Montreal

Just getting back from The International Yiddish Theater Festival in Montreal. What an amazing experience. First of all, Montreal is a fabulous city, and Bryna Wasserman, the artistic director of the Segal center for the arts, and her team put together a spectacular event. Everyone treated us great, the production staff was on the highest level, and they made me look good in Yosl Rakover Speaks to G-d. We were surprised at the level of interest in the show and gratified by the response, which was everything we could hope for.

The facility itself is state of the art. My friends, there are about 80,000 of us in Montreal, a large portion from Sephardic background, and this relatively small but cohesive community has put together a fabulous multi-discipline arts center with wonderful programs for all ages. I come back to New York with my head hung in shame at our inability to emulate their achievement, but filled with inspiration and the determination to say the things that nobody wants to hear. We need to wake up and put aside all the bull in order to unite and take our rightful place as the city where Yiddish theater reached its greatest heights. But more of my raving later.

For an overview of the festival and more on The Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theater go to: yiddishtheatre.org