R' Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo - June 4

Dean, David Cardozo Academy

A prominent lecturer and author, Rabbi Natan Lopes Cardozo is world renowned for his highly original insights into Judaism and his ability to communicate the relevance of Jewish values and practice in today’s complicated world. A native of the Spanish-Portuguese Jewish community of Holland who holds a doctorate in philosophy, Rabbi Lopes Cardozo received rabbinic ordination from the Gateshead Talmudic College and studied in Israel at the Institute for Higher Rabbinical Studies of Chief Rabbi Unterman and at the Mir Yeshiva. In addition to teaching Jewish audiences, Rabbi Lopes Cardozo often lectures to non-Jewish groups, including Christian leaders, about comparative religion and the fundamentals of Judaism. His many books and articles have been translated into several languages.

R' Chuck Davidson  

May 21/June 11/Oct.17, 13:00

Founder, Ahavat HaGer and Giyur K'Halacha

Rabbi Chuck Davidson is one of the founders of Giyur K'Halacha, a network of Orthodox conversion courts that are working independently of the Chief Rabbinate. He is also the founder of Ahavat HaGer, an umbrella group of Orthodox rabbis worldwide who wish to conduct conversions independently of centralized rabbinic organizations, and have agreed to accept any conversion that meets the minimum standard under the Halacha. Rabbi Davidson is an expert on the laws of conversion and is active in training rabbis in this field, setting out principles to assist other courts. While his adversarial style has alienated him from some authorities, Rabbi Davidson believes that a forceful approach is needed to break the monopoly of the Chief Rabbis. He also is currently serving as head of Chuppot, the wedding division of Hashgacha Pratit, a Jerusalem organization which challenges the monopoly of the Rabbinate in marriage ceremonies and laws.

Dr. Netanel Fisher - Oct.17, 19:00

Author of A Jewish State? Controversial Conversions and the Dispute over Israel's Jewish Character

Dr. Netanel Fisher is acknowledged to be the academic expert on Jewish conversion in, and the Jewish character of, the State of Israel. Following his doctoral research on Israel's policy on conversion to Judaism, Dr. Fisher has gone on to lead important research and publish numerous articles and book chapters on these issues. Two of his recent papers were researched under the aegis of the Israel Democracy Institute: The Conversion Challenge in Israel – Analysis and Recommendations and Conversion in Israel, Jerusalem. Dr. Fisher's latest paper is titled The Chief Rabbinate’s Conversion-To-Judaism Policy 1948–2018. He is a senior lecturer in political science at the Shaarei Mishpat Academic Center for Law and Science. Dr. Fisher's papers and research findings can be read at . 

R' Prof. David Golinkin - Sept. 2

President, Schechter Institutes

Rabbi David Golinkin is the president of the Schechter Institutes, Inc. where he also serves as a Professor of Talmud and Jewish Law. He is the author of many halachic responsa, including one on the topic of this play. Read it here.

Rabbi David has been a regular player in Jerusalem's English speaking theater productions in recent years. Selected credits include the Ramban in Theater and Theology's Divine Right and leading roles in The Accomplices, The Chosen, The Maccabee Queen, Man From Earth, Oliver, Pride and Prejudice, Pygmalion, The Statement, and The God of Isaac.

R' Anne Gordon - June 13

Founder, Chochmat Nashim

Rabbanit Anne Gordon is a co-founder and the educational director of Chochmat Nashim, an NGO dedicated to combatting the health, financial, and emotional damage caused by extremism and the erasing of women in Orthodox Jewish society. She is also the deputy editor of Ops & Blogs at The Times of Israel. A native of Boston, she has enjoyed an intense and varied career in Jewish education, teaching high school through post-graduate Judaic Studies. Rabbanit Gordon holds a BA in History and Philosophy and an MA in Judaic Studies from Harvard University. She studied in the women’s batei midrash of Jerusalem and New York for nearly a decade, and is pursuing a distressingly slow doctorate in Jewish Education.

R' Dr. Johnny Krug - Sept. 3

Lecturer in Torah and psychology

In addition to his semicha, Rabbi Krug holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and speech/drama, masters degrees in psychology and Jewish education, a doctorate in clinical psychology, a post-doctorate fellowship degree from Bar Ilan University, and is licensed and in private practice as a clinical psychologist. Dr. Krug wrote his post-doctoral thesis on “The Use Of Drama And Theatrical Technique in Informal Jewish Education,” an often-cited work.

Rabbi Krug was the assistant producer of the world’s longest-running musical, The Fantasticks, from 1974 until its closing in January 2002. He served, for ten additional years, as the Production Consultant/Assistant Director for The Fantasticks' revival, until its closing in June 2017. In addition to more than 250 production credits in the past 49 years, as Director, Production Consultant, Set Designer or Lighting Designer, he has directed an award-winning show for NBC and consulted for multiple Broadway productions and national touring companies.

Miriam Metzinger - May 22/June 12/Dec. 4

Playwright, In a Stranger's Grave

Miriam Metzinger is a playwright, actress, and singer based in Jerusalem. She studied acting and playwrighting at HB Studio New York, and Classical Languages and Literature at Oxford University. Her first play, Lapse, was produced at Franklin College and Oxford University and was awarded a High Commendation rating at the Oxford Cuppers Theater Festival. Her second play, Low Ceiling, was produced at the Burton Taylor Theater in Oxford, U.K. and at Kenyon College. The Women of Lemonfield was given a staged reading at H.B. Studio New York. She also writes fiction; The Invisible Chassidishe Maidel was published in the Kenyon Review in 2014. Metzinger has also written a book of essays, Halfway Down the Stairs, and The Law in Indiana, a biographical novella. She was awarded the John Crowe Ransom Award for Poetry at Kenyon College. Metzinger's latest play, In a Stranger's Grave, sold out every performance of its recent run at Jerusalem's Khan Theater.

R' Jeffrey Saks - June 5

Founding Director of ATID

Rabbi Jeffrey Saks is the founding director of ATID - The Academy for Torah Initiatives and Directions in Jewish Education, in Jerusalem, and its WebYeshiva.org program. He is an editor of the journal Tradition, series editor of The S.Y. Agnon Library at The Toby Press, and Director of Research at the Agnon House in Jerusalem. Rabbi Saks is a frequent speaker at the Khan where he examines the complexities of reality without marring the magic of art. 

R' Shani Taragin - June 12

Ra"m at Midreshet Lindenbaum and Midreshet TVA

Rabbanit Shani Taragin advocates for a more accurate and nuanced portrayal of religious conservatism than the one we frequently see in the arts. Rabbanit Taragin completed a B.A. and M.A. in Tanach and Talmud at Bar-Ilan University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Tanach while serving as Ram for Tanach in Midreshet Lindenbaum. Rabbanit Taragin also teaches collegiates and adults at MaTaN, Migdal Oz, Sha'alvim for Women, Lander's College, and the Womens' Beit Midrash in Efrat and Ramat Shilo. She is a graduate of Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Program for certification as a halachic advisor in issues of taharat hamishpacha. Rabbanit Taragin lectures and leads Tanach tours throughout Israel and serves on the local religious council dealing with issues of Jewish law and education. 

R' Yosef Wolicki - December 4

Pulpit rabbi, teacher, and psychologist

Rabbi Yosef Wolicki is an alumnus of Yeshiva University with a B.A. in Psychology, MA degrees in Rabbinic Literature and Modern Jewish History, and rabbinic ordination. He also has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from McGill University. Rabbi Wolicki served as a congregational rabbi in the U.S. and Canada for twenty-four years prior to his aliya in1986. He then joined the faculty of Orot Israel College in Elkana and also worked as a psychologist at Shaare Zedek Hospital, working with families of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.  Rabbi Wolicki moved to Netanya in 1990 as the rabbi of the New Synagogue, retiring in 2004. He gave seminars in counseling skills and practical rabbinics to young rabbis for the Shaal Program of Yeshivat Shaalvim and Yad Hanadiv. He also lectured at the Israel Center in Jerusalem. Rabbi Wolicki is affiliated with the Rabbinical Council of America. 

Mordechai Buxner

Dovid

Mordechai has held leading acting and singing roles in many Jerusalem productions in the last few years. Selected credits include lead roles in Free to Be You and Me, Ordinary Days, and The Man From Earth, and the title roles in The Sorcerer and Ruddigore. 

Sandy Cash

Dena

Sandy Cash is a performing songwriter who, after making Aliya, sang professionally in the chorus of the Israeli Opera and at the Cameri Theater

(Les Miserables). Sandy’s community theater roles include Anna in The King And I, Desiree in A Little Night Music, Diana in Next to Normal, the Mother Superior in The Sound of Music, Katisha in The Mikado, Berthe in Pippin, The Stage Manager in Our Town, and Prospera in The Tempest. 

Charles B. Davies

Amos

C.B. recently played the title role in Ben Bard Player’s production of The God of Isaac. Other credits include Prince Christopher in Cinderella, Gershon in Theater and Theology's Divine Right, Stephan/Devscery in Hanna Senesh, Sid Phillips in Singing in the Rain, Kevin/Jason Greene in The Producers, Hanschen in Spring Awakening, Henry in Next To Normal, Hans Schmidt in Remember My Name and others with various companies within the community. C.B. studied acting at American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Terry Schreiber Studios, and Michael Howard Studios in New York City. He is the co-producer of the original concept album recording of the new musical Song of Solomon () and he is currently working on bringing a production of Song of Solomon to the Jerusalem stage.

C.B. is the founder of Jerusalem's  JET Community. See all that is going on in Jerusalem's English theater scene at jetcommunity.org. 

C.B. always credits Dena Davies for being the best wife and for exploring life and the stage with him. 

Bakol Ruben Gellar

Rebbetzin Friedman

Bakol has been performing for more than 50 years and is well known on the Jerusalem stage. Favorite roles include Mother Regina in Theater and Theology's Off the Derech Dolorosa, Ruth Steiner in Collected Stories, the goat in Fable of the Goat and, in the wonderful You Can’t Take It With You, Mrs. Kirby, twice. Other roles include Mme Barbiere in Remember My Name, Mme Armsfeldt in A Little Night Music, Tzwara in Chaim's Lovesong, the Señora in Andorra, and Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond. Bakol is a co-founder of the Jewish theatre of Bloomington, Indiana.  

R' David Golinkin

Rabbi Aaron

Rabbi David has been a regular player in Jerusalem's English speaking theater productions in recent years. Selected credits include the Ramban in Theater and Theology's Divine Right and leading roles in The Accomplices, The Chosen, The Maccabee Queen, Man From Earth, Oliver, Pride and Prejudice, Pygmalion, The Statement, and The God of Isaac.

In real life, Rabbi David Golinkin is the President of The Schechter Institutes, Inc. where he also serves as a Professor of Talmud and Jewish Law. He is the author of many halachic responsa, including one on the topic of this play. Read it here.

Devorah Leah Jaffe

Chana

Devorah has trained for most of her life as a dancer and singer. She later went on to train in acting at the Aspaklaria School of Performing Arts, where she studied for two years. In 2017, Devorah directed Hannah Senesh with J-Town Playhouse. Previous roles include Mary in Theater and Theology's Off the Derech Dolorosa, Mary in From Door to Door, Inga Johanson in Number the Stars and support roles in Raise Your Spirits productions of Noah! Ride the Wave, Ruth and Naomi in the Fields of Bethlehem and In Search of Courage. 

Avital Macales

Esther

Avital is the co-founder of The Women's Performance Community of Jerusalem. She has appeared for the last decade in leading roles with various theater companies, including Raise Your Spirits Theatre, WIT Modiin, J-Town Playhouse, Theater and Theology, and The Women's Performance Community. Avital has co-written and co-composed two musicals that were produced in the last three years -- Count the Stars and Hidden: The Secret Jews of Spain. By day Avital works as a Hebrew editor for the Ministry of Education.

Howard Metz

Rabbi Schmidt

Howard trained at Circle in the Square Theatre School in NY and has been acting for decades in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Recent credits include Joe in Theater and Theology's Off the Derech Dolorosa, and Pablo in Theater and Theology’s Divine Right. Howard also recently appeared in Assassins, Avenue Q, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 

Aharon Naiman

the Officer

Aharon is a seasoned screen actor, including appearances in Israeli TV productions Srugim and Underdos. His theater appearances include Thomas in Theater and Theology's Divine Right, various leading roles in the Efrat Community Theater's musicals (in Hebrew), as well as roles in The Statement and Second Labor. In addition, Aharon volunteers as Roni Baloni the medical clown. Aharon works as an applied mathematician and computer scientist at Machon Lev, and lives in Efrat with his wife, Tova. They are proud parents of five, and grandparents of five. 

ShiraChana Bienstock

Costume Design

Shira Chana Bienstock is a singer, actress, and photographer whose interest in costuming goes back to an amazing collection of hand-made period-piece dresses for her Barbies that were a highlight of childhood playtime. Shira Chana played a lead role in costuming, as well as performing, for the Women’s Performance Community of Jerusalem’s production of Hidden (1700’s Spanish fashion for a cast of 65 women/girls) in 2018, and contributed to costuming in WPC’s production of “Count The Stars” in 2016. 

Liora Elkoby

Sound Operation

Liora Elkoby is studying Torah and the Arts at Midreshet Emunah V'omanut in Jerusalem this year. Her past experience with theater includes appearances in My Favorite Shorts, Oliver Twist, Mulan, and Hello Dolly. Liora is currently broadening her horizons by learning the technical aspects of light and sound for this production.

Karen Feldman

Photography and Videography

Karen Feldman is an artist well-known in the Jerusalem English-speaking theater community for her stunning theater makeup and her creative photography. Her artistic eye is in demand by all the JET companies. 

Johnny Krug

Lighting Design

Rabbi Dr. John Krug was The Assistant Producer of the world’s longest running musical, The Fantasticks, from 1974 until its closing in January 2002. He served, for ten additional years, as the Production Consultant/Assistant Director for The Fantasticks' revival, until its closing in June 2017. In addition to more than 250 production credits in the past 49 years, as Director, Production Consultant, Set Designer or Lighting Designer, he has directed an award winning show for NBC and consulted for multiple Broadway productions and national touring companies. In addition to his semicha, he holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and speech/drama, Masters degrees in psychology and Jewish education, a doctorate in clinical psychology, a post-doctorate fellowship degree from Bar Ilan University, and is licensed and in private practice as a clinical psychologist. Dr. Krug wrote his post-doctoral thesis on “The Use Of Drama And Theatrical Technique in Informal Jewish Education,” an often cited work.

Roland Mureinik

Production Assistant

After playing in All My Sons and I Like Mike, and following a sterling performance as the bear in The Winter’s Tale, Roland is now focusing his many talents on the backstage. In A Stranger's Grave is his second venture in the magic of making things work from behind the scenes. In real life, Roland is a retired chemist who now studies the history of modern Chabad. 

Sara Newman

Props and Stage Management

Sara has been creating props for the Jerusalem English-speaking theater scene for ten years. She has worked with Theater and Theology, Encore, WPC, JEST, and Israel Musicals. Her favorite creations include a pair of camels and a menacing crocodile. 

Simone Stern

Sound Design

Simone is studying at the Rothberg School at Hebrew University for the current academic year. She has designed sound for various productions and since coming to Israel, has designed and worked sound for Encore's The King and I and AACI's Steel Magnolias. 

Yael Valier

Director

Yael has been involved in the Israeli English-speaking acting scene for seventeen years as a writer, actor, voice actor, and director. Yael is a graduate of Matan's Ayanot program and of the Ruti Tamir Physical Theater Workshop and she teaches drama at Midreshet Emuna V'Omanut. She has been a member of Rabbi Natan Lopes Cardozo's think tank for the last ten years. Yael runs and teaches Bibliodrama workshops for Jewish and non-Jewish groups. She also voices animated characters for The Fox Network's BabyTV Channel. You can hear her voice (though you may not recognize it) in five current series.