Shavua Tov
As Broadway celebrates its biggest night tomorrow with the annual Tony Awards, I find myself reflecting on how often musical theater finds its way into these weekly messages. The Broadway songbook has long been one of my favorite escapes, and it is impossible to separate the history of Broadway from the contributions of Jewish composers, lyricists, performers, and themes that have shaped the American musical theater tradition.
A few years ago, the acclaimed revival of Parade won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Jason Robert Brown’s powerful score tells the story of Leo Frank and the realities of antisemitism in America. One of its most stirring songs, This Is Not Over Yet reminds us that hope and perseverance can endure even in the darkest moments.
The Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away tells the remarkable story of a small Newfoundland town that welcomed thousands of stranded travelers after September 11. In the hauntingly beautiful song Prayer, voices from different faith traditions are woven together, including the Jewish prayer Oseh Shalom “May the One who makes peace in the heavens make peace for us and for all Israel.”
Stephen Sondheim, one of Broadway’s greatest Jewish composers, received renewed attention when the revival of Into the Woods earned multiple Tony nominations. The song Children will Listen speaks to the sacred responsibility we bear for the next generation. Its message echoes a core Jewish value: that our actions, words, and choices shape the world our children inherit.
Tomorrow night, audiences will hear Caissie Levy, nominated for her portrayal of Mother in Ragtime. Her rendition of Back to Before captures the courage required to embrace change and venture into an uncertain future. The story of Ragtime, with its themes of immigration, identity, and belonging, resonates deeply with the American Jewish experience.
And no reflection on contemporary Broadway would be complete without Wicked, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The anthem Defying Gravity has become a modern declaration of courage, individuality, and moral conviction. This week I am sharing a special version performed in Hebrew by Israeli singer Shiri Maimon, demonstrating how a Broadway song can transcend language and connect audiences around the world.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks taught that creativity is one of the most profound expressions of the human spirit. He wrote:
“To be a Jew is to be a creative artist. We are called on to become God’s partners in the work of creation.”
Broadway at its best invites us to imagine, create, empathize, and dream. It reminds us that stories matter, that music can elevate the soul, and that through creativity we participate in something larger than ourselves.
As we celebrate another Tony Awards season, may we continue to find inspiration in the songs, stories, and artists who challenge us to see the world not only as it is, but as it could be.
Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.
Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי
Todd Rockoff
President + CEO, Tucson J
