About the Show

Mikhl Yashinsky's debut Yiddish drama explores an obscure writer's struggles to be published.

The Gospel According to Chaim weaves an intriguing tale of an obscure Yiddish writer from Baltimore who translates the New Testament into Yiddish and faces rejections from various publishers. Undeterred, he masters the art of self-printing, crafting an exquisitely illustrated manuscript that no one wanted to read.

This new play marks Mikhl Yashinsky's full-length playwriting debut, blending theatrical excitement with an unconventional storyline. Presented in Yiddish with English supertitles, Yashinsky's impactful drama showcases a youthful ensemble led by Melissa Weisz, known for 'Unorthodox' and 'Felix & Meira.' Featuring Joshua Horowitz and Sruli Rosenberg in their professional theatre debuts, alongside Yashinsky fresh off a run in 'Amid Falling Walls.' Weisz and Rosenberg, both native Yiddish speakers from Orthodox New York communities, star in this thought-provoking narrative.

Critic Reviews (1)

There are few issues that raise the ire of the religious as a member changing religions. Apostate is the mildest term used for such a person. Mikhl Yashinsky’s "The Gospel According to Chaim" at Theater for the New City tells of such a person, the eponymous Chaim Einspruch, played with beatific authority by the author, himself. This is a true story and a rarity: a contemporary play written in Yiddish. (Supertitle translation is provided.) Chaim Einspruch wrote the first Yiddish translation of the New Testament, a shanda of the highest order since this acknowledges the existence of Jesus as “the Savior.”
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