An exhibition commemorating the centennial of the play "The Dybbuk" has opened in Tel Aviv, supported by the EAJC

The official opening of the "Wanderings of The Dybbuk" exhibition, organized with the support of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), took place at the Enrico Strenger Museum of Judaica at Tel Aviv University. The exposition was prepared by the Museum of Judaica in cooperation with the Israeli Center for the Documentation of the Performing Arts at Tel Aviv University. It marks the centenary of the premiere of "The Dybbuk" at the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow. The complete history of the legendary production is presented to the general public — from its premieres in the Soviet capital and foreign tours of the 1920s and 30s to its adaptation on the contemporary Israeli stage.

During the opening ceremony, the audience was addressed by the exhibition curator, Dr. Olga Levitan, the exhibition artist, Dina Konson, and the playwright and theatre historian, Dr. Boris Entin of the Gnazim Institute. The "Wanderings of The Dybbuk" exhibition represents the concluding event in a series of international events commemorating the centenary of "The Dybbuk" premiere, in cooperation with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Haifa.

On the evening following the exhibition opening, April 27, and throughout the day on April 28, Israel observes Holocaust Remembrance Day. In the view of the exhibition organizers, this coincidence only underscores its symbolism. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the Jewish culture of Eastern Europe, which was devastated by the horrific events of World War II. S. An-sky, the author of "The Dybbuk," sought to preserve the legacy of this culture by recording unique materials gathered during ethnographic expeditions to the Jewish shtetls within the Pale of Settlement. Over time, his play became the definitive signature piece of Jewish theatre. Visitors to the Enrico Strenger Museum of Judaica at Tel Aviv University can examine these unique artifacts, sketches, scripts, costumes, and photographs.

The exhibition is open from Sunday through Thursday, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Admission is free.

The Habima Theatre-Studio was founded in Moscow in 1917, driven by the intense enthusiasm of actor and director Nahum Zemach, with the direct assistance of K.S. Stanislavsky. Habima was referred to as the biblical studio of the Moscow Art Theatre. Evgeny Bogrationovich Vakhtangov became the first artistic director of the theatre, which presented its performances in Hebrew.

The signature piece of the theatre remains "The Dybbuk" by S. An-sky, which originated from an ethnographic expedition through Jewish shtetls.

The production of "The Dybbuk," staged by Evgeny Vakhtangov in January 1922, just four months before his death, brought global acclaim to Habima. Despite not knowing Hebrew, Vakhtangov created a language of universal, fantastical theatricality in "The Dybbuk," which astounded audiences in Moscow, Europe, and America.