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Chicago Jewish Theater Cancels Play Amidst Backlash Over Israeli Playwright
Chicago Jewish theater Arts Judaica has canceled a planned revival of Israeli playwright Naomi Ragen's "Women's Minyan" after creatives expressed fear of professional damage due to Ragen's pro-Zionist stance. Artistic director Elayne LeTraunik cited backlash and accusations of "genocide" as reasons for the withdrawal.
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What happened
- 01Chicago Jewish theater canceled Naomi Ragen's play due to backlash over her pro-Zionist views.
- 02Creatives feared career damage, citing accusations of "genocide" and Ragen's politics.
- 03Playwright Naomi Ragen called the cancellation a "return to McCarthyism" in American culture.
- 04Artistic director Elayne LeTraunik expressed shock at the political pressure impacting the arts.
- 05The incident reflects a broader trend of marginalizing Jewish and Israeli artists, per ADL.
- 06Ragen urged "good people" to be brave and support cultural endeavors amidst the controversy.
Ragen likened the situation to "McCarthyism" and a broader trend of marginalizing Jewish and Israeli artists, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League. LeTraunik stated she was stunned by the reaction to Ragen's politics, despite the play's apolitical nature.
The Times of Israel publishes in English. The key points are summarized above. Read The Times of Israel’s full report from the link below.
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