By Karen Pollak
Mosaic Jewish Community

Mosaic Jewish Community’s Israel Society put on a captivating evening featuring Oshra Schwartz, a leading light of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, who showed her acclaimed film, The Komediant, about the heritage of Yiddish theatre in America.

The film was in the form of a documentary about the famous Yiddish actors Pesach Burstein and his wife Lottie Lux – and later their two children. They became known as the Four Bursteins. Pesach got his name because he was born on Pesach and he died on… you guess.

The Burstein children, Susan and Michael, often performed with their parents and followed them around the world.

Susan became a ventriloquist in her parent’s variety shows but later quit show business. It was apparent, from the film, that she had not been happy with her family’s way of life and, even though she spent a lot of time with her parents, she felt quite distant from her father who obviously prioritised his work with the Yiddish theatre over his children.

Michael, however, was not so badly affected and went on to follow his parent’s path. He became a successful actor both in America and Israel and, in fact, represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The film explains how the authentic Yiddish theatre was born out of poverty and the community`s desire for education and entertainment. The Yiddish theatre performed anything from high drama and operettas to lowly comedies. All were popular.

Pesach was born into a poor Russian family and, much to the disdain of his family, joined the Yiddish theatre and then moved to America in his teens where he met his fellow actor and soon to be wife, Lottie Lux.

They started their own troupe and worked relentlessly, travelling around South America and Europe via Ukraine, Warsaw and Łódź. Yiddish theatre became so popular that, at one point, there were five different Yiddish theatres in Second Avenue in New York alone. They also performed in the Catskills which at the time was as big a deal as playing Los Vegas. Auditions were brutal as the shows were so popular and there was great demand for the actors to get work and have membership of the Union. The Union of Hebrew Actors was one of the first unions of its kind.

Oshra, who had previously taught theatre in Israel, spoke to us about trying to get the film off the ground which hadn’t been an easy task but, having watched it, I can assure you that it was well worth it. It gave us an amazing insight into the dynamics of a working theatrical family.

Oshra (pictured with Mosaic’s Joan Noble) then went on to speak about the development of the Reform movement in Israel for which she is working, and of how it is growing and now numbers some 55 communities.

She also spoke of Kibbutz Re’im which is the kibbutz whose people are in need of help after the October atrocity and is being supported by the Mosai Jewish Community.