TESTIMONIALS:
Dear Hadassah Friends,
On February 17, 2025 in Norwich, CT, Hadassah was treated to an afternoon of great theater, artistry, and generosity. Sandra Laub performed her one-woman play: Picking Up Stones - An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare. Blending the voices of many, from Golda Meir to the diverse humanity of Israelis and Palestinians with her American voice, the play explores the conflict from every viewpoint yet is grounded in her Jewish values, with cries for morality and compassion. This is something all Jews are grappling with, especially since October 7, 2023 - and Sandra gives voice to it all - with her own wonderful script and acting artistry. Sandra dedicates her play to her family members who never came to America or Israel because they were marched into the forest outside Chernowitz and shot into trenches they dug themselves. Hadassah holds a special place for Sandra. Her mother and aunts were Hadassah members and she has extended family in Israel. She is on her way to performing the play at the United Nations NGO-CSW forum, in Scotland and Israel. She gave us her talents freely. I am making a contribution to Hadassah in Sandra's honor for giving us a great afternoon of theater and provocative conversation.
-Sheila Horvitz
Hi Sandra,
I had to tell you again how moving, beautiful, sad and optimistic I found "Picking Up Stones" to be. It had a very profound meaning for me. I've struggled with forgiving or not forgiving my whole life, being a first generation daughter. My heart has perhaps softened a bit, thanks in part to witnessing your play today. The emotional roller coaster you took us on helped me to understand that there is tragedy on both sides. I'm not quite there yet. But your words and expressiveness brought me closer to admitting to myself that grief is universal and chooses no sides. Thank you so much for an afternoon of beauty, heartache and hope for a better tomorrow. - Elizabeth Goor, audience member, The Garde.
From Rabbi Stephen Belsky at CJI (Touro Synagogue) : Yishar koaḥ on such a powerful work of art that presents and holds in tension so many different perspectives, pains, and aspirations. I can only watch it from within my own identity and experience, and while we talk pedagogically about 'walking a mile in another's shoes' that's a goal that is in its truest form tantalizingly out of reach – so I hope that your play succeeds in humanizing and relating American Jewish care and concern for both the lives of our brethren in our Homeland and the quality of their State, and expressing that to outside audiences, along with the ideals, anger, and terror of Israelis and Palestinians.
From Betty Kornitizer, from the full length play at Granite Theatre, Westerly RI: "We were in India at an ashram on October 7th, with people from all over the world, including, Jews, Muslims, Israelis, Arabs- the shock and horror we witnessed them dealing with, and our own, came back to me as I witnessed you perform your play. Your artistry, research, and dedication to telling the human story here, is simply remarkable. Thank you."
From Mark Sawtelle, from the 'hour-long' version at Providence Fringe Festival: "Sandra has an uncanny ability to balance passion, compassion, and a respect for the facts in this tour de force performance. Highly recommended. "
G. Hanrahan (Providence Fringe Festival) "Sandra’s play has the plea for peace at its core. Its power lies in giving voice to the many perspectives of a complicated and thorny issue: the need for peace in the Middle East. Sandra magnificently inhabits the many people and voices in her play — who all speak with urgent, passionate, sometimes humorous and very divergent perspectives. It’s magnificent acting on view in an important story that needs to be shared. It made me think — it made me ask questions. It made me aware of my own ignorance and naïveté about the conflicts in the Middle East. If you have an opportunity to see this show, don’t miss it. It is excellent top shelf theater, and we are very lucky to have this talented performer and writer in Rhode Island sharing her intelligence and heart with us."
Bill Rodriguez (theater critic Providence, RI): " Sandra Laub has an impressive ability to inhabit characters she presents, whether those we are familiar with, such as Golda Meir in Golda’s Balcony, or those of her invention, like those in her one-woman show, Picking Up Stones: An American Jew Wakes To A Nightmare. That’s not an easy accomplishment for an actor, even with the 10 years experience she has had performing the former. "
Peter Sanderson, retired Marvel Comics historian (saw the open rehersal at the Manhattan JCC: "...Much of the strength of this powerful and moving play lies in its thorough examination of the history and current events from both Jewish and Palestinian points of view."
Jerry Fischer, producer: Sandra Laub’s play and performance, Picking up Stones lets us see the flicker of humanity that is still burning and needs to be kept alive.
Dear Nancy and Bina,
I just need to say what an amazing afternoon at Sandra Laub's play, “Picking Up Stones!” I was riveted to my seat and intensely emotionally connected throughout the whole play. Sandra did an outstanding job portraying multiple perspectives and feelings and heartache. Her ability to make extremely complex conflict resonate with very humane thoughts and questions made me wish this play could be shown throughout the world. Her play offers a springboard for more conversations with depth. I am extremely grateful for her generosity in giving us this play, and her effort and incredible talents make me have hope.
Thank you for all the hard work you did in bringing Sandra Laub and “Picking Up Stones” to our community!!!
Sending much love always,
Jeanne A.
Dear Sandra,
I was really glad to be able to see your performance of "Picking Up Stones" on Saturday. Such an ambitious and heartrending piece! In this polarized, "pick a side" society we live in, it is so hard for some to make room for conflicting narratives. Your play brings up more questions than answers, and for me, that is why it is so compelling. As they say in Hebrew, Kol HaKavod--every honor to you.
Amy O. Hillel Director, RI
Sandra Laub’s performance of her one-person play “Picking Up Stones: An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare,”is a deeply moving and thought-provoking drama. The horrific scenes from October 7th and the ongoing war has led Ms. Laub to write, direct and play the various parts of Israelis and Palestinians directly effected by this tragedy. In just 100 minutes I experienced myself being on both sides of the conflict, feeling unimaginable pain and loss, wanting to blame and yet unable to judge, desperately searching for a way out of this decades-old conflict, hoping for an equitable and sustainable peace. With so much to absorb I look forward to seeing the play again!
Karen C.
Dear Sandra
I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you and value your message as expressed in your Sunday performance. I found your presentation sincere, heart wrenching and beautifully delivered. I am amazed at your power for memorizing and wish I had just a little of that ability.
The issues we all face, Jewish or not, is one of deep concern for all the victims of these horrific wars and acts of violence. As you know I have been an advocate for peace most of my life and encourage the study of nonviolence. The complexity of the issues are vital in understanding the way forward and without a sincere respect and love for our fellow humans we can not figure it out. Some of it has so much to do with militarism and the profits that are gained by keeping the war machine going. Dr. King said it best. “We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools”. You are contributing to a better understanding of how to hold the tensions between two truths together. The desire for peace and the need to protect those we love. It isn’t easy.
Thank you again for putting yourself out there, speaking up when it is difficult and taking the criticism that is inevitable in today’s climate. May there be peace in Israel and Palestine soon.
With much love and peace,
Madeline
Hi Sandy,
I was so taken with your play last weekend. Entertained is not the word, more like thoroughly engaged throughout your performance...Your play touched my heart in new ways, and so as I read about this ongoing, widening war, I find my relationship to it more personal than before.
Thank you for your courage and creativity and focus and your passionate and gentle spirit.
I want you to know I am not alone in caring about the burden you bear and that I am learning to share with others. In peace and solidarity, Pam
...I feel Sandra could get a MacArthur Fellowship for this play. Maybe she might consider, too, turning it into a movie? Her play is very powerful, and should be shown to a lot of audiences. Maybe by making a movie this would help her talents and insights reach a wider audience. If it is no trouble, would you please ask her if this is a future possibility? - audience member, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Peacedale, RI
"When your heart is broken over lives lost and the profound suffering in Israel and Palestine, Sandy Laub's , "Picking up Stones" is a riveting and masterfully performed, fresh and original work that heals. It is the balm so needed to make space to see, think, act, resolve, and to heal. It is a treasure!" - Sharon S.
" Sandy's portrayals were so accurate, and made the play quite real. A must see." - Yury and Sharon S. audience members at UU Canton, MA.
Reverend Denis Paul of Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Peacedale, RI: If you were one of the folks lucky enough to get to attend Sandra Laub’s performance of “Picking up Stones” at UUCSC on Saturday, you probably left with a sense of awe, swimming in the complexity of the subject. Ms. Laub wrote the script, and performed all the characters, including herself. Sandra moved effortlessly between characters in Israel, Palestine and around the world, reflecting on the conflict going all the way back to the Holocaust and even Sarah and Hagar. I left feeling like there was so much to unpack, but a couple things stood out above all else. A few days after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Ms. Laub mentioned to her Rabbi that she was thinking about the innocent noncombatants dying in Gaza. He said it wasn’t her responsibility to worry about them so soon. Her job for the moment, and for as long as she needed, was to tend to her own grief, fear and worry about her family and friends in Israel. I thought, “Exactly. It’s the job of others right now to do that kind of worrying. People who aren’t under attack are the ones who should be worrying right now about Gaza. People who aren’t personally targeted by the worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust.” We must endeavor to hold the hope for one another in difficult times, so that in the midst of loss and chaos we can tend to ourselves and the people we love. This is the kind of hope I’m talking about: hope that no more innocents will die. Many of my ministerial colleagues are calling Israel’s response a genocide. Some — most of whom have no stake in the crisis — are saying that by not using the word genocide I am personally accountable for the deaths in Gaza, an accomplice to murder. Each time I hear that kind of charge, it reeks to me of antisemitism. Ms. Laub has been publicly attacked for trying to play both sides of the issue. I don’t see that. I see someone who can sit with the nuances of an ancient and perhaps unresolvable conflict, even in her identity as a Jew. I’m glad she has invited us, as a community of diverse faith, to be with her. In Peace, Rev Denis Paul
I love what you are offering with this performance. You really bring out the human story and weave in the history and present situation so clearly along the way.
Leslie (audience member, Canton, MA)
Good Morning, Sandra,
I attended your June 1st performance at All Souls, and I'm still feeling its impact. I stayed in the hall for the discussion, where I learned/re-learned some history and heard additional perspectives. So, thank you first for the honest sharing of your insights and emotions. And thanks for your vulnerability and courage throughout the performance and talk-back.
Peace,
Ginny Campbell
The overall effect was compelling. Sandra's approach was balanced and meaningful. There have been atrocities on both sides. A testimony to the emotions she used and elicited from audience were evidenced by the solemnity of those gathered. There was a respectful quiet throughout the presentation. When she spoke about folks forced to watch family and friends killed in front of them, I audibly gasped.I thought about it on my ride home. If the definition of rabbi is to teach then it is obligation of the congregation to provide opportunities for learning. I am proud of Agudas Achim for having done so.
Lynn, Hurleyville Performing Arts Center
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