for (Regina, Rosa, Ruth & Rachel), 2026, Sophiensaele, Berlin, Germany

for (Regina, Rosa, Ruth & Rachel) is a musical and scenic collage created by five artists: composer Maya Dunietz, singer Jessica Gadani, multimedia artist Rachel Libeskind, cellist Lori Goldston, muralist Ella Ponizovsky-Bergelson, and director Ariel Efraim Ashbel.

Drawing on sources from early 20th-century Yiddish theater culture in Berlin, the ensemble presents a narrative shaped by four names: Regina, Rosa, Ruth and Rachel. Five performers translate this diversity into a tapestry of voice, text and sound: experimental sound meets opera singing, accompanied by harp, piano, cello and accordion. Archival material and accompanying projections are translated into a spatial, sensory experience, bringing a largely erased urban culture back to life.

The biographies of these women raise questions about feminist agency, solidarity in times of crisis and artistic resilience. The composition builds on this and sees itself as a glimpse into the past, present and future of Yiddish culture in Berlin.

Photography credits: Mayra Wallraff