Two Jews Walk Into A War...

IN MEMORY OF

BRUCE A. COHEN Theater J dedicates this production of Two Jews Walk Into A War… to the memory of Bruce A. Cohen who passed away on November 11, 2022.

Bruce was a dedicated Theater J Council member and beloved member of the greater Washington theater community, sponsoring productions at Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and attending plays, musicals, operas, and concerts at venues throughout the region, all over the United States, and around the world.

Born and raised in Charleston, WV, he moved to Washington to attend The American University, Washington College of Law. Following law school, he worked on the Hill for Rep. Philip Ruppe and Sen. Philip Hart, both of Michigan. The bulk of Bruce’s legal career was spent at the Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, from which he retired in 2006.

Bruce served on the board of Family and Child Services (Washington, DC) and was a volunteer at Children's National Medical Center, where he interacted with infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He was also known as an accomplished gourmet cook – providing many delicious baked goods to share with theater artists and staff on his many visits to rehearsals.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents Saul Cohen and Helen L. Marshall and his adored brother-in-law, the late Judge Robert E. Ginsberg. He is survived by his sister Gail Ginsberg, nieces Deborah and Dana Ginsberg, grand-nephew David Ginsberg and grand-niece Aurora Buntain as well as "dozens of cousins" and innumerable dear friends.

May his memory be a blessing.

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LETTER FROM THEATER J'S MANAGING DIRECTOR

‫ב״ה‬

Dear Friends, Happy New Year!

It feels wonderful to welcome you back to the theater with Two Jews Walk Into A War… With this production we also welcome veteran Theater J actors Bobby Smith and Sasha Olinick. It’s great to have them back on our stage. It’s also delightful to have Adam Immerwahr back in the building, helming this show. The reunion is joyous.

Two Jews Walk Into A War… Seth Rozin thought that the title alone is a great punch line, and the play tackles so much more than a good joke and good timing.

This comedy keeps with a great Theater J tradition, the opportunity to laugh as we wrestle with existential issues: faith and friendship, loss and community, grief and life.

Jews have long sought to understand great tragedy through comedy, an art rooted in deep discomfort and the need to explore boundaries. By letting go and laughing, we find an opening, a portal to empathy.

Our world at times seems unrecognizable. So, it feels good to laugh, and better yet, to laugh out loud.

I hope we can continue to laugh and be provoked and engaged for the rest of the season. We have two shows left to close out our 22-23 season, the urgent Gloria: a Life and the explosive dark-comedy One Jewish Boy. I hope to see you at the theater!

Yours, David

David Lloyd Olson, Theater J Managing Director

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THANK YOU TO OUR 2022/2023 SEASON SPONSORS LEADING PRODUCER Covenant Foundation Arlene and Robert Kogod National Endowment for the Arts SPONSORING PRODUCER DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Susie and Michael Gelman, The Morningstar Foundation The Government of the District of Columbia Norbert Hornstein and Amy Weinberg Sari R. Hornstein The Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation Nussdorf Family Foundation Revada Foundation of the Logan Family Kay Richman and Daniel Kaplan Share Fund The Shubert Foundation SUPPORTING PRODUCER Bruce A. Cohen* Dianne and Herb Lerner Alfred Munzer and Joel Wind Helene and Robert Schlossberg THANK YOU TO OUR PRODUCTION ANGELS Mara Bralove and Ari Fisher Bunny Dwin Marion Ein Lewin Ellen and Gary Malasky Paul and Zena Mason Howard Menaker and Patrick Gossett Elaine Reuben, The Timbrel Fund Mita M. Schaffer and Tina M. Martin This production is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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AARON & CECILE GOLDMAN THEATER • TRISH VRADENBURG STAGE THEATER J

David Lloyd Olson, Managing Director

TWO JEWS WALK INTO A WAR...

By Seth Rozin

JANUARY 11 – FEBRUARY 5, 2023 Director…........................................................Adam Immerwahr^

Set Design…………...........................................Jonathan Dahm Robertson+ Costume Design…....................................….Ivania Stack+

Lighting Design….........................................Alberto Segarra+

Sound Design…..........................................…Sarah O’Halloran+ Props Design……............................................Pamela Weiner

Cultural Competency Consultant…........Humaira Ghilzai Violence Consultant…................................Cliff Williams III Casting Director…....................................….Jenna Place

Production Stage Manager……................Anthony O. Bullock*

Assistant Stage Manager…...................….Allison Poms-Strickland Assistant Stage Manager…….................…Margaret Warner Cast (in alphabetical order)

Zeblyan…....................................................….Sasha Olinick* Ishaq……….......................................................Bobby Smith*

Two Jews Walk Into A War… runs approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.

The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

*Appearing through an Agreement between this theater, Theater J, and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. ^The Director is a Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. +Member of United Scenic Artists Local 829

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS Sasha Olinick (Zebylan) is excited to return to Theater J where he has previously performed in: Our Class, The Hampton Years, Yentl, Life Sucks, G-d’s Honest Truth, The Last Schwartz, Last Night of Ballyhoo, and Love Sick. Other DC area credits include Hub Theatre (company member), Arena Stage, ExPats Theatre, 1st Stage, Folger Shakespeare Library, Imagination Stage, Kennedy Center, MetroStage, Mosaic Theater Company, Olney Theatre Center, Rep Stage, Round House Theatre, Spooky Action, Solas Nua and Studio Theatre. Regional Credits: American Shakespeare Center, Bald Mountain Theater, Merry Go Round Playhouse, Ocean State Lyric Opera, Trinity Rep Company, and Vermont Stage. Film and Television Credits: Enemy of The Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story, Minyan Duty, VEEP. Sasha holds an MFA in acting from The Trinity Rep Conservatory and teaches acting at Montgomery College, the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art, and with the Educational Theatre Company.

Bobby Smith (Ishaq) Broadway: Crazy For You. Off Broadway: Forever Plaid (original cast), Kander and Ebbs' The World Goes ‘Round, and the revival of George Gershwin’s' Of Thee I Sing.

National tours include Brigadoon and The World Goes ‘Round.

Solo performances include The National Symphony Orchestra with maestro Kent Nagano; The Richmond Symphony under the direction of George Manahan, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Jack Everly Conductor and The American Pops Orchestra with Luke Frazier. After relocating to Washington DC, has been the recipient of 3 Helen Hayes Awards for outstanding performance by a leading actor. Most recently he was one of five artists to be honored with The AndersonHopkins Award recognizing actors and artists of the DC theater community whose creative lives demonstrate great accomplishment to date and promise for the future. Regional: Signature Theatre La Cage aux Folles (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actor), and Spin (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor). Studio Theatre: A Class Act (Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Resident Musical), Paula Vogel’s' The Long Christmas Ride Home, Caroline or Change, Grey Gardens. Mr. Smith has had the pleasure of working with students for over ten years including at the Kennedy Center where he is the co-chair and instructor for the American College Theatre Festival musical theater fellows. He has also worked at Montgomery College, University of Alabama, Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore School of the Arts, and The Talent Machine in Annapolis, a free program producing 3 theatrical productions yearly focusing on artistic enrichment for young artists and their families.

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Seth Rozin (Playwright) is the author of more than a dozen plays, including Men of Stone (produced by Theater Catalyst, nominated for a Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play), Missing Link (produced by InterAct Theatre Company, nominated for a Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play), Reinventing Eden (produced by InterAct), Black Gold (National New Play Network rolling world premieres at InterAct, Phoenix Theatre, Prop Thtr, Arts West), The Three Christs of Manhattan (produced by InterAct), and Human Rites (produced at Phoenix

ABOUT THE ARTISTS Theatre & InterAct; winner of the 2018 Brown Martin Philadelphia Award). Seth has also written the book, lyrics and music for a musical entitled A Passing Wind: The (Mostly) True Story of Joseph Pujol, which received its premiere at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ inaugural Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts in 2011. He is the recipient of two playwriting fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, NNPN’s Smith Prize, as well as a new play commission from the Foundation for Jewish Culture. Seth is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of InterAct Theatre Company in Philadelphia, where he has directed over 50 productions, including 35 world premieres, and he has twice served as President of National New Play Network from 2002-2006 and 2014-2016.

Adam Immerwahr (Director) is the former Artistic Director of Theater J. Currently, he serves as Artistic Director of Village Theatre, a four-theater, two-city musical theater producing company in Washington state. He has previously served as the Associate Artistic Director at McCarter Theatre, a Tony Award-winning theater in Princeton NJ, and as Resident Director of Passage Theatre, in Trenton, NJ. Adam’s producing credits, several of which have transferred to Broadway or off-Broadway, include new works by Edward Albee, Christopher Durang, Danai Gurira, Fiasco Theater, Will Power, Stephen Wadsworth, Tarell McCraney, and Ken Ludwig. As a director, Adam’s work has been seen at some of the top theaters in the country, including The Public and Theater Row (both for Summer Play Festival), Ensemble Studio Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, McCarter Theater, Cleveland Play House, Theater J, Passage Theater, Luna Stage, Hangar Theater, Bristol Riverside, and many others. Internationally, he directed the African premiere of The Convert (nominated for Zimbabwe’s National Arts Medal). He serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Alliance for Jewish Theater and is an inaugural member of the Drama League Director's Council.

Jonathan Dahm Robertson (Scenic Designer) is a scenic and projections designer for opera, theater, and events.

Selected Opera credits: Nixon in China, Fidelio, Peter Grimes (Princeton Festival); Candide, Un Ballo En Maschera, Cosi Fan Tutte (Opera in the Heights); The Consul (A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute). Selected Theater credits: Nollywood Dreams (Round House Theatre); Day of Absence, Blood at the Root (Theater Alliance); The Agitators, Oh God, (Mosaic Theater Company); The Christians (Theater J); The Mamalogues, Broadway Bound, Member of the Wedding (1st Stage); Coolatully, The Frederick Douglass Project (Solas Nua); The Small Room at the Top of Stairs (Spooky Action Theater Company); Footloose, the Sound of Music, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Murder for Two, One Slight Hitch, Jesus Christ Superstar (Totem Pole Playhouse) and many more. Member USA829. www.jdahmrobertson.com 7

ABOUT THE ARTISTS Ivania Stack (Costume Designer) is delighted to return to Theater J. Her Regional and DC area theatre credits include: Arena Stage, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Baltimore Center Stage, Gulf Shore Playhouse, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Everyman Theatre, The Wilma Theatre, The Karski Project, Andy’s Summer Playhouse, The Second City, The Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Company Member), Ford’s Theatre, Round House Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Imagination Stage, Studio Theatre, Olney Theatre, Pointless Theatre, Theatre Alliance, Rorschach Theatre, Metro Stage, and Gala Hispanic Theatre. She has an MFA in design from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Alberto Segarra (Lighting Designer) (he/him/El) is a Washington DC – based lighting designer. Recent selected DC credits include: The Till Trilogy at Mosaic Theater Company; The Joy that Carries You and Thanksgiving Play at Olney Theater Center; Acoustic Rooster and Beastgirl at The Kennedy Center TYA; Elegies and Yoga Play at Keegan Theatre; Quixote Nuevo at Round House Theatre; La Revoltosa at GALA Theatre; Blood at the Root at Theater Alliance (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lighting Design); and An Act of God at Signature Theatre. Regional credits include: The Great Leap at Hangar Theater/ Portland Stage; The Three Musketeers at Cleveland Play House; 1776 and The Gift Horse at New Repertory Theatre and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Blue Barn Theatre. He holds a MFA in lighting design from the University of Maryland, College Park. Mr. Segarra is a USA 829 union member, and Faculty Member at Duke Ellington School for the Arts in Washington DC. Upcoming projects include: Incognito at Constellation Theatre; Passing Strange at Signature Theatre; and Native Gardens at GALA Theatre. albertosegarra.com.

Sarah O’Halloran (Sound Designer) is a sound designer and composer. Her theater credits include Theater J: Compulsion, Nathan the Wise, Talley’s Folly; Woolly Mammoth/The Second City: She the People: The Resistance Continues; 1st Stage: The Phlebotomist, The Brothers Size, Swimming with Whales, Trevor, and When the Rain Stops Falling; Studio Theatre: Cry it Out; Rep Stage: The Glass Menagerie; E2, The 39 Steps, The Heidi Chronicles and Things That Are Round; Everyman Theatre: Sense and Sensibility, Be Here Now, Proof, Dinner with Friends; Mosaic Theater: In His Hands and The Return; Olney Theater Center: The Humans, Our Town and Labour of Love; Theater Alliance: A Chorus Within Her; Forum Theatre: Nat Turner in Jerusalem; What Every Girl Should Know, and Dry Land.

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Humaira Ghilzai (Cultural Competency Consultant) (she/her) is a sought-after cultural expert, speaker, and writer with a mission to unveil the beauty, poetry, and humanity of the Afghan people through stories. Humaira made her Broadway debut in 2022 with the production of The Kite Runner. Other Theatre Credits: US and UK tours of the theatrical adaptations of Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner; J.T. Roger’s Blood and Gifts (La Jolla Playhouse); Gabriel Jason Dean’s Heartland (off-Broadway); Sylvia Khoury’s Selling Kabul (Seattle Rep & Signature Theatre); Composer Sheila Silver's world premiere of A Thousand Splendid Suns Opera (Seattle Opera) Kevin Artigue’s The Most Dangerous Highway in the World (Golden Thread Productions). Film & TV Credits: Little America, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and Merry Friggin Christmas.

Anthony O. Bullock (Production Stage Manager) is the Resident Production Stage Manager for the 22-23 season. Past Theater J projects include Intimate Apparel, Nathan the Wise, Compulsion or the House Behind, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Wanderers, Sheltered, Occupant, Love Sick, The Jewish Queen Lear, and Actually. NYC credits include The School for Lies with Classic Stage Company and workshops with Project Springboard: Developing Dance Musicals. DC credits include Shakespeare Theatre Company (Red Velvet, Our Town), Arena Stage (The Pajama Game), Baltimore Center Stage (SOUL: The Stax Musical, Twisted Melodies), Signature Theatre (Billy Elliot), and Studio Theatre (The Children, The Hard Problem, Cloud 9, Hedda Gabler, Moment, Between Riverside and Crazy, Chimerica, Jumpers for Goalposts, Laugh). Other regional credits include Barrington Stage Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, McCarter Theatre, TheatreSquared, among others. He received his BFA from Oklahoma City University. He is a proud member of AEA. THEATER J LEADERSHIP

David Lloyd Olson (Theater J Managing Director) has spent over a decade managing nonprofit theaters, most recently serving as managing director of Quintessence Theatre Group in Philadelphia where he oversaw the organization’s largest ever fundraising campaign and the doubling of their annual foundation support. He was manager of the executive office and board engagement at the Shakespeare Theatre Company where he supported the transition of the theater’s artistic directorship from Michael Kahn to Simon Godwin. He was a founding company member of Pointless Theatre in Washington, DC, where he served for ten years as managing director, during which time the company was awarded the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company at the Helen Hayes Awards. He was an Allen Lee Hughes management fellow at Arena Stage and served as a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Valmiera, Latvia. He has twice been the recipient of a DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities fellowship program grant and was on the host committee of the 2016 Theatre Communications Group national conference. He attended the University of Maryland where he received a B.A. in theater from the College of Arts and Humanities and a B.A. in government and politics from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. He is a member of Adas Israel Congregation.

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PRODUCTION, EDCJCC, & THEATER J STAFF TWO JEWS WALK INTO A WAR... STAFF Electricians: Logan Duvall, Michael House, Rex Hsu, Alex Monsell Light Board Programmer: Mikayla French Sound Engineer: Levi Manners Assistant Costume Designer: Julie Cray Leong Load-in Crew: Tyra Bell, Clare Cawley, Tad Howley, Justin Metcalf-Burtin, Abigail Olshin, Johnny Robertson, Meaghan Toohey EDLAVITCH DCJCC LEADERSHIP Edlavitch DCJCC Chief Executive Officer: Jennifer Zwilling Chief Financial Officer: Craig Mintz Chief Operating Officer: Bini W. Silver Senior Director of Institutional Advancement: Emily Jillson THEATER J STAFF Managing Director: David Lloyd Olson Producing Director: Kevin Place Associate Artistic Director: Johanna Gruenhut External Affairs Development Manager: Emily Gardner Director of Patron Experience: Jasmine Jones EDCJCC Arts Marketing Coordinator: Lena Barkin EDCJCC Arts Outreach Coordinator: Jacob Ettkin Ticket Office Manager: Tabitha Littlefield EDCJCC Creative Director: Molly Winston House Managers and Ticket Office Associates: Mitchell Adams, Cristen Fletcher, Regev Ortal, Robert Reeg, Hadiya Rice, Kaneeka Rice, Sam Rollin, and Mary-Margaret Walsh Production Resident Production Stage Manager: Anthony O. Bullock Director of Stage Operations: Danny Debner Technical Director: Tom Howley Head Electrician: Garth Dolan Resident Casting Director: Jenna Place Resident Props Designer: Pamela Weiner Education & New Play Development Education Programs Assistant: Jen Jacobs Expanding the Canon Rosh Beit: Sabrina Sojourner Expanding the Canon Commissioned Writers: Zachariah Ezer, Harley Elias, Carolivia Herron, Jesse Jae Hoon, MJ Kang, Thaddeus McCants, and Kendell Pinkney Yiddish Theater Lab Commissioned Writers: Lila Rose Kaplan, Caraid O’Brien, and Aaron Posner Teaching Artists: Dr. Debra Caplan, Evan Casey, Sarah Corey, Felicia Curry, Kimberly Gilbert, Eric Hissom, Naomi Jacobson, Chad Kinsman, Kate Eastwood Norris, Cody Nickell, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Jenna Place, Aaron Posner, Howard Shalwitz, Dani Stoller, Holly Twyford, Erin Weaver, and Em Whitworth 10

Founding Artistic Director: Martin Blank

ABOUT THEATER J

“The most influential Jewish theater company in the nation.” —The Washington Post Theater J is a nationally-renowned, professional theater that celebrates, explores, and struggles with the complexities and nuances of both the Jewish experience and the universal human condition. Our work illuminates and examines ethical questions of our time, intercultural experiences that parallel our own, and the changing landscape of Jewish identities.

As the nation’s largest and most prominent Jewish theater, we aim to preserve and expand a rich Jewish theatrical tradition and to create community and commonality through theatergoing experiences.

The Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

Theater J and the Edlavitch DCJCC commit to being an inclusive, safe, and welcoming space for all. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations from either patrons or staff. Please visit our website at theaterj.org to learn more about our policies and procedures.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Our building sits on the traditional homeland of the Nacotchtank (Anacostan), farmers and traders who lived along the banks of the Anacostia River. Beginning in 1608, European settlers decimated the Nacotchtank with disease, warfare, and forced removal. By the 1700s, the survivors fled to join other tribes to the north, south, and west, including the Piscataway Peoples, who continue to steward these lands from generation to generation. We know this acknowledgement is only a small step towards justice, and we ask that all of us learn about the past and present and invest in the future of our country’s Indigenous communities wherever we are.

PHOTOS: • Page 3: David Lloyd Olson. Photo by Maggie Garrett.

• Page 4: Eric Da Costa as Chaim and Shaina Silver-Baird as Chaya in Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story. Photo by Ryan Maxwell Photography.. Cast of Nathan the Wise by Gotthold Ephriam Lessing. Photo by Ryan Maxwell Photography. Renee Elizabeth Wilson and Awa Sal Secka in Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage. Photo by Ryan Maxwell Photography. Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane. Photo by Hershey Felder Presents.

• Page 11: Jamie Smithson in The Wanderers by Anna Ziegler. Photo by Teresa Castracane. Daven Ralston and Billy Finn in Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is Illuminated. Adapted by Simon Block. Photo by C. Stanley Photography.

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TRADITION!

LOOKING AT A PLAY THROUGH JUDAISM'S LENS

By Johanna Gruenhut, Associate Artistic Director

A SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL BINDING

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Tefilin are the black boxes tied with leather straps that congregants adorn during morning prayer services. They have an English name, ‘phylacteries’, from the Greek root for ‘to guard or to protect.’ Inside the boxes are small parchment scrolls inscribed with the Shema, perhaps the quintessential Jewish prayer, taking its name from the Hebrew for ‘to hear,’ and beginning with the incantation, ‘Hear oh Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.”

Where does this practice come from?

Like so many commandments, tefillin source to the five books of Moses (the Torah), and as with so many commandments, the instructions provided are rather vague, even cryptic.

The Jewish people are told to bind the Torah closely to their hearts and minds. The Rabbis, it seems, took these words quite literally, creating a viscerally physical and material symbol of the spiritual fulfilment intended to come through prayer.

Rabbi Aviva Richman, the head of Yeshiva Hadar sees the purpose somewhat differently, though. She reflects as follows: “The idea is that the divine-human encounter, where God meets world happens through our bodies. God does not meet world on somebody else’s body… and not only in our disembodied souls. God’s presence in the world happens through my body. On my arm, and the work of my hands, and on my head in the depths of my thoughts.”

In other words, during prayer, during a time explicitly marked for inward focus and meditation, Jews are commanded to adorn a reminder that action is necessary to bring holiness into the world.

This is a message that resonates deeply with Two Jews Walk Into A War… Neither of the titular Jews has his tefillin. Yet they share a longing for them. One mimes the motion of putting them on, while the other shares that his grandfather used shoelaces to approximate the wearing of tefillin while in a concentration camp. Indeed, stories from the camps are filled with tefillin—smuggled, hidden, shared, fashioned from anything and everything—providing hope, inspiration, resolve, and under Rabbi Richman’s reading, a call to action.

The resolve of Ishaq and Zablyan, our characters, is to bring a Torah and with it some spiritual wholeness back to their lives.

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AN INTERVIEW WITH SETH ROZIN Associate Artistic Director, Johanna Gruenhut, and playwright, Seth Rozin, corresponded over email about Two Jews Walk Into A War….

JG: Where did the idea for Two Jews Walk Into A War… come from?

SR: I was in rehearsal for a show in 2006 when an actor brought in a newspaper article with the headline something like “The Last Two Jews of Afghanistan,” suggesting I might find this to be fodder for a play. Not only was he right, but after getting started on it and doing some research, I discovered that there were already two other plays inspired by the same article! Both plays had been produced, though neither seemed to set the world on fire, I’m guessing because they both seemed to stick very closely to the real-life story.

While I was initially discouraged, I decided to use the real story as a departure point for a more absurd allegory about community, tradition, belief, faith, and survival.

JG: How and why did the true events speak to you?

SR: I found two things quite extraordinary, and incredibly well-suited for a play, in the real-life situation: First, that there were now just two Jews remaining in Afghanistan, after a robust community of 30,000+ had thrived there for many decades. And second, that these two remaining Jews, who shared a commitment to rebuilding the Jewish community in Kabul, hated each other. In those two facts, there was so much pathos and humor. It felt like the beginning of a Jewish joke, which is how I ultimately set out to write the play and why the title is what it is.

JG: What do you hope your play will say to or spark for others?

SR: As with most of what I write, I set out to ask a question in the hope that the play might offer an answer. My question was “why would anyone continue to still believe there was a god with a plan for them and their people after so many generations of enduring such inhospitable circumstances and such unrelenting persecution?”

JG: I guess this leads to my next question – How do you see these characters? How do they see themselves? Sometimes it’s hard to parse– do Zeblyan & Ishaq see themselves as Afghani, or Jewish or Afghani-Jews – can you explain the subtle differences, if any exist?

SR: Ishaq and Zeblyan, while born in Afghanistan, were raised by parents from other (East European) cultures, and their families never felt fully embraced by the local Afghans.

They were, as Ishaq says, a "tolerated minority," stuck in a situation that was not of their choosing and which has yielded considerably more hardship than prosperity. I have tried to write them to identify as Jewish first and Afghan second, so they have a complicated relationship to their home country, not unlike marginalized or oppressed communities in other countries. And, of course, there is a certain degree of risk that comes with identifying as Jewish first.

JG: Two Jews Walk Into A War… is a comedy! And, obviously, there’s some serious stuff going on in the play. How do you straddle those two worlds?

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SR: One of my favorite things to write is the juxtaposition of the highbrow and the lowbrow, the sublime and the ridiculous, big ideas and normal human foibles. Once I arrived at the conceit of telling this story as a kind of absurd vaudeville I felt liberated to use a lot of humor to offset the very human, ultimately tragic circumstances of these two characters.

So, the play includes arguments about the rules of life in Leviticus along with jokes about pork and masturbation; moments in which the characters wistfully imagine a life free of persecution along with moments when they bicker over why rock badgers, but not elephants, are mentioned in the Torah. Even many of the jokes in the play are punctuated by gunshots, instead of rimshots.

Last two Jews in

The last two Jews of Kabul.

And they hate each other

Afghanistan

to say they are d Zebolan Siman an vy Le k ha itz “Y d they hate in Afghanistan an the last two Jews a vengeance.” each other with 3, 2001 ES | December

By PAUL HOLM

“Life is not easy at the best of times for the last two Jews in Afghanistan. But the situation is made more complicated by the fact that they hate each other.”

By Nick Meo | September 11, 2004

Death ends fe

In Afghanistan, a Jewish Community of One

ud of Kabul'

s last

Jews “For Years Afg hanistan's last two Jews carr bitter feud. Fr ied on a om the Taliban tyranny to th occupation, Is e American haq Levin an d Zablon Sim and plotted ag intov squabb ainst one anot led her in Kabul's synagogue. Th Flower Street e only thing th ey could agre mutual loathi e on was thei ng.” r

“What was once a thriving Jewish community in Afghanistan is today made up of just one man.

Zabolon Simantov lives alone in a small room next to a crumbling synagogue.”

By Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson July 19, 2007

ed The last Jews in Afghanistan argu so much the Taliban kicked them h out of prison and stole their Tora e “As the old saying goes, two Jews, thre the for ache opinions. Add one head Taliban.”

By Laura E. Adkins | October 31, 2019

By Declan Wal

sh | May 7, 20

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Tsur Shezaf The Last Jew in Kabul “He didn’t look Afghani, the last Jew in Afghanistan. I climbed the dark, broken stairs after him to the single room where he lives, in what was once the building of the Jewish school.

Yitzhak Levy lived with him until a few years ago. The two fought to be the last Jew in the country. Simantov won when Yitzhak Levy died and he was left alone. “ May 5, 2007

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A TORAH COMPLETED HERE:

THE BET MISHPACHAH HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL SCROLL

Pictured: Bet Mishpachah member Rachel Wolkowitz and Soferet Alexandra Casser

T

he Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center has been home to many Mitzvot, but among the most unique and poignant were those performed this September by members of Bet Mishpachah congregation who wrote in their Sefer Torah as part of its repair.

The scroll, which originated in the Czech town of Dolni Kounice, has been on permanent loan to the congregation since 1979 and was sent away to be restored.

Once it was nearly finished, the scroll was brought back to the EDCJCC where members of the congregation were invited to join the Soferet (scribe) in completing the project, thus fulfilling what the Rabbis consider the last of the 613 Mitzvot: to write your own Torah.

Bet Mishpachah is an LBGTQ+ congregation founded in 1975 that hosts weekly services and many events in the EDCJCC building.

Al Munzer and Joel Wind, two long-time members, share of their experience with the Soferet, “Both of us have suffered the loss of family members to the Shoah. As we held a quill to write a few letters in a Torah scroll that had been rescued from the fires of the Shoah, we could not help but remember the people of Dolni Kounice who had held, read from, and revered this scroll. We prayed that the world might yet heed their call for a world free of the hate, prejudice, and bigotry that robbed them of their lives.”

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Westminster Synagogue in Knightsbridge, London acquired 1,564 rescued Czech Torah scrolls and has loaned most of them to synagogues around the world. The Bet Mishpachah scroll was originally created for the Jewish community in Dolni Kounice sometime after its founding in the 14th century. Over the years, the community faced perils including the destruction of their synagogue, laws limiting the number of Jews allowed to live there, a fire in the 1830s, a devastating flood in 1862, and the forced deportation of the town’s entire Jewish community to the Auschwitz death camp. The only survivor was the Torah scroll.

COMING NEXT

Scenic rendering by Paige Hathaway

Tell your story on the stage of

Gloria: A Life

Gloria: A Life by Emily Mann is a celebration of human connection, and we need your help to demonstrate that connection in our community.

Five decades after Gloria Steinem began raising her voice and championing the voices of others, her call for equality is as urgent as ever. The play Gloria: A Life is one part history—an exploration of the iconic feminist’s extraordinary legacy and the women who inspired her (including Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Flo Kennedy, Coretta Scott King, and Wilma Mankiller)—and one part conversation. The second act of the play invites audiences to share their reaction to the play, their own story, and their thoughts for the future.

The conversation will actually begin, however, before audiences set foot in the theater. Director Holly Twyford and scenic designer Paige Hathaway, the team behind Becoming Dr. Ruth's tower of boxes, plan to cover the walls of the auditorium with stories, reflections, and testimonials.

We need your help to assemble these stories. Please take a moment to visit our survey link via the QR code or website below and respond to as many or as few questions as you wish. You may respond anonymously or with your name. We will take as many of your words as we can fit and assemble them into an immersive display.

Gloria Steinem’s stirring and uplifting narrative is a necessary reminder of the importance of speaking up and speaking out. Please join us in doing so now.

Scan the QR code or visit theaterj.org/gloriasurvey

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Gloria: A Life runs March 8 – April 2, 2023. Tickets are available at theaterj.org.

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2022-2023 THEATER J COUNCIL 2022–2023 THEATER J COUNCIL Rae Grad, Co-Chair Robert Schlossberg, Co-Chair Mara Bralove Bruce A. Cohen* Nancy Firestone* Mindy Gasthalter Ann Gilbert Cheryl Gorelick Patti Herman Daniel Kaplan Arlene Klepper Kenneth Krupsky

Stephen Lachter Karen Lehmann-Eisner Ellen Malasky Meredith Margolis Howard Menaker Alfred Munzer Sherry Nevins Saul Pilchen Elaine Reuben Bella Rosenberg

THEATER J HONORARY COUNCIL Patty Abramson* Paul J. Mason Michele G. Berman Hank Schlosberg Marion Ein Lewin Trish Vradenburg*

Evelyn Sandground Mita M. Schaffer Lewis Schrager Terry Singer Stuart Sotsky Patti Sowalsky Manny Strauss Bob Tracy Kathryn Veal

Joan S. Wessel Irene Wurtzel

EDLAVITCH DCJCC 2022–2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Jonathan Grossman, Treasurer Daniel Hirsch, President David Goldblatt, Assistant Treasurer Johanna Chanin, Vice President Meredith Margolis, Vice President Benjamin D. Loewy, Secretary Janis Schiff, Vice President BOARD MEMBERS Barbara Abramowitz Janet B. Abrams Andrew Altman Joan Berman Michele G. Berman Jordan Lloyd Bookey Jennifer Bradley Sara Cohen Jaclyn Lerner Cohen Eva Davis Jonathan Edelman Myrna Fawcett

Meg Flax Brian Gelfand Dina Gold Debra Goldberg Rena Gordon Brad Lackey Sid Moskowitz Alfred Munzer Alyson Myers Melanie Franco Nussdorf Arnold Polinger Shannon Powers

Norm J. Rich Ilene Rosenthal Michael Salzberg Rhea Schwartz Michael Singer Tina Small Mimi Tygier Diane Abelman Wattenberg Eric Zelenko Jennifer Zwilling, Chief Executive Officer, Ex Officio

William Kreisberg Saul Pilchen Deborah Ratner Salzberg John R. Risher, Jr.* Lynn Skolnick Sachs

Mindy Strelitz Francine Zorn Trachtenberg Robert Tracy Ellen G. Witman

FOUNDING DIRECTOR Ginny Edlavitch DIRECTORS EMERITI Stephen Altman Rose H. Cohen Jill Granader Martha Winter Gross Stephen Kelin 18

VICE PRESIDENT EMERITUS Lee G. Rubenstein

*of blessed memory

DEEPEN YOUR IMPACT Theater J is dedicated to producing work that illuminates ethical questions of our time, examines the changing landscape of Jewish identities, and celebrates inter-cultural experiences. It is because of you, our community, our audience, our supporters, that Theater J has grown to be “the nation’s most prominent Jewish theater” (American Theatre Magazine).

Less than half of Theater J’s budget comes from ticket revenue. We are reliant on generous gifts from audience members like you, who see the value of having a thriving Jewish cultural center in the heart of the city.

We invite you to join your friends and neighbors in supporting our work. With your gift, you’ll be recognizing the vital role Theater J plays in our community–a place where the stories of immigrants are proudly told, where we ask that theater engage both the head and the heart, and where we produce art that reminds you of who you are.

WAYS TO GIVE

Theater J accepts contributions by mail, phone, online, or through stock donation. Checks can be made payable to Theater J and mailed to 1529 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. For more information or to make a donation visit TheaterJ.org/Donate or contact Emily@theaterj.org or call 202.777.3225.

COMMUNITY ACCESS TICKETS In order to ensure our work is accessible to people of all socio-economic backgrounds, Theater J has launched the Community Access Ticket program. This allows DC, Maryland, and Virginia EBT cardholders to purchase tickets to any* performance for $5 per person!

HOW IT WORKS: Bring a valid DC Capital Access card, Maryland Independence Card, or Virginia EBT card with a photo ID to the ticket office to purchase tickets.

Reservations can be made in advance by calling the ticket office at 202.777.3210 or emailing a photo of the EBT card and photo ID to theaterj@theaterj.org with subject line “Community Access Tickets” to have your theaterj.org account setup to purchase Community Access Tickets online.

EBT funds cannot be used as payment. *Tickets are subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer. Valid only on Theater J-produced productions.

A maximum of 4 tickets can be purchased per card per performance.

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ACCESSIBILITY AT THEATER J

Theater J, as part of the Edlavitch DCJCC, embraces inclusion in all of its programs and activities. Theater J strives to make our productions accessible to all by providing the following to meet the needs of our patrons, and to enhance their experience at the theater. For more information, please contact our Director of Patron Experience at 202.777.3268 or contact our ticket office at theaterj@ theaterj.org.

ACCESSIBLE SEATING: The Edlavitch DCJCC has ramp access from the Q Street entrance and all our restrooms are ADA accessible. In the Goldman Theater, removable seats provide patrons with the opportunity to be seated with their companions while sitting in their wheelchair.

ASSISTIVE LISTENING: Assistive listening devices are free-of-charge and offered on a first-come, first-served basis at all performances.

OPEN CAPTIONING: Open Captioning is offered during one performance of each Theater J production.

LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS: Large print programs are available at our Ticket Office, located on the first floor.

Theater J respects and welcomes gender diversity. Please use the restroom which makes you most comfortable or most closely fits your gender identity or expression. An all-gender restroom is located on the Lower Level.

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JxJ Year-Round continues this Winter

JxJ’s year-round lineup of film and music continues with an all-new slate of insightful documentaries, and local musical acts, all presented in our state-of-the-art cinema and concert space, Cafritz Hall.

FILMS

Thursday, January 26, 7:30 PM

SPACE TORAH

In 1996, NASA astronaut Dr. Jeff Hoffman brought a small Torah scroll on board Space Shuttle Columbia. On Shabbat, while orbiting Earth, he read from the book of Genesis, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.”

Screening followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker Rachel Raz and a NASA expert!

MUSIC

Sunday, January 29, 10:30 AM

KLEZMER BRUNCH WITH NEFESH MOUNTAIN DUO

Nefesh Mountain Duo and Seth Kibel Klezmer Trio are joining up to bring you an unforgettable Sunday Klezmer Brunch!

Kids under 7 years old attend free of charge.

Presented in partnership with PJ library.

MUSIC

Sunday, February 12, 10:30 AM

KLEZMER BRUNCH WITH WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN GAMER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

We’re bringing in some special guests from the Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra (WMGSO) to present a unique program of video game music, all with Jewish connections.

You’ll enjoy the music of Israeli composer Inon Zur (Dragon Age, etc), memorable arrangements of songs from The Last Of Us and The Shivah, and more surprises for both gamers and lovers of music. Ready, Player Echad!

Kids under 7 years old attend free of charge.

Presented Browse the in partnership full lineup with atPJ JxJDC.ORG library.

FRIENDS OF THEATER J Theater J gratefully acknowledges the following donors who have given to our 2022–2023 Season since December 10, 2021.

This list is current as of December 11, 2022.

Leading Producer ($100,000+) Covenant Foundation

Arlene and Robert Kogod

National Endowment for the Arts

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Susie and Michael Gelman, The Morningstar Foundation The Government of the District of Columbia

Norbert Hornstein and Amy Weinberg Sari R. Hornstein The Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation Nussdorf Family Foundation Revada Foundation of the Logan Family

Kay Richman and Daniel Kaplan Share Fund The Shubert Foundation

Bruce A. Cohen* Dianne and Herb Lerner

Alfred Munzer and Joel Wind Helene and Robert Schlossberg

Cathy S. Bernard The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Stuart Eizenstat James A. Feldman and Natalie Wexler Cheryl Gorelick

The Morgan Fund at the Seattle Foundation Patricia Payne and Nancy Firestone* Diane and Arnold Polinger Bella Rosenberg Evelyn Sandground and Bill Perkins Hank Schlosberg

Barney Shapiro and Susan Walker The Leshowitz Family Foundation, Terry Singer Patti and Jerry Sowalsky The George Wasserman Family Foundation

Anonymous Michele and Allan Berman Ann Loeb Bronfman Fund Susan and Dixon Butler Myrna Fawcett Ann Gilbert

Rae Grad and Manuel Schiffres Meg and John Hauge Arlene and Martin Klepper Karen Lehmann-Eisner Howard Menaker and Patrick Gossett Sherry Nevins

Saul and Nancy Pilchen Elaine Reuben, The Timbrel Fund April Rubin and Bruce A. Ray Manny Strauss and Betsy Karmin Dr. Kathryn Veal Judy and Leo Zickler

Mara Bralove and Ari Fisher Embassy of Canada Johanna Chanin and Randall Levitt Bunny Dwin David and Patricia Fisher The Robert M. Fisher Memorial Foundation Mindy Gasthalter

Martha Winter Gross and Robert Tracy Sandra and Stephen Lachter Paul and Zena Mason Jeff Menick Ellen and Gary Malasky M. Craig Pascal Nora Roberts Foundation Ilene and Steven Rosenthal

Mita M. Schaffer and Tina M. Martin Peggy and David Shiffrin Richard Solloway Dr. Stuart Sotsky Les Silverman The Tides Center Jews of Color Initiative Joan S. Wessel

Suzanne and Enrique Fefer Lois and Michael Fingerhut Dina Gold Linda Goldsmith and Howard Berger Michael R. Klein and Joan Fabry

Barry Kropf Liza Levy Arleen Enid Lustig Vicki Robinson Trina and Lee G. Rubenstein

Alfred Sanders Irvin Wolloch Fund Alan and Irene Wurtzel

Alliance for Jewish Theatre Marian and James Brodsky Michelle and Glenn Engelmann Barry Friedman Gertrude & Lawrence Gichner Fund for the Performing Arts

Michael Halpern and Glenda Turner Helaine Harris and Jody M. Tavss Lucia and Frederic Hill Pamela Hunt The Frank and Marta Jager Foundation Nancy Limprecht and Rick Haines

Winton Eaheart Matthews, Jr. Alan McAdams and Ellen Dykes Avis and Ralph Miller David Rutenberg Cathy and Marc Scheineson

Helaine Abitbol and Ros Zinaman Randi Altschuler Anonymous Susan and Alan Apter Anthony Bauer Lisa Bell Sharon Bernier Laura Brown and Stephanie Fosburg Glenda and Gary Buff Michael L. Burke and Carl W. Smith

Jamie and Stuart Butler Laurie Calhoun Leslie Carothers Wallace Chandler Leah Chanin Dave Connick Rosemary Crockett Alison Drucker and Tom Holzman Evelyn and Barry Epstein The Keaton Family

Elise A. Feingold Lawrence Franks and Ellen Berelson Kit Gage and Steven Metalitz Donna Garry Jerald M. Goldberg Ellen Goldberg Mark Goldberg Daniel and Marion Goldberg Debbie J. Goldman Stephen Goldsmith

Sponsoring Producer ($25,000–$99,999)

Supporting Producer ($18,000–$24,999)

Leading Angels ($10,000–$17,999)

Sponsoring Angels ($6,000–$9,999)

Supporting Angels ($3,000–$5,999)

Enthusiasts ($1,000–$2,999)

Admirers ($500–$999)

Devotees ($100 - $499)

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FRIENDS OF THEATER J David and Mitchell Goldstein Robert Gramss Sally Greenberg Gail J. Gulliksen Bonnie and Alan Hammerschlag Eric Hissom Elizabeth Hodes David and Stephanie Houseknecht Carie Jasperse Brian M. Jones Karen A. Jones Elaine Kaplan Andrea Kasarsky Patricia Keig Aviva Kempner Lynne Kennedy and Joan Darrah Melinda Kingsbury Joel Korn Patricia and John Koskinen Ellen Kramarow and Jared Garelick Beth Kramer Richard and Bonnie Kramer Susan Kristol Penney K. Lagos Sandra Lapietra and Alan Helgerman Dan Leathers Darryl Lynn Lefcoe, DDS Dr. Karen Levenback Karen Lewis Michael Lewis and Linda Singer Patricia and Randall Lewis Diane Liff and Georgia Korn Elaine Ligelis Laurie and Len Lipton Sheila Lopez Amy Lowenstein Jennifer Madans and Terence Phillips

Noreen Marcus and Jay Sushelsky Carol Mates and Mark Kahan Dorothy Mayer James McGee Janice Mehler Robin Meyer Kim Mills Caroline Mindel Dennis and Laurie Moody Michael Moore Sally Morell Cathy and George Murphy Adrienne Nelson Ruth and Pedi Neta Gayle Novig and Terry Mahn Elizabeth Olchowski James Osteen John Parascandola Dana Pashkoff Elizabeth Peterson John Peterson Deborah and Alan Pollack Jessica Pollner Toby Port and Jeffrey Ahl Drs. Dena and Jerry Puskin Bernice Quay Kent Rader Erica Raphael and Richard Friedman Barbara Rappaport Nancy and Samuel Raskin Daniel Raviv Grace Robinowitz Linda Rosenzweig and Sandy Bieber Alan Safran Thomas Saunders Tia Scales Leslie Scallet

Margaret Schaefer Anne and Barry Schenof Lois Schiffer Gena Schoen Leonard Schreiber Linda Segal Howard Shalwitz Ruth and Phillip Shapiro Sylvia Shenk Rabbi Sanford H. Shudnow Merrill and Mark Shugoll Michael Singer and James Smith Arlene Farber Sirkin Myrna Sislen Catherine Solomon Linda Spector Rochelle Stanfield and Edward Grossman Carol Starley Margaret Hahn Stern and Stephen Stern Michael Stoller and Jyl Braff Donald and Mary Street Jay Sushelsky and Noreen Marcus Lee Talisman Peter Threadgill Joan A. Treichel Harriet and Randy Tritell Jordana Tynan Janice and Harold Ulmer Marjorie Weingold Valerie and John Wheeler Sandra and Jon Willen Adam Winkleman Janet and Robert Wittes Carrie Wolfe and Mark Greenwood Rivka Yerushalmi *of blessed memory

Bravo Morgan Stanley is proud to support Theater J. Congratulations to Mara Bralove, Financial Advisor — MAKERS Women Class of 2022. MAKERS celebrates the stories of those who are groundbreakers, innovators, and champions of women’s achievement.

Morgan Stanley is an ally to all women.

The Bralove Group at Morgan Stanley 7500 Old Georgetown Road 10th Floor Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-6376 Mara.Bralove@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-bralove-group

© 2022 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 4901469 09/22 23

EDLAVITCH DCJCC DONORS The Edlavitch DCJCC wishes to thank the following donors who enable us to serve the community. This list includes all fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) donors who made commitments or donations of $1,000 or more. This list is current as of December 14, 2022. The Edlavitch DCJCC would like to thank all of our donors for the important impact they have on our work.

$100,000+

Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation ◊ DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington ◊ Daniel Hirsch and Brenda Gruss ◊ Arlene and Robert Kogod

National Endowment for the Arts Washington Area Community Investment Funds

Covenant Foundation DC Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency

Susie and Michael Gelman, The Morningstar Foundation Sari R. Hornstein The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation

Nussdorf Family Foundation ◊ Saul and Nancy Pilchen ◊

The Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation Amy and Alan Meltzer ◊ Alfred Munzer and Joel Wind ◊ Diane and Arnold Polinger ◊ Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation

Kay Richman and Daniel Kaplan Ilene and Steven Rosenthal ◊ Martha and Philip Sagon Family Foundation The Shubert Foundation

Michele and Allan Berman Lisa and Josh Bernstein Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Charitable Foundation Bruce A. Cohen* James A. Feldman and Natalie Wexler ◊ Susan Sachs Goldman ◊ Cheryl Gorelick

Jill and Robert Granader ◊ Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Foundation Dianne and Herb Lerner Sid and Linda Moskowitz ◊ Bella Rosenberg Evelyn Sandground and Bill Perkins Helene and Robert Schlossberg

The Schoenbaum Family Foundation, Inc. Rhea Schwartz and Paul Wolff ◊ Shapiro Family Foundation The George Wasserman Family Foundation

Ronald and Anne Abramson Anonymous Cathy S. Bernard Stuart Eizenstat Rae Grad and Manuel Schiffres Martha Winter Gross and Robert Tracy ◊ Stuart S. Kurlander and David L. Martin

Thelma Lenkin ◊ The Leshowitz Family Foundation, Terry Singer The Morgan Fund at the Seattle Foundation Patricia Payne and Nancy Firestone* Janis and Philip Schiff ◊

Hank Schlosberg Richard Solloway Patti and Jerry Sowalsky Matthew Watson

Janet B. Abrams Monica and Gavin Abrams Joan and Alan Berman Jordan Lloyd Bookey and Felix Lloyd Susan and Dixon Butler Charles E. Smith Family Foundation Cyna and Paul Cohen, Sara C. Cohen and Norm J. Rich Rose and Robert Cohen ◊ Eva Davis and Justin Kramer ◊ Scott Eric Dreyer and Ellen Clare Gillespie Dreyer Jonathan Edelman Embassy of Canada Myrna Fawcett Meg and Samuel Flax ◊

Mindy Gasthalter Edith Gelfand, Jenny and Brian Gelfand ◊ Morgan and Josh Genderson Ann Gilbert Dina Gold Michelle and Jonathan Grossman ◊ Meg and John Hauge Arlene and Martin Klepper Sandra and Stephen Lachter Joy Lerner and Stephen Kelin ◊ Ellen and Gary Malasky Paul and Zena Mason Howard Menaker and Patrick Gossett Jeff Menick Sherry Nevins

Elaine Reuben, The Timbrel Fund April Rubin and Bruce A. Ray Mita M. Schaffer and Tina M. Martin Les Silverman Tina and Albert Small, Jr. ◊ David Bruce Smith Dr. Stuart Sotsky Manny Strauss and Betsy Karmin Mindy Strelitz and Andrew Cornblatt ◊ The Tides Center Jews of Color Initiative Francine Zorn Trachtenberg and Stephen Joel Trachtenberg ◊ Mimi Tygier and Robert Rubin Dr. Kathryn Veal Diane Abelman Wattenberg ◊ Judy and Leo Zickler

Stephen and Amy Altman Mara Bralove and Ari Fisher Cornerstone Research, Inc. Bunny Dwin Embassy of Israel William Kreisberg

Brad and Ali Lackey Saskia and Benjamin D. Loewy Carol Mates and Mark Kahan M. Craig Pascal Trina and Lee G. Rubenstein Carol Risher

Peggy and David Shiffrin Michael Singer and James Smith Heidi Wachs Joan S. Wessel Eric Zelenko

$50,000 - $99,999

$25,000 - $49,999

Johanna Chanin and Randall Levitt ◊ DC Government Ginny and Irwin Edlavitch ◊ Lois and Richard England Family Foundation The Kay Family Foundation ◊ $15,000 - $24,999

$10,000 - $14,999

$5,000 - $9,999

$2,500 - $4,999

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EDLAVITCH DCJCC DONORS $1,000 - $2,499

Anonymous John Ashley Elaine and Richard Binder Ito Briones and Warren Coates Dave Connick Jessica Dodson and Jeremy Levine Sonnie and William Dockser Ilana Marcus Drimmer John Edelmann Suzanne and Enrique Fefer Lois and Michael Fingerhut David and Patricia Fisher Jay Freedman

Samantha Galardi Gail Ginsberg Lois and Hadar Granader Cragg Hines Sandra Hoexter Rob Kallman The S. Kann Sons Company Foundation, Inc Irene and Lou Katz Michael R. Klein and Joan Fabry The Kresge Foundation Karen Lehmann-Eisner Marion Ein Lewin

Mary Stuart McCamy Rona and Allan Mendelsohn Morgan Stanley Joan Nathan Renay and Bill Regardie Alan Roth and Michael Rodgers Alfred Sanders Susan Rubin Suleiman United Way of the National Capital Area Helene Weisz and Richard Lieberman Janet and Robert Wittes *of blessed memory

All of the programs at the Edlavitch DCJCC are supported in part by a generous gift from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. ◊ These Community Champions have supported the Edlavitch DCJCC's Annual Fund with generous contributions of $5,000 or more. With their support, the Center’s unique programs continue to grow and remain accessible to everyone in our vibrant community.

With the support of our community of donors, the Edlavitch DCJCC remains the premier address in our nation’s capital for an expanding, diverse, and vibrant urban Jewish community.

Consider a tax-deductible contribution to the EDCJCC today. Visit edcjcc.org/support.

Everyone will leave a legacy.

How will you be remembered?

Your estate plan is a valuable tool to make a meaningful, lasting difference for future members of the EDCJCC community and can offer significant financial benefits to you and your family.

To learn more about making a bequest to the EDCJCC or Theater J, visit edcjcc.org/plannedgiving or contact Emily Jillson at ejillson@edcjcc.org.

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LIFESPAN FACT

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27 Sponsorships available. Contact Emily Jillson at ejillson@edcjcc.org for more information.

Book your tickets today!

theaterj.org | 202.777.3210

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