[Hail to the Chief is heard. As the curtain opens, Nebuchadnezzar, flanked by two guards, enters with his Advisors and seats himself upon his throne.]

Nebuchadnezzar: [Sings.] ^{1 1} This melody is taken from “Di bord,” a popular Yiddish song.
I am Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
I rule the whole world with my hand.
No one can frighten me;
The whole world is under my thumb.

Everyone obeys my commands.
The whole world runs from me as from the plague.
In my way nothing stands—
Not a house, not a home—
With my soldiers I conquer every land.

When I make war with a land
I make them pay the full price.
Not a single scrap remains:
Not a brick, a wall or stone.

In my palace I alone will rule;
I’ve made no plans at all to die.
Around me no one dares show his face,
’Cause everyone knows I own the place.

Whether he’s called Nasser, Gorbachev, Reagan, or Sadat,
Before me they fall like flies.
I don’t fear their missiles or jets.
When I strike them they scurry like cats.

I have bombs and rockets,
I am stronger than the Chinese and the Soviets.
You all understand my might:
It’s true and it’s definitely right.

The Court: [Sings.] ^{2 2} The liturgical source is “Dvorim-beteylim iz a khulem,” “A dream is a nonsense.”
Our master, our great hero, our king.
Over the whole world he reigns.
This is the truth, it’s definitely real:
Forever and ever you’ll rule.

About this everyone is sure.
To one dares to say a word.
From the whole world, from every single land
People turn to the house of the king.

Nebuchadnezzar: [To the audience.]
Did you hear the singing? Ha, ha, ha. I finally taught those clumsy oafs to see and to sing, ha, ha! I finally managed to put together a royal chorus! Ha, ha, ha! I remember that day when I was about to put together the chorus; I was looking for a range of voices, so not all of them would sound the same. I looked for voices a little higher and for voices a little lower, but I was unable to find that special lower voice. Everyone who came to the audition had quite a high voice. So I put an ad in the royal newspaper saying that I was looking for someone with a low voice, a bass voice, a heavy voice. A young man came to me. This man. [ He points to one of the guards flanking him.] So I looked at him and I asked him, “Can you sing?” “Yes,” he answered. “Do you have a low voice?” I asked him. “Yes,” he said. “Let me hear it,” I said. “Sing to me, show me. Sing me a note.” He sang, “Ah, ah.” [imitates a reedy voice] I said to him, “This is what you call a low voice? Let me hear it again, only lower, heavier!” So he sang again, “Ah, ah.” [imitates a reedy voice] “Lower, lower!” I said. So he said, “The Devil take you. Go dig a hole and bury yourself, you rude kid.” ^{3 3} This is a play on words; the word for “rude” and “thick/low” (grob) are the same in Yiddish. So this is my royal choir. [Musical notes are heard in the background, played on an electronic keyboard, in preparation for the next song.] Schwartzmann! Do you have something to say?

Schwartzmann: [Sings.] ^{4 4} The liturgical source is al tira ki ya’ashir ish, “Be not afraid when one is made rich” (Psalms 49:17) from the Mourner’s Kaddish. It is from the repertoire of the religious children’s choir Pirkhey Toronto (Flowers of Toronto).
O King, I liked your speech,
But there’s one thing I must state.

Nebuchadnezzar:
He is about to sing. Yes . . .

Schwartzmann:
The King knows it for sure:
I only want to make it clear.

Your kingdom is very strong and big,
The whole world avoids you like the plague,

The whole world is astonished at you—
But in Israel, not a single Jew.

In their own land and their own city
They think you’re washed up.

We must intervene over there
and wash them out completely.

Nebuchadnezzar: [Sings.] ^{5 5} The melody is based on older Bobover purim-shpiln.
Now you’ve put me in a real bad mood. ^{6 6} “Mood” said in English in the original, for the rhyme with “bod”
I thought forever I’d be king.
Meanwhile you let it drop
Meanwhile you tell me that there is somewhere a land, a city
Where for me they don’t care a jot.

So, I’ll set out and conquer them,
Take all my bands of soldiers,
Make all the preparations,
And tomorrow set out for over there.

[to the court] How was that?

Boris:
Mr. Nebuchadnezzarowski, I say ^{7 7} Boris says “I say” in English in the original keep away from the Land of Israel. Nyet, they bombard Soviet airplanes. They destroy Soviet tanks, they shoot down Soviet missiles. And then they come here, Imperialist Jews, and make Israeli car service, nyet.

Nebuchadnezzar:
I have known for a long time that one cannot rely on the Russians. Ashpenaz, what do you say? Shall we conquer the Land of Israel?

Ashpenaz: [Singing to Nebuchadnezzar.] ^{8 8} The music is taken from older purim-shpiln.
Listen, my master, the king,
You want to destroy the land.
But this won’t happen so fast.
From heaven God looks down,
and He looks out for them.

They make sacrifices to Him,
And whoever bothers with them,
God have mercy on them,
Or they’ll get it really bad.

The king plans to do a dangerous thing,
He’s taking a risk to wipe out the Jews.
Their God is always watching
And those who bother His people regret it.

Remember what happened to Pharaoh?
He got the plagues, about ten in all,
His body covered in abscesses,
And then a bath in the Red Sea.

Nebuchadnezzar: [He laughs loudly, singing.]
Pharaoh, ha ha ha . . . You have the brains of a cow.
You compare me to Pharaoh?
He was a king, a little one, course and common.

He let the Jews off cheaply.
Because the lice scratched him a little bit.

He didn’t have any brains in his head.
In the water he saw a drop of blood.

And runs yelling to Moses
Saying “God, I have seen a frog.”

Could this king lead battles?
He was just a big coward.

But as for me,
He who bothers me
Will earn a true rebuke.

And with my army
Everything will be okay. ^{9 9} “OK” in English.

No boast from Jews I’ll hear.
I’ll drag them by the ears

Or by their shaggy beards,
Tie them to my steed.

I’ll drag them by their pants
Till they’re quaking in their boots.

No more altars, no sacrifices.
I’ll break their stubbornness.

[A recorded reveille tune is heard in the background. Nebuchadnezzar switches to speaking voice]

I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon! With my great force and power, I’m taking over and dividing up the nation which calls itself Israel. That nation, which considers itself clever and wise, will be the shame of all mankind. Their sacred relics we will burn and annihilate, till they remain nowhere but in museums around the world. Their wounded bodies we’ll transform to ashes, and their bones scatter over fields and forests.

So, go already; beat, kill, slaughter all who live there! But wait—some of their little children with pretty faces, young ones with clever heads, curly hair—let them live. Bring them to me, bring them here to my palace. We’ll know how to use their wisdom and their strength to build the Great Empire of Babylon further. As for the remainder, go forth, quickly, kill and slaughter them all. Let Jewish blood run through the streets, so all will know that they have taken on Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon! [Keyboard music for the next song is heard.]

The Court: [Singing together.]
We go forth as a gang
To conquer the Land

To destroy the Temple
And take all its treasures!

We, the goyim, will plunder
The gold of the Temple.

Our master, the king, bless us!
And we say, long live the king.

[Curtain closes. End of scene two.]

The Narrator:
The great wise men of Babylon did not know how to use their heads. They were forced to come to Daniel for help in interpreting the dream for the Emperor. Now, once more, we see the king in his palace. [The curtain opens. Nebuchadnezzar is here with his guards and Ashpenaz.]

Nebuchadnezzar:
It is time to tell me the meaning of my dream. Can you tell me?

Schwartzmann:
None of us was able to, but among the children who were brought from Jerusalem we have found one who can.

Nebuchadnezzar:
Bring him here. [They leave and return with Daniel.] You’re telling me that all the great wise men couldn’t figure out the dream, but that you can? You’re telling me that you have so much wisdom that you know what was in the dream? Are you really taking upon yourself such a task?

Daniel:
Yes, your Majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar:
So speak.

Daniel: [Singing . . . ] ^{10 10} The melody is from the repertoire of badkhonim (jesters) for the mitsve-tants (mitzvah dance) in weddings.
There is no need for wisdom in this
I wouldn’t know about wisdom
even the wisest — The priest and the bishop
No magic will work for this.

But in heaven is a great Creator
Who has explained to me this dream
So I can tell the king
The meaning of this frightening dream
As the king desired

A fearful image stood
Rising before the king.
Its head was made of gold
Gold of great worth.

Its arms were made of silver,
Its intestines of copper made,
The legs and feet were iron and pottery,
Listen to what is further said.

Powerful was this image standing
Until it was struck by a giant stone.
The image broke into tiny pieces
And like chaff to the wind its strength was blown.

Not a trace remained of this image.
Flown away like straw
From the entire image nothing remained
And the king saw all of this happen,

The stone which was very strong
Had crushed the figure
Then grew to the size of a mountain
So great that it filled the horizon. ^{11 11} All of the dream interpretation is based on the Book of Daniel 2:31-45.

Nebuchadnezzar:
That’s exactly what I saw! This is incredible; probably it was a divine revelation. You told it exactly as it happened. It’s terrific deed, such a deed . . . I am going to reward you. You will be the greatest among all my lords. To recount it so exactly!If it’s really the case that heaven revealed such a thing to you, you should be able to explain to me the meaning... How do you interpret that bizarre figure, in such a strange dream? Can you do this also?

Daniel:
Yes, your Majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar:
Speak then.

Daniel: [Singing . . . When invoking God, he turns his head upwards.] ^{12 12} The melody is from the song Bokher vos est teg (“The yeshiva student who gets his free meals”), composed by R. Berish Ziditshever.
The heavenly Creator, over rich and poor,
Gave to you, King of Kings,
Power to rule the entire world,
Even over the wildest beasts.

The king is Babylon’s golden head,
To whom all men are subject.
The copper and the silver,
Are kingdoms less important.

A fourth kingdom will arise,
Strong as iron.
Yet of all these other kingdoms
No vestiges will remain.

Our Creator will build a new kingdom,
That nobody can defeat
When the Messiah leads us to Jerusalem,
And that kingdom will never cease.

Nebuchadnezzar:
This is what was revealed to you? Excellent. I see, really, that what you know, nobody else in the whole world knows. And for that I will reward you. Now . . . [Nebuchadnezzar motions Daniel to leave. Nebuchadnezzar remains, musing. His two guards remain at his sides.] What did he say just now? What did he say? He certainly didn’t say something that just occurred to him. He said something that heaven revealed to him. What did he say? He said that my kingdom will end, nothing will remain, and a new kingdom will come. He was not speaking his own thoughts but he was doing the talking. . . Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar, you must see to it that this thing does not happen. But how? Let me remember: what was there in their homeland, in their Land of Israel, in Jerusalem, what was there? They had a Temple, they worshiped their Creator. They lived in the land, were confident in the land, made sacrifices, and what happened? What happened there? There came an army, it burned Jerusalem, burned the Temple and left nothing. Why? Why? They have such a great God! Why did He allow this? It must be that they did not obey their great God. They sinned. They did not obey his commandments. Because of that, He punished them.

And now if I can arrange for them to disobey Him further, to sin further, what Daniel prophesied will certainly not happen. How can I do it? [Thinks for a moment]. . . I have an idea. I shall cast a gold image, an idol of gold. I will make it sixteen cubits high and six cubits wide. ^{13 13} The size is based on the Book of Daniel 3:1. I will put the idol in the great valley, where all the nations can come to see it. I shall also gather the best musicians from the entire land: trumpet players, saxophones, trombones, drums. All will play before the idol. And I’ll issue a decree that everyone from the whole land must come to bow down before the idol—everyone! The Jews as well. And I will issue a decree, that he who will not bow down before the idol will be killed, burned by fire, so they will not have a choice, they will have to come to bow before the idol, and in this way I, Nebuchadnezzar, will make sure that my kingdom will last forever! [To his guards.] Servants, go now and make me an idol!!

The Narrator:
Following the king’s command, the servants put the great idol in place, and announce all around the city that at a specific time, everyone must come bow down before the idol. And now, the king’s palace. [Nebuchadnezzar, imitating a musical conductor with a baton, enters with Schwartzmann and Ashpenaz. The March of the IDF is heard.]

Nebuchadnezzar: [Appears to look out the window]
Everyone is bowing. Ha ha ha! [He crows to himself.] Look, there goes the foreign affairs minister, to bow down. Yes, everyone is bowing. But I don’t see the Jews! I see coming . . . Who’s there, outside? Look, Ashpenaz, everyone is bowing. How delightful!

Schwartzmann:
How splendid and beautiful.
All have come:
Kings who sit on thrones
And people in the millions.
All have come to pay homage to the king.
Long may he live.

Nebuchadnezzar:
All?

Ashpenaz:
Only the few Jews whom the king has elevated
they make a point and persist
in not bowing to the idol.
I would like all of them torn into pieces
Thrown into a fiery furnace and burnt.
They are indeed Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego. When they are called to bow, they answer “no.”

Nebuchadnezzar:
They don’t want to bow?

Ashpenaz:
No. ^{14 14} In Hebrew

Nebuchadnezzar:
Bring them in, bring them in immediately! [Music from a keyboard is heard. Ḥananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are brought in.]

Nebuchadnezzar: [To Ḥananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.]
Is it true what they say? You don’t want to bow to the idol I have made?

Ḥananiah, Mishael, Azariah:
Yes, it is true. May the king have a good year.

Nebuchadnezzar:
Are you not aware of my decree, that those who don’t comply with the king’s orders, who don’t bow down, will be put to death? Don’t you know about this?

Ḥananiah, Mishael, Azariah:
It is the whole truth
That our Creator is very great.
To us he is so trustworthy,
He will save us from your hands.

But if God does not,
We still won’t obey your words.
You may cast us into fire:
Before your idol we still won’t bow.

Nebuchadnezzar: [Approaches Ḥananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, then returns to the center of the stage.]
So. This is how you want it? Good. Good! Ashpenaz, go, and tomorrow, early tomorrow morning, call together all the inhabitants of the city, and prepare a furnace with a big fire, so all will know what happens to such rebels. . . . That when I, the king, issue a decree, everyone must obey, or they will know the result of such rebelliousness against the king. Quickly, take them away, go.

[Ashpenaz and Schwartzmann leave with Ḥananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The curtain closes. End of scene six.]

The Narrator:
And so, right in the middle of the day, at Nebuchadnezzar’s command, hundreds and thousands of people came to see how he would punish the children and other Jews who would not bow down to the idol. Nebuchadnezzar had struggled with what to do, and did not know where to turn. He came upon the idea that it would be better if they did not die sacrificing themselves for the sanctification of God’s name. That if they were to die doing this, it would be his greatest failure. He was beating upon the borders of the prophesy, and he trembled. He was anxious lest what was foretold in the dream come to pass. Now, let us begin. See how the children are sitting, resolute, waiting to die for God’s holy name.

Nebuchadnezzar:
So, have you decided what you’re going to do?

Mishael:
Yes, we have decided. We will not bow down before your idol.

Nebuchadnezzar: [To Ashpenaz.]
Go tie them with a rope. [To Ḥananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.] Children, children, what are your names? Ḥananiah, Mishael, and Azariah? You know me already. How many people have I killed already? Thousands, tens of thousands have I killed. . . . And yet when I see three such young and beautiful children, about to breathe their last breath, here in the fiery furnace, I feel myself shivering, for what, for what? Do you remember your home? Your parents, your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, your sisters, all were burned. Why? What remains of them? What? Ashes. And you survivors, such lonely children, about to take the same stupid step? Why? What have I asked of you? I ask you to bow. Whether you bow or don’t bow, is such a silly thing worth your lives? Children, you’re still so young. You have just barely started your lives. I beg of you, break your shackles, be one of us, look at what’s happening, look what stands before you, a bright world, a golden world. I still want to elevate you. I want to make you the greatest lords in the entire land. Children, I know what’s good for you. I love you, I’ve raised you, I beg of you, be sensible about this drastic step you are about to take. See that I not fail because of you. . . . Children, children, I beg you, don’t do such a silly thing. I’ll give you a few more minutes to reconsider what you’re about to do.

Ḥananiah, Mishael, Azariah: [Singing . . . ] ^{15 15} The melody is from the cantorial source to the Al narois buvl (By the Waters of Babylon) (Psalms 137), written by R. Tzvi Arye Reinhold. The melody for Al narois buvl is sung during the trink-sude (drinking feast) on the afternoon of Purim.
We obey only the one God,
This was the first commandment
Since before Mount Sinai we stood
We have been faithful to the Lord.

We’re not afraid of any king or minister,
Sultan or earthly master.
Even if you throw us into the oven
To your idol we won’t bow down.

Nebuchadnezzar:
So this is what you have decided, what you’ve really decided?

Azariah: [Also singing . . . ]
You cannot imagine
how strong is our faith.
We don’t fear for flesh and blood,
This has happened before, with Nimord.

Ḥananiah: [Singing . . . ]
Nimrod would not rest
till Abraham knelt
Before a wooden beam with his likeness.
But Nimrod was bested.
And so it came to pass,
The fiery furnace was just a walk for him.

Ḥananiah, Mishael, Azariah: [Singing . . . ]
Truthfully we state we are ready
To give our soul to our Creator.
It’s what we are taught at home:
To give oneself to sanctify His Name.

Nebuchadnezzar: [To Ḥananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.]
Good, this is what you want? This will be an example for all, so they will know what happens to those who disobey the king. Ashpenaz, bind them!!!

Ḥananiah: [Singing . . . ]
Our Father, Our King, look down from heaven ^{17 17} The words are based on Ovinu malkeynu (Our Father, Our King), the prayer said on fast days and on the days between the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Words from the Avinu Malkeinu are used throughout the rest of the text.
Act on behalf of those who are dying
And comfort Your people who hunger.
In Your Name, give them comfort.

Mishael: [Singing . . . ]
Our Father, Our King,
For the honor of heaven
We are hurt and broken.
Act for those who die for your Oneness.

Azariah: [Singing . . . ]
Our Father, Our King,
Act for me when I am thrown into the fiery furnace.
Act for those who enter the fire,
Sanctifying your Name.
Turn your wrath for us.

Ḥananiah, Mishael, Azariah: [Singing . . . ]
Our Father, Our King
Vindicate Your people.
Revenge Your faithful nation,
The blood of Your chosen people

Your children’s flesh and blood,
O Lord, are burnt to ashes.
Avenge the blood of Your servants.

Ashpenaz:
Children, your lives have come to an end. Into the fiery furnace, commands the king. Go!

Ḥananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and Daniel:
Hear O Israel, Our God is One. ^{18 18} The words are taken from the Sh’ma prayer. [Ḥananiah, Mishael, Azariah and Daniel enter the fiery furnace. On the violin is now played the melody of “Ani Maamin” (“I Believe with Perfect Faith in the Coming of the Messiah”), which continues through the end of the scene.] ^{19 19} This song is highly identified with the Holocaust. The melody is the same that is used in public memorial ceremonies for the Holocaust, and it was composed by R. Azriel Pastag, a Modzitz Hasid who perished in the Holocaust.

Nebuchadnezzar:
What’s going on there? What’s going on? Where is the fire, the fire? They are walking around in the fire. I threw three children into the fire. Who is that fourth one? [Circling inside the furnace are seen the images of Ḥananye, Mishael, and Azariah, as well as Daniel.] It must be a kind of godly thing. The Creator protects them. What’s happening here? Come out of the fire! Come out! [Ḥananye, Mishael and Azariah emerge.] Even their clothing has not been burnt. Yes. Yes. At last, I am convinced of the truth of their history. Waters could not flood them, cold could not bury them, and the fire could not burn them. It must be that the arms of their God protect them. I see that they will never be conquered. Their eternity is as sure as the day, and their belief shines like the sun. God forgive me for the fire and the fiery furnace. I am convinced what they believe is right.

Ḥananiah, Mishael, Azariah: [Singing . . . ]
We praise the Creator with praise of all kind,
Who delivered us from the hands of kings.
He puts life into our souls,
He does not let us fall.
You saved us from a certain death;
All nations know You are great.
Because we were not burnt

Your Greatness is seen by all
Who beseech Thee in their prayers.
May He who answers Ḥananiah, Mishael,
And Azariah, all at once,
Answer us, answer us
So we His people may go towards
The righteous Messiah
Our rebbe leading us with songs,
We wish all a happy Purim!