Witness Theater “The Art of Living” an Inspirational Performance

May 2, 2019

 

The Khezrie Auditorium at the Joel Braverman High School Al and Sonny Gindi Campus was filled beyond capacity for this year's Witness Theater Production, "The Art of Living." The performance was the culmination of months of heartfelt partnership between our HS students and Holocaust survivors.

Since the first week of school, the students and survivors have met every week as part of the emotional journey in which they confronted the horrors of the past and addressed current tragedies, including the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh and, most recently, the shooting in San Diego, both which echoed with memories of the past. Sadly, the group also experienced the loss of Sally Fliegelman, a survivor in the group who passed away suddenly as everyone was just getting to know and love her.

Together, the students and survivors explored what it means to live. They discovered that true living means to actively seize the moment and make the most of our time on Earth. Inspired by the survivors, particularly Fred Terna, a renowned painter, the group began to think of life as a form of art and they explored the metaphor of the blank canvas as it relates to their experiences in Witness Theater.

Scenes in the show depicted harrowing moments from the Holocaust as well as moving moments of love and rebuilding. The metaphor of the blank canvas was woven throughout each scene as the students carried literal blank canvases, transforming them into set pieces and props in the show. Eventually the group emerged and closed the show with a painted mural, titled "The Art of Living."

This compelling program was coordinated by Sally Shatzkes, Drama Therapist and Program Director; Sarah Cohen, Project and Production Assistant; Molly Blann, Social Worker, Brooklyn Holocaust Survivor Program, Selfhelp Community Services; and Fran Tarshish, Social Work Supervisor, Brooklyn Holocaust Survivor Program, Selfhelp Community Services. Danny Shatzkes, Musical Director/Composer, and Leslie Grazi provided the original and moving musical accompaniment for the performance. Our talented choir performed under its director Mordy Weinstein. Witness Theater is a partnership between Yeshivah of Flatbush and Selfhelp Community Services.

Did you miss the production? See an encore presentation:

Thursday, May 9th at 7pm: Museum of Jewish Heritage, Edmond J. Safra Plaza, 36 Battery Place, New York, NY

Monday, May 13th at 12:40 pm: Leon M. Goldstein Performing Arts Center (PAC), Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd, Brooklyn, NY

You can also see an encore screening of the Witness Theater Documentary, Tuesday, May 7th. Details in the flyer below.