6
Friday, October 10, 1975
University Dally Kansan
Troupe stages religious plays about Jesus' life
Three men dressed in leandrs and painted with stage makeup gave an open air performance for 300 students, faculty and others passing by Dyche Hall yesterday.
Members of the trio weren't drama students and their purpose wasn't to entertain. They were members of the New Jerusalem Players, a branch of Jews for Israel in Calf, Calif., based upon organization, and their purpose was to tell others about Jesus.
"We believe the gospel is the most important message there is," said Jahn Moskowitz, 26, a member of the players. "Advertisers use all of the arts to communicate the most meaningless things. We feel that drama can be used to communicate the gospel. After all, it is the most important thing."
According to Moskowitz, all of the members of the troupe were born in New York but now live in San Francisco. They were all born into Jewish families but had converted to Christianity within the last five years. Because of their faith in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, Moskowitz said, some Jews had ill will toward them.
Reuben B. Rubin, 30, another member of the troupe, said that Christianity was a bad way to be born.
"A lot of Jewish blood has been shed in the name of Jesus, so there's a gut reaction to anyone who believes in Jesus." Ruhn said. "We've made us with people who shed Jewish blood."
Mokowitz said he be believed Biblical
Jesus was identical to Biblical
Christianity.
Rachmil Silverman, 27, another member of the group, said many Jews believed that to become a Christian was to lose one's identity.
"We came to know Jesus as our messiah and we didn't have to give up our culture to believe in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah," Silverman said.
When the troupe performed "A Carmination of Life" yesterday, many people paused on the sidewalk to watch. A few sought refuge from the bright sun under a nearby tree. The ants of the players, who performed virtually without props except for a walking stick, creep paper streamers and noise makers, drew laughter from the crowd. But they didn't have a laugh because Bible scriptures were quoted throughout the presentation and religious literature was distributed by the performers following the 15-minute drama.
According to Moskowitz, the players have traveled more than 30,000 miles since their tour began in January. Moskowitz said the team is focused on churches and on street corners. He said the tour would end when they returned to California next month.
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