In this piece, Rebecca, a Jewish woman of color, weaves together the story of mourning the loss of her African father with the stories of the Black lives lost in America. Poignantly, the monologue ends with a request for “help”: “help to access the goodness in myself, help to listen, help to make strangers less strange,” etc. This is not a purely rhetorical request, though. Nowadays, the need for help is real. What is more, as we try to chart a way forward out of a terrible, and at times terrifying election season, it will take all hands in our community to build towards a sense of a better future. Where can I give help, and where do I need help? May it be so that we will have ample opportunity to come together and fulfill those very needs for each other.

It is recommended that people wear headphones to get the full stereo, sonic experience of the monologue.

Text: Rebecca S’manga Frank
Original Sound and Music: Avi Amon
Rabbinic Dramaturgy: Kendell Pinkney