Community Contact Information:
Temple Beth-El
San Antonio, TX
www.beth-elsa.org

Save Darfur Coalition: Faith Outreach
(featuring script of play and notes on producing it)
http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/organize_your_congregation

Goals: 

• Educate the congregation and community about the genocide in Darfur
• Encourage people to act to end the genocide in Darfur 
• Raise funds to benefit AJWS activism for displaced persons of Darfur

Overview:
“Darfur Calls” is a play written by Temple Beth-El theatre group members based on the tragic events occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan. The play, now featured on the Save Darfur website, portrays the trial of an average American being tried for not taking action to stop the genocide in Darfur.

Preparation:
The rabbi inspired two congregants, who were members of a congregational theatre group, to write and perform a play based on the tragic events of Darfur. African American and Jewish actors, dancers, and musicians came together through auditions and recruitment. The congregational bulletin and e-mail publicity got the word out to the congregation and to the public. A volunteer technical crew set up and ran sound and lights. The San Antonio Interfaith Darfur Coalition set up informational tables at each show. "The Devil Came on Horseback," a documentary about the genocide, was purchased to be shown as part of the presentation. Information sessions were set up with experts on Darfur.

Project Implementation:
The play was presented at the synagogue, a church, and two schools. Many volunteers helped with information tables, donation collections, etc. There was no admission charged for the show; instead the congregation collected donations to the American Jewish World Service for Darfur Activism.

Results:
The play had large audiences at every venue, and people left with information and a desire to do something. The congregation raised over $10,000.00 for AJWS’ Darfur Activism.

After the script was completed, the rabbi sent out a correspondence to other Reform rabbis across the United States offering free. The writers sent out over a dozen scripts, free of charge, to various rabbis and congregations who requested one. At least one other congregation used the script to put on their own show as part of their Human Rights' Festival, raising $2,000.00.

This program received a Fain Award in 2009.