"Master of Prayer"

“They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Hashem, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day it will be, that the root of Yishai, that stands for a banner for the peoples, to it shall the nations seek; and his resting place will be glorious. And it will come to pass on that day, that Hashem will set His hand again, the second time, to recover the remnant of His people, that shall be left, from Ashur, and from Mitzrayim, from Patros, and from Kush, and from Elam, and from Shin’ar, and from Chamat, and from the islands of the sea. And He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Yehuda from the four corners of the earth.” — Yeshayahu 11:5-12

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Judelman Bros., FiddleMonster Productions, and Proposition Theatrical Properties

present

Master of Prayer

A story by Rebbe Nachman

New York Tour

Dec. 1-9 2010

a night of puppetry, music, latkes and light

Written by the deeply imaginative teacher, composer and founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement, the Master of Prayer offers enlightening connections to the Chanuka story. On Chanuka we remember an exiled people fighting to re-enter Jerusalem, the place of peace/ wholeness; to rekindle their light and restore their relationship with the Divine. This process is constantly unfolding within us as individuals, in our communities, and globally. We celebrate Chanuka (at home, significantly) by placing candles in public view, filling our community with each household’s unique light.

Master of Prayer is about this relationship within the community and self, and the way to purify the whole. It vividly illustrates the destructive ways in which we seek fulfillment through distorted value systems, becoming the grossest manifestations of that idolatry – assigning power to things which are not truly powerful. Some say the protagonist symbolizes Rebbe Nachman and is thus at the same time a comment on the role of the tzadikim (enlightened teachers) and instruction for social change.

Seeking to entertain, educate and elevate, Master of Prayer presents some of the oldest elements of Jewish culture in an honest and playful way, connecting local organizations, art/ prayer spaces, farmers and free-thinkers with the land, the Torah and the Source.

For centuries Jews were not allowed to work the land despite the fact that most of the laws in the Torah pertain to farming. Since the emancipation of the Jews, a new Jewish environmental ethos has evolved alongside the international environmental and agricultural movements and we feel that it is time for artists, organizers and institutions to encourage this evolution which we will do by bringing people together around local foods and culture.

Our puppets are made from recycled materials by the puppeteers, which include members of Bread and Puppet and Elkland Arts. The show features live traditional and original klezmer music by Sasson. We will serve latkes made from local veggies and light candles after the show, venue permitting.
Running time approx. 40 minutes.
May be followed by short performance by Sasson.