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The Jewish Post & Opinion
Factor fabulous at HHAI
February 23, 2005
by Shoshana Harper

Rachel Factor is on the road again. Her Saturday, Feb.19, one woman performance in the beautiful new Cultural Arts Center of the Hasten Hebrew Academy was quite a treat for the women in attendance. Ms. Factor is a very talented storyteller, singer, and dancer.

From Hawaii to LA to NYC to Israel and now back on tour in the U.S. with her family in tow is, in itself, a fascinating story. Getting the inside personal scoop on the journey that landed her on this tour was the best part.

The inspiring, self-reflective show of Factor's life as an Asian American and the angst she dealt with trying to fit in and finally doing so within the context of Judaism and ultimately Orthodoxy was told with humor and music.

It is hard to imagine this talented and very beautiful woman having self-image issues growing up. Her detailed accounts of a young woman dating and pursuing a career were very entertaining and appealed to the more secular women in the crowd who had similar experiences.

One of the funniest aspects of the show was hearing how surprisingly supportive Factor's mother was when discussing the idea of a Jewish conversion for her daughter.

A major goal of Factor's North American J.A.P. tour is to raise funds for the Jerusalem Women's Center for Theater Arts, where Factor serves as artistic director.

The purpose of the center is to provide a place for women to express themselves in the arts as the ones who "nourish the souls of our future." (Info about summer programs is available at 1-646-201-9636 (U.S. Canada) and 02-628-5562 (Israel).)

Factor's tour has already been to much of the east coast and is heading west. For more information on this Performance for Women, visit www.rachel-factor.com or call 888-256-1764.