Writing about ›the situation‹

New texts about war and antisemitism

On 7th October 2023, the Jewish world’s worst nightmares became reality with Hamas’ terrorist invasion of Israel. With the ensuing war in Israel and Gaza and the increase in public antisemitism in the Diaspora, it is impossible to predict what the future holds. Only one thing seems certain: Now all is at stake.

Through the Institut für Neue Soziale Plastik’s project “Writing about ‘The Situation’” it was possible to commission new texts from Israeli and Diaspora playwrights and writers Lena Gorelik, Etgar Keret, Julya Rabinowich, Hadar Galron, Avishai Milstein, and Roy Chen. Between October 2023 and October 2024 they continuously wrote new literary or dramatic texts about a present marked by uncertainty and pain. Approximately every two months, a scenic reading of these texts took place at Munich’s Kammerspiele theatre. Each reading was followed by discussions with the authors, moderated by Dr. Rachel Salamander. The readings were accompanied by projections of Israeli art created after the massacre.

Following the opening at Kammerspiele, readings of the texts also took place at other theatres throughout Germany. The Institute continues to work with the resulting texts.

The series of events in 2023/2024 was supported by the Federal Commissioner for Jewish life in Germany and the fight against Antisemitism, Dr. Felix Klein, and the Embassy of the State of Israel in Germany.