It’s 1991 and we are in Brooklyn. And we are confronted with a Hertz rental van or RV with Mitzvah Tank emblazoned on its side. A Brooklyn looking a bit tired in Jeffrey Kmiec’s and Bianca Gonzalez memorable period set design…with a very sad vehicle that they have cobbled together as well. The Mitzvah Tank will put on some miles figuratively as it is driven around town and literally as it is pushed forefront and later to stage left as the story line requires. And the Tank will be utilized by two young eighteen year-old Orthodox Jewish men to light the lamp in the Jewish souls of other Jews as influenced to do by their spiritual leader known by the nickname Rebbe. Our two new friends are Zalmy and Shmuel
Shmuel gets to be the driver of the Mitzvah Tank because his father rented it. But there is more to it than that. In Alex Mitchell’s portrayal of Shmuel, he is direct, sure of himself, thoughtful, and a planner. And Mitchell shows us a man very focused on his goal and his faith. But don’t think for a moment that he is an emotionless individual. He can and does get angry and is personally hurt when Zalmy’s allegiance to their friendship seems to waiver. But even Zalmy states that Shmuel was always admired as the smart one. And Mitchell maintains something of a scholarly air about him…but he let’s some suspicions in as well.
A.J. Magoon’s Zalmy is just as committed to their project but he’s more curious and lighthearted than Shmuel. Yes, he is more curious and this ignites some of the conflict that is about to arise. Zalmy is the navigator and DJ in the tank. And he likes to play little guessing games at times…trying to guess how many Rebbe tapes that Shmuel has along. These are tapes of Rebbe’s speeches and such. Shmuel plays along but teases Zalmy a bit. But no secular music is allowed! Magoon marvels at the 322 tapes and is visibly excited in his role as DJ to the point of totally ignoring Shmuel’s request for help in parking the Tank. Magoon exhibits a special exuberance and excitement in his gestures and voice.
Zalmy and Shmuel are certainly committed and prepared (they plan for snacks) but they may be a bit naive all at the same time. They’ve never been out of their community and are so sure of their project they aren’t quite ready for the rejection. Their fervor doesn’t waiver but at times a sense of disappointment does set in. But they are beyond their community even venturing into Wall Street, offering their brochures and asking the people that they meet, Are You Jewish? And then we meet Jonathan.
Lucas Prizant presents a Jonathan of a care free nature and practiced nonchalance. We meet him as he approaches Zalmy at the Tank. But he has apparently talked with Shmuel previously, as Shmuel warns Zalmy that he doesn’t think that Jonathan is Jewish because he hesitated too long when asked Are You Jewish before saying yes. But Jonathan presses them into conversation. And Prizant changes tone as he becomes a bit sad and confused when recounting the discovery that his late father was Jewish and had escaped Nazi Germany. As this conversation progresses, Zalmy’s curiosity slips into high and he invites Jonathan for Shabbos dinner. This becomes a common occurrence and Jonathan gifts some secular music to Zalmy which affects him a great deal. And although he hides the music from Shmuel, Shmuel suspects and some other things become inflection points and Zalmy and Shmuel start to drift apart. Not unusual for young adults but quite a surprise given the backgrounds here. Well Jonathan begins his conversion to Judaism and Prizant starts to drop the care-free attitudes and takes on a similar persona to Zalmy and Shmuel. And besides being a wedge between our heroes here, it is a problem elsewhere:
Rachel Zientek bursts onto the scene as Leah when only Shmuel is present at the tank. Zientek is forceful, direct, and full of indignation. She is Jonathan’s girl friend and a reformed Jew and wants her Catholic boyfriend back. She is clearly upset about Jonathan’s new trends as a Jewish convert and didn’t sign up for this. And she makes some revelations about Jonathan’s and Zalmy’s activities that include planning and doing things that Shmuel had designed to do with Zalmy. So the rift widens and the friendship seems doomed.
But friendship does in fact win out. Identities are examined and reaffirmed for Zalmy and Shmuel, but are newly discovered for Jonathan. For our characters that seems to be a good thing.
This is a comedy but there are serious topics underlying the story. Director Elyse Edelman has done an exemplary job of maintaining the humor while enriching the serious stories being told here. I love her directing work but I hope it doesn’t keep her off stage in the future.
Yes, this is set in a Jewish enclave in New York. But you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy the questions we all ask ourselves about our identities or who we choose to be friends with. We just have to remember what it was like to transition from youth into adulthood. Attend willing and ready to remember those things in your life and you will enjoy Trayf a great deal.
Trayf runs from now through October 4, 2026 at their theater at 255 South Water Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tickets Here and More Information Here. TRAYF is 1 hour and 25 minutes with no intermission.
Extra Credit Reading: The Playbill or The Enrichment Guide. Reading the enrichment guide before you attend may help in understanding some of the terms and cultural references made during the play.