Jake Mace
Kaddish, in its definition, refers to a Jewish prayer often spoken in mourning, and translates to mean ‘holy’ or ‘sanctification’. Sam Sherman’s eponymous solo play takes the form of a breathtaking polymathic journey in conversation with their dead grandfather, Saul N. Sherman, a Jewish American World War II veteran. It blends Yiddish folklore with stories about fighting fascism, New York mobsters, the history of Washington D.C as a sanctuary for Black people fleeing the South during the American Civil War, and presciently, the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Taking inspiration from the private journals of Saul, Sam weaves a narrative that dually explores their grandfather’s moral reckonings throughout a storied past alongside their own. Both have volunteered abroad – Saul to fight fascism on the Eastern Front in the Second World War, Sam to undertake solidarity work in Palestine. Sam extracts parallels across both of their lives to address political situations now and then, how to navigate Jewish identity when confronted with antisemitism, the state of American and Israeli politics, and what it means to stand up for what is right. It’s a story of inheritance, community, resistance, belief, and solidarity.
You’ll find it hard to keep your eyes off of Sam’s performance as they move seamlessly from portraying Saul’s stories into their own. The two characters are clearly defined, Saul with a New Jersey husk to his voice and rolled shoulders, and Sam, a naturally gifted storyteller. Sam’s parents break through into the narrative as they question their involvement in protests and solidarity work, and we see Sam come to a reckoning with what they describe as the ‘messy path’ to doing the best you can to achieve justice and what you believe in. The narrative is delivered without hinderance nor pretence, in focused and charming delivery, thanks to Lila Weitzner’s tight direction.
The fourth wall is soon punched through to teach us how to curse in Yiddish, which allows the audience a moment to gather our thoughts among the weighty themes on offer, and connects us with the deeper past and culture that has defined elements of both of the Sherman’s lives. A mythical creature from Yiddish folklore traces the outlines of this piece, appearing in its beginnings and ends to root this story firmly in mythmaking. As with any cultural myth, Kaddish (How to be a Sanctuary) develops its message from truth and history, and asks us to envision a culture of compassion, humanity, solidarity, and action. Even when you find yourself confronted by the stumbling blocks of life, this story shows how intersectional praxis in all its forms can illuminate hope for a better future, and ignite resistance to discriminatory and fascistic narratives.
Sam’s performance is a tour-de-force. With moments of levity and humour found within, the focus of Kaddish (How to be a Sanctuary) is deepfelt compassion and hard-fought action. Intrepid, stirring, and utterly vivid – you shouldn’t miss the last two chances to catch this show.
You can catch Kaddish (How to be a Sanctuary) until August 9th at Studio at theSpaceTriplex from 22:30 (55mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
