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farshteyst?
     
    FRUME : This is the law of the godless State. It’s not our law. It’s worth nothing in Meah Shearim.
     
    SHAINE RUTH : No, Granny. It’s a Rabbinical Court order.
     
    FRUME : That can’t be! [ to CHANA .] The Rabbinical Court order forbids you to go near the children! [ grabbing the order from SHAINE RUTH .]
     
    CHANA : This is a new one.
     
    FRUME : [ cutting her off. Reading the words out loud, incredulous. ] “And after a trial period, the Court will make its decision on the mother’s request to remove the children from the father’s custody…” What?! Out of the question. You fooled the Rabbis too. Rav Aaron warned us. [ tearing the page to pieces. ] Here, here, here is your court order.
     
    CHANA : [ calmly taking more from her purse .] The police have copies. I made a thousand of them. Enough for all of you to tear.
     
    GITTE LEAH : [ sticking her face into CHANA ’s, belligerently. ] It won’t help you. [ with a malicious smile, crumpling up the paper .] All you have in your hands is paper. Your children are in our hands. And we will never give them back to you. Never!
     
    CHANA : [ for first time, losing control. She shakes GITTE LEAH violently by the shoulders, grabbing off her hair covering. ] God of the Universe! God of the Universe! God of the Universe! Give me back my children!!
     
    GITTE LEAH : [ fighting back. ] How dare you touch me! Criminal! Oy, my back! Meshuganah! Pritza! Mother!
     
    FRUME : [ rushing to help GITTE LEAH .] My maideleh, my child! Leave her alone. Vilda Chaya (wild animal)!
    Pandemonium. The others try to pull the sisters apart, but get entangled themselves. Nevertheless, this never turns into a cat-fight or a brawl.
     
    SHAINE RUTH : [ trying to hold her mother back. ] Mother!
     
    BLUMA : Enough. Stop! Please!
     
    SHEINHOFF : Oy vey iz mere ! (Oh, woe is me!) What is happening to us? Dear God. [ in a great voice. ] STOP IT, ALL OF YOU !

     
    Everything stops. The women are in disarray, modest head coverings, clothes awry.
     
    SHEINHOFF : Look at yourselves! It’s a disgrace. Is this how pious women behave? [ pause. ] Attack her, slander her—that’s what we did the minute she walked through the door. You’ve forgotten completely that she’s the one who built this house with so much hard work and so much love. A Jew, even if he sins, is still a Jew. Let me speak to her.
    All the women obey, getting ready to leave the room. Only GITTE LEAH , still busy picking up her headcovering, seems ready to pounce again.
     
    ADINA : [ delicately blocking GITTE LEAH’S way, helping her re-cover her hair. ] Come, Gitte Leah, let’s go to the kitchen. [ GITTE LEAH shrugs her off belligerently. ] Bluma, can you prepare some tea? Everyone is tired and thirsty. Let my mother talk to her….
     
    FRUME : [ complaining to SHEINHOFF .] Narishkeit (foolishness). There’s no point.
     
    ADINA : Come, Mrs. Kashman. Have a little tea.
     
    SHAINE RUTH : Come, Granny, please.
    FRUME gathers GITTE LEAH . Everyone exits except CHANA and SHEINHOFF .
     
    SHEINHOFF : [ in affection and pain. ] Chana, I can’t believe this is you—!
     
    CHANA : That was nothing. Just the roar of a mother lion. But if you keep me away from my children even one more day, I will do much more than roar, I promise you that!
     
    SHEINHOFF : Chanaleh, Chanaleh…. Isn’t it written: “All His paths are pleasant, and all His ways are peaceful?” Is it right for you to hurt your own family? To bring the police? To make wars? Why does it have to be this way?
     
    CHANA : [ pause .] What way would you like it to be, Mameh Goldie? What choice have any of you left me?
     
    SHEINHOFF : The children are fine, Chana. They’re taken care of. You have my word. What is it you want?
     
    CHANA : All I’ve ever wanted: to do the right thing. Please believe me, Mameh Goldie.
    Outside MALE VOICES threaten: “ Pritza (whore), Sotah (pervert)!”
     
    SHEINHOFF : You hear? The right thing, Chana, is for