June 2, 2010

One might expect that playwright Wendy Graf’s new work, “Behind the Gates,” which brings to light abuse of women she found to be rampant among Jerusalem’s Charedi community, would prompt angry articles, letters to the editor or outraged public protests denying the image that she presents of the ultra-Orthodox. While Graf has fielded some strong objections to airing the dirty laundry in public for fear of inciting anti-Semitism, the truth of what she portrays has not been challenged, and the production has so far not been met with pickets or violent confrontation. “There has been none of that,” said Graf in a recent interview, “and I’m disappointed.”