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BS”D
THE SONG OF SHABBOS: a Fantasy in Three Acts
Bais Yaakov of Los Angeles—Drama Production-Halleli-2001
By
Shana Kramer and Kayla Kramer
ACT I: SCENE 1--- Shabbos afternoon at Mindy and Tziporah’s house
(Two sisters, junior high school age, run up from the audience to stage right in front of curtain.
Two chairs and a plant suggest a livingroom.)
Mindy: Please, Tzipporah- do it again- just one more time…
TZ: No, Mindy! No- enough is enough!
M: Oh- c’mon, do it for me- I’m your best sister!
TZ: You’re my only sister. And thank goodness for that, I don’t know if I could handle two of
you!
M: Verrry funny… but, c’moooonn! Just do the Bais Yaakov play thingy again– you know---
where the Aidel Maidel starts going: “Oy gevalt!”-
TZ: Ok, ok. You want me to imitate the Bais Yaakov play again? Here goes: (grabs a scarf
draped over a chair and flings it over her head and shoulders dramatically as a shawl)
“Hoooy gevalt! [over-acting terribly] What shall I do?? The Wicked Count has locked
me in his tower, until I renounce Torah and Yiddishkeit in order to marry him! All I can
do now is daven with all my heart. (practically screeching) Oy, HaShem! Please help
me to escape the clutches of Wicked Count Stolitchnaya, who is really the grandson of
the great tzaddik, the Shtinkenbroyne Rebbe---and who was stolen in infancy by pirates
and raised in the palace to hate and despise loyal Jews like me!-- but is only now
rediscovering his pinteleh yid--but doesn’t know it yet!-- and thinks that he merely wants
to marry me!”
M: (grabbing the scarf from Tzippy and tossing it around her own neck theatrically) “Aidel
Maidel, it is I, Wicked Count Stoletchnaya, and I have decided to release you, because I
feel burning within me the tiny spark that is glowing in my heart- it burns and grows- my
heart is burning--you must come with me at once to ride……..(smiling mischievously) to
ride to Rexall to buy some TUMS for my heartburn!”
TZ: TUMS for my heartburn! They didn’t do that in the play!
1
M: I know- (flops down) but they should have- it would have been a lot more entertaining than
what they did do!
TZ: Yeah- (joins her on couch) I gotta admit, that play was boooooring. (Sigh)
M: Talk about boring… here it is again, another loooong Shabbos afternoon with nothing at all
to do.
TZ: Yeah- even little Shmulie’s off to Pirchei… so there’ll be no fun telling him scary stories
about what’s waiting for him in Yeshiva Gedola.
M: Yeah-(sighing) huhhhhhh…
TZ: Yeah- huuuuhh….
M: So what do you wanna do ?
TZ: I dunno- what do you wanna do ?
M: sigh-
TZ: Sigh-
M: We could go up to the a-t-t-i-c……….. and look arouuunnndd…
TZ: Ho-kay- (stands up) I’m not bored anymore!
M: (grabs her arm) No- c’mon- just this once
TZ: No way- uh uh- there’s no way you’re getting me to go up there again.
M: What’s ammater big sister? Not scared are you?
TZ: I’m not scared-(pause) I’m just ladylike. Besides, its not a very Shabbosdik activity!
M: Scaredy cat, scaredy cat!
TZ: I’m not a scaredy cat!
M: RIGHT! Ever since Shmulie told us that the Maharal’s Golam is still up in the attic in the shul
in Prague, you’ve been too chicken to snoop around OUR attic with me anymore!
TZ: Am not!
M: Are so!
TZ: Oh, all-right. Even though we’re much too grown up for this silly, childish, make-believe, I’ll
go up with you one more time, just to show you that I’m not scared.
M: Oh- you’re right- it really is too childish, well just do it this one last time…(laughing
conspiratorially) …heh heh heh.
(girls exit stage right.., sounds of stair climbing)
ACT I: SCENE 2 (In Attic)
(Pile of boxes and cushions stage left in front of curtain, spotlight finds girls in attic)
Tz: Ho-ky Do-ky, Mindy- we came to the attic. Now lets go downstairs and be bored some more!
2
M: (pleading) Not yet Tzip, (grabbing her) there’s still one corner we’ve never explored- Hey! I
think I see something sticking out over there under that pile of clothes- (grunting) –
gimme a hand, this thing’s heavy!
Tz: Dusty too!- Haachoo!
M: Gezuntheit!
(Tzippy pulls on book and plops to floor)
M: What IS this thing? And where on earth did it come from?
TZ: Looks like some kinda huge book…
M: Duh!
TZ: Do you think we should open it?
M: No- no, let’s just hold it up to the light of the window and shake it and the words will kinda
fall out all over us so we could read it THAT way!
TZ: Oh! gimme that! What a weird title! :”The Song of Shabbos… dot dot dot”
M: dot dot dot? That’s part of the title?
TZ: Yeah –that’s what it says…
M: Well, it’s Shabbos today, and I like songs, so are you gonna open it, or what ?
TZ: What. (finally responding to Mindy’s pleading look) Oh, all right, here goes…
(opens the book) Chapter One: Shabbos at the time of Briyas Haolam, Shabbos in the Midbar,
Shabbos under the Shoftim…-
M: -booooring- skip ahead to the good parts.
TZ: Ok. Here’s “Shabbos during the Spanish Inquisition….”
M: Oh cool- we learned about that in school. It was a very creepy time- Go ahead, read!
TZ: You learned something in school? (Mindy makes a face) Oh –never mind…(loud sigh)…
Here goes...
“ Our scene begins with two Catholic girls, Maria and Esmeralda, happily playing in a courtyard
in old Madrid ………
ACT I: SCENE 3 (Spain, early 1500’s)
(Curtain opens, scene of Old Madrid exterior, girls playing Cat’s Cradle stage left, bright
sunlight. Stage right in shadowy light, Priest conducting pantomime clandestine
transaction. Mindy and Tzippy remain in attic, downstage left, watching the action on
stage in semi-darkness.)
Esmeralda: Your turn Maria. Maria, Its your turn- what are you mumbling about?
3
Maria: Those sneaky rotten Jews…
Esmeralda: (alarmed) What? I didn’t hear you.
Maria: "Oh sorry, I was just thinking to myself, Esmeralda: How can the Jews of Spain pretend
to accept our lord- and then keep observing their filthy customs in secret! It’s disgusting!
I was so happy, yesterday, when they caught that whole family of Marranos! They really
ARE like pigs…they pretend to be loyal Catholics but keep on doing their Old
Testament religious stuff in secret.
Esmeralda: You’re talking about a Marrano family arrested by the Inquisition? (trying to sound
casual) Whatever happened to them?
Maria: Well, Mama says that Father Rivera tried his best to get Senor Maimon to repent his
wicked Jewish ways…
(Esmeralda jumps back out of shock and mutters under her breath, “Maimon…”)
Maria: (extremely pleased) …but they got what they deserved! Because those stubborn Jews
wouldn’t even consider repenting! The whole family was taken to the town square and
put to death. (smiles triumphantly)
(Background music stops. Esmeralda drops the cat’s cradle)
Maria: Esmeralda, What’s going on? You dropped it--- You are usually so good at this game!
Esmeralda: I have to go… I mean I don't really feel well… I mean, I,I
just have to go! (turning away from Maria, mumbling to herself) “Oh my goodness, I
knew this family! I must get out of here, I can't face Maria another minute.”
Maria: Esmeralda? What's going on?
ESM: Sorry – I forgot- I must go – sorry…
(Esmeralda runs away in a panic, bumps into the priest, gasps, falls down, looks up at him
crestfallen)
Priest: (helping her up) Ha ha ha, no harm done- you are certainly in a hurry! (sees her terrified
face)What is wrong my child?
Esmeralda: Oh, oh- oh I'm so sorry…(looks up and realizes with a start that he is a priest). Father!
…. I thought I saw a mouse… I mean a fire… I mean, my mother needs me I, I mean… I
have to go!
Preist: Wait little girl, what is your name?
ESM: My name? My name is Esther--- I mean--- Esmer---I mean Esmeralda--- Oh, I really have
to go!
4
Preist: Wait, wait…
(Running, crying, mumbling “the whole family, even their little girl! I can’t, I can’t bear it any
more! I’m so scared!”)
(runs offstage stage right)
Curtain closes
ACT I: SCENE 4
(center stage in front of curtains Mother waiting anxiously, Esther runs to her from stage right))
Mother: (looking around furtively) Oh Esther my baby, you are here, I was so worried, I was
afraid… never mind… you are here now, Baruch Hashem. (uses Sfardi pronunciation—
pause for a few seconds..) Come inside darling, come inside, it is almost Shabbat.
Esmeralda: Oh Ima, it was awful, it was awful...
Mommy: Tell me, tell me darling, what made you so frightened, but tell me quickly because
Shabbat is almost here.
ESM: (still crying) Oh, Ima, Maria told me a terrible story about the Maimon family- and she was
smiling as she told it (mother gasps)I couldn’t believe it…(sees her mother’s reaction)
So it is true Ima--- Oh, I ran all the way home, Ima, hoping you would tell me it was a
mistake… that it wasn’t them! But it is true!
MOMMY: - So you know now- I am so sorry darling-… we tried to protect you..
ESM: I mean, she just said it straight out- so happily–(cries out) not their little girl too!...
(softly)and I had to pretend I didn’t know who they were…
Mommy: (whisper) That little girl and her family died Al Kiddush HaShem, my Esther. They
are in Gan Eden now.
ACT I: SCENE 5- in the Ben Yaakov family cellar
(Both go center through curtain…curtain opens on a cellar room where whole family is
gathered.. Silently Esther runs into her father’s arms and buries her head in his shoulders.
Abba looks toward Ima and she nods to him- he understands.)
Abba: I know it is difficult, Esther my dear, but we must put off our sadness until after the
Shabbat.
(All gather around Shabbos candles, Esther attempts to wipe away her tears, Ima
pantomimes the Bracha.)
Avrahami: (breaking the tension) Shabbat Shalom Ima. (kisses her hand)
5
(All children follow suit)
Mother: These candles are so comforting, when I look at them all the horrors of the world outside
seem to melt away.
Avrahami: Tell me Ima, about the olden days, when you were able to light candles in the
dining room instead of here in the cellar…
Dena: And you didn't have to be afraid whenever you went out…
Avrahami: And Grandfather wore his tallit outside of his jacket on his way to Beit Knesset on
Shabbat…
Mother: Ah, it was wonderful, children, nothing like it is now. ( an obvious calm coming across
the children) We didn't have to hide here in the cellar…(smiles at Dena)… though it is
quite nice down here… [Dena giggles] , And Abba could go to Beit Knesset until late in
the evening, and we were never afraid of a sudden knock at the door…
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK (Mother jumps with a start)
Father: Shh, children, don't be afraid, HaShem Ya’azor. Quickly- stand behind me! (Avrahami
goes behind the door. Dena, terrified, runs to candles and is about to blow them out.
Esmeralda looks at mother pleadingly.)
Father: (to Dena) No! If the Inquisition is going to arrest us, blowing out the candles now
will nor help us! I'd rather go as a Jew observing the Shabbat! May the last image in my
mind be Shabbat light dancing in your eyes! (pats Avrahami on the head. Pounding
knock) (to Mother) Go ahead, Chaya, open the door…
(Ima opens the door to stage left, Priest comes in. Children jump and gasp, Esmeralda cries out)
Father: Oh ! What a relief, you really gave us a fright! I had forgotten that you were coming now!
Priest: I am so sorry that I frightened you! (bowing) Shabbat Shalom, Senora Ben-Yaakov,
Senor Ben Yaakov.
Avrahami: (to mother) Ima?
Dena: Abba, what can this mean?
Esm: You know him? This Priest?
Priest: Oh, so this is your daughter, Senor Ben-Yaakov? (To Esmeralda) So you're the
little Catholic girl who ran away from her priest today? ( laughs lightly)
Mother: Oh, my poor Esther, you thought our friend was truly a priest!? Far from it darling!
Esm: Ima, I don’t understand… this priest….he’s one of us? (Mother nods, beams, hugs her.
Esmeralda falls into her arms in relief)
Dena: I suppose then… I suppose…we should say… Shabbat shalom, Father. (Small laughter
from the group)
6
Father: (smilingly correcting Dena) Shabbat Shalom Senor Ben-Ami. ( shake hands) - (in a lower
voice) Is everything arranged?
Priest: Todah LaKail- all is in order.
Dena: What is arranged Abba? What is the priest--- I mean, the Senor --- talking about?
Abba: It really is time we’ve told the children, don’t you think, Ima? (Ima nods with anticipation)
Priest: I’ve gotten all the documents- everything is in readiness, Senor Ben Yaakov. ( looks
around to all the family, beaming) Two more Shabbatot and a day..and then we'll be free-
gone from Spain forever!
Dena: Ima, Abba- we’re leaving? We’re leaving Madrid! Can it really be true?
Avrahami: Abba, why do you want to go away? Can I come too?
Abba: Of course you can Avrahami! We’re ALL going--- to the East. With the help of the Ribono
shel Olam, we will finally be free.
Mother: Very soon, my children, we'll be able to walk the streets, like the Jews we are, without
fear. Our Shabbat candles will be lit out in the open –(radiantly) perhaps in front of the
window!
(children gasp in joyous, wondrous anticipation)
Dena: Abba, is there really such a place where we don’t have to be afraid?
Abba: Oh yes, Dena my child. One day soon, B’Ezrat HaShem, you will feel truly safe..
Dena: And I can go to Beit Knesset and see a real Sefer Torah with my own eyes?!
Esmeralda: And I can be Esther—not Esmeralda! I won’t ever have to pretend to be a Spanish
girl --and play their games… and sing their songs…
Avrahami: And I can eat candy for every meal, and stay up late, and have my own pony
and……
Abba: (everyone laughs) Well, not quite, Avrahami dear! (As laughter dies down) Come to the
table everyone.
(Everyone gather’s around the table)
Children, no matter how many terrors we face outside these walls, we are together now
in the holiness of Shabbat. Tonight, because this is one of our last Shabbatot in Madrid, I
would like to teach you our Ben Yaakov family Shabbat Zemer. It is very old and very
special to. I learned it from my grandfather over forty years ago, sitting outside our Beit
Knesset in Cordoba. Try to learn it my dear ones, and we can carry it with us wherever
we go……..
Lai Lai Lai…
7
(Priest joins in- obviously knows it- Esmeralda pipes in, and everyone joins in. curtains close.)
ACT II: SCENE 1 (In the attic)
M: (dreamily) Wow! WOW. I remember learning about this in school, but … I mean, that was
so REAL! I never imagined what it was like. I never thought about it, but there must
have been young girls, like us, who lived as Marranos…
TZ: Of course they were like us. Imagine what that must’ve been like? (pause…new thought…)
One thing's for sure, Shabbos wasn't boring for them!
M: Well, I'm not so bored anymore. What about it? Still wanna go back downstairs and look out
the window all Shabbos?
TZ: Nothing doing- let’s read some more!
(Starts flipping the pages. The years and countries parallel to what Tziporah is reading appear on
screen)
TZ: “Shabbos during the Chmelnitsky pogroms and Shabsai Tzvi…”(turns more pages)
“Shabbos and Chassidus, Shabbos and the Mussar Movement, Shabbos in Czarist
Russia…”
M: Are you EVER going to stop?
TZ: I was waiting for you to stop me!
M: Oh- sure, blame everything on me! Like…if someone asks - why don’t we have dinosaurs
anymore? You’d probably say: “Oh- that’s Mindy’s fault”- yes- definitely- and … global
warming- Oh for --sure, that’s all myyy fault. Truman dropped the Atom bomb?--- my
fault…
TZ: Enough!!! Goodness, who wound you up? We’ll stop here, ok?
M: Ok!
TZ: OK! It's almost up to modern times: “By the end of the Nineteenth Century, Jews, escaping
persecution in Czarist Russia, started coming to America in great numbers.. On one
such ship, carrying many Jewish immigrants, the (sounds it out) Yank-el-ovitch family is
coming to New York City. Waiting for them in America is the challenge of keeping
Shabbos in the land of freedom…
ACT II: SCENE 2 (On boat in N.Y. Harbor, early 1900’s)
(Background: Statue of Liberty, prow of ship upstage left. Family leans over railing of boat)
Shprintze: Look, look, Genedel—look at the giant green lady!
8
Genendel: That’s no lady, Shprintza, that’s America!
Yoilish: But why is America holding a Havdala candle?
Shprintze: How should I know Yoilish? Maybe it’s always Moitzei Shabbos in America!
Faivel: (clearly wobbly and seasick)Absolutle not! Remember darlinks, our Alter Zaidys and
Bubbies shlepped themselves East all the way to Russia so they could always keep
Shabbos! And the Yankelovitch family didn’t shlep itself West, all the way from Minsk,
on this lovely seasick boat, to come to a land where it is always Moitzei Shabbos! Our
Shabbosim in America will be like none you’ve ever seen! (children react happily,
Genendel peers over side of ship)
Genendel: Papa, what's that I see in the water? It looks like a bag with Oisiois in Loshon Koidesh
written on it!
Faivel: (to Mama in stage-whisper) Oy! It’s a tallis zeckel; one of our shipmates thinks that tallis
and tefillin have no use for him in the “Goldene Medina”… for him it’s the “Triefe
Medina”!
Mama: (shielding the children’s faces)Shprintze, Yoilish! Don't look, Genendel! Children--
remember always that it's possible to be frumme Yidden ANYWHERE in the world-
even in America!
Yoilish: Of course! It’ll be so easy to be frumme Yidden in America!---in America we’ll have a
whole chicken every Shabbos, brand new clothes for every Yom Tov, no Czar, no
Cossacks…
Shprintse: And no Russian winters! It’s always summer in America!
Genendel: What’s not to like?- Anybody could be frum in America!
Faivel: From your mouth to G-d’s ears, Mine little tzaddaikes…(Offstage voice booming
through megaphone: “Ellis Island! Everyone off the boat!”) Come kinderlach! We are
going off this lovely boat and into America! (Faivel leads his family down gangplank of
boat toward the desk of the Immigration Officer.)
ACT II: SCENE 3- Ellis Island
(Immigration Officer sitting at desk downstage left busies himself with processing a group of
immigrants while Faivel and Tzirel try to keep their impatient brood in an orderly line.
There is a toddler and an infant in addition to Genendel, Yoilish and Shprintze, played by
a real child and a doll.)
Immigration Officer: NEXT! Stay in line- straight line please ( children keep going in circles)
IO: Name? (waits)
9
Faivel: Hoo boy! I better be careful Tzirel! Remember what happened to Shmerel
Katzenellenboigen!? He kept practicing how to say his name poifectly so that the
Immigration Officer could copy it down right, so he practiced and practiced and when it
finally came time for him to say his name in poifect Henglish, he couldn’t remember
what he’d practiced! The guy yells NAME and Shmerel gives a klap on his keppel and
yells “shoyn fergessen!” (whispering loudly to audience) that means: “I forgot”.
(returning to speaking to Tzirel) The guy (gestures toward Immigration Officer) hears,
“Shoyn Fergessen”, and writes down “Sean Ferguson”-- and now Shmerel
Katzenellenboigen is an Irishman!
IO: NAME!!!!
Faivel: Mine- name- is- Faivel Yankelovitch. YAN-KEL-O-VITCH.
IO: Huh? YAN kool what?
Faivel: Yankelovitch, Yan kel o vitch- yankelovitch. Its easy, here say it with me
( moves the officer’s mouth to say it with him) YAN-KEL-OVITCH! My name has a long
history, you know. In Russian, “Ovitch” means “son of” and Yankel means Yankel.
IO: Yankel?
Faivel: Yankel! You know- like in the Bible- Yainkov Avinu- how you say Yainkov in
Henglish… Jacob! Look, in Loshen Koidish it would be “Ben-Yaakov”, in Russian ve
say Yankelovitch, in Henglish it means “Son of Jacob”.
IO: Son of Jacob...Jacob’s son………..Faivel…(thinking of how to write it in English) Jacobson.
(smiling, pleased with himself)
Faivel: (Aghast)Jacobson? (making his peace with it)Nu, Jacobson! (Mama looks horrified) It’s
not so bad Tzirel. Not like what happened to our cousins when they immigrated to
England. Remember? THEIR immigration officer changed Yankelovitch to (affects a
fancy British accent) JACOBOVITZ!
IO: (sarcastically) I’m glad you approve. Do you have any dependants with you?
Faivel: Dependants? Who doesn’t depend on Faivel – Faivel Jacobson? This is mine (kiss) and
this is mine (kiss) and etc. and this-- (accidentally kisses Immigration Officer, as children
keep milling around)-- is not mine!
Immigration Officer: NEXT!
Faivel: Come, kinderlach, America is waiting for us… the streets are paved with gold!
(lights out- curtains close. Faivel has a soliloquy in front of curtain while scenery is changed.)
Faivel: (does flute pantomime using chalil from his pocket, while offstage the special Shabbos niggun of SenorBen-Yaakov is played by a flute) America! All right, so the streets weren’t exactly paved in gold, but who knew?
10
Still, what a country, full of miracles and wonders! Get a load of dese tall buildings! Nuttin like dis back in Minsk! Tall like Migdal Bavel dey are! Speaking of vich, da langvidges pipple are speaking on dese streets is not to be believed. You wanna hear any kinda langvidge spoken on oith, you come to New York City, America! Just today I heard a Chinese laundryman try to get a Poilish wagon driver to explain to him vat de Italian barber was saying—and each one tought he vas speaking poifect Henglish like me! (laughing to himself)But dey ver all getting along and melting nicely in da great American melting pot . Who knows…maybe some day ve’ll be able to get kosher food, Chinese style! (doubles up in laughter at his own joke)…dat Schmulke Bernstein, vat a kidder…And now, for a leetle musical interlude…(flute pantomime)Hokay, vere vas I? You want I should tell you vat I love about dis country? Freedom! No Czar to tell you “Live here, live dere, do dis, do dat”…here, anybody can open his own business, selling whatever he vants, verever he vants, widdout even a store, yet—all you need is a pushcart! My first day here, I see a lantsman pushing a cart full of Yarzheit lamps…imagine dat! He is making a living selling Yarzheit lamps! Only he’s not making a living long, because I can see from across da street, dat da veel on his pushcart is coming loose, and his whole stock in trade is about to go crashing into da gutter. Kvick as a flesh, Faivel remembers his Cheder Rebbe, back in Minsk, teaching him in Parshas Mishpotim vat’s pshat in Ki Sireh Chamoir Sonaichu Roivaitz Tachas Masaoi, Vichawdaltu Maiazoiv loi,Awzoiv Tazoiv Imoi. (Dat means you shouldn’t let the donkeh of even your voist henemy collapse under its boiden.) Next ting you know, like da Hewnited States Kevelry, it’s Faivel to da rescue, wid my shoulder under da wheel of dat pushcart before it slips right off. Hooboy, vas dat peddler heppy! And me? Can you imagine how I felt? A poissin can wait his whole life for da chence to perform dat mitvis asei midoiraisaw, and I get to do it my foist day in da goldene medina! Hoo Hah! I tink dat calls for a leetle more music. (flute pantomime)Did I tell you about da smells? No? A Rayach Nichoiach, verever you turn! Down dis vay, is Yona Shimmel’s knish bakery--just smelling his kasha knishes can make you shikker like it’s Purim! And toin da udder vay and you’ll run smack into Gus’s pickle barrel—He has a sign dat says, “Eat Gus’s pickles, and stay young and beautiful!”—and you know vat—I believe him! Notting vould surprise me in dis vunderful country!How ‘bout a leetle more music? (flute pantomime with comic surprise—Faivel’s timing is off,
and audience discovers that he hasn’t been playing the flute music himself)
ACT II: SCENE 4
(Family at a Shabbos table, stage left. At stage right, frozen in darkness, is a secretary at her desk,
and a boss with his feet up at his desk.)
Mama: Good Shabbos kinderlach, everyone ready? (to Shprintze) The little ones are sleeping?
(Shprintze nods.) Good. Papa’s almost home from shul.
(Faivel enters stage left, beaming)
Faivel: Ahh, mine beautiful American family!
Children: Gut Shabbos Papa, Gut Shabbos Papa! (hugs and kisses)
Mama: Good Shabbos Papa.
Faivel: Good Shabbos Mama.
11
Faivel: Come mein Tzirel, it’s time to bench the kinderlach. Genendel, Shprintze, Yoilish,---(kids
crowd around, parents sing the Shabbos song)
Mama and Papa: May HaShem protect and defend you.
May He always shield you from shame…
Papa: (to Yoilish) May you come to be, in Yisroel, a shining name!
Mama: (to Genendel and Shprintze)
May you be like Sarah and Rivkah,
May you be deserving of praise…
Mama and Papa: Strengthen them, HaShem, and keep them from the stranger’s ways..
Papa: The Eibershter should bless you, and grant you long life…
Mama: Tatte in Himmel, hear our Shabbos prayer for you…
Papa: (to girls) May He make you good mothers and wives…
Mama:(to girls) May He send you husbands who will care for you! (Papa nods vigorously.)
Mama and Papa: May HaShem protect and defend you.
May HaShem preserve you from pain…
Riboino shel Oilam, let Toirah be their guide,
Oh, hear our Shabbos prayer,
Faivel: (long, chazonish) Omain!
Mama: (sighs) Allright, kinderlach, it’s time for Papa to make kiddush--- and time for us to eat
our first Shabbos Seuda in our new home!!
(Kids excited)
(lights go out, come up again)
Faivel: That was delicious- Ta’am Gan Eden! Nobody can cook up a Shabbos feast out of
chicken necks and puppicks like mien Tzirel!
Genendel: Nu? So tell us Papa, about your adventures this week finding a job in America?
Yoilish: Did you get a job? ---Is it a good job?
Faivel: Genendel, Yoilish, Shprintze! I have wonderful news!
Family: Nu nu??
Faivel All week I tried and tried to get a job, and at the very end of the week…
Family: NU? NU?
Faivel: G-ttzedanken! - I didn’t get a job!
Shprinze: (to audience) That’s wonderful news? I’d hate to hear bad news from Papa!
Mama: Faivellll….?
12
Faivel: Yes, my Aishes Chayil? The Light of my Life, my Ezer K’negdo, the Mama of mein
kinder?
Mama: And maybe you could explain to me just HOW this is wonderful news?
Faivel: Well, better I should start at the beginning… Today I finally succeeded in getting an
appointment to see Mr. Big Shot the Boss- Hoo Boy! Did he have a fancy-schmansy
office….
ACT II: SCENE 5- Office—light comes on stage right, family at Shabbos table is still
visible in semi-darkness, stage left. Faivel crosses to new scene.
Secretary: (peering snootily over her half glasses, using comically exaggerated Noo Yawk accent)
Yes? How can I help you?
Faivel: Good morning! And how are you this lovely American morning?--
Secretary: - As it happens—dreadful! (Sneezes) But I’m afraid that is no concern of yours…
Name please?
Faivel; Well, dat’s a little complicated. (immitating Secretary) Has it heppens, my name is
really Faivel Yankelovitch, but on Ellis Island, POOF, it turned into Faivel Jacobson!
Secretary: (Very sarcastically)Yankelovitch changed to Jacobson---oh dear, what a pity. And
your old name must have been so easy to spell, too.
Faivel: You got that right, Missus. Y as in Yankelovitch, A as in Ankelovitch, N as in
Nkelovitch, K as in kelovitch, E as in Elovitch, L as in Lovitch, O as in Ovitch, V as in Vitch, I as
in Itch, T as in Tch, C as in Ch, and H as in H! (smiles triumphantly) What could be easier?
Secretary: (dripping with sarcasm) I couldn’t possibly imagine! Katzenellenbogen, perhaps?
(Faivel does a double take.) (Secretary sneezes, sniffles, honks loudly into her handkerchief.)
Faivel: You gotta watch that cold, Missus Secretary Lady—Could turn into pe-nu-monia! (has a
bright idea) You know what is a goggle moggle?— You take a raw egg, mix in some hot
milk, butter, a little bit honey…
Secretary: Ugh! That sounds revolting! I’d rather die! (coughs and sneezes loudly.)
Faivel: It could happen, chas v’shulem…
(Aside to audience, smiling, gesturing at secretary):Reminds me of old Moskovitch from Odessa.
Secretary: (coughing and gasping) Moscowho?
Faivel: Moscovitch! He got so sick once that his family called in a fancy doctor, a specialist!
Secretary: (to audience) I know I’m going to regret asking this, but---(to Faivel) And then what
happened?
13
Faivel: So this big shot important doctor looks Moscovitch up and down, he puts on a real, long
face, and he says to him: I’m sorry to tell you Mr. Moskovitch that you are a very sick
man. You are sick from a virus.
So Moscovitch says: “Of course I’m sick from Avairis! Vu den, from Mitzvois!“
(Faivle laughs hysterically at his own joke, repeating the punchline to himself—the secretary is
not amused. His laughter fades as he realizes the joke was not successful with her)
Secretary: I was right. I do regret asking.
Faivel: All right, so you didn’t think it was funny—but a goggle moggle you should still drink!
Secretary: If you are finished dispensing unsolicited medical advice, the managing director will
see you now…Good luck! (to audience…) He’ll need it.
(Faivel moves to next desk to meet the Boss)
Faivel: So Mr. Boss—I’m hearing you are looking for a top-notch worker! Faivel
Yankel....Jacobson is your man!
Boss: Ah, if it were really that simple, Jacobson. Being a cutter in a dress factory is serious work.
Have you had experience?
Faivel: (shocked) Hexperience? You’re asking if Faivel Jacobson has hexperience? Just who do
you tink tailored dis sneppy outfit I’m wearing?
Boss: Not bad... but are you a hard worker? Dedicated? There’ll be no slackers in my factory!
Faivel: Of course not! In a dress factory there should be Sleckers? No sleckers, no knickers, no
trousers of any kind whatsoever! Faivel Jacobson knows a dress from a pair of pants!
(pause, smiles) And I vouldn’t be lazy, neither!
Boss: (scratching his head in disbelief) Tell me, are you familiar with our product line?
Faivel: You betcha! Your factory makes the finest shirtwaist dresses in America. If you ask me,
that big green lady with the torch standing in New York Harbor –she couldda used some
fashion advice from you! Such a shapeless schmatta she wore! It looked like she was
wrapped head to toe in a bedsheet!
Boss: (laughing)Jacobson, I like you.—You can start tomorrow, bright and early! (calls out to
his secretary) Miss Morgenstern, bring in an employment contract. Jacobson here is
joining our firm.
Secretary: You’re giving him a job? (aside to audience, gesturing toward Boss) Oh Brother!
Faivel: Mr. Boss, today is Friday.
Boss: So?
Faivel: So if today is Friday, tomorrow is Shabbos.
Boss: So?
14
Faivel: So you want I should forget Shabbos and come to work in your factory instead?
Boss: (suddenly much colder) I used to be like you Jacobson. But you’d better wise up, buddy. In
the land of the free and the home of the brave us good Americans gave up all that ghetto
stuff long ago. You gotta go along to get along. Didn’t you see our sign? Company
policy:
(Spotlight on sign as Boss reads and points)
IF YOU DON’T COME TO WORK ON SATURDAY
DON’T BOTHER COMING BACK ON MONDAY! (Faivel looks appalled)
Think about it—you give a little, you get a lot. Leave all that Shabbos stuff back in
Russia, and get yourself a piece of the American Dream.
Faivel: Mr. Boss—let me tell you a little something about Faivel Yankelovitch:
I love America! I am very happy that I am here and that the Czar is in St. Petersburg!
Mine children are learning very well Henglish, and are real Yankee Doodles!
I don’t even mind so much that Mr. Ellis Island changed our name from Yankelovitch to
Jacobson. But what you don’t understand, Mr. Boss, is that comes Friday night, our little
tenement flat turns into a palace! Why? Because the Shabbos Queen pays us a visit!
Mine Tzirel—she also becomes a queen! And mine Yoilish, Genendel and Shprintze, all
the kinderlach—they are a prince and princesses! When we sing zmirois together, I can
see the Shabbos lights dencing in their eyes! Do you think your job could ever give us
that? I should give up all that to come and work for you? Never!
So—goodbye Mr. Boss, goodbye Missus! Take care of that cold! Goodbye and good
luck!
And GOOD SHABBOS!``
(Boss looks downcast, he and secretary freeze, lights go out, spotlight follows Faivel.)
ACT II, Scene 6
(Faivel returns to family at the Shabbos table stage left.)
Faivel: So you’re seeing now why it was a wonderful day! I didn’t get the job!
Yoilish: (rolling his eyes questioningly)Uh , sure, Papa…
Shprintza: So what did you do next, Papa?
Genendel: Please, please tell us WHY this was a wonderful day Papa!
Faivel: Well Genendel, here comes the wonderful part. Instead of being a worker in Mr. Boss’s
dress factory—I am now an ON-TRA-PAN-OOR!
Mama: Gevalt!
15
Faivel: (studiously ignoring Mama’s outburst) I’m making mein own business!
Mama: G-t in Himmel!
Faivel: (still dramatically ignoring Mama) I got me a pushcart, I’m collecting shmattas, and I go
door to door, selling them—
Mama: Oy Vay is Mir!
Faivel: (finally turning to Mama grandly) You’ll see mine Tzirel, I’m in the shmatta business
now, and we’ll go from RAGS to RICHES! Someday, G-d willing, I’ll name a Yeshiva building
in your honor!
Mama: (to audience, sarcastically, gesturing toward Faivel) I’ll be grateful if he names next
week’s chicken in my honor!
Faivel: (pretending not to hear Mama’s remark) And—thanks to Mr. Boss’s not hiring me--- I’m
an independent businessman, and I’LL decide when the business is open and when it is closed!
And one thing I can guarantee, mein Yoilish,—the Dry Goods Emporium of F. Jacobson and
Son –dat’s you--will never be open on Shabbos!
Come kinderlach—a zemerel! The special one that’s been in our family since before the
Yankelovitches ever got to Russia! Lai, lai lai…
(family sings Senor Ben-Yaakov,s Shabbos song, but in a faster klezmer tempo than the Spanish
version.)
ACT III Scene 1) (attic)
M: That was great! But that’s it? Where’s the rest of the story? We don’t find out if he makes it
as a businessman in America? We don’t find out if they managed to always keep Shabbos?
Tz: (Slowly stands up—in a state of shock…)
Mindy, you don’t get it do you?
M: Get what?
Tz: Mindy, what’s Mommy’s middle name?
M: Her middle name? What is this, “Twenty Questions”?
TZ: And her Zaideh—didn’t she call him Zaideh Yoilish?
M: So?
Tz: Mindy! WHAT—WAS—MOMMY’S—MAIDEN--NAME?
16
M: (slowly coming to realize the truth) That’s easy! Mommy’s maiden name was Gila
Genendel…Jacobson….
…and her zaideh was …Reb Yoilish Jacobson…
Tz: …and her great aunt, the one she was supposed to be named after, was called Tante
Genendel…
M:(barely audibly) But Bubby didn’t have the heart to do that to her, so she called her Gila
Genendel instead…Tzip…?
Tz: This is no ordinary book, Mindy…
M: (slowly understanding, nodding, then suddenly wakes up and demands)What are you waiting
for—READ MORE!
Nu! READ! (standing exasperated over Tzippora as she turns pages) What are you looking for?
Tz: (Searching frantically—clearly looking for something specific) Shabbos in America, Shabbos
during the Holocaust, Shabbos in the State of Israel…(gasps) HERE IT IS!
“Shabbos and the Refuseniks in the Soviet Union!”
M: (gasps) You don’t suppose…
Tz: Sha! Let me read!
“During the 1980s young, idealistic Jews from around the world began to make the dangerous
trip to Communist Russia to bring Chizuk, Seforim, and Jewish ritual items to many
refuseniks who were just starting to rediscover their Jewish heritage…
M: (wide-eyed and amazed) Mommy DID that before she married Tatty! Tzippy, READ!
TZ: …One such visitor was Gila Jacobson, (both girls gasp) a young computer programmer
from Los Angeles…
ACT III Scene 2- (Leningrad, Russia, in the early 1980’s)
(Gila is nervously trying to find her way around Leningrad, approaches Russian clerk in a kiosk.)
Gila: Excuse me- I’d like to buy a map of Leningrad.
Clerk: Is NOT possible.
Gila: But… that’s a map?!
Clerk: (smiling triumphantly) LOOKS LIKE MAP- but all streets marked wrong! (Leans in
conspiratorially) Made to trick enemy imperialist spies!
Gila: But I want to walk to the Kirov Opera House!
Clerk: IS NOT POSSIBLE. Must take excellent Soviet taxi.
Gila: But I don’t want a taxi; I want to walk.
17
Clerk: Is not want taxi? Why not? Did you know, Lady American Tourist, that brilliant scientists
of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics invented Taxicabs?! Also: electric light bulbs and
toilet paper!
Gila:That’s fascinating, it’s amazing how much you know about history.. uh, goodbye now..
Sposibo.
Clerk: But that’s not all! I, Natasha, can lift up this whole Kiosk with my two hands! (making
muscles, then pointing to her head) Strong like bull, smart like tractor! Dos Vedanya,
Lady American Tourist!
(Gila backs away and bumps into Policewoman.)
Gila: Oh! Excuse me!
Policewoman: Is good idea you should be looking where you are going, Lady American Tourist.
Gila: What? You know who I am?
PW: Is job of peace-loving Security Forces of Pipples Republic of Soviet Union to protect all
visitors from U.S. of America—and is easier to protect you if we are knowink where you
are…and who you are.
Gila: (nervously) My goodness—how lucky for me to bump into you!
PW: Da! Even more lucky you didn’t bump me any harder!
Gila: I’ve been trying to find the Kirov Opera House…
PW: (beams happily, much friendlier) Ah! An art lover, like myself! Music, Ballet, Theatre!
You have heard maybe of great Russian tragedy called Hamlet? Is written by Soviet
Pipples Hero, William Shakespearovitch.
Gila: Er, yes, I know that play.
PW: Well, you have never really seen Hamlet until you see it performed in the original Russian!
Gila: (trying not to smile) I hope that I’ll get the opportunity.
PW: I hope so too. Much better nice American Tourist Lady come to Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics to see magnificent Russian culture—not like sneaky counter-revolutionary
Jewish Rabbi Tourists, who come to undermine superior Socialist Worker’s Paradise
with antiquated religious mumbo-jumbo.
Gila: Well, er, yes, thank you—now if you can just direct me to the Kirov?
PWL Da, da, I am showing you best possible Soviet way to go…
(curtain closes)
ACT III : Scene 2 (Gila emerges in front of curtain)
18
Gila: Whew! I don’t think she followed me… this seems to be the address where I was supposed
to meet her…right near the Kirov Opera House….(Gila and Irina look for each other)
Irina? Irina Yaakovskaya?
Irina: Da, Dat’s me.
Gila: My name is Gila Jacobson, and I’ve brought you some packages from the Torah committee
in America. Do you think I might come to your apartment? It’s Friday afternoon and I’m
afraid I took much too long in finding you.
Irina: Come in, please! You will spend Shabbos with me, please!
Gila: Oh, may I? Thank you, thank you! I didn’t know how I would get back to the hotel in time
for Shabbos!
Irina: So young you are, and so beautiful! Tell me, how is it that you now about Shabbos
Koidesh? Do all young American Jews know about Shabbos?
Gila: Many of us do, but, sadly….not all…
Irina: Here in Russia practically nobody is remembering Shabbos anymore. For over 60 years the
Communists (Makes spitting sound—“pooh”--) have tried to destroy Yiddishkeit – and
they have nearly succeeded! (points to herself) But Irina still remembers…Come! We’ll
bentch licht together and you’ll meet my granddaughter Alla.
(Both enter through curtain)
ACT III : SCENE 3
(Curtain opens to Shabbos scene in Irina’s apartment apartment, stage left)
Gila: I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed a Shabbos Seuda this much! I can’t wait to go to
Shul tomorrow.
Irina: Really? Gila , what do you know about Leningrad Synagogue?
Gila: Only what I read in the tourist guide book – but the pictures were so impressive! I had no
idea there were still Rabbonim like that in Russia! Your Rav looked wonderful in the
photograph--- beautiful tallis, and yarmulka, and a long full beard!
Irina: (gently) Tell me, Gila dear, - In America is possible sometimes you have Rav without
beard?
Gila: Oh for sure!
Irina: Well darlink, here in Russia we sometimes have beard without Rav!
(Alla giggles and Gila gasps)
Gila: You mean…
Irian: Let’s just say he’s “nisht fun unzer”, and leave it at that! The Government pays his salary to
keep an eye on us and to impress the tourists.
19
Gila: And I thought I knew so much about Jewish life here! Please, Irina,- tell me more…
Irina: All right Mamelah- but let me check on Alla first- Bubbeleh, how is going the Alef Bais
practice?
Alla: I’m getting better at it Baba. I’ve been working on it for 3 hours now and I think I know the
sounds of most of the letters by heart!
Gila: That’s wonderful! But why are you trying so hard to learn it all in one night?
Alla: Oh, Miss Gila, I want to be a Jew like my Baba; with my mind and with my heart, not just a
“J” stamped on my identity card. These books you brought- they are the beginning of my
Jewish education!
Gila: (softly) It may sound strange…but I feel like this Shabbos is the beginning of mine as well.
(turning to Irina) Please, Irina, tell me …In all this time, how have you managed to hold
on to Shabbos?
Irina: Ah…that I owe to my tzadeikes mother! She gave me a special bracha--- and it has come
true—never have I failed to bring Shabbos Hamalka into my home and into my heart.
Gila: (amazed) All these years under Communism?—Even during the war?
Irina—(sighs deeply)Ah yes, the war. You can’t blame me for not wanting to talk about that on
Shabbos…
Alla: But Babi—you can tell her the Miracle Story---You know—the one on the train…
Irina: (brightens and smiles broadly) Ah—such a brain! She never forgets anything, that one!
Where was I? Oh yes, on a train, escaping from the Nazis, heading toward Siberia….
(lights out stage left)
ACT III Scene 4 (Train suggested by row of double chairs, stage right)
(Train noises, flickering lights. Lights come up stage right revealing two young women in front
train seats engrossed in conversation.)
Young Irina: It’s almost Shabbos—and we’re not getting off this train for days!
Masha: Irina, don’t even think about it! No one in this car knows you’re Jewish. Lighting
Shabbos candles could be suicide! Any one of these people might be a Nazi!
Young Irina: Masha, I want the Shabbos Queen should come and ride with us all the way to
Siberia.
Masha: But who says you’ll make it there? Light those candles and I doubt you’ll ever reach
Siberia alive.
Young Irina: (as she’s taking out the candles from her bag) Masha, did I ever tell you about
when the Bolsheviks shot the Czar and his whole family? No? I was only four years old
but I remember it like yesterday. I came running inside to ask my mother if it was true
20
that the Czarina—the queen—was also killed. I’ll never forget what she told me… “Mein
kind”, she said, “the queen of Russia may be dead, but we have a queen who will never
leave us. Every week she comes to visit us to bring Oirah and Simcha into our homes—
May you always be zoiche to welcome the Shabbos queen.” So far, throughout this
miserable war, my mother’s Bracha has stayed with me. So, I’ll just have to trust the
Eibershter to help me now. These Shabbos candles are going to be lit!.
(Lights out on train scene and back up on Shabbos table scene stage left)
Gila: Did you light them?
Irina: But of course!
Gila: But… How could you know…
Alla: Gila! Can you believe it? G-d made a miracle for my Baba!
(lights back on the train scene stage right. Irina bentches licht as Masha is terrified looking down.
All the other passengers slowly look in her direction. When she finishes bentching, she
looks up, with tears in her eyes and one by one, the passengers all wish her “Gut
Shabbos”)
Young Irina: Oh, Baruch Hashem! (Hugs Masha)
(Lights out on train scene, back on Shabbos table scene stage left)
Act Three- scene 5
Gila: What courage- what bitachon you have!
Irina: (smiling)And what patience! Do you realize that I have been waiting as long as three of
your lifetimes for a visit from someone like you?! But you, Gila, you were worth the
wait! How can I ever thank you?
Gila: Thank me? Look at the treasure you have given me. In America, my life is so busy with
work and school, I’ve always taken Yiddishkeit kind of for granted. Oh, sure, I’m
Shomeres Shabbos all right, but it always felt like Shabbos was an obligation to be
fulfilled, not enjoyed. It’s so easy and normal to keep Shabbos in America--we
sometimes forget what a gift it is!
Irina: Let me give you a bracha, darlink, like my mother gave to me- may the Oirah and Simcha
of this special Shabbos always dance in your eyes, like it is dancing tonight!!
Gila: Amen!…You know Irina, - perhaps there is something I can give to you…My Zaide used
to sing me a special Shabbos niggun every Friday night…he said he remembered singing
it as a little boy. I haven’t sung it in years…perhaps that’s been my mistake…but when
Zaide and I would sing it together and watch the flickering Shabbos candles …Oh, Irina,
when I was a little girl I felt the magic of Shabbos! Let me sing you that special niggun
21
—because you have given the wonder of Shabbos back to me….Lai lai lai….( sings the
family niggun slowly and sweetly—Irina begins to sing along. Irina listens intently,
begins to smile broadly and joins in with gusto---..she clearly knows the niggun. Gila
looks amazed and delighted and Alla joins in as well.)
Irina: (delighted) So our special family Shabbos niggun has traveled all the way to America and
back home to Russia again!
Gila: (Amazed) Your family niggun!
Irina: Dat’s right, Darlink—and I even know how your zaide must have learned it! I had an Uncle
named Faivel who took a boat to America before I was born, but my Tatte told me all
about him. Such a singer he was! Uncle Faivel must have taught our special Shabbos
niggun to all the Yidden of America!
Gila : (shocked and amazed) Faivel Yankelovitch…was your uncle?
Irina: Dat’s right! Wait--How is it you are knowing Uncle Faivel’s last name?
Gila: (deeply moved)Your Uncle Faivel didn’t teach his special niggun to all the Jews of
America—but his son Yoilish certainly taught it to his little granddaughter Gila! Alla!
Do you realize what this means? We’re cousins! (embraces her joyfully) (turns to
Irina)And you…you are my Tanta Irina!
Irina: (overjoyed) Gila darlink, until tonight, Alla was all the family I had---but now, G-
ttzedanken, my mishpocho has doubled in size! What a Shabbos this is! (Joyful hugs
and kisses, all three sing the Shabbos song.)
(lights dim, curtain closes)
Act III- scene 6 (attic)
(Tzipporah closes the book as if in a trance)
Mindy: (awestruck) Look Tzippy, look at the book’s title---it doesn’t end with “dot dot dot”
(Tzippy rubs off dust)
Tzippy: “The Song of Shabbos…a Jewish Family’s Story”.
Mindy: This book: it’s our story… isn’t it Tzippy?
Tzippy: The Ben Yaakovs, The Yankelovitches, the Jacobsons…
Mindy: (nearly whispering) Our story…(Pause)
Tzippy: (thoughtful) And what will our chapter in the book be about, Mindy? How the best way
we could spend Shabbos afternoon was to tease each other? How we thought Shabbos
was boring?
Mindy: Oh, Tzip, I’m so ashamed…(Tziporah puts her arm around Mindy.)
22
Senor Ben Yaakov: (emerging from the shadows) There is nothing for you to be ashamed of, little
Senorita! We are all very proud of you!
Faivel Yankelovich: (Emerging from the shadows) Dat’s right! Look at you! Fine little
Americans and finer Yiddishe Maidelach!
Gila Jacobson: (In robe and snood, emerging from the shadows) And when I look at you I see
Tante Irina’s Bracha coming true- I know that the dancing light of Shabbos will never
leave your eyes!
TZ and Mindy: Mommy!
Gila: Come darlings, have you learned our Shabbos Song?……Lai lai lai- (As the girls join her
in the song, Faivel and Senor Ben-Yaakov begin to sing and dance and are joined by the
“Priest”, then Yoilish and Avrahami. The curtain opens to find all the female characters
singing behind Gila and her daughters, grouped by their scenes, stage left, with the
Immigration Officer and the Boss center stage, watching the men’s Hora.stage right..
The immigration officer good-naturedly joins the dance, and finally, the disapproving
Boss is won over—he throws down his cigar and joins the dance with gusto. Lights go
out, come up again for curtain call.)
THE END
NOTES ON THE PRODUCTION
Curtain Call Positions: (from stage left)
Shprintze, Genendel, Dena, Maria, Esmeralda, Senora Ben Yaakov, Secretary, Irina, Alla,
Mindy, Gila, Tzippy, Faivel, Tzirel, Boss, Senor Ben Yaakov, Priest, Police Woman,
Clerk, Young Irina, Masha, Yoilish, Avrahami, Immigration Officer
Shabbos Zemer (lai,lai lai): This was a wordless melody that sounded Jewish, but was not a
tune anyone in the audience knew. For the Marrano scene it was played in the Spanish
style, with acoustic guitar and drums, for the New York scenes it was played at a faster
tempo, klezmer style, with accordion and clarinet, and for the Leningrad scene it was
played in a more modern style, with a fuller sound.
23
Running Time: approximately one hour, fifteen minutes. The play could be shortened by
eliminating the train scene in Act III, and giving the “Czarina/Shabbos Queen” speech to
Old Irina.
This play was written for a Bais Yaakov High School production so the male characters were
kept to a minimum. It could, however, be adapted for use by boys, by changing Maria,
Esmeralda, and Dena to boys, having Senor Ben Yaakov be a widower, as well as Faivel,
and changing Genendel and Shprintze to boys, the Secretary to a male clerk, and all the
characters in the Leningrad scene to males as well. Mindy and Tzippy could just as
easily be Mendy and Tzviki.
______________________________________________________________________________
The following scenes were written to allow time for scenery changes at the Bais Yaakov of Los
Angeles Halleli Song and Dance Production. They were played in front of the curtain
after choir and dance numbers, and once during the play’s performance. In the first
Faivel Scene, Mrs. Chaya Shamie, the director of the entire Halleli production, enters
Stage right in front of the curtain, playing herself. In the second Faivel Scene, Faivel
interacts with a choir leader at a Shabbos Seuda setting. The third Faivel Scene is
integrated into the play early in Act II. The fourth Faivel Scene was written to explain a
set of “Shmittah” dances.
First Faivel Scene
Faivel: Vasn’t dat amazing? Dose girls can really sing and dence up a storm, you betcha! (imitates that last song) Hello everyone! My name is Faivel Yankelovitch, and you’ll be seeing a lot more of me later in the DRAMA. Whaddabout that rocket ship! Whooo boy! I never saw such a ting in my time- talk about production numbers! Who does the choreography on dese tings? (imitates a dance step) Now, Mrs Shamie – that nice lady who put this whole lovely show together- she doesn’t technically know dat I am here now, so let’s try to stay a leetle kviet…
Mrs. Shamie: Mr. Yankelovitch!! What are you doing here? This show is only for girls and women!
Faivel: Oh! Mrs Shamie! You could scare a man to death! I vas just telling dese lovely ladies about what an amazing performance you’re putting on here. I must say- you got a show, professional quality! Dose Brooklyn Bais Yaakovs got nuttin’ on you! Eat your heart out Boro Park!
Mrs. Shamie: Heh heh, thank you Mr. Yankelovitch, but I’m sorry, you’ll still have to leave.
24
Faivel: Eh? I’ll have to leave? Who really cares about an old timer like me hanging around.. right?-- such a show-- I should miss it?? My great-great-granddaughters, Mindy and Tzippy are coming on soon! Don’t vorry- (peeking ostentatiously through fingers)I von’t look at NOBODY else. And besides, I’m in the play.
Mrs. Shamie: Um, I’m sorry to tell you Reb Faivel, but your character is going to be in the play- not you. We’re having Kayla Kramer act out your part.
Faivel: Vhat? Excuse me- I didn’t catch that last part. I’m not poisonally going to tell all these lovely ladies mine own story??
Mrs. Shamie: No, see, Halleli is all done by the Bais Yaakov girls themselves… no grandfathers allowed, I’m afraid… but don’t worry… Kayla will do fine.
Faivel: Well well well… couldn’t I just have a little part?
Mrs. Shamie: No.
Faivel: Tiney?
Mrs. Shamie: No.
Faivel: Eensy weensy?
Mrs. Shamie: No….
Faivel: Hokey dokey…I’m agoin’ now. Dat’s right, I’m leaving..I’m leaving right now. Bye bye Mrs. Shamie, keep up da great woik! Da show must go on! I’m outta here!(aside to audience) Don’t worry ladies, you ain’t seen da last of me yet! Faivel Yankelovitch will be beck!(mutters to self while walking offstage) Who is dis Kayla Kramer, anyway…?
Second Faivel Scene
Faivel: Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimm back!
Choir Leader (costumed as chassidishe father): Reb Faivel!? I’m surprised to see you here?
Faivel: You should be! I’m totally not supposed to be here now, but I figured- what Mrs. Shamie doesn’t know won’t hurt her. She’s in the back so I figured I would come out and say hello. HELLO! Once I’m here, let me share with you a beautiful chazal I once heard. Margalisa yesh li bignazusi- ushma--- Shabbos! Ah, beautiful! You know what this is meaning? A diamond I have in my treasure house- and its name? Is Shabbos!! Gevaldik! So vat’s next? Maybe a leedle drama? That’s what this production could use a smidgeon of you know- some real Second Avenue Yiddish Theatre style acting. If you need help with the play I heppen to be available…No? Alright—I’ll settle for a nice Shabbos zemer. You know something in Mamalashon maybe? If only you Los Angeles cowboys knew some real yiddishe niggunim… maybe you know…? Ahh, forget it…
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Choir Leader: What, Reb Faivel?
Faivel: No, no- you’ll never know it…
Choir Leader: Just tell me the name?
Faivel: You probably never heard of it- it’s, emmm… Ven Dos Yiddele?
Choir Leader: Sure I know that one!
Faivel: Well don’t let me stop you- let’s get back to some of dat first class singing and dancing!
Third Faivel Scene (Soliloquy performed during the play)
KBK: (flute pantomime- Faivel enters “playing “ the Shabbos zemer on his chalil. While a flutist offstage actually plays the music.) America! All right, so the streets weren’t exactly paved in gold, but who knew?Still, what a country, full of miracles and wonders! Get a load of dese tall buildings! Nuttin like dis back in Minsk! Tall like Migdal Bavel dey are! Speaking of vich, da langvidges pipple are speaking on dese streets is not to be believed. You wanna hear any kinda langvidge spoken on oith, you come to New York City, America! Just today I heard a Chinese laundryman try to get a Poilish wagon driver to explain to him vat de Italian barber was saying—and each one tought he vas speaking poifect Henglish like me! (laughing to himself)But dey ver all getting along and melting nicely in da great American melting pot . Who knows…maybe some day ve’ll be able to get kosher food, Chinese style! (doubles up in laughter at his own joke)…dat Schmulke Bernstein, vat a kidder…And now, for a leetle musical interlude…(flute pantomime)Hokay, vere vas I? You want I should tell you vat I love about dis country? Freedom! No Czar to tell you “Live here, live dere, do dis, do dat”…here, anybody can open his own business, selling whatever he vants, verever he vants, widdout even a store, yet—all you need is a pushcart! My first day here, I see a lantsman pushing a cart full of Yarzheit lamps…imagine dat! He is making a living selling Yarzheit lamps! Only he’s not making a living long, because I can see from across da street, dat da veel on his pushcart is coming loose, and his whole stock in trade is about to go crashing into da gutter. Kvick as a flesh, Faivel remembers his Cheder Rebbe, back in Minsk, teaching him in Parshas Mishpotim vat’s pshat in Ki Sireh Chamoir Sonaichu Roivaitz Tachas Masaoi, Vichawdaltu Maiazoiv loi,Awzoiv Tazoiv Imoi. (Dat means you shouldn’t let the donkeh of even your woist henemy collapse under its boiden.) Next ting you know, like da Hewnited States Kevelry, it’s Faivel to da rescue, wid my shoulder under da wheel of dat pushcart before it slips right off. Hooboy, vas dat peddler heppy! And me? Can you imagine how I felt? A poissin can wait his whole life for da chence to perform dat mitvis asei midoiraisaw, and I get to do it my foist day in da goldene medina! Hoo Hah! I tink dat calls for a leetle more music. (flute pantomime)Did I tell you about da smells? No? A Rayach Nichoiach, verever you turn! Down dis vay, is Yona Shimmel’s knish bakery--just smelling his kasha knishes can make you shikker like it’s Purim! And toin da udder vay and you’ll run smack into Gus’s pickle barrel—He has a sign dat says, “Eat Gus’s pickles, and stay young and beautiful!”—and you know vat—I believe him! Noting vould surprise me in dis vunderful country!
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How’bout a leetle more music? (flute pantomime with comic surprise. Faivel’s “Flute-synching” timing goes off, and music of the Shabbos Zemer wafts out of his chalil when he is not playing, and nothing happens when he tries to play it. Faivel looks at his chalil, mystified, and exits.)
Fourth Faivel Scene
I’ll bet you ladies didn’t know vat vas flying wid dis last dence…don’t feel too bed, needer did I. So I hesked von of de lovely little Bais Yaakov girls beckstage, and she hexplained da whole ting to me. It vas so inspiring dat I decided to write it up as a leetle poem. Ahem, here goes:Dere vonce vas a farmer and a hengineer.Dey traveled from far and from near.Because dey had a mesoirahDat dey should loin ToirahIn Yeshiva da whole Shmitta Year!
Additional Notes on the Production:
Twenty-four speaking parts:
Cast of Characters in order of appearance:
Mindy- an impetuous, mischievous ten year old
Tzippy- her less boisterous twelve year old sister
Maria- a Spanish girl, early 1500s
Esmeralda/Esther Ben Yaakov- a young Marrano girl, living a double life
Priest/Senor Ben Ami- a mysterious Marrano man, in disguise
Senora Ben Yaakov- a loving Marrano mother
Senor Ben Yaakov- her husband, the stalwart Marrano father
Dena Ben Yaakov- a little Marrano girl
Avrahami Ben Yaakov- a little Marrano boy
Shprintze Yankelovitch- a wisecracking adolescent girl, circa 1900
Genendel Yankelovitch- her younger sister
Yoilish Yankelovitch- their little brother
Faivel Yankelovitch/Papa- their comical father
Tzirel Yankelovitch/Mama-their skeptical mother
Immigration Officer- harried Ellis Island functionary
Secretary- a comically sarcastic New Yorker
Boss- a blowhard assimilated Jew
Gila Jacobson- a fashionable young American woman, circa 1983
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Natasha- a comic Russian clerk
Police Woman- a comically menacing Russian official
Irina Yakovskaya- an elderly religious Refusenik
Alla- her sincere young grandaughter
Young Irina - Irina Yakovskaya during World War II
Masha- her terrified traveling companion
Extras: Four extras can play the first group of people to disembark at Ellis Island, as well as the
other train passengers in Act III. We used a short elementary student and a doll to round out the
Yankelovitch family to five children.
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