Bibliodrama
Having taught Jewish text for a number of years, I began to explore the interface between Judaism and creative methods. In 2002 I discovered Bibliodrama, a wonderful technique that I have been privileged to take all over the world and train teachers to use.
Bibliodrama is a powerful experiential technique developed by Dr Peter Pitzele of the US (pictured left), whose book, Scripture Windows, taught me how to apply it. Despite its name, Bibliodrama does not involve acting. Instead, it is a dynamic group role-playing. It draws the participants gently into a direct engagement with the text and leads to fascinating, even startling results. Participants become insightful commentators, creating together a form of spontaneous "Modern Midrash."
For me, Bibliodrama is an opportunity to relive the story and have it really affect our identity: right here, in this moment. That is how Torah should be - a living Torah, Etz Chaim.
As of October 2011 I am excited to be taking on the new challenge of inter-cultural Bibliodrama, a Grundtvig project. I've been enriched by learning techniques from another school of Bibliodrama, emerging from Europe.
You can read more here and here
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# WATCH: Introduction to Bibliodrama at interfaith meeting in Jerusalem's Old City, with Muezzin in background! (For larger screen click here)
# LISTEN: Caje Conference, 2005 01 Track 1 - Intro to Bibliodrama.wma , 02 Track 2.wma (to listen to more of the session, click here)
# LISTEN: Spirit of Things, ABC National Radio 2006 Click here (Bibliodrama begins around two fifths of the way through)
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RESUME OF BIBLIODRAMA WORKSHOPS AND TEACHER TRAININGS:
To date I have run over 150 Bibliodrama sessions, including in:
Israel: Yakar Ta Shma Pardes UJS tour SAJES Bet Yosef synagogue Mercaz Hamagshimim Jewish Agency Netzer Young Judea SIACH Midreshet Devorah and many others.
USA: Dallas (Akiba) Houston (Emory-Weiner) NJ (Maayanot) Memphis (ASBEE) CAJE educator's conference Philadelphia (Stern) Boston (Maimonides) NY (Monsey; Shearith Israel; Drisha) Florida (Hollywood)
Canada: Winnipeg (Gray academy)
UK: LSJS Jewish Teacher-training programmes Limmud Kol Nefesh Immanuel College Moishe House
Australia: Moriah school Yavneh College Mount Scopus Limmud Oz Sydney Jewish Writer's Festival Shalom Institute North Shore Syagogue Great Synagogue Or Chadash Shira Kedem and other synagogues schools and private homes in Sydney Melbourne and Perth
Belgium: Antwerp (Tachkemoni school)
Poland: Bielsko-Biala (Teatr Grodzki), Krakow (JCC)
Germany: Limmud
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TESTIMONIALS:
We hosted Yael Unterman in December 2003 at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in New Jersey. Yael did two bibliodrama sessions for our students. We found the technique very interesting. It really drew the students into the story, making them think about issues they hadn't thought about before, and it brought the story to life. It was a very exciting way to relate to the text.
- Suzanne Cohen, Tanakh teacher, Maayanot Yeshiva High School
In a small format she did a biblio-drama workshop for teachers, and we all gained so much from it. I personally went out the next week and used some elements of it in a sermon... She has my highest recommendations.
- Rabbi Joel M. Finkelstein, Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth Cong. Memphis, TN
From a recent interfaith group:
- It creates a friendly atmosphere...In a short time we knew each other in a deeper way
- Stories coming alive and becoming a part of them is a very strong experience, to many of the participants' own surprise, including my own
- A powerful way to connect with the bible of our lives. And also helps us to see how God speaks to different people
- It opened me to other ways of understanding the text