PURIM with PHARAOH

Saturday, March 23 @ 8:00 PM

THEATER for the new city 155 1st AvenueNew York, NY

Join us for a very special Purim experience -- the world premiere of PHARAOH. Rabbi Misha's capstone project toward becoming a rabbi, PHARAOH tells the Passover story from Pharaoh's perspective. Presented by Theater for the New City, PHARAOH is voiced by Shulman, danced by South Indian Kathakali master, Kalamandalam John, and directed by Michael Posnick.

The production was inspired in 2008 when Shulman was in the village of Muzhikulam, Kerala to watch a fifteen-day play called the Asokavanikangam, or the Asoka Tree Garden, performed in the Kudiyatam, Sanskrit theater tradition. This Indian classic, taken from the Ramayana, the holy Hindu book, tells of how the arch-villian Ravana kidnaps the goddess Sita, taking her to his island of Lanka, and trying repeatedly to convince her to succumb to him. Longing to make a parallel play of his own, Shulman imagined a staging of the Exodus story in which Jews could watch a play about the inner life of Pharaoh, their greatest enemy, modeled on Ravana and reimagined for a western audience with Indian influences. The piece ultimately evolved into a two-man production: a dialogue between a Pharaoh character performed in physical theater by Kalamandalam John, founder and Director of Kalatharangini Kathakali School in South India, and Misha Shulman, clad in black, voicing all the characters of the story including Pharaoh, Moses (stuttering), Pharaoh's son, wife and father; an Egyptian priest and Death. They are accompanied musically by Galen Passen on sitar and Tripp Dudley on the drums. Kalamandalam John performs with the elaborate costume, colorful makeup, intricate gestures and expressive facial movements of Kudiyatam.

Following the 75 minute performance, stay for a New Shul Purim Celebration complete with hamentashen, spirits and soft drinks, and all the Megillah of this upside down holiday.  Costumes optional.

PHARAOH will run at Theater for the New City from March 15 through March 31 (Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm) so if you can't join us on March 23, you can purchase tickets for another performance.

TICKETS FOR PURIM, MAR. 23

PAST EVENTS

Andalusian Lights - An Arab Jewish Hanukkah Concert 

When we come together to eat, laugh and make music, we transcend whatever darkness is around us.  A special Hanukkah-Shabbat celebration that spread the light, and bask in the warmth of our shared humanity.  

Long time collaborators Rachid Hallihal (Fez) and Daphna Mor (Tel Aviv) were joined by their friend Zafer Tawil (Jerusalem) for an evening of Andalusian and North African Music. For 20 years Rachid Halihal, directed a large musical ensemble in Agadir, Morocco. In 2006, joined by Daphna Mor and other musicians, he formed the ensemble Layli El Andalus (Andalusian Nights) in New York. Frequent collaborators, Rachid, Daphna and Zafer perform together on prestigious stages as well as in private events and celebrations, appropriate to the spirit of this music. Their rarely performed repertoire highlights the beauty and deep connection of Judeo Arab shared history. 

High Holidays 5784

“Our theme for these High Holy Days is the Year of Improvisation. As we journey from the storytelling of 18th century Ukraine, to the mystical courts of 12th century Cairo, and into the music scene of 21st century New York City, we will search for ways to live life with a sense of lightness and play.

Improvisation is the art of listening, of taking what comes your way, and adding to what’s given. The improvisor’s response comes from the soulful center of one’s being. We improvise when we relinquish our expectation of control and result, and instead enter into the scary yet liberating space of the present moment. Come improvise with us!”

— Rabbi Misha Shulman

Watch the SERVICES RECORDINGS and photo galleries

Purim 5783

Our Upside Down Purim Fiesta with our friends Uncutt Art and COPE NYC for adults and kids alike featured the art installation "Protect Yo Heart" by Uncutt, a specially commissioned dance created and performed by Fabio Tavares and Dorian Cervantes and music by DJ Zaire Baptiste spinning in collaboration with The New Shul band. A carnival unlike those of childhood's past.

About COPE NYC: 
COPE NYC is a nonprofit that offers local, national, and international artists and arts organizations opportunities to foster ideas for creativity among diverse communities. COPE NYC promotes this mission through exhibitions, artists in residence exchange programs, and, art and design, and fashion programs.

About Uncutt and Protect Yo Heart:
The first solo exhibition by the multi-talented artist and creative, Uncutt Art, "Protect Yo Heart" at THE IW GALLERY features immersive works that reflect the creative vibrancy of Uncutt’s own mind and artistic process. ‘Protect Yo Heart’ welcomes its audience to experience the healing power of art and the practice of valuing one’s inner peace and integrity amongst the varying components of the ‘Protect Yo Heart’ visionary philosophy. Uncutt’s art is created to be observed, interacted with, and consumed, by his audience; therefore, creating an active engagement. His artistic style, honed from years of creating across various disciplines, cultivates its uniqueness by finding inspiration from life itself. Uncutt, himself, describes his body of work as ‘strange little pieces that are fused together to form a greater image’.  

High Holidays 5783

High Holidays 5783

EREV ROSH HASHANAH • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 @ 7:30 PM - VILLAGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

ROSH HASHANAH • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 @ 11:00 AM - BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK, PIER 6

TEEN TASHLICH • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 @ 1:00 PM - BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK, PIER 6

TASHLICH • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 @ 4:00 PM - HUDSON RIVER PARK, PIER 45

KOL NIDRE • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4 @ 7:00 PM - VILLAGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

YOM KIPPUR MORNING • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5 @ 10:00 AM (YIZKOR @ 1:00 PM) - VILLAGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

YOM KIPPUR NEILAH • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5 @ 6:00 PM (4:30 HITYACHADUT, 5:15 MINCHA) - VCS

Purim 5782

Purim - IN PERSON
Wednesday, March 16 @ 6:45 pm
Blinky's, 609 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY (map)

Our Purim celebration had special guest artists, musicians and drunk thinkers. We enjoyed a lopsided, musical, interactive retelling of the Purim story, combining Megillah reading with musical instruments, storytelling and other technological advancements we’ve made since the days of Shushan.
Blinky's is something between a cocktail bar and a local pub... a cocktail pub! The place is open to any and everyone, offering a warm vibe with events hosted from within the local community.

Tu B’Shevat 5782

Tu B'Shevat - On Zoom
Sunday, January 16 2022@ 11:00 am

We celebrated Tu B'Shevat by exploring two recent best selling books about our silent friends, Pulitzer Prize winner The Overstory, and The Secret Life of Trees.

Lights On - Hanukkah 5782

Lights On - Hanukkah Celebration
Saturday, December 4 2021 @ 3:30 pm
Judson Memorial Church (55 Washington Square South)

“Lights On”, was a Hanukkah celebration that combined music, theatre, social action, movement and light.

“Lights On” was supported in part by The Jewish Federation of North America’s “Shine a Light on Antisemitism” Initiative and was produced in collaboration with the School for Creative Judaism.

High Holidays 5782 - Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah, Tashlich Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur
September 2021
Theatre for the New City, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Hudson River Park.

“Throughout the Days of Awe to help us think about what a mindful return might mean for us, we are going to take a historical angle and look at what our ancestors did when they returned from a major life-changing national disaster in the fifth century BC.We are going to look at the biblical Book of Nehemiah, which describes what he did as the Jews’ political leader, and what Ezra did as the Jews’ spiritual leader during that time.”

— Rabbi Misha Shulman