Bridging Divides: Two Women Create Unity Through Theatre

What happens when five very different women, who have never met before, find themselves stuck in an apartment together in Uman during Rosh Hashanah? Well, we're not going to reveal the entire plot of the play 'Floor 8 and Above' that theater producers Tamar Avonon and Sharon Aharoni have brought to life.

But what's hidden behind this performance—and the two women behind it—is nothing less than a fascinating story. Tamar comes from the film industry, previously working as an editor and directing commercials for the government’s advertising agency. At some point, she went through "a kind of return to her roots" (as she defines it) and became involved with the Breslov Hasidic movement. Since then, she has approached cinema from a religious perspective.

Sharon Aharoni was born and raised in Miami to Israeli parents. In addition to her work in music, she holds a degree in business management, so when she started engaging in the performing arts, she brought both artistic vision and a business mindset. Together with Tamar, they established 'Theater Eshta'—producing plays for women. "But what's most interesting is that Sharon is Chabad and I am Breslov," Tamar notes. "Some might see that as contradictory, and it can indeed appear that way at times, especially when we’re crafting scripts for the performances or dealing with messages and themes."

"But only from a good place," Sharon is quick to add. "I don’t remember there ever being arguments or objections. Each of us brings her own perspective, and together it complements and adds depth to the performances."

Photo: Talia Engelman

Photo: Talia Engelman

The Goal: Creating Unity

The connection between Tamar and Sharon started quite interestingly. "A few years ago, I began working in the women's theater department with Ofer Halevi," Tamar shares. "I met Sharon there, who was in charge of production and was essentially managing the department."

"From the very first moment, we realized we had a lot in common," Sharon adds. "What began as a professional connection quickly developed into a good friendship. Later, we both left Ofer's theater and founded 'Theater Eshta,' which is much more than just theater; for us, it's the realization of a shared dream."

What’s Special About 'Eshta'?

Tamar: "From the very beginning, our theater was meant to create a connection between women through acting and storytelling on stage. This starts with the performances themselves, which always focus on connection, with content that leads to that goal. It continues with our diverse audience, which comes from all sectors of Israeli society, and includes each woman’s connection to herself."

"We've reached a point where women from Haredi communities, some from Mea Shearim, sit alongside women from Shinkin in Tel Aviv, and of course, many ba'alei teshuva who missed high-quality theater and well-staged performances," Sharon adds. "Sometimes, women experience a culture shock because it’s something they didn’t expect, and it’s very emotional. We meet women who are surprised that within our religious community, there is high-quality professional theater. On the other hand, there are women who aren’t familiar with theater at all; this is their first time attending such an event. It sometimes leads to really funny stories, like someone who stood up in the middle of the performance and asked to pause everything because her aunt was running late, or another woman who came up to me during the show to the ‘control’ area where I sit to manage the production and asked, ‘I don’t have a chair, can I take yours?’"

How Do You Create a Performance that Appeals to Such a Diverse Audience?

"When we write the play or create our performance, we always make sure there are several layers—p'shat, remez, drash, and sod," Tamar explains. "Those who are well-versed in the Torah, halacha, and midrashim see the depth, while those unfamiliar with these topics enjoy the outer layer, which also carries a profound message. This is how we manage to appeal to everyone."

Tamar has a clear example: "In the play 'Floor 8 and Above,' we tell a story about five women stuck in an apartment in Uman during Rosh Hashanah and everything that happens as a result. Of course, those who don’t know about the Hasidic world and Uman enjoy, are touched, and laugh at the story itself, but those who understand pick up on the depth. And those who delve even deeper notice clues like a bed, a table, a chair, and a candle that characterize the stories of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Sometimes women recognize elements only after the performance, noticing various hints embedded in the theatrical language, which makes them want to come back to see the show again. Perhaps that is the intention of the verse: 'Theaters are destined to become houses of study.'"

Photo: shutterstock

Photo: shutterstock

Connecting in the Audience

Who are the actresses that perform in your plays?

Here too, Sharon and Tamar manage to surprise. "We have a team of 12 actresses, each coming from a different background. We do this deliberately to foster unity and show that we all come from different places."

Tamar: There was a group of women—cousins from the central part of the country who were not religious at all and never imagined they would attend our play, but they had a relative who ‘forced’ them all to come. When they entered the theater, they were really resistant and angry at her: ‘Why did you bring us to a challah-dipping night?’ But she asked them, ‘Just stay for five minutes.’ After five minutes, they all put away their smartphones and simply sat in their seats without getting up until the end of the performance. Later, they told us: ‘You changed our minds, this isn’t what we expected.’"

Sharon recalls a particularly touching story as well: "One time, a ba'alat teshuva mother came to one of the shows with her two completely secular daughters, with whom she had been disconnected for years due to cultural gaps. For her birthday, the woman decided to do something cheeky and told her daughters she was inviting them to a show. That sounded fine to them, but only when they arrived did they realize what kind of play it was and who was behind the theater. Ultimately, they stayed in the audience, and the mother told us that her relationship with her daughters has only grown stronger since, because thanks to the performance, they learned they also have common ground and can communicate. This is precisely our goal—to create unity in every possible sense. It’s so important, and we truly believe it can happen."

You talk a lot about unity, but if we look outside, our lives seem far from it. How do you personally feel about that?

They pause for a moment. It’s clear this is a concern for them. "Being involved with Hasidic stories, we know what it’s like to go against the tide," Tamar finally says. "And precisely because we come from a world of creation, we can distinguish between what the media portrays and the truth. Of course, we both feel the immense pain of the division in our people; it’s such a huge and ugly rift, but because of that, we know we must take action, because if each of us does not dream of unity and do something to promote it, it simply will not happen."

And Sharon adds: "Since we understand the importance of the role we are taking on, we make it a point to start each day with a shared Torah study, and mainly, we simply have a real love for each and every woman in the Jewish nation. I believe that if there is love, goodwill, and a lack of judgment, we can achieve great things."

What about plans for the future?

Tamar: "We are planning another interesting play that will also focus on unity and connection, and we also plan to create a sort of community around us that will accompany our performances and be a part of them."

"We intend to continue along the path we've chosen," Sharon adds. "Because day by day, we are understanding how much we can achieve through the love of Israel. We have chosen this powerful tool, and it compels us to stick to it, constantly reassess our content, and be careful with every word, understanding that hundreds of women sit among us, and every message penetrates and resonates. We pray not to err, and that we will be able to continue to connect and do only good."