New London – Actor/playwright/educator Sandra Laub will present “Picking Up Stones: An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare,” a 100-minute one woman/many voices play that she wrote, at 3 p.m. June 1 at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 19 Jay St., New London.

There also will be time for a facilitated discussion after the performance.

Last year, Laub, who lives in Pawcatuck wrote and performed her solo play “Picking Up Stones: An American Jew’s Moral Dilemma.” According to a press release, “Prior to the terrible events of October 7, 2023, hundreds of thousands of Israelis had poured into the streets, nine months straight, week after week, in massive demonstrations against the political direction they saw their country heading. Black Shabbat, Saturday, October 7, 2023 brought an anvil down. Everything changed. On a dime. The Israeli protest movement, which had even included military reservists, pivoted instantly to wholly support a nation at war against the terrorist group, Hamas. And world opinion began to split. Laub rewrote her play. And changed the title to ‘Picking Up Stones: An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare.’”

In “An American Jew,” Laub dramatizes new voices and new perspectives emerging in the wake of grief, anger, heartache, and fear. Her new play questions: Can the world understand and sympathize with two opposing groups of innocent people? Two victimized people? Two sets of civilian refugees? How do American Jews re-shape their connection to Israel post 10.7? How are Jewish values upheld by Israel as it prosecutes what it views as a “just” war? How does the world view Israel, a nation created as a safe haven for Jews, but accountable for Occupation and the destruction of Gaza?

“Picking Up Stones: An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare” is Laub’s reaction to the Israel/Hamas war from Day 1 through Day 30.

General admission tickets, which cost $20 ($10 for students), will only be sold in advance, not at the door, and are limited in number. Visit humanitix.com or call All Souls at (860) 443-0316 for more information.