Temple hosts event by Prana actors to raise awareness of hatred

The Diary of Anne Frank 

On Sunday, December 15, the actors from Prana who put on The Diary of Anne Frank last year came together to perform some scenes from it, and take part in a question and answer format at the Temple Beth Torah. Roberta Weiner, who directs Prana and directed this play, asked her students last year how they would like to respond to the discovery of Nazi swastikas found at the Holliston Middle School. The students responded that they’d like to put on some plays about the Holocaust to raise awareness.

Those young people did an excellent job, as I can witness because I attended. They also performed the play of Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars, which chronicles the escape of a family of Jews from Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. Two performers from Prana put on a scene from Number The Stars as well on Sunday.

The talented young actors sparking the discussion at the temple yesterday were: Lauren Conder, Aster Kris, Grace Freeman, Sabrina Kale, Tim Conder, Victoria Edwards, Caroline Mulik, Kaitlyn Hoffey, Claire Nielsen, Graham Lemieux and Olivia Slater. A year later, none are older than ninth grade. It can be easy to underestimate what serious issues young people can deal with. Clearly these actors understood the horror of what happened to the Jews of Europe not so very long ago, and how hate and anti-Semitism can rear their ugly heads even in what we like to think of as our cozy and insulated community.

Audience members asked the actors how they felt about performing these two plays, and how it affected them. One audience member spoke eloquently about being a Sikh and how easily marginalized groups are targeted. I think all in attendance were moved by the conversation. It drove home how hatred can spread like a cancer if not unchecked, and how in these times especially it is important not only to never forget, but also to take action to speak out against it. Kudos to Roberta Weiner and Rabbi Mimi Micner for organizing this event. A repeat of this event is definitely in order.