Support for Ukraine, anti-Semitism mural highlighted at ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in Edmonton | 24CA News

A Broadway basic has maybe by no means been extra related than now: that’s the message the forged of Fiddler on the Roof and the native Jewish group shared on opening evening in Edmonton.

“Anti-Semitism has not gone away,” mentioned Tammy Vineberg, Jewish Federation of Edmonton advertising and communications affiliate director, about how the fictional story parallels actual life.

The Broadway Across Canada tour of the 59-year-old Tony Award-winning musical opened Tuesday evening on the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

The story, which takes place in 1905 imperial Russia, is ready in what was often known as the pale of settlement — a western area of the Russian Empire that encompassed components of Ukraine, Lithuania, Moldova and different international locations, the place Jewish folks have been allowed to scrape out a meager residing.

The present’s fictional village of Anatevka is situated in what’s now Ukraine and the story centres on Tevye, an impoverished milkman and father of 5 women who makes an attempt to keep up his Jewish non secular and cultural traditions as exterior influences encroach upon the household’s lives.

It ends with an anti-Semitic edict from the Russian tsar evicting the Jews from their village, foreshadowing how many of the Jewish inhabitants of the area could be pressured from their properties and perish within the Holocaust a technology later.

When folks arrive on the Jubilee for the manufacturing this week, they are going to be greeted within the foyer by an artwork piece referred to as “Shine A Light on Antisemitism.”

It was produced by the Jewish Federation of Edmonton as a part of a worldwide effort to lift consciousness.

“When they see all these tiles with all these different feelings, I hope they get the sense like, ‘Wow, there’s all these ways that anti-Semitism impacts someone,’” mentioned Vineberg, who proposed the artwork piece and secured a grant for it in 2021.

Members of Edmonton’s Jewish group have been requested to specific how they’ve been impacted anti-Semitism by portray phrases or a picture on a two-inch by four-inch tile.

The tiles have been then organized into the mosaic by Edmonton-area artist Lewis Lavoie.

Vineberg mentioned responses to the piece on the Jubilee Tuesday evening have been attention-grabbing, as folks realized it was greater than only a lovely piece of artwork.

“Even some people who had not seen Fiddler before saw that connection between the anti-Semitism themes in Fiddler and then seeing the mosaic.”

On Wednesday morning, two forged members (who’re additionally Jewish) have been proven the piece.

The art work within the foyer showcases the modern-day struggles which might be mirrored within the story set greater than 100 years in the past, mentioned Elliot Lazar, who performs ensemble character Mendel.

“So many of the people that contributed to this mosaic are here likely as a result of the same circumstances Tevye and his family are in. I think that’s huge.

“You see the trajectory of their journey and the timelessness of the Jewish experience in all of its beauty — and also in all of the challenges that come with that.”

Lazar is from Winnipeg, went to a Jewish day college and mentioned he grew up being taught his folks’s historical past.

“You learn that it’s always been this way and it persists, which is frustrating. I feel like I had an idyllic growing up where it never felt unsafe to be Jewish. And unfortunately, in the last few years, I’ve been in locations and situations where I didn’t feel that way.

“It’s disappointing, it’s frustrating — but it’s also a challenge for us to rise to, as people, that we’ve gotten over this and we will continue to.”

Jonathan Hashmonay, who performs lead character Tevye, mentioned he was struck by the unhappiness and anger contained inside such a good looking piece of artwork depicting a menorah.

“The duality of, you know, shalom, peace, tikvah, hope… right next to sadness, rejection — there was a sad face — but also so many Jewish symbols.”

Hashmonay spent most of his life in Israel and is a descendant of Holocaust survivors.

“It’s difficult to see people who are struggling so hard with something that, for me, has always been kind of a given, right? I grew up with always having Jewish people all around me, all the time.”

There has been an increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric on-line and on social media in recent times, in addition to assaults and threats which have pressured synagogues and Jewish faculties to extend safety.

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Hashmonay mentioned it’s irritating to see folks “who hate needlessly.”

“It’s always difficult,” he mentioned of coping with anti-Semitism. “Unfortunately, it’s part of the journey of being Jewish and being Israeli, specifically.”

Each yr, 1000’s of Israeli highschool college students go on academic journeys to Poland to go to Second World War demise and focus camps, the place some six million Jews, together with practically all of Poland’s roughly three million Jews, have been killed by the Nazis and their collaborators through the Holocaust.

Hashmonay mentioned throughout his journey, he was standing in line at a retailer in Warsaw when he encountered a person who had Nazi symbols tattooed on his physique.

At first, Hashmonay referred to as it sobering — however he corrected himself to say it’s part of life.

“That’s unfortunate, but it’s who we are,” he mentioned with a matter-of-fact shrug.

“We struggle and we keep going despite all this hate, we continue to be leaders and prosper and grow — and delve deeper into our Jewish identity as well through this struggle.

“So yeah, it’s frustrating — but it’s part of life.”

Winston Churchill, who led the U.Ok. by means of the struggle, famously mentioned “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” and Vineberg echoed that sentiment on Wednesday.

“It’s always ongoing education. It starts with teaching our children, and then they teach their children,” Vineberg mentioned.

“It’s important to not just focus on the Holocaust, but anti-Semitism as a whole — how it can impact the community.”

The mural wasn’t the one show of assist on the Jubilee Tuesday evening.

During the ultimate bows, Hashmonay learn an announcement of assist for the folks of Ukraine and famous the story of Fiddler on the Roof is more and more well timed.

“Thank you all for joining us as we share this story,” he mentioned earlier than a standing ovation.

“This present is, sadly, changing into extra related each day because the folks of Ukraine are attacked and compelled out of their properties.

“We dedicate this and every performance of Fiddler on the Roof to the people of Ukraine and the refugees seeking shelter from this horrible war. We honour their struggle and spirit with our final song and dance.”

For practically a yr, the folks of Ukraine have been combating again towards the Russian invasion, which started in February 2022.

Fiddler on the Roof runs till Sunday, Jan. 8 at Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets can be found on-line.

The art work can also be on tour: it was on the Alberta legislature in November and Vineberg mentioned it’ll be on show at Edmonton metropolis corridor in mid-January and into February.