The Father
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Author's Note: This can be used as an introductory skit for the Parable of the Prodigal Son as recorded
in the Gospel of Luke 15:11-32. This is to be performed by a male. The actor should be attired in robes and a
tunic similar to those worn by Jews in Palestine at the time of Christ. Whitening of hair and facial hair may
be desired to give a better effect. Also, another actor (preferably male) could take the place of the “friend”
mentioned by the father and ad-lib lines where Eli responds to questions.
Oh, yes, hello. These are all my lands. They're working on
the barley harvest over there. It's definitely been a good year. You must be
new here. I'm Eli. No, they say that I am the largest land holder around here.
I'm not sure. It's not important anyway. Family is what's important to me.
Children? Oh yes, four daughters. The most beautiful you can
imagine, especially my little Atarah. She's the delight of my old age. Oh, there
she is now, helping her mother. She's lived twelve summers now, you know. Her
head is full of thoughts of marriage. But to find a suitable man. Ah, that is
trouble. Too many of the young men around here don't have the care for her.
Perhaps you know someone? I would want to get his credentials first. No one
is going to take my little crown away from me.
Sons? Oh, yes! Two of them. There goes my eldest, Obed. He
runs the farm now. What? Me still run the farm? No, no, no. I'm too old for
that. After all I've lived a good sixty-seven winters and summers just this
year. A man at this age can be cared for by his children. It gives me more time
to meditate. And to do what I like best: to copy the Scriptures. Yes, that gives
me much joy. I'm currently working on my second copy of Debarim, the
farewell of Moshe. Besides, my grandchildren have been clamoring for my attention.
Yes, I have fifteen of them. My daughters have been blessed. But Obed, he's
too busy with his farm. Yes, it's almost completely his farm now. Most
people still call it mine. Old Zechariah over on his farm says it's mine until
I die. Perhaps he is right, but Obed is the one who does all the work. He is
a fine young man. He'll be wedding in two months. And she is a fine young woman.
Zecharaiah's daughter actually. I hope they'll be happy but I don't know...
You know, Obed's pride and joy is his work. All he talks about is the barley
harvest and how much he's brought in. The fruit has come in more abundantly
this year than in the five previous. God is blessing us, since we are going
to have a Shabbat rest next year. You didn't know that, friend? Well, I suggest
you get to harvesting yourself. He'll only give you what you need if you work
for it.
Ah, my Obed, he really is my pride and joy. He's got the work
ethic of his father and the looks of his mother. I'm surprised that more girls
have not thrown themselves at his feet. But what have I said? All it is for
him is work, work, work. Please father, please father, please father. He doesn't
see how pleased I am with him and how much I'd like to sit down and talk with
him Father to Son, man to man. Ah, he does all these things for me he built
me an entire new house two years ago with a big porch but he doesn't have
time for me. Oh, Obed. *sigh*
What, my other son? *sigh* Yes, Perez. That is a sad story.
It was five years ago. Five years, how long! No, he's gone. Dead? Heaven forbid!
I pray not! I really am not sure what has become of him. You see he's always
been a hothead very much like I was when I was his age. Always looking over
the fence at the neighbor's farm.
“Father, look! Jerahmeel and Yahya are going up to town, why
can't I go?”
“Father, I'm bored, can I go over to Nathan's house?” Let
me tell you he was going to see young Haddassah. She's married to one of Ben-Shaphat's
son's now. Well, there was trouble between him and her. They were young hot-blooded,
you know. Foolish. But I couldn't imagine what was brewing behind those dark
eyes of his.
Five years ago he comes to me. I was keeping accounts under
the tent right over there where my Keren is preparing the meal. He comes to
me and says, “Father, I want my share of your estate now, instead of
waiting for you to die.” Of course I was shocked! I mean, he's telling me that
I'm worth more to him dead than alive! Deny him? Friend, are you mad? He's my
son, I cannot deny him something like that. He needed to learn!
I divided everything up. He wanted a third, but I put my foot
down. I have four daughters and they are entitled to something! In the end I
had to quarter it. One quarter for the girls, one quarter for Perez and two
quarters for Obed. Perez said he only wanted what he could liquidate. So he
got a good amount of sheep, some camels, the house and property that borders
on Hoshea's land, and what gold and silver I had on hand. He sold it all well,
except for the camels. He and Hoshea bargained for that house for three months
before Hoshea paid him twice what it was worth and that was only because Perez
is my son and I interceded. *sigh*
No, he left then. I sent my servant Ishma after him. Last
I heard he was living in a city called Samarkand. Heaven knows where that
is! And that was two years ago. I haven't heard a word from him. Ishma told
me that Perez has become quite the rich man. Wine flows like rivers at his parties
all day and all night. He goes through girls like my donkey will go through
a armload of thistles a new one every day. This is my son? Yes, this
is my son. It is only by God's providence that I did not end up that way. I
understand him better than you think, after all I was a hot-head, too. And,
oh, I miss him.
Friend, are you mad? Forget him? Can a man forget
his right hand? Can a man gouge out his right eye and forget what it was like
to have it? He is my son! He is a part of me! I have stood out here every
day since he left, waiting for him to return. At first I did my accounts out
here under that tent. And then Obed built the house with that nice porch. It
was too much for me to work on the accounts any more and Obed took over good
son that he is. Ah, he is a delight! But Perez! Zechariah says that Aharon the
cloth-merchant in Ain Karem says I've gone mad. And not just him, most of the
people in the gate think that. But I must be here when my son returns!
Give up hope? Never. Never! Until the day I hear of
his death. My son might be dead to me now, but he will come again. I know
it.
I spend my days out here. Mad old Eli waiting for his lost
son.
Do? What I'll do if he comes back? What do you think I'll
do? I can't reproach him. Not in any case. I am the one to be reproached, after
all I gave him the means to go. I I I'll give a banquet for him! I'll bring
him back into the family. He won't receive an inheritance anymore, but he is
part of my family forever! And they will accept it, because
I'll accept him.
Ah, the road, the long road. Oh, there's my Keren, calling
me to lunch. I'm coming Ishahi!
Wait! Friend, do you see what I see? Who is that? Is
it
? But, no, so ragged! But the gait, the gait! It must be! Perez! Perez!
My son! [runs off to meet his son]
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