While Levitin\’s novel, \”The Return,\” won the PEN Award and National Jewish Book Award, one might ask if this is apt material for a musical.
Levitin had never written a play or even lyrics before, but calls the musical the \”most wonderful, creative form,\” an egalitarian template that can depict and appeal to anyone.
\”Aliya: Three Generations of American-Jewish Immigration to Israel\” by Liel Leibovitz.
The article in this week\’s Journal about Poland and the March of the Living was accurate, on target and, quite frankly, overdue (\”March of the Living Dead?\” April 21). For quite some time now I have been troubled by the misguided attempts of some in the Jewish community to exploit our people\’s tragedy for the purpose of giving young Jews a renewed sense of identity.
Aliyah is the oat bran of the Jewish people. We know it\’s good for us. We know we should be having more of it. But truth is, we just find it hard to swallow. And we certainly don\’t like it shoved down our throats.\n\nWhile in Israel last week, I heard several Israeli officials, from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on down, proclaim that increased Jewish immigration to Israel is crucial to the country\’s long-term well-being. And each time I heard an Israeli or American Jewish leader say that, I thought: \”Uh-oh.\”
Israel said it would resume ties with the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), which recently named an ombudsman to oversee its Middle East coverage.
Nefesh B\’Nefeshs\’ determination to encourage Jews to move to Israel comes at a time when tourism to the country is at an all-time low, devastated by almost three years of the intifada.
\”We have always intended to go to Israel,\” said Rich Brownstein, an Orthodox Jew from Pico-Robertson. \”And in terms of the perceived danger, I don\’t think it is very different to any other time in Jewish history. They have always been shooting at us, there have always been wars and there have always been difficulties.\”
On Feb. 16, Israel\’s previously ruling Cabinet agreed to expedite the immigration of Falash Mura to Israel from Ethiopia. The ruling affirms Israel\’s responsibility to these people, but it also raises significant questions. No one can say when the immigration will occur, or what aid and absorption services the Falash Mura will receive in Ethiopia or in Israel. Nor is it clear who will pay the cost of immigration and absorption, which some estimates put at $400 million over four years.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.