I'm happy to recommend this clever play, where a tentative Benjamin contends with the ghost of his incisive and slightly invasive grandpa, Nachman. Even if you don't understand the Yiddish words, you'll understand the heart of the play, which to me, is that it's okay to be who you are, not who you were expected to be by others (i.e., your Jewish mother). The sweet ending enhances what has transpired in the preceding pages. Well done!

Ghost of Shabbos Past gives us Benjamin, who's long carried the worry that he hasn't lived up to his deceased grandfather's expectations. Fortunately, Benjamin gets a second chance when his grandfather appears in the form of the Shabbos ghost. Do they kibbitz or schmooze? Either way, this is a play everyone will relate to, because who hasn't had the same worries? Two strong roles for actors make this an easy and wise addition to any program of short plays.

10/26/2025: I saw an excellent staged reading of this brilliant play at the Midwest Dramatists Conference 2025. The events in 'Ghost of Shabbos Past" take place during a Shabbos evening, when the Ghost of Nachman, Benjamin's deceased grandfather, visits Benjamin. The next ten minutes offered an exquisite portrayal of reconciliation with one's own self, with grief, longing, regrets- the themes are so universal that every single person in the audience related to this short play. Bravo!