The Mitzvah Project
Reaching & Teaching 5,000 Youth in Troubling Times
Teaching Artist, Elijah Alexander, presenting The Mitzvah Project to students at Arvada West High School (CO).
letter from creator roger grunwald
I hope all's well.
The Mitzvah Project has set an ambitious goal of reaching and teaching 5,000 young people about the Holocaust this year with our unique combination of theater, history lecture and interactive Q&A.
In these early months of 2023, more than 1,500 high school students have already been engaged and transformed in their understanding of prejudice, antisemitism, and racism.
Through the Mitzvah Project, they gain knowledge and empathy and are empowered to be leaders in creating more tolerance in their schools, communities and in our country.
We are able to move so boldly on our mission this year thanks to The Mitzvah Project Teaching Artist Program – our new and growing company of engaged actor-teachers who are investing their commitment, talents, personal and family connections to the Holocaust into bringing the powerful themes of the Mitzvah Project to young people in their schools.
Elijah Alexander is the first of our inaugural Teaching Artist team to hit the road.
At the end of January, he gave his first MP presentation to over 200 students, parents, faculty, and staff at Vail Christian High School in Colorado, followed by presentations at San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, CA, California High School in San Ramon, CA, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, NC and Arvada West High School in Arvada, CO.
Vail Christian’s Head of School, Steve O’Neil, said this about the impact of Elijah’s presentation: “…Not one person left the auditorium unchanged. [He] pierced the soul and gave voice for what we all know deep down inside – stereotypes, prejudice, racism, hatred, and demonization of ‘the other’ are flat out wrong!”
For additional educator comments, click here: www.themitzvah.org/comments
For selected student comments, click here: https://www.themitzvah.org/student-comments
Ramping Up Even More.
Recent studies https://www.claimscon.org/millennial-study/ have revealed the extent of ignorance of the Holocaust in America, especially among young people.
And, the disturbing rise in antisemitic, racist and other hate driven crimes is making the need for the The Mitzvah Project even more urgent.
Later this month, Elijah will be giving four presentations in Ojai CA, and I will be performing and teaching at Sonoma State University and Arizona State University in early April.
In the coming months, Teaching Artists Rolf Saxon and Victor Talmadge — who are being guided and trained by my Mitzvah Project co-director, Nancy Carlin — will join Elijah and me in taking The Mitzvah Project out to young people across the country.
We are currently in discussions with several schools and school districts — including those in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Michigan and New York City.
Our plan is to present The Mitzvah Project at 24 schools by the end of this year – more if possible.
For the most up to date Mitzvah Project teaching schedule, click on the following link: www.themitzvah.org/bookings
And, to introduce the Mitzvah Project to high school or college leaders (principals, teachers, parents, student representatives) in your community, please reach out to us: www.themitzvah.org/contact-mitzvah .
Funding The Mitzvah Project
One thing to know about The Mitzvah Project: we never charge public schools a penny and heavily subsidize our presentations at colleges, private and parochial schools. So, our Mitzvah Project supporters are very, very special.
A Special Night
In February, Sean and Jennifer Jeffries, longtime friends of Teaching Artist, Elijah Alexander, hosted a friend and fundraiser at their lovely San Francisco home. The gathering of 50 friends and neighbors featured an intimate Mitzvah Project performance and talk by Elijah – and raised $10,000. We are deeply grateful to the Jeffries and our other new supporters for their generous “mitzvot.”
And, I was thrilled to host Karl Pfeiffer, Grace Cavallaro, Michael Willis, and Regina Lackner from the Excelsior German Center of Oakland at the March 6th Mitzvah Project presentation at California High School. Excelsior has been a generous funder of The Mitzvah Project, increasing their support to $15,000 in 2022.
In 2023, The Mitzvah Project is raising $150,000 to fund our outreach and to support the work of our Teaching Artists in bringing the Mitzvah Project to 5,000 young people by the end of the year.
Thank you for partnering with us to open up more hearts and minds!
Warm regards,
Roger Grunwald
the mitzvah project Teaching artist program
elijah alexander is a teaching artist for the mitzvah project
The Mitzvah Project-Teaching Artist Program is a new venture that expands the reach and impact of The Mitzvah Project, an internationally recognized Holocaust/social justice-themed, theatrical-educational program for teens and young adults presented at high schools and colleges – without charge to public schools.
Beginning January 2023, three Broadway & Royal Shakespeare Company actors, including Elijah Alexander, will bring The Mitzvah Project, profiled here by The New York Times, to high schools and colleges across the country. The Mitzvah Project was created by Bay Area native, lecturer, classically trained actor and son of an Auschwitz survivor, Roger Grunwald. He has dedicated his life to carrying on his mother’s mission of educating the next generation about the Holocaust and social justice.
Composed of a one-act solo play, lecture and talkback, the 60-minute program, The Mitzvah Project engages several critical socio-historical questions: “Who decides the meaning of culture, race and ethnicity?” “How is one’s identity determined?” “Why do we demonize ‘the other?’”
the teaching artists
Elijah Alexander
“As a Mitzvah Project Teaching Artist, I am thrilled to share the story of my Uncle Julius who survived capture by the Gestapo and was responsible for single-handedly bringing my family to the states after the war. Were it not for Julius, I would not be around to tell his story… Now, after more than a quarter century in show business, I have the privilege of not only telling his story but of using my performing and teaching skills to help young people learn the critical lessons of the Holocaust. I hope that in doing so, I can play a part in creating a more hopeful and inclusive future.”
Professional Bio: On stage, Elijah has appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning production of Metamorphoses and with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Tantalus, written by John Barton and under the direction of Sir Peter Hall. In regional theater, Elijah has played leading and featured roles at the Guthrie Theatre, Denver Center, Berkeley Rep, Yale Rep and the Old Globe. He was a company member at The Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 5 seasons and at the CalShakes for 3 seasons. His film & TV credits include “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “JAG,” and Guiding Light among others. He is currently co-starring in “The Chosen,” a biblical epic TV series. For more on Elijah, click on http://elijahalexander.net/bio
Learn more about the other artists participating in this program, Rolf Saxon and Victor Talmadge.
Elijah’s Uncle Julius, survived capture by the Gestapo
THE THREE-PART PROGRAM IN DETAIL
The Mitzvah is a one-act play and the first part of the three-part presentation, dramatically explores the interconnected lives of two people who cross paths during the darkest days of the Holocaust.
The second part of the program is a lecture and PowerPoint including:
• Details of the Teaching Artist’s family member's Holocaust experience
• An exploration of the historical connection between white supremacism, anti-Semitism, and racism in America
• An analysis of the role that America’s Jim Crow Laws played in providing a model for the Nazis’ Nuremberg Laws
• An examination of how advances in human biology and genetics totally debunk racialist mythology
• Exposing the roots of intolerance that influenced the failed insurrection of January 6, 2021, etc.
The third part of the presentation is a live Q&A with students.
TESTIMONIALS
“In a way that nothing else quite can, this intense and thought-provoking live stage performance brings vitality to our morbid history. The message of the Mitzvah Project – that there is no ‘Other,’ and that our commonality as human beings should supersede our various differences – unfortunately gains urgency by the day. This was a highly impactful experience for my students and members from the surrounding community alike.”- Dr. Richards Plavnieks, Assistant Professor of History, Florida Southern College
“The Mitzvah Project is a masterpiece with a phenomenal performance by Elijah Alexander representing a German army officer and victim of the Holocaust in a double role performance that will leave you moved and in tears by its climax. The Mitzvah Project will make you reconsider who you are and teach you the true value of a single good deed proving that humanity triumphs over all evil.” — Muhammad Umar, Florida Southern College student
“The Mitzvah Project is a heartbreaking depiction of the depths of human emotion and the complexity of the human spirit. One cannot watch it without walking away changed. Through its composite characters, it brings home the reality of the Holocaust and the humanity of all involved.” — Kendra Belton, Florida Southern College student
“The Mitzvah Project is a profound experience. By circulating the plot around a character with a unique perspective, the Mitzvah Project unites its audience with one crucial thing in common: their humanity.” — Abby Hitchcock, Florida Southern College student
“The Mitzvah Project was nothing short of fantastic! The 200 students, faculty, staff and parents in attendance were glued to the stage throughout Elijah Alexander’s riveting performance and impactful lecture. The Q & A session was particularly valuable, giving our students the opportunity to interact with Mr. Alexander and ask some deep questions. It was an experience the students — and adults — will not soon forget!” — Patrick Nolan, Sandalwood High School, Jacksonville, FL
“The Mitzvah Project was an inspirational, haunting, and eye-opening learning experience. Many of my students wrote to Mr. Grunwald expressing how empowered they felt afterwards and how he inspired them ‘to do their best to fight racially driven injustice, anti-Semitism and violence in the US.” — Michaela Grobbel, Ph.D., Sonoma State University, CA
“My students were fully engaged throughout The Mitzvah Project and spent several days afterwards discussing both their emotional reactions to the presentation and reflecting on the new knowledge they gained… Next to survivor testimony, this is one of the most powerful ways to keep the history of Holocaust alive.” — Eileen O’Kane, History Department/Ethics Co-Chair, Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco
“The [Mitzvah Project] presentation was uniquely engaging and the post performance discussion hit key elements of anti-Semitism and wove it well into the broad societal challenge of discrimination and radicalism. I have seen many discussions that quickly lose their edge on anti-Semitism when they attempt to apply it generally – this did not.” — David Sondheim, (Past) Principal, Redwood High School, Larkspur, CA
“Roger Grunwald … has… created a compelling, moving and important work – The Mitzvah Project… which includes valuable supporting materials to enrich students’ understanding.” — Cindy D. Rosenthal, Ph.D., Professor of Drama and Dance, Hofstra University, NY
“The Mitzvah Project, Roger Grunwald’s unmissable piece of theatre, is both expanded and deepened by his detailed analysis of his own family biography, the origins of the story, and what it means for the way we confront prejudice and discrimination in the present day.” — Dr. Stuart Taberner, University of Leeds (U.K.)
“Roger Grunwald's The Mitzvah Project was a highlight of The German Society’s programme of events. His deep concern for questions of identity touched everyone and challenges our thinking about nationality, religion and indeed culture.” — Henner Petin, President, German Society, Oxford University
RADIO INTERVIEW AT 104.7 KKVM The Mile
On January 24, 2023 Elijah was interviewed about his inaugural performance for The Mitzvah Project by Liz Ferron at KKVM in Vail, Colorado. Take a listen! Liz was excited and impressed by the project, and Elijah shares a little about how he got involved with the project and what brought him to Vail.
KKVM Interview Part I
KKVM Interview Part II
Steve O’Neil from Vail Christian High School and Elijah Alexander with The Mitzvah Project talk with Liz Ferron at 104.7 KKVM about the January, 25, 2023 performance at the high school.
Vail Christian High school presents “the mitzvah project”
vail christian high school
Testimonial from Steve O’Neil, Head of School
Advocacy is an attribute we seek to instill in our graduates. We define it as this action - to use your voice with confidence to speak truth for self and others. The Mitzvah Project enlightened our school community and gave us a vocabulary to stand up for the truth, especially when others are demonized, and give voice for others when they are unable.
After experiencing The Mitzvah Project, not one person left the auditorium unchanged. It pierced the soul and gave voice for what we all know deep down inside -- stereotypes, prejudice, racism, hatred, and demonization of the other are flat out wrong! But more than that, my community was moved to get off the sidelines and do something about it.
Elijah Alexander's performance with The Mitzvah Project was mesmerizing, both because of his giftedness as an actor and for the message. Weeks later, the student body is still talking about it. More importantly, some are now wanting to take action, including standing up and speaking out when they see others who are being demonized.
student reactions to the Mitzvah Project
Despite the beliefs of some, discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, race, gender, geographic region, or disability is very prevalent in today's society. I believe that it is possible to put an end to discrimination by teaching students about it from a young age.
As a student at a predominantly white Christian school, discrimination is especially common, even though most of it is unintentional or joking … it is still discriminatory and it makes the people on the receiving end feel bad … Overall, even though I have never witnessed something as terrible as the Holocaust, I have witnessed many smaller acts of discrimination at my school and outside in my environment…
“There is no other, the other is us.” My classmates and I heard this quote in chapel on Wednesday when Elijah Alexander, (during The Mitzvah Project presentation), was discussing the subject of racism and discrimination and brought up the fact that there is no ‘other’ and there is no such thing as pure blood. We all have many different ethnicities that are part of our heritage. We are all created under one being on this planet and we are all human. We all may have similarities and/or differences, but we all make up the same race-the HUMAN race…
I think it’s important that we learn about these events so we can be part of transforming the future to be tolerant … it is all of our jobs to stand up against actions like that and bring to light the flaws in their “justice.”
When we think of the serious problem of antisemitism, genocide, and prejudice, we might ask ourselves, “Where is God in all of this?” If God loves everyone and knows that something that someone is doing is very wrong, why does He not help? Actor Elijah Alexander says this, “It’s not up to God, we were given free will.” I do agree with this because it is up to us to decide what we are going to do and how we are going to treat people. If we treat people with kindness, those people will be affected and pay the kindness forward. This kindness gives a new perspective to people and could lead to changing humanity and the world.
I believe that the American school system should spend more time focusing on events that have changed the world significantly in the worst way but for the better lesson for our future generations. And on that note the “The Mitzvah Project” in my opinion is a great start to something that should be made proper for every school in the US. Mr. Alexander and Roger Grunwald have done an outstanding job at planning and succession.
Overall this unit has provided me with a lot of valuable information and really reminded me how cruel and unforgiving the world can be, but we as fellow human beings must learn from our mistakes and never repeat them. This unit was important and monumental I believe to many students and faculty.