Q is Canada’s liveliest arts, culture and entertainment magazine. It’s a smart and surprising tour through personalities and cultural issues that matter to Canadians.

Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, with his trademark wit and spontaneity, Q covers pop culture and high arts alike with forays into the most provocative and compelling cultural trends.

Ghomeshi introduced that the show would focus on Caryl Churchill’s play Seven Jewish Children, which B’nai Brith Canada petitioned to the City’s Mayor to shut down, and on the Koffler’s recent decision to disassociate itself with artist Reena Katz. Here’s the segment:

Check out the comments listeners left, and let us know what you think. I was particularly struck by the sentiment of one listener:

I have never written a letter email etc. to a radio show before but Frank Diamant moved me to do so. I am a Jew who believes in Israel’s right to exist, I don’t know who Frank Diamant thinks he represents but it is definitely not me. His views struck me as bizarre and so out of touch with what is going on in Canada, Israel, and the world that I find them beyond comprehension. Leaving aside the question of the play, the idea that in a democracy it is in any way acceptable to punish someone (Reena Katz) for their personal political views by trying to disrupt their work which has nothing to do with expressing those views, is in fact discrimination. You cannot advocate for ending discrimination for one set of people by discriminating against another. Any issues about, Israel and the Palestinians are entirely besides the point. I think Mr. Diamant is doing the Jewish community a tremendous disservice by expressing his views on the radio and claiming to speak in their name. He only succeeds in presenting that community in the worst possible light . I believe in freedom of speech and I don’t begrudge Mr. Diamant the right to express his views on the radio, but I really wish he wouldn’t claim to be any kind of representative of jews in Canada (I’m sure if this was an elected position he wouldn’t win). If I am ever discriminated against B’nai Brith Canada will be the last place I would turn to for help.

Posted by: Noah Wohl

The readers’ responses highlight something that seems to be missing from the discussion. Roth didn’t only stage Churchill’s play. Disagree if you will with Roth’s decision, but present his decision accurately.

He staged her play, along with “Seven Palestinian Children” by Deb Margolin and “The Eighth Child” by Robbie Gringras, and followed by discussion. That may not change people’s opinions about Churchill’s play, and it may upset others that Roth didn’t let the play be read on it’s own, but let’s at least fully present the choice Roth made. From Roth himself:

I am critical of the play, and that’s why I’m offering our stage for a reading–not a performance–of it. So it can be heard, digested, and responded to by our diverse audience. I trust that we will have a candid and responsible conversation about it. And that we will also present two artistic pieces written in response to the play; SEVEN PALESTINIAN CHILDREN by the Jewish American writer Deb Margolin, and THE EIGHTH CHILD, by Israeli Performance artist, Robbie Gringras.

To add to the mix, J Street wrote a letter of support for discussing the play:

The decision to feature Seven Jewish Children at Theater J should be judged not on the basis of the play’s content but, rather, on its value in sparking a difficult but necessary conversation within our community. To preclude even the possibility of such a discussion does a disservice not only to public discourse, but also to the very values of rigorous intellectual engagement and civil debate on which our community prides itself.

J Street takes no position on the content of Seven Jewish Children – it is, after all, a play, and not policy. We do, however, stand unequivocally behind Theater J in its decision to feature programming that examines different facets of this critical debate over how our community can best support Israel. Such an opportunity for individual and collective reflection is integral in informing our shared interest in bringing true peace and security to Israel.