Latest News

"Both Sides of the Family" and Hodesh Limud
This January, "Both Sides of the Family" was performed as part of Siegal College's Hodesh Limud, or Month of Jewish Study. The play was followed by a post-performance discussion, along with two additional evening sessions that were facilitated by Rabbi Rosette Haim of the Temple Tifereth Israel/Cleveland.

This September, "Both Sides of the Family" will be performed as part of a community interfaith event. The event is significant in that it is being co-sponsored by seven different Greater Cleveland organizations interested in the interfaith dialogue. These co-sponsors include:

American Jewish Committee of Cleveland
Greater Cleveland Board of Rabbis
Hillel (Cleveland region)
Jewish Community Center (Mandel) of Cleveland
Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland
Jewish Education Center of Cleveland
Siegal College

The event will be on Thursday evening, September 10th at 730pm at the Ratner School Auditorium in Pepper Pike. The event is free and open to the public. It will include a performance of "Both Sides of the Family," a post-performance discussion led by clergy versed in interfaith dialogue, and a reception. People attending will be able to meet and interact with representatives from the several co-sponsors.

"Both Sides of the Campus" is the next play being written as part of the five-part "Both Sides" interfaith canon of plays. Jacqi Loewy, who developed the original "Both Sides of the Family" production in 2006, is working with Hillel and other area college campus organizations to provide context and content for the new play. Its focus will be on the issues and challenges associated with interfaith dating and other areas experienced by college-aged students.

Nachama Moskowitz of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland has been working with Jacqi Loewy and Jeffrey Grover to create a facilitation/study guide that complements performances of "Both Sides of the Family." The guide, due to be completed in summer, 2009, will provide presenting organizations a professional tool to help stimulate discussion in relation to key areas contained in "Both Sides of the Family."

About Both Sides of the Family

A new play by Maryann Elder Goldstein
Additional Material by Jeffrey Grover
Directed and conceived by Jacqi Loewy

This funny, spiritual and moving journey of interfaith parenting, childhood and marriage is offered by Charenton Shorts. "She" is raising a Jewish daughter for her Jewish husband, although she is not interested in converting. "He" is the child of two Jewish parents and the father of two families, on Jewish and one Christian. Follow their journeys as they weave, unravel and reflect on the diversity that is their lives.

In contrapuntal ruminations, the pair explores a variety of subjects - kashrut, Shabbat observance, anti-Semitism and, of course, their angst surrounding the celebration of Chanukah and Christmas. Through observations that are, by turns, serious, wry, painful, and poignant, they struggle to define what it means to be Jewish.

The play culminates with each describing a trip to Israel, an event which raises important issues and ultimately helps each character answer the central question: What makes a family? Music by well-known Jewish folksinger/songwriter Noah Budin frames the play. - Susan H. Kahn, Cleveland Jewish News

Both humorous and poignant, Goldstein has probed not only inter-religious marriage, but the purpose of religion, the importance of tradition, and the bond of family. The dialogue is natural. The humor is appropriate to the situation, not gimmicky. The agnst is nicely developed. This is a good script! - Roy Berko, Cleveland Theatre Critic