Kenny Bernisky, Rebecca Lerman - Proposed Project: Performance as a means to Spark Action - Week 9

Kenny Bernisky, Rebecca Lerman

Don’t Be a JEW…

DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT:

Our proposed project would address the issue of the liveliness in anti-semitism today. The event that we are focusing on in relation to anti-semitism is the recent shooting at The Tree of Life synagogue, located on Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We are thinking in terms of an idea on how we can go about addressing this issue, is through a possible video compilation. We were thinking of including perhaps some skits, scenes, and the use of references from today’s media (ex. Family Guy, South Park, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Friends, etc.). Within, we’d have a part where we’d show the footage of one of these shows mentioning the Jewish people...ex. A scene in Season 8 Episode 2 entitled “Family Goy” and we’d have an actor ask why people are laughing and another actor in the audience responds “Because it’s true.” We’d also include many interviews with people who identify as Jewish and ask them about any hidden fears vs. awakened fears, especially since this latest tragedy. Within our piece we also want to propose the question “What does it mean to be a Jew?”

LOCATIONS

• Interviews with people from my temple “Temple Beth Shalom” in Melrose, MA (Rebecca) who wish to take part, either over a “Skype” session or recording of the interview over the phone, as well as those who are part of the Jewish Student Union here on campus who are willing and would like to be interviewed in person… (if a video recording is not ideal we would use voice recording for it).

• Possible local temples around the area?

POTENTIAL AUDIENCE

• The viewers of the film, posted on social media, maybe society and socialism classes (middle school, high school, college)?

RESEARCH

Works Cited

Sant, Shannon Van. “Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Victims Identified.” NPR, NPR, 28 Oct. 2018, www.npr.org/2018/10/28/661530860/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-victims-identified.

“Understanding Antisemitism: An Offering To Our Movement.” JFREJ, jfrej.org/understanding-antisemitism/.