All About Jewish Theatre - The Bible on Stage : Content list

The Ministry's division for biblical culture, in cooperation with the unique "All About Jewish Theatre" website, initiated the collection of a broad and thorough information base which links the Bible to the world of theatre. read more

Greetings by Rabbi Yochanan Fried, Head of the Department of Torah Culture

I hope Bible enthusiasts and scholars, as well as theater professionals and patrons, will find vitality and depth in the website and benefit from it for years to come. read more

On the global Jewish theatre website "All About Jewish Theatre", by Moti Sandak

Who has the time to search all over the Internet to find the information you need? This website is specially designed to provide a unifying environment that brings together all available information about the international world of Jewish Theatre and performing arts expertly linked, displayed and easily accessible to anyone. read more

Introduction to the project: The Bible in Theatre, by Moti Sandak

A special section of the Jewish theatre and performing arts website All About Jewish Theatre is dedicated to characters and plots from the Bible which served as inspiration for many creators of theatre, dance, opera, music, film, television, and performance arts read more

Introduction: What makes a Biblical character attractive? By Prof. David Fishluv

Only part of the Bible's rich gallery of characters have been interpreted artistically time and again. King David is such an example. What is it about certain Biblical figures that repeatedly capture the imagination throughout the centuries? Why is it that Samson has been interpreted artistically more than his counterpart Barak Ben Avinoam? Is the attractiveness dependent on the centrality of the character in the Biblical world? read more

Prologue: The Bible as Theatre, by Prof. Shimon Levy

The Bible as theatre has been adapted into morality plays, mystery plays, and miracle plays in western and central Europe since probably the 13th century. In Judaism, Biblically-inspired plays were produced only in the 19th century (except for a few Purim plays) after ignoring the religious prohibition against them read more

Samson: The Biblical Story, Judges 13-16

1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: and he delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty years. 2 Now there was a certain man of Saraa, and of the race of Dan, whose name was Manue, and his wife was barren. 3 And an angel of the Lord appeared to her, and said: Thou art barren and without children: but thou shalt conceive and bear a son. read more

Delilah :A Story of Love and Deceit (Judges 16:4-21) by Elizabeth Fletcher Read more

Moses Chaim Luzzatto (RAMCHAL) Samson's Actions – A poetic play
Moses Samuel Zuckermandel :Samson's Heroism
John Milton: Samson's Tolerance – A dramatic poem
George Friedrich Hendel: Samson - Oratorio
Camille Saint-Saëns : Samson and Delilah - Opera
Jean Philippe Rameau: Samson - Opera
Ze'ev Jabotinsky: Samson – A novel which became a film
Yaakov Fichman: Zelponith and Samson in Gaza – A dramatic poem
Menasheh Levin: Samson and Delilah, A modern day tragedy – surrealistic play
Shmuel Huppert : Shimshonim - Dramatic poem
Yigal Mosinzon: Samson as an Officer in the IDF, or Requiem for the Land of Philistines - play

Epilogue: Samson's Rest by David Grossman

There's one moment in Samson's story – the moment when he falls asleep on Delilah's knees – where the entire story shrinks. Samson curls up to the childish, almost infantile, experience, without violence, frenzy, or urges that complicated his life and wreaked havoc. Of course, this is also the moment where his fate is sealed, because Delilah already seizes his locks and the blade, and the Philistines celebrate their victory outside. read more

In collaboration with: The Department of Torah Culture – Ministry of Education

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