Irene’s Vow, the Broadway play by Dan Gordon, based on the life of Irene Gut Opdyke will be presented as a staged reading on Sat. Evening Feb. 22 at KI. The play focuses on Irene Opdyke’s courageous act of hiding 12 Jews in the Villa of a Nazi general during World War II, while she served as his housekeeper.  As a Polish Catholic, Irene took great risks to save these Jews and has been recognized as a Righteous Gentile at Yad Vashem.

Charlie Richter, of Muhlenberg College Department of Theatre and Dance will direct a cast of Muhlenberg theatre artists and community theatre actors.  Jeannie Smith, daughter of Irene Opdyke, will be leading a talk back with actors and audience after the play.  A dessert reception will follow.

Advance ordering is no longer available; tickets at the door will be $25 as available.

On Sunday morning, Jeannie Smith will be speaking to students and families of the entire Jewish community about her mother’s story and why the lessons of the Holocaust are so relevant to us today. That event will be free to all.

The KI Adult Education Committee is working in partnership with Temple Beth El’s Adult Education Committee on this event.  The directors of education of both congregations will be working together on the Sunday morning program.

Sponsored by the Adult Ed Committees of Congregation Keneseth Israel and Temple Beth El.

Funded in part by The Institute for Jewish Christian understanding of Muhlenberg College, The Ray and Bonnie Singer Community Education Fund, and the Volk Family

For more information and reservations, contact KI office.