AUBURN – Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom recently gave an informal presentation to the cast of “Fiddler on the Roof” on what it was like for the Jewish people living under a Tzarist regime in pre-revolutionary Russia in 1905, the setting and time period of the play.

The Jews were confined and restricted to a ghetto in Russia and lived in poverty and oppression. Katzir expanded his talk on the customs and traditions of the Jewish people.

He said they were a deeply religious people. Tradition bound them together and kept them going. The Sabbath was an all-important day, starting at sundown Friday until Saturday, when the first three stars appeared in the sky.

During the 25-hour period, their problems and troubles were set aside, work was set aside and joy was brought into the household. It was a time when prayer, meditation and family togetherness were enjoyed. Katzir took questions from the group following his presentation.

Director Paul G. Caron invited Katzir as a consultant for the play being presented by Lewiston-Auburn Community Little Theatre Aug. 19 to 28 at Lewiston Middle School’s air-conditioned auditorium on Central Avenue.

The play is based on the stories of Russian author-humorist Sholom Aleichem and tells the story of dairyman Tevye, who is trying to maintain the simplicity of his traditional life. Jewish tradition, family ties, love, joy and heartache are all intertwined. Tevye struggles with his convictions and ideas of tradition, as one by one, his daughters choose their own husbands “for love” bypassing him and the traditional Matchmaker.

Tickets are $15 and $13 and may be reserved by calling 783-0958 or accessing the Web site at www.laCLT.com. A complete listing of the cast and crew is on the site.