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Sarah & Hagar: Rosh Hashana Drash

Karrie Fox & Chana Andler, P'nai Or of Portland

Introduction: In the spirit of sisterhood and peace between nations, this
year we decided to re-examine the relationship between Sarah and Hagar.
Sarah and Hagar are seen here as two parts of a greater whole: their
relationship to themselves, each other, and G*d are like the phases of the
moon, moving from full moon to half moon to darkness to full moon again.
This drash was performed with moon-shaped masks, symbolizing the changing
faces of the moon and our lives. Narration and simple blocking (symbolic
movement) was added to bring the piece to life.

Narrator (K): And Hashem remembered Sarah as She had said and Sarah
conceived and bore a son to Abraham. And Abraham called the name of the son
"Yitzhak". And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me. All who hear will
laugh with me."

[Sarah appears holding a full of light, round moon mask over her face]

Sarah (C): I am Face of Light Woman, Woman of Joy and Laughter, Woman of
the Happy Womb, Bearer of the Past into the Present, Link to All that was
and ever will be. I thought my time was over, that I would leave this
world, barren and unfulfilled. Who would have thought that I would nurse
children in my old age_ Who would have believed such a miracle could
happen_ Rejoice, my sisters, for clearly Hashem has not forgotten us.

Narrator (K): And Sarah saw the son whom Hagar, the Egyptian, had borne to
Abraham, mocking. So she said to Abraham, "Drive out this slavewoman with
her son, for the son of this slavewoman shall not inherit with my son, Isaac."

[Sarah's mask changes from full to half moon, a half black/half white mask]

Sarah (C): I am Turning Face Woman, Fierce Protector Woman, Woman of the
Harsh Face, She who casts boundaries and makes separations. You will call
me cruel and question what I do. Say what you will. The mother lioness
defends her cub and none dare call her cruel. So, hold back your judgment.
In time, you'll see it's kindness to be hard and right to draw the line.

[K and C switch roles as narrator.]

Narrator (C): And Abraham rose up early in the morning. And took bread and
a bottle of water and gave it to Hagar and sent her and the child away. And
they departed and stayed in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water was
consumed, she cast off the boy beneath one of the trees. Then she went and
sat herself down at a distance and wept, for she knew she could not bear to
see the death of the child.

[Hagar appears with a round, totally black, new moon mask covering her face]

Hagar (K): I am Face of Darkness Woman, Heart-Broken Woman, Cast Out Woman,
Woman of Exile, Thirsting Woman, Crying Out Woman, Seeking Deliverance
Woman. Where shall I turn_ Hear my voice, Oh G*d, calling out to you for my
child, my only one. Save my child. Save Ishmael. We thirst to be heard by
you, Adonai.

Narrator (C): And G*d hear the cry of the youth, and an angel of the Lord
called to Hagar and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar_ Fear not, for
G*d has heard the cry of the youth in his distress. Arise, lift up your son
and grhtml his hand, for I will make a great nation of him." Thus G*d opened
her eyes....

Hagar (K): I am Face of Light Woman, Woman of Faith, Mother of a Nation,
Head Held High Woman, Heart Filled-Up Woman, Visionary Woman, Redeemed
Woman, Future-Fulfilled Woman. I am the darkness transformed into light.

[Sarah steps behind Hagar, heads tilted in opposite directions. Both are
wearing the Full of Light masks.]

Both: We are the many parts of a single wholeness. We are the different
faces of the same moon. We are the myriad shades of sisterhood. We are the
embrace between Arab and Jew. We are women of vision, women of knowledge,
women of power, women of heart. We are the past, the present, and the
future: the promise and the fulfillment. We are One. [Sarah and Hagar
symbolically merge into one, as they bring their heads upright, forming a
single line.]

[ Why Count the Omer_ ] [ A Time to Heal ] [ New Seder Song ] [ Wedding Blessings: The Shevah Berachot ] [ Tuesday Night Meditation Group ] [ Sarah & Hagar ] [ Purim Spiels ] [ On Chanukah ] [ Khanukkah/Minyan ]