Playwright Jordi Mand Explores Interfaith Family Life

A new comedy, The Cut, examines the religious conversations of an expectant couple.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Judaism

Gouache-painted illustration of two intertwined ceramic vessels on a wooden table, representing the complex harmony of an interfaith family. — Playwright Jordi Mand's new comedy, The Cut, examines the complex religious and cultural negotiations of an expectant interfaith couple. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you feel it is important to maintain cultural traditions in an interfaith marriage?

Playwright Jordi Mand has debuted a new comedy, The Cut, which centres on the dilemmas of an interfaith couple, Sarah and Andrew, as they prepare for parenthood. The play draws on Mand's own experiences to highlight themes of kosher living and religious continuity.

Why it matters

The play taps into the evolving landscape of Jewish family life where intermarriage has become increasingly common. It offers a relatable lens for couples navigating how to raise children within diverse religious backgrounds.

A 2021 Pew Research Centre report found that 42 per cent of married American Jewish adults have a non-Jewish spouse. Among couples who have married since 2010, the intermarriage rate is 61 per cent.

The players

Jordi Mand

She is a playwright and National Theatre School of Canada alumna who has explored personal narratives throughout her career.

The details

Inspired by real-life discussions between Mand and her non-Jewish husband, the production examines the challenges of maintaining Jewish traditions during the third trimester of pregnancy. The narrative follows characters Sarah and Andrew as they negotiate personal beliefs and the realities of raising a Jewish family.

Jordi Mand graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 2006.
The play Between the Sheets was written by Mand in 2012.
The Pew Research Centre published its interfaith marriage study in 2021.
In Seven Days and an adaptation of Little Women were staged in 2024.

Culture Shift

The production reflects the high rates of interfaith marriage identified in the 2021 Pew Research Centre study on American Jewish intermarriage. It mirrors a broader societal trend where families actively negotiate religious identity in an increasingly pluralistic environment.

For readers and couples navigating similar interfaith dynamics, the play offers a tangible opportunity to engage with themes of religious continuity. It provides a relatable framework for discussing personal traditions and the practical aspects of raising a family.

The takeaway

The Cut demonstrates how theatre can serve as a bridge for exploring the private, often complex conversations occurring in many modern households. It encourages viewers to approach religious identity with both humour and open dialogue as they define their own family values.