99: Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of Passover
The Book of Seasons
Laws of Festival Rest
Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of Passover (Lev. 23:8)
NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.
ERIC MARLIN at his desk writing a play
an ANGEL enters
ANGEL
what are you doing?
ERIC MARLIN
writing today’s play
ANGEL
why?
ERIC MARLIN
i’m writing one play every day for 100 days
ANGEL
are you now?
ERIC MARLIN
each one responds to one of the 613 mitzvot or commandments in Judaism
ANGEL
i’m an angel you don’t need to explain mitzvot to me
ERIC MARLIN
sorry
that was
sorry
the teacher in me jumped out
ANGEL
it’s not cute
ERIC MARLIN
i’m working on it
ANGEL
what is today’s mitzvot?
ERIC MARLIN
not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of Passover
ANGEL
source?
ERIC MARLIN
“seven days you shall make offerings by fire to the Lord
the seventh day shall be a sacred occasion
you shall not work at your occupations”
Leviticus 23:8
ANGEL
and in Hebrew?
ERIC MARLIN
i don’t have that on hand
ANGEL
you’ll really only understand these if you read them in Hebrew
ERIC MARLIN
please go away
i’m quite late with today’s-
ANGEL
and what is the date?
ERIC MARLIN
uhh
April-
ANGEL
on the Jewish calendar
ERIC MARLIN
checking notes
Nissan 22
ANGEL
which makes it…
ERIC MARLIN
the last day of Passover
beat
oh
ANGEL
oh
ERIC MARLIN
i shouldn’t
uhh…
ANGEL
you shouldn’t be laboring
ERIC MARLIN
this isn’t the same it’s-
ANGEL
then what is it if not labor?
ERIC MARLIN
it’s umm
it’s umm-
ANGEL
you have to stop immediately for fear of-
ERIC MARLIN
but i’m not done
ANGEL
leave it as it is
ERIC MARLIN
but i’m not-
ANGEL
read me what you have already
ERIC MARLIN
okay…
scrolls to the top of his page on his laptop
ready?
ANGEL
for what?
the overture?
ERIC MARLIN glares at the ANGEL
then begins to read
briskly and without emoting
ERIC MARLIN
(ERIC MARLIN at his desk writing a play. an ANGEL enters.) ANGEL: what are you doing? ERIC MARLIN: writing today’s play. ANGEL: why? ERIC MARLIN: i’m writing one play every day for 100 days. ANGEL: are you now? ERIC MARLIN: each one responds to one of the 613 mitzvot or commandments in Judaism. ANGEL: i’m an angel you don’t need to explain mitzvot to me. ERIC MARLIN: sorry that was sorry the teacher in me jumped out. ANGEL: it’s not cute. ERIC MARLIN: i’m working on it. ANGEL: what is today’s mitzvot? ERIC MARLIN: not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of Passover. ANGEL: source? ERIC MARLIN: “seven days you shall make offerings by fire to the Lord the seventh day shall be a sacred occasion you shall not work at your occupations.” Leviticus 23:8. ANGEL: and in Hebrew? ERIC MARLIN: i don’t have that on hand. ANGEL: you’ll really only understand these if you read them in Hebrew. ERIC MARLIN: please go away i’m quite late with today’s- ANGEL: and what is the date? ERIC MARLIN: uhh April- ANGEL: on the Jewish calendar. ERIC MARLIN (checking notes) Nissan 22. ANGEL: which makes it… ERIC MARLIN: the last day of Passover. (beat). oh. ANGEL: oh. ERIC MARLIN: i shouldn’t uhh… ANGEL: you shouldn’t be laboring. ERIC MARLIN: this isn’t the same it’s- ANGEL: then what is it if not labor? ERIC MARLIN: it’s umm it’s umm- ANGEL: you have to stop immediately for fear of- ERIC MARLIN: but i’m not done. ANGEL: leave it as it is. ERIC MARLIN: but i’m not- ANGEL: read me what you have already. ERIC MARLIN: okay… (scrolls to the top of his page on his laptop) ready? ANGEL: for what? the overture? (ERIC MARLIN glares at the ANGEL then begins to read briskly and without emoting.) ERIC MARLIN: (Eric Marlin at his desk writing a play. an Angel enters.) Angel: what are you doing? Eric Marlin: writing today’s play…
the loop goes on forever
ERIC MARLIN reads the play to the Angel
and then starts from the beginning
over and over
until the end of time
END OF PLAY