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Witness History: The Controversial 'God of Vengeance'

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The Controversial 'God of Vengeance'

20/10/2015 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The Controversial 'God of Vengeance'

How the cast of an early 20th century Yiddish play found themselves in court in New York.

In 1923 the entire cast of a Yiddish play, written by the celebrated Polish-Jewish writer Sholem Asch, was arrested and charged with staging an immoral performance in New York.

In 1923 the entire cast of a Yiddish play was arrested in New York and charged with staging an immoral performance. Written by the celebrated Polish-Jewish writer Sholem Asch, 'God of Vengeance' is set in a brothel and deals with themes such as prostitution, religion and corruption. David Mazower, the playwright's great-grandson, speaks about the controversy.

(Photo: Sholem Asch, left, with Russian playwright Maxim Gorky,1920s. Courtesy of David Mazower)

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