The Evil Angel and The Birthing of Demons

Lennie Major

Two original works by Jewish storyteller Lennie Major address one of the most ancient of human concerns-the nature of evil.

“The Evil Angel” is a revisioning of a Jewish mystical tale that goes in a surprising direction, showing how an angel from “The Other Side” renders a valued service to God. “The Birthing of Demons” takes two characters from Jewish folklore and Rabbinic texts, Lilith and Adam Kadmon, and brings them together in a novel way that leads to the creation of demons, with God’s blessing.

Location:

Chapel

Schedule:

Saturday, February 28, 8:30 pm
Sunday, March 1, 5:30 pm
Wednesday, March 4, 8:30 pm
Thursday, March 5, 7:00 pm
Sunday, March 8, 5:30 pm

Intended Audience:

Adults and Teens

Cautions:

Some sexual references, nothing explicit

Genre(s):

Storytelling

Running Time:

50 minutes

This project was made possible in part with the support of Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council, an initiative of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation.

Special Note: Lennie Major will also be teaching a workshop during the festival entitled Stepping Into The Sacred - A Bibliodramatic Workshop, a group process where the participants enter directly into a scriptural text, becoming the characters involved through creative role playing - Sunday March 1 from 12:00 - 2:00 and Sunday March 8, 12:00 to 2:00.

Contact:

Lennie Major
Email: Major18@comcast.net
Phone: 763-717-9168 (home), 612-384-4887 (cell)
Website: http://mnartists.org/Lennie_Major

Cast Bio(s):

Lennie Major has been telling traditional and original Jewish stories throughout the Twin Cities for over 20 years. He performed at the Guthrie Theater last September in a two-person show with nationally renowned Jewish storyteller Peninnah Schram. He has also been a featured storyteller in venues such as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Northstar Storytellers’ Network Minneapolis Tellebration, Metro State University’s Cultural Diversity Through Storytelling Conference, Northlands Storytelling Network, Patrick’s Cabaret, Two Chairs Telling at the Jungle Theater, and at numerous schools, synagogues, churches, cultural events, community organizations and private gatherings. His repertoire includes Jewish biblical, spiritual, supernatural, folk, and humorous tales. He is a contributing author in Chosen Tales, an anthology of stories by contemporary Jewish storytellers edited by Peninnah Schram. He also gives workshops on the Jewish oral tradition and the world of Jewish Demons in particular. He is an adept facilitator in the group experiential process of Bibliodrama and has trained extensively with its creator, Peter Pitzele.

This program is partially funded by Northstar Storytelling League, a membership based organization which promotes and supports the art of storytelling in Minnesota. To become a member, or to learn more about the wide range of storytelling events Northstar artists are involved in, including the annual Tellabration! ™ festival at Open Book, go to http://northstarstorytelling.org.

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7 Reviews for The Evil Angel and The Birthing of Demons

  1. Although the very beginning was a bit unclear, once you got into it, it was a nice ride. Lenny has wonderful imagination and imagery in his story. Considering that there were two extensive stories, I think the first one could have been cropped back a bit and used a bit more gel in it to tighten up getting into the second, but I really enjoyed it.

    Comment by Roseroberta — March 2, 2009 @ 5:10 pm

  2. Oh, I *got* the device at the beginning - I think he was able to smooth it out for the second show. Two vivid, ancient, important stories, exquisitely told!

    Comment by Kay Kirscht — March 2, 2009 @ 7:36 pm

  3. I had never heard the entire telling of the first story before — I liked that story juxtaposed to the second. I liked so many places where it was clear that Lennie had searched himself deeply to understand the story. If I had one thing I’d add it would be more dialogue between the characters.

    This could be a rich experience, too, if people could explore their responses to it after the show.
    It is a dangerous couple of stories — pushing us beyond simplicity to complexity of faith and moral/ethical behavior. Keep telling these stories!

    Comment by Elaine Wynne — March 2, 2009 @ 11:14 pm

  4. Lennie Major’s show was my first excursion into Jewish mysticism and stories from what Lennie called the “Jewish imagination.” Lillith as demon mother cum earth mother was a new story for me. The tormented rabbi who needed to learn how to face the evil, is more familiar. I left with a piece of rope to remind me that good can come out of bad and that it is good to pass on stories of redemption and to remember human fraility is a universal constant. Thanks!

    Comment by Nan Montgomery — March 6, 2009 @ 3:28 pm

  5. Lennie Major tells this important and complex moral tale beautifully. His gestures and delivery enhance and are totally congruent with the story. He tells imaginatively, with transparency, honesty and passion, ensuring that the meaning of the story reaches us both intellectually and emotionally. This story is universal. Bravo, Lennie!

    Comment by joan calof — March 6, 2009 @ 11:50 pm

  6. Long long ago in a galaxy far, far away, I wrote my doctoral dissertation on George MacDonald, whose fantasy novel Lilith first introduced me to that complex and interesting character. Academia cannot do her justice. I am grateful to Lennie for giving me a different perspective on the demons who inhabit our lives. Jewish mysticism is such a rich mine of material for the storyteller, but it takes someone with great respect for that material, as well as for his audience, to make that material accessible to othrs. Lennie has that talent. I must jump ship to a Christian parable and urge that he never bury it.

    Comment by Paula — March 7, 2009 @ 5:50 pm

  7. This performance mixes medieval
    Jewish folk tales with dash of kabbalists’ speculation, and Mr. Major’s own ingenious inventions, including the surgical finger. The result is dished up in two delightful extended tales that explain everything that happened after G!d found it all ‘Good’.

    In the first tale, Adam Kadmon becomes that bugaboo of Bet Hillel - the demiurge ! Not only that, but it is Adam Kadmon the demiurge who created the genders.

    We meet Lilith in the second tale, a bitter, abandonded wife and mom, who remarried and now has to explain the sorry family mess to her long lost son.

    Comment by Stuart Goldbarg — March 19, 2009 @ 9:14 pm

Sorry, reviews are not being accepted at this time.