In a move to bridge cultural divides and foster understanding, Israeli actress Mai Tzuriely is set to embark on a unique theatrical journey to Germany. Her mission: to perform "Ma Achshav?" ("What Now?"), a gripping play that emerged from the crucible of one of the darkest days of Israeli history. The production, penned by Roee Lahav Feinmesser amidst the chaos of his reserve duty call-up following the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught, promises to offer German youth a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the Israeli psyche during times of crisis.
The play, which premiered two months into the war, centers on two high school students trapped in a shelter during a missile barrage. Their confinement becomes a backdrop for exploring how young people cope with sudden, drastic changes in their world. Directed by Alon Getzovich and featuring Tzuriely alongside Liron Noah, the Mishkafayim Theater production faces the challenge of translating complex local experiences for an international audience.
For Tzuriely, the performance carries personal weight. Her husband Assaf's family in Kibbutz Re'im lived through the Oct. 7 attack. "I'm married to Assaf, who was born and raised in Kibbutz Re'im. His parents and sisters still live there, and for me, it's another home," Tzuriely explained. She recounted the tense hours as family members sheltered in safe rooms, some facing direct threats.
"On the morning of Oct. 7, although we were in Tel Aviv, our entire family in the kibbutz entered their safe rooms, each in their own home, and we felt as if we were with them," she said. "His older sister was with us in Tel Aviv while her husband, a member of the local security team, was in the kibbutz with their children. He himself neutralized a terrorist who tried to break into their home. His younger sister remained in the safe room without electricity for 22 hours, and we only had contact with his parents when they opened the safe room door due to poor reception. When we realized the extent of the damage to the kibbutz, which houses were burned, and where the terrorists had been, we grasped how fortunate our family was to have survived this terrible event," Tzuriely recounted.
The actress hopes her connection to events will add depth to the performance, but acknowledges the difficulties in conveying such experiences to a foreign audience. The production includes post-performance discussions, aiming to provide context often missing from international news coverage.
When asked about the significance of performing for non-Jewish youth in Leipzig, Tzuriely emphasized, "We're going to perform for young people in various schools in Leipzig, Germany. It's an important trip precisely because we're dealing with non-Jewish youth who have no connection to Israel or Judaism."
Reflecting on the play's potential impact, Tzuriely elaborated, "The play illustrates the inconceivable situation we've been living in for almost a year, not to mention past wars and operations. Its strength lies in speaking from the perspective of the youth living here, who are facing conscription, dealing with the same fears adults have but don't always know how to express. Our ability to convey to youth in foreign countries the same feelings every Israeli knows can raise awareness, empathy, and hopefully, a true understanding that in the end, we all want to live our lives in peace and without fear."
Addressing theater's role in public diplomacy, Tzuriely expressed measured optimism. "I believe the play has genuine explanatory power because it provides an authentic perspective of people in times of crisis and war, and a basic desire for security," she said. "It touches on difficult questions that will hopefully prompt the audience to seek answers rather than continue to be influenced by social media trends."
