MOSES MAN

Deborah Haber, a second-generation Holocaust survivor, is alive today due to her father's strength in enduring one of history's most horrific periods of hate, intolerance, persecution, discrimination, and genocide—a time when "never again" became a mantra. "In 2013, with my collaborating composer partner Casey Filiaci, I wrote the musical Moses Man about my father’s perilous nine-year journey from Vienna, Austria, through Europe, Cyprus, Palestine, and Africa, as he sought freedom, sanctity, and a home in America. The show debuted Off-Broadway at The Pershing Square Signature Theatre Center on 42nd Street. Then, something profound happened. In the summer of 2015, Germany opened its borders to Syrian refugees, and everything changed. Our musical about 'finding home' expanded, not only to remember and illuminate the past but to shine a light on the present. After all, it was said, 'never again.'" "The question became: how do we tell that story? How do we grasp the pain of the individual when millions are suffering? We needed to listen to their testimony—the voice of truth expressed through the language of art. And that's the foundation of Finding Home: Shine the Light." "My father's story began this journey, and though he is no longer with me, his testimony provided his voice of truth. I'm so fortunate to still have my mother, who, even at 100, continues to share her memories, though they are now a bit clouded. She told the stories, and now we are their keepers—we are the storytellers. For my parents, a future was possible. But for the 67 million refugees in the world today—the largest number in history—what is their future? Finding Home: Shine the Light is a collision of past and present, the historic and the contemporary, brought to the surface to tell their stories and shine a light on their plight." Moses Man Background and Inspirations Moses Man tells the true saga of Kalman and Lily Haber, who overcame immense obstacles to find hope, home, and freedom during one of history’s darkest times. The musical is based on Deborah Haber’s parents’ journey. Her work on this theatrical piece had been brewing for a long time, but all the elements finally aligned four years ago when she and composer Casey Filiaci joined forces. As they began working on Moses Man, they quickly realized they were engaged in a significant project. Moses Man draws from the historically important, yet often under-represented, implications of displacement faced by those persecuted during the Holocaust. It also reflects the contemporary dilemmas confronting individuals and communities worldwide. Moses Man is an important new American musical and a component of a larger project designed to instigate consideration, conversation, and education.