The Braid presents ‘Sweet Tea & the Southern Jew’ 

On Jan. 10, The Braid Stories will introduce its latest storytelling theatre experience: “Sweet Tea & the Southern Jew.” Each story is a true tale about the complex challenges Southern Jews face as they navigate multiple identities. Performances will take place live across the Los Angeles area between Jan. 10 and 23 (including host synagogues at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Valley Beth Shalom, Temple Isaiah and Or Ami). They will also be screened live on Zoom.

The show features stories by Melissa Fay Greene, Lisa Jacobson, William E. Israel, Suzy Stein and Fernando Perez, Marissa Tiamfook Gee, and Rabbi Deborah Silver. They will be performed by actors Nathan Bock, Roni Geva, Kimberly Green and Heidi Mendez.

Also in January, The Braid will host a curated art show on Zoom with the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans. 

Artistic Director Ronda Spinak and her team toured the South in November 2019. In a statement to SoCal Jewish News, Spinak said after hearing stories from Jews living there, “I realized they also had a unique and fascinating Jewish experience. Many are multi-generational Southerners. They’re as much Southerners as they are Jews, and a remarkable blend of both.  Immediately, we knew we simply had to brighten our stages with these captivating Jewish American perspectives.”

One of the stories featured in “Sweet Tea” is from playwright Izzy Salant, who shares his recollection of how his Maryland community responded in the wake of his mother’s suicide when he was 10.  

“Sweet Tea” is just one part of The Braid’s month-long celebration of Southern Jews, which also features an interview with famed character actress Caroline Aaron, who plays Shirley Maisel in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” She’ll be interviewed by author Lisa Rosenbaum at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16, where she’ll discuss her experiences growing up Jewish in the South. 

To purchase tickets to all Braid events and for more information, visit the website.