Congregation Shaara Tfille and The Jewish Community Center of Saratoga Springs to Host Play Reading

Congregation Shaara Tfille and The Jewish Community Center of Saratoga Springs are excited to present a play reading, “My Name is Asher Lev” at 2:00 pm and at 7:00 pm on Sunday, July 27, at Congregation Shaara Tfille, 84 Weibel Avenue. 

The performances are part of the 2025 Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival. This event is sponsored by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeast New York. There is a $5 admission charge that also includes light refreshments.

Advanced reservations are required and walk-ins will not be admitted. RSVP by phoning Congregation Shaara Tfille at 518-584- 2370 or email, saratogajcc@albany.twcbc.com by July 24. 

“My Name is Asher Lev” is a play adapted by Aaron Posner, from the novel of the same name by the acclaimed author Chaim Potok. This reading will be directed by Dianne O’Neill, who has directed numerous regional productions, including our moving 2023 production of “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok. 

The play follows the journey of a young Jewish painter, torn between his Hasidic upbringing and his desperate need to fulfill his artistic promise. When his artistic genius threatens to destroy his relationship with his parents and the community, young Asher realizes he must make a difficult choice between art and faith. 

This stirring adaptation of a modern classic presents a heartbreaking and triumphant vision of what it means to be an artist. The Philadelphia Inquirer, describes the play as: “…a profound declaration of the power of storytelling on a stage.”