Behind the Gates"Behind the Gates"

(Talkback will occur immediately following the performance.)

Women's Role in Conservative Religion, with Professor Mehnaz Afridi & Rabbi Ruth Sohn

Contemporary Islam and Judaism each encompass a broad range of sects representing vastly divergent interpretations of their holy books and traditions. With scholars from both traditions, we ask: What is the role of women within these sects? When does a women's choice of piety cross the line into misogynistic oppression? How can ancient traditions live in harmony with the modern world? What are the similarities and differences between these two religions, and what can we learn from each other?

Professor Mehnaz M. Afridi teaches Judaism and Islam at Antioch University, Los Angeles. Originally from Pakistan, raised in Europe and the Middle East, she brings a multicultural perspective to Islam. She has a B.A. and MA in Religious Studies from Syracuse University and has studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Her Ph.D. was on “Mahfouz and Modern Islamic Identity” from the University of South Africa in Religious Studies. Her deep interest in Judaism and Modern Jewish Diaspora has led her to numerous interfaith conferences, and invitations by non-Muslims to expound on the intellectual and theological similarities between Jews and Muslims. She has served as an advisor to the Museum of Tolerance and runs the "Ask a Muslim" lecture series. She presented her talk, "An Illuminated History of Jewish-Muslim Relations" at Levantine Cultural Center.

Professor Afridi is very committed to non-profit work in the areas of women and Islam, Jewish-Muslim Relations, and Pakistani girls and development.  She is on the board and committees of the Arava Institute, Wise Women, Levantine Cultural Center, Rauol Wallenberg Institute, and International Education and Welfare Society.

She is currently teaching Islam and Judaism, Cultural Diversity, Genocide Studies and Humanities at Antioch University and National University.

Rabbi Ruth H. Sohn directs the Rabbinic Mentoring program and teaches rabbinical students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. She also teaches Jewish meditation and traditional Jewish texts to adults in various venues in Los Angeles. Prior to her work with rabbinical students, Rabbi Sohn taught Jewish Studies at the Milken Community High School for fifteen years, and served as a campus rabbi for ten years, first at Columbia University and then at Boston University.  Her articles, Biblical commentary, midrash and poetry have appeared in various periodicals, prayerbooks and anthologies. Ruth served on the Editorial Board and wrote several pieces for the award-winning The Torah: A Women’s Commentary. Much of her writing over the years has focused on reading traditional Jewish texts through the lens of Jewish women’s experience and feminist critique.

Rabbi Sohn is currently working to complete a book entitled Crossing Cairo: A Jewish Woman’s Encounter with Egypt, in which she shares the difficulties and discoveries she experienced, trying to reach across the barriers of religion, politics and culture while living in Cairo with her family for six months in 2006.  Her article, “The Arabic Lesson” was the cover feature story in Reform Judaism Magazine shortly after their stay in Egypt, and was based on her letters home from Cairo. Rabbi Sohn has lived in Jerusalem on several different occasions for a year at a time, and has been involved with a range of projects supporting co-existence efforts between Israeli Arabs and Jews over the last twenty years.

"BEHIND THE GATES"
The world premiere of Wendy Graf's newest and most controversial work to date

In a parent's worst nightmare, a troubled American teen vanishes into the mysterious world of Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox haredi community while on a summer trip to Israel, cutting off all communication with her desperate mother and father.

In Graf's gripping mystery, 17-year old Bethany disappears while on a school trip to Israel. As her parents feverishly search throughout Jerusalem for their daughter, they find themselves lost in an alien world where ancient and modern collide, conflicting cultures and politics clash, and extreme orthodoxies and passionate feelings of nationalism try to coexist while growing more volatile with each passing day.

PREVIEWS
Wednesday, May 12, 8pm
Thursday, May 13, 8pm
Friday, May 14, 8pm

RUNS

Sat, May 15th - Sat, July 3rd
Friday, Saturday @ 8pm
Sunday @ 2pm

**A panel discussion follows the performance on Sunday, May 23: "The Role of Women in Conservative Religion"
**A panel discussion follows the performance on Sunday, June 6: "The Many Faces of Israel"

**Also talkback with Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben follows the performance on Saturday June 5th

WHERE:
Marilyn Monroe Theatre at the Lee Strasberg Creative Center
7936 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046

HOW:
323.960.5772 or www.Plays411.com/Gates

TICKETS:
Opening Night (May 15): $30 (includes party)
General admission: $25
Previews: $12.50

***Use promo code 007 get $5 off your ticket!***