Some plays live for the ages. This play will always ask us if we are racially polarized, even with the information and experiences we’ve endured.
Baltimorean Anne Deavere Smith has given us one of those difficult mirrors in which to gaze.
The images look back at us, unable to hide.
“Fires in the Mirror” is a one-woman show offering a portrait of relationships between Chasidic Jews and their African-American neighbors following the 1991 riots in Crown Heights, N.Y.
Actress Amber Godfrey, under the direction of Jesse “Yishai” Freedman, plays the roles of 26 individuals, Jewish and African-American.
The play is based on the interviews of Crown Heights community members by Ms. Smith following the three days of racial riots in August.
The riots were triggered by the death of Gavin Cato, a 7-year-old black child, who was hit by a car driven by Yosef Lifsh, who was driving as part of a three-car motorcade including the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
The death of the child and the perceived preferential medical treatment given to Mr. Lifsh instead of the child would be followed by the stabbing death of Yankel Rosenbaum, a 29-year-old Chasidic scholar.
Gavriel Lewin, the Jewish Theatre Workshop’s artistic director, said that this is more of an event than a play, and that its importance cannot be underscored enough, especially for a racially diverse city such as Baltimore.
“When I moved to Baltimore,” said Mr. Lewin, “I became aware quickly of some of the bigoted tendencies of some parts of the Jewish community, and I was very uncomfortable. Having grown up in Indianapolis, we didn’t have that, at least I didn’t see it. I also worked in the inner city in St. Louis in the public schools, and I learned a lot about urban poverty, and a lot of the stereotypes stopped being stereotypes for me.”
Mr. Lewin, who is a teacher at Yeshivat Rambam, said that he has seen tension between blacks and Jews here in Baltimore. It’s not just a “Jewish thing,” he said, “I see there’s uncalled-for actions by the black community as well.”
He talked about how since he’s moved here, he’s heard the warnings that women should be cautious about walking alone at night on Shabbat or holidays. He knows of people whose children have had their bicycles stolen repeatedly. One of his students has even been badly beaten.
A better way.
That’s what Mr. Lewin is hoping “Fires in the Mirror” will bring to its audiences. Better ways of discussion and dialogue, and a recognition of sameness without violence and anger.
When he first read the play, he said he felt that this wasn’t only about the 1991 Crown Heights riots, but it was also about cultural clashes and deeply rooted resentments between blacks and Jews existing today. He calls those resentments “absurd,” saying that “we have more in common than not in common. We have more to gain by learning and growing from one another.”
“This is a great thing for Baltimore,” said Mr. Lewin. “And it’s a great thing for the Jewish community. I hope this can be the beginning of a continuance of a dialogue that we are all one people.”
All of the play’s text is taken from actual interviews and words from real people. Mr. Lewin was mesmerized by how Ms. Smith was able to get to the essence of each person she portrayed. There is no bias in each character; each one has his or her own voice.
“When you hear Yankel Rosenbaum’s brother saying he doesn’t want revenge, he wants justice, and that’s being portrayed by a black woman, that’s transcendent to me,” Mr. Lewin said. “We have here a person who can get to the essence of each human being and the issues.”
The other character he connected with was Rabbi Yoseph Baruch Spielman, a Crown Heights activist.
“I connected with him because he got to the heart of what happened from the Jewish side,” said Mr. Lewin.
“What I got from him was a sense of caring, that he didn’t want there to be anger or violence. He regretted what had happened, but he felt that the reactions were not justified. It pained him so much. I identified with that pain of not being able to do anything about it and wanting it to be different.”
Read full article here.
rabbi hoffinger is a very special man he should keep it up he has great commentary too and don goodman is a very educated man
Solution?
Do as I am doing. I just had the 10th class in ‘The 7 Noahide Laws’ for non-Jews.
I am the founder and administrator. Mr Don Goodman is the lecturer.
We are located at 1344 President Street, Kingston and Albany Aves.
As the Rebbe, MH”M said: We should be aware that there is an eye that sees, an ear that hears and a hand that writes everything down in a book.
‘Learn baby, LEARN!’ (Don’t burn.)
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to 1: how interesting, i think it’s a female actress in this play, read the article again.
To 2: If you really want the safety of your children, maybe they should know about it, I don’t know if you grew up in this community, but I have, and if you want to keep yourself safe, you must know what’s coming your way.
And no, things haven’t changed.
Maybe the holocaust should also be forgotten?! And maybe the mitzryim all dyig in the yam suf? That’s pretty scary isn’t it?
I was there, for all of it, and for the aftermath. And I saw Ms. Smith’s performance. She was good, but I think she failed to understand, to capture and therefore to portray for others the unjustified trauma experienced by the children, and the Holocaust survivors among us. Those scars have endured.
the riots should be forgotten its scary for our kids
…i would wanna see it.