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A play called ‘The Zionists’ turns the post-Oct. 7 discourse into a dysfunctional family drama

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The play "The Zionists" by S. Asher Gelman explores the deep ideological divisions within Jewish families following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
  • The drama uses the affluent Rosenberg family's vacation as a backdrop to depict arguments over Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, and Jewish identity.
  • The playwright aims to turn post-October 7 debates into a form of catharsis, encouraging audiences to confront discomfort and engage with differing viewpoints.

The play "The Zionists," written by S. Asher Gelman, tackles the profound familial and communal fractures that emerged within the Jewish community after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. The drama, currently running at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, after premiering at Miami New Drama, uses intense arguments among its Jewish characters about Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, and protest politics to explore these divisions.

Gelman's play, subtitled "A Family Storm," centers on the affluent Rosenberg family during a Caribbean vacation. Ideological fault lines emerge as the family grapples with differing views on Israel and Jewish identity. The characters include a philanthropist mother, a daughter married to an Israeli, and a youngest son who has embraced anti-Zionism and supported pro-Palestinian encampments. The narrative depicts how these conflicts blur personal and political boundaries, leaving no one unscathed.

This is ultimately what the world needs right now. It needs us to lean into discomfort and to work through our discomfort with each other.

— S. Asher GelmanThe playwright explaining the purpose and intended impact of his play 'The Zionists'.

The playwright stated that he wrote "The Zionists" in response to what he perceived as crude and uninformed social media messages following the October 7 attacks. He expressed a desire for the play to offer catharsis by encouraging audiences to "lean into discomfort and to work through our discomfort with each other." This approach marks a shift in artistic engagement with Israel-related topics, as many artists and institutions have previously shied away from the subject due to potential backlash.

While artists have often felt pressured to choose sides or avoid Israel-related issues since October 7, Gelman's play, along with other recent works like Joshua Cohen's "My Camp" and David Bezmogis' "From, To," and Jonathan Spector's "Birthright," suggests a growing willingness to confront these complex and often painful discussions through fiction. The play aims to transform the divisive discourse into a space for understanding and resolution.

They were busy contextualizing and explaining October 7, and what caused [Israelis] to be raped and murdered and kidnapped.

— S. Asher GelmanGelman describing his disillusionment with social media discourse following the October 7th attacks.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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