'1'
Israel 9‘ s -6 Ftddlers'
Play on Many Roofs
n
BY MENDEL KOHANSKE
JERUSALEM—A new important
export item has been added to the
country's economy, following close-
ly on oranges and cut diamonds.
This new commodity is actors
playing in "Fiddler on the Roof."
Five Israeli performers have
appeared, are appearing or will
soon appear in productions of the
fabulously successful musical in
various countries, four in the lead-
ing part of Tevye the Milkman.
and one as Tevye's long-suffering
wile.
The five are Hayim Topol, who
played the part in London; Shmuel
Rudensky, who started out in Ham_
burg, went on to a number of other
German cities and is now appear-
ing in Zurich: Yosef Yadin, who
played in Vienna: Lia Dolitzkay,
who appeared with Yadin; and
now Shimon Israeli, who has just
gone to South Africa to bring
Tevye's message of trust in God's
goodness.
Of the five, three appeared in
the musical in Israel, where its
success was as great as every-
where else in the world, but with
a difference. While all over the
world "Fiddler" was hailed by
the critics and enthusiastically
approved of by the public, in
Israel only the public found it
attractive, while the critics had
many reservations; in fact, the
production became one of those
classical cases of disagreement
between the critics and the pub-
lic at large.
It
is also interesting to note here
—In view of Topol's later success
in England which established him
as the country's favorite performer
—.that as one of the three Israeli
Tevyes. he didn't click.
In the Israeli production of the
"Fiddler," Topol and another ac-
tor, also a native-born Israeli.
Were soon replaced by Shmuel Ru-
densky, a veteran member of the
Habima Company.
A performer of some 40 years'
standing. with many well-remem-
bered successes to his credit. Rus-
sian-born Rudensky found in Tevye
the role of his life. On the strength
of his performance in Tel Aviv, he
was asked to play the part in Ger-
many after the end of the long run
in Israel.
Appearing in Germany still is a
delicate matter for an Israeli ac-
tor, (the Israel Philharmonic Or-
chestra continues to refuse invita-
tions to play there), and Rudensky
had his misgivings when the offer
came.
He agreed only after the Israel
Ambasador to Bonn, Asher Ben
Nathan, persuaded him with the
argument that should he refuse,
the part would he filed by a Ger-
man actor who would be apt to
make of Tevye a caricature of a
Jew.
0
Nelson Glueck's Book Receives Ohio Award
as is his brother, the famous ex- Dr.
NEW YORK—Dr. Nelson the reader from Mount Hermon
plorer of Massada) is, like his
elder colleague Rudensky, possess-
ed of a powerful physique and a
deep voice, as well as of an over-
whelming stage presence. He was
warmly received by the critics and
the audience, and had to interrupt
a long run in order to return to
Israel and fulfill a commitment in
his home theater. With him ap-
peared Lia Dolitzkaya as his wife.
the role she also played in the Tel
Aviv production.
The latest of the Tevyes to ap-
pear abroad is Shimon Israeli, an
actor best known for his one-man
shows in which he appeared before ,
joining the Haifa Municipal Thea-
ter several years ago. He was
selected for the party by a South
African impresario who came to
Israel in search of a Tevye. Lia
Dolitzkaya was also engaged to
play, for the third time, the hero's
wife.
on
a journey down the Jordan River,
lished by McGraw-Hill Book Co., on excursions up the tributary
has been chosen as the best book streams and through the Arava
published in 1968 by an Ohioan in rift extension of the Jordan Valley
to the Red Sea.
the field of general non-fiction.
Glueck's "The River Jordan," pub-
The Martha Kinney Cooper Ohio-
ana Library Association, which
made the selection, will present
Dr. Glueck an Ohioana Award in
the form of a medal.
In his book, Dr. Glueck, presi-
dent of Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Institute of Religion, takes
NEW CADILLAC?
SEE or CALL
ANDY BLAU
WILSON-CRISSMAN CADILLAC
Rudensky went to Hamburg,
and within a short time "Ana-
tevka," as the show is called
Strangely enough, in all the
there, became the hit of the sea- cases of Israel actors performing
son, with Rudensky becoming
abroad the language problem did
Germany's new stage idol.
not matter much. The hero being
In Germany, Rudensky is in- a Russian Jew, he is expected to
stantly recognized wherever he
speak, whatever language he
appears in public and is constantly
plays in, with a Russian accent,
besieged by autograph seekers,
which in the case of Rudensky
and those who merely want to
was natural, and in the case of
shake his hand. It has come to the
others put on—a task to which
point where he has to send some-
every Israeli actor is equal.
one else to do some necessary
None of them knew the language
shopping because his mere appear-
ance in a department store stops
the traffic.
The next to carry Tevye's mes-
sage was Yossi Yadin, a member
of the Cameri Company in Tel
Aviv. Though he never appeared
in a musical. a Viennese impre.;-
sario saw in him the right per-
former for the Tevye part, and the
results justified the prediction.
Jerusalem-born Yadin (his father
was a distinguished archaeologist
of the country in which he was to
perform well—Topol's English was
sketchy, Rudensky hardly knew
any German—but being good pro-
fessionals, it didn't take them lung
to learn the part.
1350 N. WOODWARD,
ancler
is the reason its good
,2
CANDY, BAKERY,
ICE CREAM
Mayor Lindsay Greets
Israel Border Village
"Bonjour, Mon
Capitaine,
Welcome to
Israel"
"Although the people of Yardena
live in danger along with people
all over Israel, they know this na-
tion of Israel will survive and will
grow," Mayor Lindsay wrote. "I
was deeply moved by the courage
and fortitude of Yardena's people.
They refused to run from danger.
Their determination has ensured
' the survival and growth of their
village."
i The mayor also referred to the
recent executions in Iraq of alleg-
i ed spies for Israel and the United
I States which he called "a travesty
of justice against which not only
Jews but all men of conscience
should protest."
He said, "The people of New
ish youth organizations and York support Israel's position that
leaders from 10 local youth only in face-to-face negotiations
Councils from Los Angeles to can the issues that divide Israel
Baltimore attended the three- and her Arab neighbors find their
day session at Surprise Lake solution. We devoutly hope that
Camp to set direction for united such solutions may be found so
action during the coming year. that peace and security may come
Marc Rosenstein of Highland to the people of Israel and the
Park, Ill., a rabbinic student at Middle East. I wish and pray for
the Hebrew Union College—Jewish a happy New Year for you."
Institute of Religion, chairman,
and Moshe Sokolow of Brooklyn, Housing Project Named
graduate student at Yeshiva Uni-
versity, vice-chairman, will serve for Levi Eshkol Opens
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Ramat
as leaders of the North American
Jewish Youth Council for the com- Eshkol, a housing project in north-
east Jerusalem, was opened Sept.
ing year.
rho delegates of high school 3 when Housing Minister Mordecai
and college students with aggre- Bentov handed apartment keys to
gate memberships of 640,000 call- the first residents.
Some 96 persons moved into the
ee for more intensive Israel- apartments
built on former Jor-
relented curricula ta Jewish
Schools and youth organizations danian territory which had been
unused.
Bentov
said the apart-
and emphasized the need for more
active political and public relations ments, named for the late Presi-
dent
Levi
Eshkol,
will become
support of Israel on behalf of
fiftJYC's constitutent organiza- available at a rate of 100 to 150
new units per month.
The target figure represents the
The delegates called upon the
Soviet Union to step up the family first stage in the project under
reunification plan allowing Jews which 40,000 Jews will move into
UP, emigrate and to relax restric- the new quarters and the restored
tions upon its Jewish community Jewish quarter of Jerusalem's Old
City within three years.
002;000,000.
tions.
Fred Sanders
100 Oakman Blvd.
Detroit, Mich. 48203
CONTROL TOWER
OPERATOR AT LOD:
NEW YORK (JTA I—Mayor John
V. Lindsay of New York has sent
personal
New Years greetings to
Seeks Federation Status
the people of Yardena, an Israeli
NEW YORK — Resolutions con- border village that has been under
cerning full voting status of youth continuous shelling by Arab guer-
in welfare federation and more rillas based in Jordan.
tions support of Israel, as well as
action for Soviet Jewry were un-
animously passed at the fourth
annual Conference of the North
American Jewish Youth Council
held in Cold Spring, N.Y.
In a special resolution adopted
at the closing session, the confer.
ence condemned the recent execu-
tiOns in Iraq and urged all con-
cerned humanitarian groups and
governments to continue their pro-
tests and urge the Arab govern-
ments to desist from persecution
of Jews in their lands and to per-
Mit them to emigrate.
National presidents and dele-
gates of 23 major national Jew-
BIRMINGHAM
RES. 642-6836
CALL BUS. MI 4-1930
N. American Youth Unit
active political and public rela-
Friday, September 12, 1969 - 17
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
•
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