The dilemmas Jews face today examined in Off-Broadway show

Bad Jews, written by Joshua Harmon and directed by Daniel Aukin is an intelligent and insightful Off-Broadway play that many people, Jewish or not, can relate to. The play explores the significance of Jewish history, customs and values and what it means to be Jewish today. All four actors deliver realistic portrayals of the trials and tribulations their characters face as they are learning how to keep Judaism alive and relevant in this day and age.

The story begins with Daphna (Tracee Chimo), a college girl who values her Jewish roots to the core. She cherishes these roots even more after the recent passing of her grandfather, “Poppy,” a Holocaust survivor. Daphna is an example of an ideal “chosen person” whose religious ethics starkly contrast with those of her cousins, Jonah (Philip Ettinger) and Liam (Michael Zegen).

Daphna is visiting Jonah’s Manhattan studio apartment after the funeral, and Liam comes home with his new girlfriend Melody (Molly Ranson), a true shiksa (the Jewish word for a woman who hasn’t been one of the chosen), in every sense.

Melody’s naïveté of Jewish customs is evident and proudly displays a tattoo of a musical note on her leg to Daphna’s shock. Unbeknownst to Melody, tattoos are forbidden according to Jewish law. The only tattoos that some Jews have are those found on the arms Holocaust survivors that were forced upon them after being placed in concentration camps.

The most heartbreaking point for Daphna comes upon discovering that Liam has gotten a hold of her grandfather ‘Poppy’s’ gold ring, which she says is very precious because he used it to propose to their grandmother after they survived the Holocaust. As if this weren’t appalling enough, Daphna learns that a completely non-Jewish girl will be wearing that ring, as Liam had planned to propose to her in Aspen. The thought of a shiska forever displaying a piece of jewelry with religious significance is too heartbreaking to bear.

Obviously, Liam realizes how valuable this family heirloom is, because he chose to use it to symbolize an eternal love between him and Melody. He shares with Daphna the awareness of how precious the heirloom is but doesn’t agree that she is any more entitled to inherit it than he or Jonah. Daphna’s biggest concern is that the family tree will be broken upon Liam and Melody’s union, as if they were to bear any children, the Jewish descent could potentially be lost somewhere down the line. She asks both Liam and Jonah, “Do you really want to give up being a Jew in this day and age when it’s so much easier to be a Jew?”

Bad Jews is entertaining and engrossing and all four actors pour 100 percent of themselves into their roles. Tracee Chimo’s raw and honest portrayal of Daphna stands out the most. She effortlessly generates empathy for her character and evokes a sense of neurosis and passion similar to actresses such as Judy Davis or Cate Blanchett. Joshua Harmon’s debut is perfect for its Off-Broadway audience and the small stage works well for the setting of four characters in the close quarters of a Manhattan studio apartment, which many New Yorkers, especially college students like these characters are, can identify with.