Brought to you by guest blogger, Brady Russell!
Herschel the Handless is the story of a Russian Jew in turn-of-the-century Philadelphia who's opened a bakery, found some success there and very little love. I watched Herschel's story last Friday at the playhouse on 20th and Sansom. His best friend is an African American convert to Judaism, who has mostly lost his mind. As in many folktales, though, the crazy man is often the only one who talks any sense.
I was disappointed in the story because it billed itself as depicting the first Jewish immigrant superhero. There are no superheroics, and having a cookie where your hand should be does not a superhero make. For those of us in the Broad Street Ministry world, it does open some interesting themes. Many of us are doubters. Herschel himself claims to have rejected God, never goes to services and gets furious at any talk of mysticism. Yet, every time Herschel denounces God, lightning strikes outside and he dismisses it as a coincidence. Nothing really brings him around.
The question is raises for me, though, is that if someone rejects God so passionately, can't it only be because some part of them still clings to a fierce faith? Isn't that person being defensive against themselves if talk of faith provokes such strong emotion?
I know this is true in my own experience. For example, I really just don't believe in Santa Claus. If you tell me I'm wrong and that Santa Claus really does exist, I'll just shrug and nod and try to change the subject because I really don't care. The Easter Bunny, though... that's a whole other issue. I had a really awesome Easter once. Way, way more chocolate than Mom remembered hiding. So now, while I don't really believe in the Easter Bunny, any talk of that crazy rabbit, well, I can't resist. I have to engage. All along, I denounce the notion but I can't ever drop it until the person I'm talking to drops it for me. Anyway, in the play, one gets the sense, that Herschel, at least, has not made up his mind.
This show is still running! Check it out on Saturday 9/13 at 3p.m. or 8p.m. 2111 Sansom St.
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