The Zero Hour

Many of you are aware that there is a new theater in Carnegie named Off The Wall. It is located on Main Street across from Citizens Bank and opened about a year ago. Formerly this company was located in Washington, PA but moved to Carnegie because of our superior location near Pittsburgh and the western suburbs (shameless plug for Carnegie by local borough councilman). OTW presents unusual and uncommon plays. This isn't the typical fare that you would see in large productions in the city. But that's fine with us. We have two live theaters in Carnegie and they each have their niche.

Recent offerings include a play about a woman with dementia and her estrangement from her husband. Another dealt with a strained mother-daughter relationship and breast cancer. Today I'm writing to tell you about a play currently being performed at OTW called The Zero Hour. It stars Erika Cuenca and Daina Michelle Griffith, and was written by Brooklyn playwright Madeleine George. It's directed by Robyne Parrish. The lead character, Rebecca, writes textbooks for a New York publishing house and has been tasked with writing a chapter on the Holocaust for 7th graders. Because the textbook has to be marketable throughout the U.S., including the Bible Belt, she has to be careful about what she says. As a Jew, and a homosexual, there's much she would like to say but isn't allowed. She finds the task stressful, to say the least. And of course, any good story has complications that add to the tension. There's her roommate/lover who won't get a job. And, there's the guilt/stress of hiding her roommate from her mother. As Rebecca's stress mounts she starts hallucinating— Nazis appear on the train when she comes home from work at night, and they engage her in lengthy conversations. The whole script is excellent. I especially liked the intertwining of the "living a lie" theme as Rebecca describes a "closet" Jew living with false papers in Berlin, while Rebecca herself is hiding her true life from her mother. I also liked how Rebecca struggles with how to make the Holocaust relevant to 7th graders. She can't describe the enormity of it all— how many Shea Stadiums full of people are we talking about? Her descriptions of the text book modules are priceless.

The acting is very good all around, with Erika giving an especially strong performance as Rebecca. Each of the two leads play 4 or more characters each, which means that they had extensive lines to memorize and have to change costume, accent, and personality repeatedly throughout the play. The numerous costume changes are done on-stage which adds a physicality to the play and an extra challenge to the actors. The set design is excellent, including subway cars, with lighting and sound effects that mimic being in the underground. I give the cast and crew high marks for an emotionally moving and intellectually stimulating performance.

It's not often that we get a Holocaust themed play in Carnegie. I am probably understating the obvious; we probably have never had a Holocaust themed play in Carnegie! That said, this play is not for everyone. There is overt lesbian sexuality portrayed in some scenes. If you are offended by two women kissing and fondling, you may wish to stay home. The play is running for two more weekends. Members of the Carnegie Shul get a substantial discount on ticket sales; you can call me if you want more info. The OTW website is here.

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The Carnegie Shul Prepares for the High Holidays and Celebrates More Than a Century of Tradition

By Rick D'Loss • September 11, 2025

Carnegie, PA – September 11, 2025—The Carnegie Shul , founded in 1896 and incorporated in 1903, remains a cornerstone of Jewish life in the South Hills. As the oldest congregation in the region , it reflects more than 125 years of history, resilience, and community spirit. High Holy Days Services: A.J. Edelman Returns High Holy Days services at the Carnegie Shul will be held on September 22–24 for Rosh Hashanah and October 1–2 for Yom Kippur . The complete schedule is available at www.thecarnegieshul.org/high-holy-days . This year, services will once again be led by A.J. Edelman, a figure beloved by the congregation. "A.J. has been with us for about 8 years. He is a treasure that we have now," said Rick D'Loss, President of the Carnegie Shul. Edelman is renowned for his historic achievement as the first Orthodox Jewish athlete to compete in the Winter Olympics, inspiring many through his dedication to balancing athletic excellence with religious faith. His leadership and spirituality continue to enrich the community, making his annual return as shaliach tzibur a highlight of the Shul's holiday observances. A History of Faith and Community The Shul's roots stretch back to its founding families, including the Shermans, Millers, Wilks, Klees, and many others. "Starting in the late 1800s, Markus Sherman held services in his home," explained D'Loss. He led the formation of the congregation and organized the first high holidays services in 1896. We didn't even have a building; the first holiday services were conducted in the Husler building, the present home of the Carnegie Historical Society." The congregation was incorporated in 1903 and built a shul on Broadway St. "When a fire destroyed that shul in 1934, it was decided not to rebuild on that small lot because the congregation was still growing," recalled D'Loss. A new and much larger synagogue opened on Lydia Street in 1937. Leadership Across Generations Over the years, leadership has passed through many dedicated families and has been sustained by many other families and members. "In addition to the Sherman family, the Wilk family provided three generations of shul presidents. D'Loss recalled, "Ike Peresman and Jean Perlman served as Treasurers for more than 70 years between them. Stanley Roth served as Secretary from around 1947 up until 2005 and passed in 2009. He was a huge figure in the congregation and we referred to him as Nusi , the Hebrew word for "prince"." D'Loss said Dr. Larry Block, a retired professor from Duquesne University, continues to play a vital role. "He is an incredible, knowledgeable guy who has dedicated so much of his time and effort to this congregation over the past 40 years," said D'Loss. He was and still is a scholar. We rely on him for his knowledge of Torah and tradition. He's in his 80s and leads Torah study for us every week." A Unique Congregational Identity The Carnegie Shul is known for its strong traditions, welcoming nature, and independence. "We have not had a rabbi here since 1978, when Stanley Savage moved on to another shul. The congregation is unaffiliated. The term indie minyan is in vogue these days, but we've been an indie minyan for 50 years." The Shul has an open-door policy for High Holidays. Most congregations limit High Holiday services to just their members, but in the history of the Carnegie Shul, we've never restricted admission. "It's a pretty amazing testament to our place that people come, donate, and join because they appreciate what we offer and they want us to stay open. But their attendance and participation are their most important gift— a gift to both themselves and the community. The congregation is certainly smaller than it was in previous generations, but the ner tamid is still burning in Carnegie," D'Loss said.