Repetition and Solipsism in the “Israel Debate” Play

After a few years of seeing Jewish plays “debating” Israel/Palestine, Jewish Currents editor-at-large Arielle Angel and theater critic Alisa Solomon explored the phenomenon through an exchange of letters, which were published this week. On this episode of On the Nose, they discuss the plays that fall into this category: most recently, the critically acclaimed Birthright by Jonathan Spector, but also including The Zionists by S. Asher Gelman, Giant by Mark Rosenblatt, The Ally by Itamar Moses, and Prayer for the French Republic by Joshua Harmon. They detail the compulsive repetition of these plays and they explore why Jewish hand-wringing is being consistently elevated during a moment of genocide, and why it appears so popular with critics and liberal audiences alike.

Thanks to Jules Natt for editing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”

Media Mentioned and Further Reading

“Birthright Stages a Tired Debate,” Arielle Angel and Alisa Solomon, Jewish Currents

Birthright by Jonathan Spector

Giant by Mark Rosenblatt

The Zionists by S. Asher Gelman

The Ally by Itamar Moses

Prayer for the French Republic by Joshua Harmon

“Campus Politics Takes the Stage in The Ally,” On the Nose, Jewish Currents

“Who Is Tom Stoppard’s ‘Jewish Play’ For?” On the Nose, Jewish Currents

“Giant Gave the People What They Want,” Jessica Goldschmidt, Jewish Currents