Oedipus in Jerusalem

"In Kalman Kaplan's intriguing play, Oedipus finds himself on trial for his crimes, not in Thebes, but in the historically contemporary Jerusalem court of the Sanhedrin. The contest between the Hebrew prophet Nathan, acting in defense of Oedipus, and the Greek playwright Sophocles, acting for the prosecution, culminates in a spellbinding drama. The witnesses provide the role of a Greek chorus pitting Moira or Fate against the Hebrew tradition of free will and redemption in the eyes of a caring God."

--Thomas H. Jobe, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago



"In [this] engaging philosophical fantasy, ancient Greek views of fate and moral responsibility, as represented in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, are subjected to a withering critique from a Jewish perspective when the tragic hero meets Nathan the Prophet, who appeals to the Sanhedrin to render judgment in the case. Kaplan's contrast of Judaic and Hellenic modes of thought is deeply informed and cogently presented."

--Michael Shapiro, Former Director, Program in Jewish Culture and Society, University of Illinois



"Dr Kaplan has for a number of years taken up the challenge of Eric Wellisch in building such a Biblical psychology. This play is his latest foray into that struggle...Dr Kaplan revisits the story of Oedipus and offers readers a sort of sequel, an imaginary one. Oedipus in Jerusalem he calls it. The events depicted take place after the events of Oedipus Rex."

--Neil Krahn