Workshop description: Three selected passages from Tractate Shabbat suggest they were used as scripts in some form of ancient Jewish theatre (likely, these are fragements of a longer play). The workshop group splits into three, each working group reviews their selected play and adds some additional lines (fill in the blanks) to bolster the dramatic performance. The working groups then perform their play and joins in discussion at the end.
PLAY #1
Suggested title: Knocking Down Heaven’s Door
Source: Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 88b-89a
Characters: (in order of appearance)
Heavenly Angels, God, Moses
ACT ONE
(Scene opens with Moses arriving at heaven to receive the Torah)
HEAVENLY ANGELS
(Vexed and agitated)
Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman doing here among us?
GOD
He came to receive the Torah.
HEAVENLY ANGELS
But this hidden treasure that you concealed for 974 generations before the creation of the world. You want to give it to someone of flesh and blood?
GOD
(Unsure how to respond, turns to Moses)
Moses! Give them an answer!
MOSES
(Scared and panicked)
Master of the Universe, I am afraid lest they burn me with the breath of their mouths.
GOD
Grab my throne of glory and provide them with an answer.
MOSES
Master of the Universe, the Torah that You are giving me, what is written in it?
GOD
I am the Lord your God Who brought you out of Egypt.
MOSES
(Turns to Angels)
Hey Angels! Did you descend to Egypt? Were you enslaved to Pharaoh? Why should the Torah be yours?
HEAVENLY ANGELS
___________________________________________________
MOSES
(Turns to God)
What else is written in it?
GOD
You shall have no other gods before Me.
MOSES
(Turns to Angels)
Hey Angels! Do you dwell among the nations who worship idols whom you might be tempted to serve?
HEAVENLY ANGELS
___________________________________________________
MOSES
(Turns to God)
What else is written in it?
GOD
Remember Shabbat and make it holy.
MOSES
(Turns to Angels)
Do you perform labour that you would require rest from it?
HEAVENLY ANGELS
___________________________________________________
MOSES
(Turns to God)
What else is written in it?
GOD
Do not take My name in vain.
MOSES
(Turns to Angels)
Do you conduct business with one another that may lead you to swear falsely?
HEAVENLY ANGELS
___________________________________________________
MOSES
(Turns to God)
What else is written in it?
GOD
Honor your father and your mother.
MOSES
(Turns to Angels)
Do any of you have a father or a mother to honor?
HEAVENLY ANGELS
___________________________________________________
MOSES
(Turns to God)
What else is written in it?
GOD
Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal.
MOSES
(Turns to angels)
Is there jealousy among you, or is there an evil inclination within you that would render these commandments relevant?
HEAVENLY ANGELS
(Agree with God that He made the right choice to give Moses the Torah)
___________________________________________________
(Immediately, the angels line up to admire Moses and gift something to him)
___________________________________________________
(Moses leaves with the Torah)
END
PLAY #2
Suggested title: Raiders of the Lost Covenant
Source: Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 89a
Characters: (in order of appearance)
Angels, Satan, God, Moses, Earth, Sea, Depths
ACT ONE
(Scene opens with the Angels discussing how Moses received the Torah)
HEAVENLY ANGELS
(Chattering amongst themselves excitedly)
___________________________________________________
SATAN
(Rushes in, visibly agitated)
Master of the Universe, where did the Torah go!?
GOD
I gave it to the Earth.
SATAN
(Shocked)
___________________________________________________
GOD
___________________________________________________
SATAN
___________________________________________________
GOD
___________________________________________________
SATAN
(Goes to visit the Earth)
Do you know where the Torah is?
EARTH
I do not know. Only God knows which way it went! But why not ask the Sea?
SATAN
(Goes to visit the Sea)
Do you know where the Torah is?
SEA
I don’t have it. Have you tried asking the Depths?
SATAN
(Goes to visit the Depths)
Do you know where the Torah is?
DEPTHS
I don’t have it.
SATAN
(Frustrated, returns to speak to God)
Master of the Universe, I searched for the Torah throughout all the earth and did not find it.
GOD
Go to Moses, son of Amram.
SATAN
(Goes to visit Moses)
The Torah that the Holy One, Blessed be He, gave you, where is it?
MOSES
And what am I that the Holy One, Blessed be He, would have given me the Torah? I am unworthy.
SATAN
___________________________________________________
GOD
Moses! Are you a fabricator?
MOSES
Master of the Universe, you have a hidden treasure in which you delight every day. Should I take credit for myself and say that you gave it to me?
GOD
Moses, since you humbled yourself, the Torah will be called by your name.
END
PLAY #3
Suggested title: The Hungry Dogs of Jerusalem
Source: Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 30a-30b
Characters: (in order of appearance)
King David, God, Narrator, Angel of Death, Solomon, Sages
ACT ONE
DAVID
___________________________________________________
GOD
___________________________________________________
DAVID
___________________________________________________
GOD
___________________________________________________
DAVID
___________________________________________________
GOD
___________________________________________________
DAVID
Master of the Universe, let me know the time of my demise.
GOD
It is decreed before Me not reveal to mortals the time of their end.
DAVID
At least tell me what day of the year will be my last.
GOD
It is decreed before Me not to reveal the measure of one’s days.
DAVID
At least tell me on what day of the week I will die.
GOD
You will die on Shabbat.
DAVID
Will my death disgrace the Sabbath? Let me die on Sunday instead.
GOD
By Sunday, it will already be time for your son Solomon to reign. And one kingdom may not overlap with another by even a hairbreadth.
DAVID
Then I will cede a day of my life and die on Shabbat eve.
GOD
I cannot accept, for a day in your court is better than a thousand days of any other. A single day in which you sit and engage in Torah is preferable to Me than the thousand animal offerings that your son Solomon will offer before Me on the altar.
NARRATOR
Every Shabbat David would study all day to protect himself from the Angel of Death. On the day the Angel of Death was supposed to take his soul, the Angel of Death stood before him but was unable to overcome him because his mouth did not pause from study.
ANGEL OF DEATH
Oh! What shall I do to him?
NARRATOR
The Angel of Death went to the garden and shook the trees. David went out to see. As he climbed the stair, the stair broke beneath him. He was startled and was silent and paused his studies for a moment, and there he died.
SOLOMON
My father has died and is lying in the sun, and the dogs of my father’s house are hungry.
SAGES
Cut up an animal carcass and place it before the dogs. As for your father, place a loaf of bread (or an infant) on top of him, and move him into the shade.
SOLOMON
Indeed, a living dog is better than a dead lion.
END