78: The Kohanim must bless the Jewish nation daily

The Book of Love of God
Laws of Prayer and Kohanic Blessings
The Kohanim must bless the Jewish nation daily (Num 6:23)

Historical Context: In Judaism, the “Kohanim” are the priestly class of Jews who worked in the Temple back when it still stood.

CW: violent acts; reference to infanticide and sexual assault

JOSHUA in his bedroom

it’s a mess

clothes and candy wrappers and used tissues strewn about

JOSHUA practically radiates teenage angst

his mother MIRIAM stands in the doorway

MIRIAM
the time-

JOSHUA
no

MIRIAM
Joshua the time has come-

JOSHUA
fuck you i’m not doing it

MIRIAM
Joshua the time has come for you-

JOSHUA
out of my room out of my room

MIRIAM
YOUR SACRED OBLIGATIONS

beat

JOSHUA
what about them?

MIRIAM
it’s time you met them

JOSHUA
i have my own sacred obligations

JOSHUA pulls a warm soda can out of a drawer

begins to guzzle it

pauses to belch

MIRIAM
you’re vile

JOSHUA
yes i am

MIRIAM
God has seen fit to provide you with sacred obligations Joshua
he does not provide those to many

JOSHUA opens his laptop

we hear porn playing

he sticks his hand down his pants and begins to masturbate

JOSHUA
if i focus i can cum four time in one day
what do you spend your days doing?

MIRIAM
this is no way to live

JOSHUA
i’m not trying to live

JOSHUA’s bedroom

his father ISAAC stands in the doorway

JOSHUA smokes a joint

ISAAC
the temple is a beautiful place Joshua
you feel Hashem there
this is not an idea it is material
God is not a metaphor
you will feel Him there
on your arm your shoulders the back of your head
i have never been alone in my responsibilities
for God is always always always always with me in that sacred space

JOSHUA
takes a long drag
where’s He the rest of the time?

ISAAC
Joshua-

JOSHUA
am i deserving of God’s blessings father?

ISAAC
of course

beat

JOSHUA stares ISAAC down

JOSHUA
really?

ISAAC
you are a kohen

JOSHUA
not yet

ISAAC
you have always been and always will be

JOSHUA
i haven’t bathed in three weeks

ISAAC
you’re depressed

JOSHUA
i’m not depressed i just prefer to make a mess of myself

ISAAC
we’ll wash you and make you holy

JOSHUA’s bedroom

his mother and father both stand in the doorway

MIRIAM
you must take your place in the temple

JOSHUA
why don’t you all go to your bedroom
fuck until you’ve conceived a new child
and you can make that one be a priest because i’d rather not

ISAAC
i know it’s frightening-

JOSHUA
i’m not suited for this

MIRIAM
YOU MUST YOU MUST YOU MUST YOU MUST
wicked child i should’ve drowned you at birth

silence

ISAAC places a gentle hand on MIRIAM

ISAAC
it’s all right
we all speak from anger
we know you didn’t mean it

MIRIAM
of course i did
of course i did

MIRIAM exits

silence

JOSHUA
there’s not much worse than a baby killer is there?

ISAAC
your mother didn’t mean-

JOSHUA
bring me one

ISAAC
bring you…?

JOSHUA
a baby killer

ISAAC
just
…
any?

ISAAC
they’re the worst we have to offer wouldn’t you say?

ISAAC
why do you want-

JOSHUA
we must bless all the children of Israel?
we bless every single one?

ISAAC
yes

JOSHUA
then i want to meet the worst of us
i have to bless every fucking person
i want to be sure that sits right with me

ISAAC
so your concerns are spiritual?

JOSHUA opens his laptop and starts playing porn again

JOSHUA
sure

JOSHUA’s bedroom

RUTH stands in the doorway

she has shackles on her wrists and feet

a GUARD stands behind her

JOSHUA
killed your kid did you?

RUTH
…

JOSHUA
i asked for one of you no need to be embarrassed

RUTH
…

JOSHUA
how did you do it?

RUTH
…

ISSAC
would you like to sit down?

RUTH
no

JOSHUA
you’re being rude

RUTH
all right

JOSHUA
i’m holy what are you?

RUTH
i’m no one

JOSHUA
why did you kill your baby?

RUTH
…
…
it wasn’t enough

JOSHUA
what wasn’t?

RUTH
the world i could offer him
it wasn’t enough

JOSHUA
you killed your kid because you couldn’t buy him nice toys?
it that it?

RUTH
my husband
…
my husband
…
is not holy
…
my husband would
…
with my son
at night while i slept
…
and i couldn’t stop it not matter how hard i
…
i tried but my husband
he has power and i don’t i don’t have power
which meant i had few options
for how to
…
sometimes death is not the worst fate
i loved my son
but sometimes death is not the worst fate

JOSHUA
how old was he?

RUTH
…
…
…
five

JOSHUA
aren’t you going to cry?
talking about what you did?

RUTH
not for you

silence

JOSHUA
so you’re the worst our people have to offer?

RUTH
yes

JOSHUA
and if i were to bless the nation of Israel
would you be worthy of my blessing?

RUTH
no

JOSHUA
fucking right

RITH
because you’re not worthy of giving nor receiving any blessing

JOSHUA
i’m holy

RUTH
i’m holy
you’re an idiot

JOSHUA
you’re not holy

RUTH
i’ve known pain
you’ve only known yourself
i’m the worst our people have to offer but i am holier than you

the GUARD hits RUTH in the back of the head

she recoils but composes herself

JOSHUA
they’re putting you to death?

RUTH
…
…
…
…
tomorrow

JOSHUA
should i become a kohen?

RUTH
you are a kohen

JOSHUA
don’t be difficult
you know what i mean

RUTH
…
no

JOSHUA approaches RUTH in the doorway

JOSHUA
my cock is getting hard if you’d like one last fuck

RUTH spits in his face

the GUARD drags her out

JOSHUA’s bedroom

MIRIAM stands in the doorway

MIRIAM
all right then?

JOSHUA stares at himself in the mirror

JOSHUA
Israel needs me

MIRIAM
you’ll have to wash yourself first

JOSHUA
even the worst of us needs my blessing

MIRIAM
she is not the worst of us

on one side of the stage is the interior of Solomon’s Temple

on the other side is a platform in a public square

RUTH is shackled to the platform

she is surrounded by a large crowd of onlookers including MIRIAM

JOSHUA stands in the Temple wearing priestly garments

he is surrounded by the rest of the Kohanim including ISAAC

the scenes in each location happen simultaneously

JOSHUA and RUTH both recite the priestly blessing

JOSHUA & RUTH
may the Lord bless you and protect you

ALL KOHANIM
may the Lord bless you and protect you

JOSHUA & RUTH
may the Lord deal kindly and graciously with you

ALL KOHANIM
may the Lord deal kindly and graciously with you

JOSHUA & RUTH
may the Lord bestow favor and grant peace upon you

ALL KOHANIM
may the Lord bestow favor and grant peace upon you

the crowd of onlookers begin throwing stones at Ruth

MIRIAM does not join the mob

RUTH repeats the prayer as they stone her to death

while JOSHUA repeats the prayer in the Temple

END OF PLAY