“Wooden Wars” is a bilingual play by Jana Mazurkiewicz, that focuses on the lives of four young Catholics from modern Poland, each of whom changes forever when they discover that they might have Jewish roots. As the play shifts from an even blend of Yiddish and English to almost entirely Yiddish, it invites us to question: is Yiddish the key to understanding Jewish-Polish history?

After discovering their Jewish roots, sisters Zosia and Ania separate. One travels to America, converts to reform Judaism, and embraces her lesbian sexuality, while the other stays behind in Poland and marries a Chabadnik. Both come to speak Yiddish at home. Their stories are intertwined with those of their friends Jakub and Tadek, two young men whose own relationships with Jewish identity and Yiddish language are troubled. Neither as children nor as adults do the characters have control of their fates. Various paranormal forces are involved in the action, and Jesus appears to sing in Yiddish.

The name refers to a cultural battle in contemporary Poland that’s highlighted in the play by two symbolic wooden artifacts: wooden crosses, and wooden figurines of Jews. These figurines, made of wood or clay, are a part of contemporary Polish culture. People buy them as amulets believing that they will bring happiness to their households.

After discovering their Jewish roots, sisters Zosia and Ania separate. One travels to America, converts to reform Judaism, and embraces her lesbian sexuality, while the other stays behind in Poland and marries a Chabadnik. Both come to speak Yiddish at home. Their stories are intertwined with those of their friends Jakub and Tadek, two young men whose own relationships with Jewish identity and Yiddish language are troubled. Neither as children nor as adults do the characters have control of their fates. Various paranormal forces are involved in the action, and Jesus appears to sing in Yiddish.

The name refers to a cultural battle in contemporary Poland that’s highlighted in the play by two symbolic wooden artifacts: wooden crosses, and wooden figurines of Jews. These figurines, made of wood or clay, are a part of contemporary Polish culture. People buy them as amulets believing that they will bring happiness to their households.

Ania: (Later known as Frime) – very shy and serious, silent, pretty.Ania doesn’t like interacting with the other kids and prays when no one is watching her. She constantly fiddles with her hands and is paranoid of being watched. Ania is intimidated by her sister, Zosia. Frime speaks the Polish dialect of Yiddish. She can be distinguished by her red skirt, white blouse, and rosary in Act I, and by a white blouse, grey skirt, and sheytl (head scarf) in Act II. Played by Sarah Garibova.

Ania: (Later known as Frime) – very shy and serious, silent, pretty.Ania doesn’t like interacting with the other kids and prays when no one is watching her. She constantly fiddles with her hands and is paranoid of being watched. Ania is intimidated by her sister, Zosia. Frime speaks the Polish dialect of Yiddish. She can be distinguished by her red skirt, white blouse, and rosary in Act I, and by a white blouse, grey skirt, and sheytl (head scarf) in Act II. Played by Sarah Garibova.

Jakub: A nerdy, brainy, courageous outsider. He stares at maps all the time and travels in his dreams. Jakub is lumbered with a chronic cold. He speaks broken Yiddish and uses Hebrew words here and there. He wears a big black hat, white shirt, black vest, and red pants. Played by Sara Feldman.

Jakub: A nerdy, brainy, courageous outsider. He stares at maps all the time and travels in his dreams. Jakub is lumbered with a chronic cold. He speaks broken Yiddish and uses Hebrew words here and there. He wears a big black hat, white shirt, black vest, and red pants. Played by Sara Feldman.

Zosia: (Later called Rus) – funny, brave, silly, talkative, homely. Zosia enjoys making fun of her sister Ania and challenging people. Zosia gets bored very easily. Zosia/Rus speaks YIVO Yiddish with a very strong American accent. She can be identified by her red harem pants, white and red shirt, and red hat in Act I, and all black outfit in Act II. Played by Jamie Parsons. 

Zosia: (Later called Rus) – funny, brave, silly, talkative, homely. Zosia enjoys making fun of her sister Ania and challenging people. Zosia gets bored very easily. Zosia/Rus speaks YIVO Yiddish with a very strong American accent. She can be identified by her red harem pants, white and red shirt, and red hat in Act I, and all black outfit in Act II. Played by Jamie Parsons. 

Tadek:  Energetic, self-confident, vulgar, stubborn, and a bully. He is arrogant and a “my way or the highway” kind of person; you’d better watch out for him. . He dons brown hat, brown pants, and a red, plaid sweatshirt, and often, a bottle of vodka. Played by James Nadel.

Tadek:  Energetic, self-confident, vulgar, stubborn, and a bully. He is arrogant and a “my way or the highway” kind of person; you’d better watch out for him. . He dons brown hat, brown pants, and a red, plaid sweatshirt, and often, a bottle of vodka. Played by James Nadel.

Salesman: He has a Santa Claus-like figure– energetic and a little pushy… He loves his job. The Salesman is the guy with the burlap sack marketing Wooden Jews. Played by Sanders.