Where is G-d when innocent human beings suffer? A Trial of G-D, by Elie Wiesel
Written: May 13 '01
Product Rating:
Pros: A powerful story of faith, based on a true event as witnessed in Auschwitz
Cons: Very few people will be able to see this performed on stage
The Bottom Line: After an entire Jewish community is killed in a pogrom, the last remaining Jew and his daughter (insane from rape), are given an opportunity to place G-d on trial.
jckatz's Full Review: Elie Wiesel and Marion Wiesel - The Trial of God: ...
When Elie Wiesel was 15 year old in Auschwitz, he made friends with a teacher of Talmud (Talmud, is a set of Jewish law). One night he took Elie to his barrack and Elie became the only witness to a G-d of trial, between three rabbis. The rabbis found G-d guilty of crimes against creation after three days. Yet, the most amazing thing about this story is the fact after a three day trial and finding G-d guilty, he then witnessed the rabbis preform the evening service, once again giving devotion to G-d.
In the wonderful introduction by Robert Brown, we learn that Elie has tried many times to recreate this event. Elie Wiesel ended up recreating the event in the form of a play set in Shamgorod after a pogrom in 1649. The play takes place on February 25, 1649 to be exact. This date was the Jewish holiday of Purim. Purim is a time of levity, masks, noisemakers, eating and drinking. There are always plays with heros and villains, the audience gives whistles for the heroes and boos for the villains. The play is called a Purimschpiel with an exaggerated style of humor that can be absurd, ridiculous, unlikely, and satirical.
This play is a Purimschpiel within a play. The first act sets the stage with 3 minstrels traveling to Shamgorod in hopes of performing for Purim. What they didn't know that they were in Shamgorod and the Jew they found was the last remaining Jewish family in town. Nor did they know that his daughter was insane from the rape she received during the last pogrom that killed all the other Jews.
They also learn that another Pogrom is about to begin and once again the local priest will be unable to stop it. The last remaining Jew in town demands that for Purim they put G-d on trial.
They had enough actors for the judges they had a prosecutor but they needed a defender for G-d, this was hard to find. A stranger who is not a stranger to some shows up and acts as defender for G-d. This stranger is known by all the actors from different towns, they all saw him just before other pogrom in different cities.
I hardly ever read plays, but for Elie Wiesel I made an exemption. It was a quick read, and left me thinking for days.
Some of the questions asked
How could characters that are putting G-d on trial refuse to take any means necessary to save their life?
When the priest offered them the cross why not taking it?
When the priest offered them the cross with their Purim masks on, knowing it was a fraud, why not then take it?
How can faith be so strong when your their anger against G-d was so pure?
I don't think I can ever have that faith, nor do I think I would want to. Yet knowing that I will not and don't want to makes me deeply sad inside. Its a strange contradiction to have within oneself.
IF you are unable to view this play, please read the book You do not have to be Jewish you don't even have to believe in G-d, for the human emotions this book captures are amazing.
Set in a Ukrainian village in the year 1649, this haunting play takes place in the aftermath of a pogrom. Only two Jews, Berish the innkeeper and his ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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