(Photo: A scene from the performance. Credit: Miri
Regev Facebook page.)
Regev Facebook page.)
Approximately 400 people attended the first ever performance of Habima,
Israel’s national theater company in Kiryat Arba on November 10, 2016. The performance
was held at the Kiryat Arba Performing Arts Center which opened in 2011. Kiryat Arba is
a community of over 7,000, located adjacent to Hebron in the Judea
region.
Israel’s national theater company in Kiryat Arba on November 10, 2016. The performance
was held at the Kiryat Arba Performing Arts Center which opened in 2011. Kiryat Arba is
a community of over 7,000, located adjacent to Hebron in the Judea
region.
Elected officials who attended the event included Minister of Culture and
Sport Miri Regev who introduced the performance, and Member of Knesset Yehudah Glick.
Regev posted on her Facebook
page, “they told me it won’t happen. Government-funded cultural institutions
in Judea and Samaria? But today I got in the car and drove from Tel Aviv to the city of
the forefathers and mothers and I saw it with my own eyes. This is a simple story. Very
simple. Habima actors on the stage in front of a packed house for original
Israeli culture. Well done, Habima. Well done, Kiryat Arba. Together we made
history.”
Sport Miri Regev who introduced the performance, and Member of Knesset Yehudah Glick.
Regev posted on her Facebook
page, “they told me it won’t happen. Government-funded cultural institutions
in Judea and Samaria? But today I got in the car and drove from Tel Aviv to the city of
the forefathers and mothers and I saw it with my own eyes. This is a simple story. Very
simple. Habima actors on the stage in front of a packed house for original
Israeli culture. Well done, Habima. Well done, Kiryat Arba. Together we made
history.”
She was quoted in Israel
Hayom news as having said, “revoking the right of our dear
residents of Judea and Samaria from enjoying Israeli culture and creativity — that is a
violation of equality.”
Hayom news as having said, “revoking the right of our dear
residents of Judea and Samaria from enjoying Israeli culture and creativity — that is a
violation of equality.”
Israel
National News reported that MK Glick came to the performance
accompanied by a guest, Muhammed Jaber, an Arab-Muslim resident of Hebron. Jaber was
once a member of the terrorist organization, but now he is a peace activist who opposes
violence.
National News reported that MK Glick came to the performance
accompanied by a guest, Muhammed Jaber, an Arab-Muslim resident of Hebron. Jaber was
once a member of the terrorist organization, but now he is a peace activist who opposes
violence.
Glick stated, “our job in the future will be to extend Israeli sovereignty
over all of Judea and Samaria. It will require us – Jews and Arabs – to learn to live
together. It will mean a two-sided struggle-fighting an uncompromising battle against
violent extremist factors while at the same time striving to live together and
strengthen the moderate elements.”
over all of Judea and Samaria. It will require us – Jews and Arabs – to learn to live
together. It will mean a two-sided struggle-fighting an uncompromising battle against
violent extremist factors while at the same time striving to live together and
strengthen the moderate elements.”
Habima performed a stage version of A Simple Story
by S. Y. Agnon, Israel’s first Nobel laureate. The tale written in 1935 deals
with the wedding of a young Jewish couple and their families in an Eastern European
shtetl. The theater troupe was founded in 1912 in Bialystok and is today headquartered
in Tel Aviv, where it is considered a bastion of liberal ideals.
by S. Y. Agnon, Israel’s first Nobel laureate. The tale written in 1935 deals
with the wedding of a young Jewish couple and their families in an Eastern European
shtetl. The theater troupe was founded in 1912 in Bialystok and is today headquartered
in Tel Aviv, where it is considered a bastion of liberal ideals.
In 2007, Habima collaborated in a play entitled “Hebron”
which dealt with Israeli-Arab political strife. Protesters decried the play
as slandererous against the IDF.
which dealt with Israeli-Arab political strife. Protesters decried the play
as slandererous against the IDF.
The executive director of Habima Odeliah Friedman, stated, “it is not
the role of the National Theater to condemn or engage in boycotts against any sector of
the population. The purpose of the National Theater is to provide quality culture for
all citizens of Israel, and just as it has done so in the past, so too will it do so in
the future.”
the role of the National Theater to condemn or engage in boycotts against any sector of
the population. The purpose of the National Theater is to provide quality culture for
all citizens of Israel, and just as it has done so in the past, so too will it do so in
the future.”
Naharnet news quoted Kiryat Arba resident Yudith
Weinstein, as stating “there is rarely anything cultural happening here, but we also
want to be able to go to the show near us. Tel Aviv is far away and we do not care that
this company is considered leftist, we came to see theater, not talk
politics.”
Weinstein, as stating “there is rarely anything cultural happening here, but we also
want to be able to go to the show near us. Tel Aviv is far away and we do not care that
this company is considered leftist, we came to see theater, not talk
politics.”
The play is scheduled to be performed in the city of Ariel, also in the Judea
district, in March.
district, in March.
For preliminary article on Habima performance click here.
Notes:
* Miri
Regev Facebook post on performance (Hebrew)
Regev Facebook post on performance (Hebrew)
* Israel’s
national theater performs in Kiryat Arba for first time (Israel
Hayom)
national theater performs in Kiryat Arba for first time (Israel
Hayom)
* National
theater performs in Kiryat Arba for first time (Times of
Israel)
theater performs in Kiryat Arba for first time (Times of
Israel)
* Patriotic Protest
Against Habima’s 2007 Play ‘Hevron’ (Israel National
News)
Against Habima’s 2007 Play ‘Hevron’ (Israel National
News)
* Defying threats,
Habima Theater performs in Kiryat Arba ( Israel National
News)
Habima Theater performs in Kiryat Arba ( Israel National
News)
To visit Hebron:
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org/
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES:
* Join the Hebron Fund for Parshat
Chayei Sarah on Thanksgiving!
* Rare Visit to Mamre Archaeological
Site
* Parshat Chayei Sarah to
Attract Masses to Hebron on Shabbat
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org/
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES:
* Join the Hebron Fund for Parshat
Chayei Sarah on Thanksgiving!
* Rare Visit to Mamre Archaeological
Site
* Parshat Chayei Sarah to
Attract Masses to Hebron on Shabbat
(Photo below: A scene from a performance of A Simple Story.
Credit: HaBimah website.)
Credit: HaBimah website.)
