L ifestyle /C ulture
‘Golem’ Considers Death, Associated Jewish Rituals
ARTS JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF
AT THE OLD CITY Jewish
Arts Center, playwrights and
theater artists Logan Gabrielle
Schulman and Benjamin
Behrend are trying something
new: an art exhibition.

For Schulman and Behrend,
who met as teachers at
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
before expanding their partner-
ship, it’s a totally new experience,
one born out of calamity.

“The exhibition basically
came about because the
pandemic screwed up every-
thing else,” Behrend said.

“A Golem Sleeps and
Wakes in the Mourning,”
which opened on June 4, is
a combination of new work
and reconfigured set pieces
from previous performances of
Schulman and Behrend. The
exhibit runs through July 2 and
features images, objects, filmed
performances and interactive
spaces. On June 25 and July 2, the
pair will present live perfor-
mances called “Time, Collapsed”
— complete with live musical
From left: Logan Gabrielle Schulman and Benjamin Behrend
Photos by Noah S. Thompson
accompaniment, dance and
puppetry — alongside public
conversations with Aleida Garcia,
founder of the National Homicide
Justice Alliance; Roz Pichardo,
founder of Save Our City Philly;
and Benjamin Bass, who will
perform in “Time, Collapsed”
alongside Griffin Rowe.

“A Golem Sleeps and Wakes
in the Mourning” covers
many of the same themes
that Schulman and Behrend
explored in their virtual play,
“Welcome to the Shiva House,”
produced during last year’s
Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

In that performance, audiences
were made to participate in a
Zoom shiva, led by Schulman
and Behrend, for a fictional
character named Sam Bloom.

“Golem” grapples with
death and Jewish death ritual
in a similarly participatory way,
inviting audiences to look into
a mirror covered in lace and
tool around with an overhead
projector. Sometimes the
similarities between the show
and the exhibition are literal,
rather than thematic: Viewers
can watch clips of “Welcome
to the Shiva House” while they
flip through the program that
accompanied it.

“This is basically a retro-
spective of our partnership
over the past four years,”
Behrend said.

The exhibition, which came
about after Schulman and
Behrend answered an open call
from OCJAC, asks viewers to
think about themes like death,
abandonment, gun violence,
the pandemic and our respon-
sibilities to each other. The
names of children killed by gun
violence in 2021 are written on
butcher paper, rolled into the
shape of a megillah; images
beckoning viewers in from
off the street are displayed on
obsolete television screens. The
Golem is a frequent touchpoint
for the artists, as well.

Schulman and Behrend
have given audiences a lot to
chew on in OCJAC’s cozy,
brick-walled space.

Schulman, 26, studied
religion and performance at
the New College of Florida
before receiving training as
an actor at the Stella Adler
Studio for Actor Training.

Their work has been presented
by the Chautauqua Institution,
the Annenberg Center for
the Performing Arts, Arthur
Ross Gallery and Vox Populi
Gallery, among other institu-
tions. In addition to their work
as a theater artist, Schulman
nurses a deep love for puppetry,
which is represented in several
portions of “A Golem Sleeps
and Wakes in the Mourning.”
Behrend, 27, a Philadelphia
native and graduate of the
University of Pennsylvania,
has worked with prominent
Philadelphia theater compa-
nies like the Arden Theatre
Co., InterAct Theatre, Theatre
Exile and Act II Playhouse.

Schulman and Behrend’s
collaboration began in earnest
in the wake of the 2018 Tree of
Life shootings in Pittsburgh.

As each of them struggled
to understand how Jews as
individuals and as communi-
ties should grapple with what
had happened, they looked to
one another for ideas.

They wrote a complicated
play called “Elegy for a Lamb:
A Revival,” to which the No.

1 response was confusion.

With those notes in mind, they
reworked it into a new play
called “Now at the End, Again,”
See Golem, Page 23
A simpler, more convenient
lifestyle awaits at Dunwoody
Village. Newly renovated one-
and two-bedroom apartments
are currently available,
allowing you to spend less time
worrying and more time living
in the moment, doing the things
you enjoy. Contact us today.

Decidedly Different .

® Decidedly Ready.

(610) 359-4400 | www.dunwoody.org
3500 West Chester Pike • Newtown Square, PA 19073-4168
Independent Living • Rehabilitation • Personal Care • Skilled Nursing • Memory Support • Home Care
20 JUNE 10, 2021
A Continuing Care
Retirement Community
Five-Star Rated Healthcare
Pet Friendly
JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



L ifestyle /C ulture
Cantor Concert Comes Together From Afar
M USIC
SASHA ROGELBERG | JE STAFF
CANTOR DAVID TILMAN
was not used to conducting a
choir he couldn’t see.

Though his ensemble
members were invisible to him,
they were far from nonexistent.

They relied on prerecordings
of his conductings to guide
them as they prepared for “Shir
Hadash - A Virtual Concert.”
On June 13, the Delaware
Valley Region of the Cantors
Assembly and Ohev Shalom
of Bucks County will hold a
Cantor Annelise Ocanto-Romo
virtual concert celebrating
classical and contemporary
Due to its virtual platform,
Jewish songs. The event begins
the concert will patch together
at 7 p.m.

The concert will feature 20 the choir parts of each cantor,
cantors, some with solos, others creating a cohesive quiltwork
singing as part of an ensemble. of song for its audience.

ROOSEVELT The Delaware Valley Region of the Cantors Assembly
Photos courtesy of Annelise Ocanto-Romo
To do this, Tilman, the pieces, being mindful of his their own parts, some traveling
Bulletin Print Ad
musical director of the assembly, invisible choir’s dynamics, to Ohev Shalom to record
with the music playing inside tempo and articulation. Using their pieces independently, but
recordings, members
his head, recorded It's
videos simple
of Tilman’s
to customize
this ad for your location.

himself conducting group of the assembly then recorded
See Cantor, Page 23
Celebrating each life like no other.

MEMORIAL PARK
spacer Trevose
Bulletin 1. Change the document
name Print of Ad your ad by
Celebrating each life like clicking
no other. on "Change Document Name" at the top
It's simple to customize this ad for your
of the page. Consider
including size, date and
WE HONOR INTERFAITH
ROOSEVELT abbreviated publication
name. MARRIAGES
1. Change
the document name of your
 
MEMORIAL PARK
clicking on
"Change Document Name"
215-673-7500 ROOSEVELT
215-673-7500 
MEMORIAL PARK
spacer Trevose
'R abbreviated 'R 3ODQIRUWKH)XWXUH" the correct
has been publication
selected. name.

Do You Have a Plan for
the location(s)
Future? of the page. Consider
including size,
2. Review the property information
to ensure
2. Review the property information to
x x
x &RPHVHHRXUQHZ
3. Double-click on the headline
of the
ad to has been
the correct
location(s) :K\ 7RGD\ :K\ 7RGD\ :K\ 7RGD\ change
the messaging.

Choose from
Why You Should Pre-Plan Today
3. Double-click
on the headline
of the ad
the drop-down
menu that
• Make
your family knows your the fi nal following
wishes options in change
0DNHVXUH\RXUIDPLO\NQRZV\RXUILQDOZLVKHV 0DNHVXUH\RXUIDPLO\NQRZV\RXUILQDOZLVKHV
x x sure
0DNHVXUH\RXUIDPLO\NQRZV\RXUILQDOZLVKHV the messaging. Choose from
appears on the right:
5HOLHYH\RXUORYHGRQHVIURPKDYLQJWRPDNH the following options in the
5HOLHYH\RXUORYHGRQHVIURPKDYLQJWRPDNH x x 5HOLHYH\RXUORYHGRQHVIURPKDYLQJWRPDNH
• Relieve
your loved ones from having to - Celebration
make tough
appears on the right:
WRXJKGHFLVLRQVDQGIURPDQ\XQH[SHFWHG WRXJKGHFLVLRQVDQGIURPDQ\XQH[SHFWHG
WRXJKGHFLVLRQVDQGIURPDQ\XQH[SHFWHG decisions
and from any unexpected fi - nancial
burdens Community
- Celebration
ILQDQFLDOEXUGHQV ILQDQFLDOEXUGHQV
ILQDQFLDOEXUGHQV - Community
- Pre-Plan
• Give real peace of mind for you \RXDQG\RXUIDPLO\
and your family
*LYHUHDOSHDFHRIPLQGIRU *LYHUHDOSHDFHRIPLQGIRU
\RXDQG\RXUIDPLO\ x x *LYHUHDOSHDFHRIPLQGIRU
\RXDQG\RXUIDPLO\ - Pre-Plan
- Traditions
Traditions us today WRVSHDNZLWKD
to speak Once
with a you've selected the - type
of message you
&DOO Call
XV WRGD\
Once you've selected the type of
&DOO XV
WRGD\ WRVSHDNZLWKD
&DOO XV
WRGD\ WRVSHDNZLWKD
Family Service
Professional and
receive your
)DPLO\6HUYLFH3URIHVVLRQDODQGUHFHLYH\RXU would like, click "Apply."
would like, click "Apply."
)DPLO\6HUYLFH3URIHVVLRQDODQGUHFHLYH\RXU )DPLO\6HUYLFH3URIHVVLRQDODQGUHFHLYH\RXU
)5(( 3HUVRQDO3ODQQLQJ*XLGH
FREE Personal Planning Guide.

)5(( 3HUVRQDO3ODQQLQJ*XLGH
3HUVRQDO3ODQQLQJ*XLGH )5((
4. Click your
"Preview" to review your ad
4. Click "Preview" to review
ad before
downloading or
Roosevelt Park
Roosevelt Memorial
Memorial Park
downloading or saving. Close out the saving. Close out the
Preview tab to return to the Ad
2701 2701
Old Roosevelt
Lincoln Old
Lincoln Hwy.

Hwy. Roosevelt
Memorial Park
Preview tab Park
to return to
the Ad Builder.

Memorial Come
see our new
&RPHVHHRXUQHZ Cremation Options
Trevose, PA PA 19053
Trevose, 19053 Lincoln
2701 Old
Lincoln Hwy.

Hwy. 5. Click "Finish" and "Download" to
2701 Old
&UHPDWLRQ2SWLRQV &RORUHG0RQXPHQW6HFWLRQV
Colored &UHPDWLRQ2SWLRQV
Monument Sections
5. Click "Finish" and "Download"
to download
your as a PDF with
crop marks to
print ad or
(215) 673-7500
(215) 673-7500
Trevose, as PA
PA a PDF
19053 Trevose,
19053 Karen
Pecora Private Family Estates Leah Feldman
to a publication.

&RORUHG0RQXPHQW6HFWLRQV 3ULYDWH)DPLO\(VWDWHV
with crop
marks to
print or
provide &RORUHG0RQXPHQW6HFWLRQV
General Manager
Family Service Manager
(215) 673-7500
Ellipse Gardens
to a publication. Karen
General 673-7500
Manager Leah Feldman (215)
Leah Feldman
Feldman Karen Pecora
Pecora Leah
&RPHVHHRXUQHZ &UHPDWLRQ2SWLRQV
(OOLSVH*DUGHQV 3ULYDWH)DPLO\(VWDWHV
3ULYDWH)DPLO\(VWDWHV (OOLSVH*DUGHQV
(OOLSVH*DUGHQV JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
General Manager
Manager General
OR, to save your ad to work on later,
Family Service
Service Manager
Family Your Manager
ad will appear in the Drafts tab of
OR, to save your ad to Documents
work on later,
folder. click "Save."
JEWISH EXPONENT
10, 2021 21
Your ad will appear in the Drafts tab JUNE
of your
Documents folder.