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| Sondheim's Jewish "Assassins" | |
| Posted by: TheBroadwayMaven (DavidBenkof@gmail.com) 08:59 pm EST 12/23/22 | |
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| From this week's Broadway Maven Weekly Blast: Happy Chanukah to those who celebrate, and let’s take a moment to acknowledge that not all American Jews have been “nice Jewish boys” — some have tried to assassinate the president. Probably the most bizarre example from Sondheim and Weidman’s Assassins is Sam Byck, who appears in a Santa Claus costume. The real-life Byck was born into a poor Jewish family in Philadelphia. Like his on-stage counterpart, he wrote rambling letters to famous figures, many of whom were Jewish — not only Leonard Bernstein (demonstrated in the show) but also medical pioneer Jonas Salk and politician Abraham Ribicoff. He became a passionate opponent of President Richard Nixon, including appearing in a Christmas Day protest in 1973 wearing a Santa Claus uniform. Byck failed in his attempt to hijack a plane and crash it into the White House. Another failed assassin in the show with a Jewish identity is Sara Jane Moore. Born with the Jewish last name of Kahn, she was raised Christian, but began practicing Judaism while in prison for attempting to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975. She took her faith quite seriously, accusing the Jewish community outside the prison of abandoning her and her fellow coreligionists behind bars. She was known to light Shabbat candles, and she also successfully petitioned for the right to kosher food. A dozen years after her parole in 2007, Moore was caught going to Israel without notifying her parole officer, and she had to return to prison for six more months. |
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| re: Sondheim's Jewish "Assassins" | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 09:27 pm EST 12/23/22 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 09:21 pm EST 12/23/22 | |
| In reply to: Sondheim's Jewish "Assassins" - TheBroadwayMaven 08:59 pm EST 12/23/22 | |
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| What exactly does any of this have to do with Sondheim? Or even Weidman? These were real people way before the musical was conceived. They would have been Jewish without the musical (and the musical doesn't explore anything about their religious/ethnic identities anyway). Sondheim had nothing to do with their religions, ethnicities, or actions. They are not "HIS Jewish assassins" as your title proclaims. And just perhaps it might be a little bit of bad taste to isolate two actual Jewish assassins (using the tenuous connection of their being portrayed in a musical theatre piece) out of nowhere, in a time when anti-Semitism is raising its ugly head so prevalently? There could have been so many other nicer and positive ways for you to celebrate Hanukkah and Judaism through musical theatre. Shande. And no, it's pretty clear that Sarah Jane Moore was not a "nice Jewish BOY." You watch your frazology... But, even after all that, I wish you happy holidays. And may your future posts perhaps bring us some needed comfort and joy. (And not the kind from Bat Boy.) |
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| Chromolume I couldn't have answered better!! Thank you! | |
| Posted by: GreatMartin (greatmartin2003@yahoo.com) 11:18 pm EST 12/23/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Sondheim's Jewish "Assassins" - Chromolume 09:21 pm EST 12/23/22 | |
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| As a Jewish man, I was furious reading that post but your reply cooled me down a bit. I hope you have a great week! |
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| re: Chromolume I couldn't have answered better!! Thank you! | |
| Last Edit: TheOtherOne 09:31 am EST 12/24/22 | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 09:30 am EST 12/24/22 | |
| In reply to: Chromolume I couldn't have answered better!! Thank you! - GreatMartin 11:18 pm EST 12/23/22 | |
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| TheBroadwayMaven seems like a hacker of sorts, here only to see what controversy can be stirred up. They're best ignored. | |
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| re: a different view | |
| Posted by: ilw 01:35 pm EST 12/24/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Chromolume I couldn't have answered better!! Thank you! - TheOtherOne 09:30 am EST 12/24/22 | |
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| I don't think TheBroadwayMaven's intention was to stir controversy. I think he naively posted it, without realizing that it could be offensive. The post wasn't well-considered, but I don't think it was purposely malicious. As mentioned in his post, it comes from his latest "Broadway Maven Weekly Blast" email, where he is promoting a class he is giving on Assassins, and he included these same comments in that email. Like many people, TheBroadwayMaven likes to find connections between their own ethnic group and whatever topic is under discussion. Usually, they seek positive connections, but they are also intrigued by negative connections if it's safely in the past, just as someone might be interested to learn that they are distantly related to an infamous historical figure. |
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| Two observations... | |
| Posted by: ryhog 02:17 pm EST 12/24/22 | |
| In reply to: re: a different view - ilw 01:35 pm EST 12/24/22 | |
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| 1. Were this post in isolation, I might agree with you about the purpose but it seems like every post they have made on this board has had a controversial element (and has felt clickbait-y). 2. I have not clicked through so I was not aware of the promotion of a class. Hmmm. |
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