenerous:supremacist−an
advocateofthesupremacyofaparticulargroup,espe-ciallyonedeterminedbyrace
orsexsyllabuses−thesubjectsinacourseofstudyorteaching
Talbots−isanAmericanspecialtyretaileranddirectmarketerof
women'sclothing,shoesandfashionaccessories
tepid−onlyslightlywarm;lukewarmtight-wad−ameanormiserlyperson
clef−isamusicalsymbolusedtoindicatethepitchofwrittennotestrebleclef−a
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clefplacingGabovemiddleConthesecond-lowestlineofthestave
utter−complete;absolute
UVM−UniversityofVermontUzi−atypeofsub-machinegunof
Israelidesign
Vassar−isaprivate,liberalartscollegeinthetownofPoughkeepsie,NewYork
venom−apoisonoussubstancesecretedbyanimalswaddle−walkwithshortsteps
andaclumsyswayingmotion
warlock−amanwhopractiseswitch-craft;asorcerer
zealot−apersonwhoisfanaticalanduncompromisinginpursuitoftheirreligious,
political,orotherideals.OriginallyamemberofanancientJewishsectaimingata
worldJewishtheocracyandresistingtheRomansuntilad70.
FrequentlyAskedQuestions:JewishCustomtakenfromtheSpeakEasyTheatre
BadJewsCurriculumPacket
BADJEWS,whileaplayabouttheuniversalideasoffaithandlegacy,relieson
Judaismanditscustomstotellitsstory.Beforeseeingtheshow,goovertheseideas
andtermswiththestudentssothattheyhavesomecontexttobetterunderstand
thestorythatisbeingpresented.
WhatisJudaism,atitsmostbasiclevel?
JudaismistheoldestofthethreeAbrahamicreligions,whichalsoincludeChristianity
andIslam.JewsbelieveinasingleGod,followtheteachingsdetailedintheTorah
(alsoknownastheOldTestament),andbringreligiousrespectandreverenceto
theireverydaylives.
Whoisarabbi?
Theword“rabbi”translatesfromtheHebrewwordfor“teacher.”Rabbisarethe
spiritualleadersoftheJewishcommunity,andofferreligiouscounselandsupport.
Theymustreceiveordinationandbeeducatedinhalacha,orJewishlaw.
WhataretheJewishHighHolidays?
RoshHashanah,atwo-daycelebrationoftheJewishNewYearandYomKippur,the
DayofAtonement,arethemostimportantholidaysoftheyear.MostJewsattend
servicesatasynagogueortempleonthesedays.Thetwoholidaysareseparatedby
10days,andeachbeginsatsundown.RoshHashanahisatimetospendwithfamily,
prepareforthecomingyear,andsharelargemealstogether.YomKippurisadayto
reflectonpastmistakes,makeamends,andconsiderwaystobetteroneselfinthe
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future.Peopleoftenfast,andthenpartakeinalargemealwithfamilyandfriendsat
night.
WhathappensduringaJewishfuneral?
Jewishfuneralstraditionallytakeplaceassoonaspossibleafterthepersondies,asit
isconsideredmorerespectfultothedeceasedtoavoidunnecessarydelays.The
casketwillbeclosedandtherewillbenoviewingofthedeceasedduringfunerary
services.TheserviceincludesreadingsfromtheTorahandaeulogy.
Whatdoesitmeanto“sitshiva”?Shivaisthetraditionalmourningperiodofseven
dayswheremournersreceivecondolencecallsfromfamilyandfriends.Theterm
“sittingshiva”referstothetraditionofmournerssittingonlowchairs,stools,or
boxes,representativeofhowtheirlosshaslaidthemlow.Acandleislitwhenthe
familyreturnshomefromthecemetery,andisleftburningfortheweek.
WhywouldaJewishpersonwanttomovetoIsrael?ThewordAliyahisderived
fromtheHebrewword“laalot”,whichmeanstogouporascend,inaspiritualsense.
WhensomeonemakesAliyah,theyhavechosentoemigrateandliveinIsrael,a
symbolicreturnhomeaftertheBiblicalDiaspora.Apersonwhomakesthismoveis
referredtoasanOleh,orsomeonewhogoesup(toIsrael).PeoplewhomakeAliyah
areoftenlookingtoupholdtheirJewishnationalidentity.
Kaddish,isrecitedafterthecasketisloweredintotheground.Familymembersand
friendswillthenplaceafewshovelfulsofdirtontothecasketasasymbolic
assistanceintheactual
TheJewishprayerforthedead,theburial.Ayearlater,thefamilyreturnstoplacea
gravestoneinhonorofthedeparted
PREShowActivity:
Askthestudentssomeofthefollowingquestionstohelpfacilitateconversation
aboutsomeofthethemesinBADJEWS:
1. Doesyourfamilyhavecertaintraditionsthatyoucarrywithyouinyour
ownlife?
2. Howdoyoukeepthememoryoflovedonesalive?Inwhatwaysdoyou
honortheirmemory?
3. Doesfaithplayaroleinyourlife,andifso,why?
Objectsthathave“history”carrystrongconnectionstoourpastanddefinewho
weareaspeople.InBADJEWS,DaphnaandLiamfightoveraprizedobjectthat
oncebelongedtotheirgrandfather:aChai.PoppycarriedthisJewishtalisman
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(seehistoricalcontextforwhatitsymbolizes)aroundwithhimthroughWWII
andhistimeintheconcentrationcamp.TheChaimeansagreatdealtoboth
DaphnaandLiam,butinverydifferentways.
Directions:Thinkofanobjectthatmeansalottoyouandthatyouwouldwant
tobepasseddowntofuturegenerations.Whatdoesthisobjectmeantoyouor
yourfamily?Andifithasbeeninyourfamilyforalongperiodoftime,howhas
themeaningofthatobjectchanged?Whatlegacydoestheobjecthave?Drawor
describetheobject.Thenwriteashortpassageaboutwhattheobjectmeansto
you,whatitmightmeantoothermembersofyourfamily,andhowitsmeaning
haschangedovertime.Whywouldyouwantthisobjecttobepasseddownto
futuregenerations?Afteryouaredonewriting,meetwithapartnerandtalk
aboutyourdifferentobjects.Whatsimilaritiesaretherebetweenwhatthe
objectsmeantoyouoryourfamily?
ForTeachers:Afterthestudentshavepartneredanddiscussedtheirobjects,
leadaclassdiscussionabouthowanobjectcangainorlosehistoricalsignificance
overtime.Howdoobjectsdefineourpastandwhoweareaspeople?
Pre-ShowQuestionsfordiscussion
Whatwouldyousaytheplayisaboutbylookingatthetitle?
WhatdoesitmeantobeagoodJew?
Howdoesculturerelatetotheindividual?
Doyoufeelidentifiedwiththeculturalbackgroundofyourgrandparents?
Howdoeslanguageevidenceculturalheritage?
Howcouldonetranscendculturalparadigms?
ShouldallCaucasianAmericansbedeemedasblameworthyforgenocideoccurred
duringcolonialtimes?
Isglobalizationathreattomulticulturalism?
ShouldallGermansbedeemedasblameworthyfortheholocaust?
Canculturebebadorgood?
Areobjectsimbuedwithculturalsignificance?Why?How?
Shouldschoolsworldwidehaveanyreligiousorientation?
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Whatisreligiontowomenandmen?
Whatwouldtheadvantages/disadvantagesofhavingoneworldlanguage?
Whatdoesculturalheritagemeantoyoupersonally?
Questionsrelatedtowatchingtheshow
1. Whatmusicisplayingatthebeginningoftheshow?Describeit.
2. WhatisJonahwearing?
3. WhatisJonahdoing?
4. Whowasinthebathroom?
5. Whatisimportant,orveryspecialaboutthebathroom?
6. WelearnthatDaphnaisanonlychild.Why,accordingtoher,isthisso?
7. WhatdoDaphna´sparentsdoforaliving?
8. WhatdoesJonah´smotherdo?
9. WhoisLiam?
10. Whydidn´tLiamattendthefuneral?
11. Whyisthisaweakexcuse?
12. DaphnastopsJonahfromdoingsomethingintheapartment.Whatisthis-
andwhy?
13. WhoisMiyushi?
14. WhatisPassover?
15. WhatisSedar?
16. WhatiswrongaboutLiameatingshortbreadcookies?Theycontainwheat
andJewsdonoteatwheatduringPassover.
17. Whatdoes“disdainful”mean?
18. WhatdoesDaphnawant?
19. DoyouthinkDaphnashouldgettheChai?WhyorWhynot?Provideareason
foryouranswer
20. HowmanypeoplewereatPoppy´sfuneral?300?400?500?
21. WheredoJonahandLiam´sparentslive?
22. WhydoJonahandLiamgonextdoor?
23. WhatisLiam´sgirlfriend´sname?
24. Whyishernameappropriate?
25. MelaniemakestheexactsamecommentaboutthebathroomasDaphna.
Whatdoesshesay?
26. MelodystudiedOpera,butsheisn´tanoperasinger.Whydidshegiveup?
27. Melodyhasatattoo-whatisit?
28. Daphnacallsthetattooadoodle.Whatisadoodle?Doyouthinkthisisan
appropriatewordtouseinthissituation?
29. Whatdoesthenumber314312symbolise?
30. LiamhasaHebrewname.Whatisit?
31. WheredoesMelodycomefrom?
32. WhydoesDaphnasayMelodycan´tbeanative“Delawarian”?
33. WhatdoesDaphnaaccuseMelody´sancestorsof?
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34. WhohastheChai?
35. WhydoesthispersonhavetheChai?
36. WhenDaphnawantstotalkabouttheChai-Liamwantstoquashthe
conversation.Whatdoes“quash”mean?
37. Whoelsesays`”quashtheconversation”Whyisthisironic?
38. Daphnahadanonlinenameforuseontheinternetwhenshewasyounger.
Whatwasit?
39. DoyouthinkDaphnaisjealousofMelody?
40. DaphnatellsastoryaboutthefamilygoingtoaJapaneserestaurant.What
happenedattherestaurant?
41. WhydoesDaphnatellthestory?
42. WhydoesMelodycomfortDaphna?
43. WhatdoesDaphnaaskmelodytodotocalmhernerves.
44. Whydoesn´tLiamwantMelodytosing?
45. WhatisPorgyandBess?
46. WhathappensafterMelodysings?
47. WhatpercentageofNobelPrizewinnersareJewish?
48. WhyisthisimportanttoDaphna?
49. WhatdoesLiamdowiththeChai?
50. HowdoesDaphnareact?
51. LiamandMelodyleavesuddenly-wheredotheygo?
52. DoesDaphnastillwantthechai?
53. Howdoestheplayend?Whatsignificantsymboldowesee?
Multiplechoicequestions(Thesequestionsaregoodwaytostartdiscussions)
HowimportantisJonah’sroleintheplayasawhole?
Irrelevant
Notunnecessary
Important
Crucial
WhoisworthyoftheChia?
Liam
Jonah
Melody
Daphna
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WhyaretattoossoobnoxioustoDaphna?
BecauseofherGrandfather’stattoo
BecausetattoosareforbiddenbyJewishlaw
BecauseMelodyhasone
Alloftheabove
WhatdoesJonah’stattoomean?
DisregardfortheJewishlaw
“NeverForget”
LoveforhisGrandfather
Whatisthekeymessageoftheplay?
Culturalheritagedefinestheindividual
Donotforgetwhenceyoucame?
Americanizationissupplantingculturaldiversity
Themakingofidentity
Noneoftheabove,but
_______________________________________________________
WhyisitthatDaphnadoesnotwanttheChiaanymore?
Sheforgotthetruemeaningoftheamulet
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Ithadbeenstainedwithinferiorblood
Sherealizedthatsheshouldhonorthemarriageproposalstoryofhisgrandfather
EssayQuestions
Writeashortessayconcerningtheproblematicportrayedintheplayandyourown
insightsaboutculturalheritage,identity,meaningfulnessandself-determination.
POSTSHOWACTIVITIES:
1.Whichcharacterdoyourelatethemosttoandwhy?Bespecific.
2.Givespecificexamplesofhowthesetandcostumedesignsshowed
characterizationoraffectedtheactionoftheplay.
3.WhateffectdoesMelodyhaveonthisplay?Whatdoesshesymbolize?
4.Whydoyouthinkthisplayiscalled“BADJEWS”?Isanyoneinthisplaya“Bad
Jew”?Ifso,who?Ifnot,explainwhyyoudon’tthinkanyofthecharactersare“Bad
Jews.”
Post-Show:Furtheringtheideas
BADJEWSfocusesalotonthestrugglebetweencultureandreligioninoureveryday
lives,athemewhichisuniversal.Despitethat,JoshuaHarmonfocusesspecificallyon
howJudaismhasbeenaffected(positivelyornegatively)bythecultureinwhichit
nowexists.
Directions:Researchandwriteabriefreport(tobesharedwiththeclass)onanyof
thefollowingtopics/questions:
4. Howhasculturechangedthewaysinwhichwerememberandhonorimportant
historicalevents?
5. Hascultureaffectedthelegacywewillleavebehindtoothergenerations?Ifso,
how?Ifnot,whynot?
6. Howhascultureand/orreligionbeenaffectedbyaspecifichistoricalevent(i.e.
CivilRightsdebates,VietnamWar,9/11,etc.)?Whenyouaredone,share
thesereportswiththerestoftheclass.Usepicturesandothervisualaidsfor
yourpresentation,andcitethesourcesyouusedtogatheryourinformation.
Pickaspecificreligionorculturalbackground.Howhasitevolvedovertime?What
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arethewaysinwhichaparticularculturehasbeenshapedbyanew
generationorlocation?
Whataresomeofthefactorsthatfacilitatechangeinaculture?
Interview with the director, Jonathan Fox, and the
cast on 12 May 2016 at the Teacher´s Preview
(LaughterandApplause)
Director:Anyquestions?
Student:Iwanttoknowhowlongittooktolearnthewords?Someofthelinesare
reallylong.Iwasjustinterestedinknowingthat.
Daphne:Formeitwasaweek.Iwouldwakeupat6.00-7.00am.andrehearsefor
atleasttwohours.I’dsayI’drehearsesevenhoursaday.Iwouldgotoyogaorhave
dinnerorwhateverandstartrehearsingforatleast4hoursbeforegoingtobed.It
waslikethatforaweekandthenIprettymuchmemorisedit.
Liam:Uh...She’slying.Werehearsedforaboutthreeweeks,right?Andeveninthe
nightoftheperformances,I’dbebackstagesaying:Idon’tknowthesewords.They
weresostrangetomethatIhadthisideathatIwouldlearnGermanbeforegetting
toGermany.IgotanapponmycellbecauseIwassoworriedaboutthewordsinthe
play.
(Laughter)Director:Anyotherquestions?
Teacher:EventhoughJonahdidnotspeakthatmuch,hehadthemostpowerful
impactattheend.SoIjustappreciatedthat.
Jonah:Thereisthisphenomenon,thatthechildrenthinktheyaresurvivors,the
teensthinktheyaresurvivors,andmanyofthemaregettingthetattoosofthe
numbers.Sometimesthisisacompletesecret.Theyarehonouredbythis,oratleast
thinktheyarehonouringthisevent.Thisisbasedonthingsthatarehappening.
Director:Well,sincethegenerationofsurvivorsispassingaway.Thereisthis
concernofnewgenerationsloosingthatconnectiontothatperiodinhistory.Ithink
thatwaswhyJoshuawrotetheplay.Toaddressthequestiononhowdoesthenew
generationconnecttothatchapterinhistory.
Student:Ijustwanttothankyoubecauseofalltheenergythatyouputintoit.Itwas
prettyintense.Ithinkyouachievedbalancebetweenseriousnessandfunninessin
relationtothetopicoftheplay.Itissofunnybutalsososerious.
Student:IjustwantedtoknowIfyouhavehadanyfeedbackfromJewish
communitiesintheStatesorhere.IamAmericanfromNewYorkso...
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Director:Thisisourfirstaudiencehere...Charlie,thesetdesigner,andIwereata
restauranttheothernighttalkingabouttheideaofdirectingaproductioninthe
englishtheatre.Peoplecametoaskuswhatwewereplanningtopresent.Isaidthe
nameoftheplaywas“BadJews”.AguysaidJUICE?.(AudienceLaughs)Isaid,
Juden.Hesaid:Oh!ThereactionIhadinSantaBarbarawasthatalotofJewish
peoplewerereallyintotheshow,butstillhatedthetitle.
Jonah:Speakingofmemorisinglines.Ididthesameshow,Badjews,samecharacter,
Jonah,lastyearfortheChicagoruninAmerica.Itwasadifferentteam,another
director.WetooktheshowtoSkokie/Illinois.AveryJewishsuburb.TheJewsin
Skokiehaveahistoryofhavingtoovercomethewhitesupremacistsinthearea.
Theydefinitelywerethemosthesitantaboutthetitle,verycautiousaboutthe
messagethetitlesent.
Director:TheplaywrightandIgottogetherforcoffeetheotherday.Hesaidthatthe
titlewasnotasinflammatoryforyoungeraudiencesasforolderones.Asyoulearn
intheplay,thetermbadJew,isanameJewsusethemselvesintheStates.Itislike
saying,IamalapsedCatholic.Inthisgeneration,thephraseisusedalot,soIthink
everybodygetsit.
Teacher:ItisalsoaTaboohere.Itissomethingonewouldnotnormallymention.
Director:ThetitlebreakssomeofthetaboosintheUSAaswell.Itislike,ohmyGod,
Icannotbelievesheorhesaidthat...I’lltellyouastoryofmine.Mymotherand
grandparentswererefugeesduringthe1930’s.TheylivedinIndiana.Mymothertold
me,therewasatimewhereJewswerebeinglabelledasbadjewsorgoodjewsin
thecommunities.MyunclewaslabelledasabadJew.Shetoldmeitwasbecause
someoneaccusedhimofswearing.Iwasverycuriousabouthowthetitlewasgoing
tobeperceivedhere.WhatIreallylikeabouttheplayisthatitengagestheaudience
tohavethesetaboodiscussions.Anditdoesitwithoutapology.
Jonah:Ithinkitdoesthrowitinyourfaceandmakesyoudealwiththebalanceof
thesesituationsthatwehavealwaysreadaboutinhistorybooks.Itisaboutreal
people,aboutrealwantsandrealstruggles.Theplaywrightdabblesinstereotypes.I
donotthinkthecharactersarenotstereotypical,Ithinktheyarereal,the
performancesIgettowatcheverynight...(Audiencelaughs)Hmm,theyarevery
powerful.TheJewishwomanwithtoomuchhair,whatdoesthatmeanhistorically?
Daphna:Ithinkitisbiological.
Jonah:Thatcouldbeit.DoesthatmeanthatthereareDaphnasallaroundus?Ithink
itisagreatplay.
Daphna:Theplaypresentsbothsidesoftheargument.Itwouldbedifferentifwe
didnothavebothcharacters.Sincewehavethesesimilarbutdifferentcharacters,it
isreallycool,becauseitshowshowwellwrittentheplayis.
Director:Anyothercomments?
14
Teacher:Onefunnycomment.MyfriendandIwerecommentingaboutbringinga
friendofours.ItoldmyfriendthetitleisBadJews.Shesaid:HeisJewish,thatisnot
possible!(Audiencelaughs)
Director:ThisplaywasdoneinLondon.FriendsofminewerevisitingmeinSanta
Barbarabeforewestartedrehearsals.Anyway,hetoldmehehadseentheplayin
Londonwithhisson.TheyarebothJewishandfoundthemselveslaughingoutloud
duringtheplay.Theysuddenlyrealisedtheyweretheonlyoneslaughing.Iwas
actuallyconcernedifnon-Jewishpeopleweregoingtoliketheplay.Itwas
predominantlynon-Jewishpeoplewhocriticisedthetitle.TheJewishcommunity
wasquitereceptive.
Moderator:ThisisthefirsttimetheplaytakesplaceinFrankfurt.Ofcourse,thisis
thepreview.ThepeopleIhavetalkedtowereChristian/Germanandtheywere
totallynervous.TheJewishcommunityweremuchmorerelaxedaboutit.
Daphne:OneofthesponsorsinSantaBarbarasaidsomethingprettysmart:Theplay
isBadJewsnottheJewsareBad.(Theaudiencesaysyes).Ithinkitisaaboutpeople
whoarebehavingbadandintopofthatarejews.
Jonah:LetsayyouarewalkingoutinthestreetsinFrankfurtandseetheposterwith
thetitle.Now,letussaythispersonisaracist.Idon'tfeelliketheposterwillactually
changethem.But,iftheyweretoseetheshow,Iknowtheywillprobablysay,ok
nowIgetit.IhatethetitlebutIlovetheshow.Iamhopingthatmostpeoplesee
JoshuaHarmon'sideaandsomethingisevokedinthem.
Director:TheJewishcultureisnotthedominantone.Sothepeoplethatrepresent
thatculturetrytomakesureitwillsurvive.Ithinktheplayraisesthisquestion,
aboutcultureandtranscendency.Areyouallbringingstudents?Areyouconcerned
atall?
Teachers:Nooo.
Director:Ilovethat.
Teacher:Wewillpreparethem.AlthoughIdon'tthinknoonewillgettheidea
behindthetitle.Therecouldbedangerinvolved.ItissuchaninternalAmerican
Jewishjoke,thatIdonotthinktheywillgetit.
Director:Bothofus,mytheatreandyourtheatreexperiencedquiteagoodsales
streak.Wehadalotofteenagerscomingtothetheatresbythemselves.Ithinkthe
onesthatwereconcernedwerenotmatureenoughtounderstandthehumanity
embodiedineverysinglecharacter.
Moderator:Ijustrealiseditis10o’clock.Shouldweallmaybehaveanotherdrink?
Director:YesIthinkweshould.Thankyouallforcoming!
(Applauses)
15
FurtherReadingandresources:
Beinart,Peter.“TheFailureoftheAmericanJewishEstablishment.”TheNewYorkReviewof
Books,10April2010.Web.19August2013.<http://www.nybooks.com/articles/
archives/2010/jun/10/failure-american-jewish-establishment/?pagination=false>
Fogelman,Eva.ThirdGenerationDescendentsofHolocaustSurvivorsandtheFutureof
Remembering.Jewcy.com,1May2008.Web.19August2013.
<http://www.jewcy.com/religion-and-
beliefs/third_generation_descendents_holocaust_survivors_and_future_remembering>
“HolocaustSurvivors:TheSearchforFaith.”Religion&EthicsNewsweekly,20April2001.
Web.19August2013.<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2001/08/03/august-3-
2001-holocaust-survivors-the-search-for-faith/13853/>
Kotler-Berkowitz,Laurence,LorraineBlass,andDanyelleNeuman.NaziVictimesResidingin
theUnitedStates.UnitedJewishCommunitiesReportSeriesontheNationalJewish
PopulationSurvey2000-01,April2004.Web.19August2013.
Merriam-Webster.com.Merriam-Webster,2013.Web.19Aug.2013.
http://www.merriamwebster.com
Rudoran,Jodi.“ProudlyBearingElders’Scars,TheirSkinSays‘NeverForget’.”TheNewYork
Times,30September2012.Web.19August2013.<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/
world/middleeast/with-tattoos-young-israelis-bear-holocaust-scars-ofrelatives.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&>
Sanello,Frank.“IsTvTrivializingTheHolocaust?”TheChicagoTribune,6January1989.Web.
19August2013.<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-01-06/
features/8902230194_1_holocaust-auschwitz-nazis>
Sarna,JonathanandJonathanGolden.“TheAmericanJewishExperienceintheTwentieth
Century:AntisemitismandAssimilation.”NationalHumanitiesCenter,n.d.Web.19August
2013.<http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/timeline/after.htm>
SixDayWar(MiddleEast[1967]).EncyclopediaBrittanica.n.d.Web.19August2013.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/850855/Six-Day-War>“StatisticsofJews.”
AmericanJewishYearbook,1946.Web.19August2013
<http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1946_1947_13_Statistics.pdf>
Judaism”-http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism
“JewishConcepts:Rabbi”-
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Rabbis.html
“11QuestionsAboutRoshHashanahandYomKippurYouWereTooEmbarrassed
toAsk”–
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/09/23/questions-about-
16
rosh-hashanah-and-yom-kippur-you-were-too-embarrassed-
ask/zSnIEhrj42Fue2zSChcYqI/story.html http://www.shiva.com/learning-center/sitting-shiva
“AliyahtoIsrael”-http://www.science.co.il/Aliyah.php
“JewishLifeinEuropeBeforetheHolocaust”–UnitedStatesHolocaustMemorial
Museumhttp://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007689
“Background:LifeBeforetheHolocaust”–BritishLibrary:LearningVoicesofthe
Holocaust
http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/voices/testimonies/life/backgd/before.html
“TheHolocaustandWorldWarII:Timeline”–UnitedStatesHolocaustMemorial
Museumhttp://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007653
“TheHolocaust:AnIntroductoryHistory”–JewishVirtualLibrary
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/history.html
“UnitedStatesPolicyTowardJewishRefugees”–UnitedStatesHolocaustMemorial
Museumhttp://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007094
17