Tales of Chelm

Episode 1: “How the Town of Chelm Came to Be”

The first installment in the series, “How the Town of Chelm Came To Be” is an origin story told entirely through shadow puppetry. Audiences are invited to witness the plight of two angels, sent by God and instructed to create a more holistic society. The first angel collects wise folk to disperse among other populations. The second angel attempts to gather all of the foolish folk from across the land and places them in a sack; however, her plan is thwarted when the sack hits a tree, releasing its contents and resulting in a town inhabited exclusively by fools.

Run Time: 6 minutes

Episode 2: “To Catch a Thief”

“To Catch a Thief” explores the friendship that inadvertently blossoms between Gedaliah the Goniff and Zalman Shlomo the Gate Keeper. Told entirely through puppetry, the episode opens with Gedaliah stealing a coin purse from Reb Fishel, the town mayor. Zalman Shlomo attempts to pursue Gedaliah, only to be tricked by him in a variety of idiotic ways. As the narrative progresses, Gedaliah’s plans to evade Shlomo become increasingly ridiculous.

Run Time: 13 minutes

Episode 3: “How the Chelmites Stole the Moon”

In this third installment in the Chelm series, Gimpel and Barel the Beadle concoct a plan to capture the moon and help the poor citizens of Chelm. Gimpel proposes that they capture the moon by bringing in a big barrel of borscht. When the moon is reflected in barrel, they seal and cover it to “entrap” it. However, upon uncovering the barrel, they realize that they have made a crucial mistake. This installment is jam-packed with zaniness and utilizes mask work.

Run Time: 8 minutes

Episode 4: “Winter of Discontent”

In the final segment of the series, audience members witness the Chelmites bemoan their situation for the very first time. The inhabitants of Chelm acknowledge the extreme disparity between the rich and poor folk, concluding that there is no true justice in Chelm. They therefore send two members of the community to go seek justice elsewhere. When these two Chelmites come across others who claim to have an entire warehouse filled with barrels of justice, they jump at the opportunity to procure one. However, upon returning to Chelm, they discover that the barrel isn’t filled with justice at all, but something else entirely. Ultimately, the Rabbi of Chelm guides everyone towards a deeper understanding of the very nature of fairness.

Run Time: 14 minutes