Speaker Series: Jewish Insights and the lessons from the music of Fiddler on the Roof

Sixty years ago, the musical, Fiddler on the Roof, opened on Broadway. The musical was based, in large part, on a series of stories by Sholem Aleichem written between 1894 and 1914 about Jewish life in a Russian village reflecting his own upbringing near modern-day Kyiv. Today Fiddler on the Roof is still wildly popular, spawning at least five Broadway revivals, a film adaptation, and countless school and community productions.

Although it may not be apparent on the surface, there is quite a bit of Jewish tradition, insight and depth in the music and story of “Fiddler On The Roof.” In this class, we will enjoy many of the scenes and songs from the movie and discuss such issues as our relationship with God, perspectives on the afterlife, Jewish superstitions, a reason for Jewish intelligence (and all those Nobel Prizes), Talmudic logic, the true meaning of “Mazel Tov,” Jewish understanding…