The Hebrew Theater: Between The War and the Holocaust

Abstract

THE ECHOES OF THE NAZIS' rise to power, World War II, and the Holocaust of the Jews in Europe had repercussions in the land of Israel, finding their way into the press, public opinion, and the reactions and stands of the leaders of the Jewish yishuv, as well as into Hebrew literature and the plays that were either published or staged in the theaters. The plays that were performed were mostly translated. As far as original Hebrew drama was concerned, almost the only treatment of current events to be found was in the various programs of HaMatate, the satirical cabaret theater, and especially in Nathan Alterman's chansons. The latter included many topical allusions, such as: a protest song lamenting the fate of a Jewish child in a cynical and cruel world governed by Gestapo law; a parody on the Munich Agreements; and songs glorifying those volunteering for the British Army, the Jewish Brigade and the Red Army in order to fight the Nazi invaders.' Only in 1946, in the aftermath of the war, was an original Hebrew play relating to current events staged in the Habimah Theater. This was Aharon Ashman's HaBesorah [Good Tidings]. In HaBesorah, the protagonist, a Holocaust survivor, settles down in the land of Israel but is unable to adjust to it. The memory of his wife and daughter, who perished in the Holocaust, follows him everywhere. Burnt! was burned together with us! he says. Everything was buried in the enormous grave-six millions.2 Only after he travels to a new settlement in the Galilee and makes contact with the landscape of the land of Israel-and after Rayah, the wife of his brother David, a soldier serving in the Jewish Brigade, takes a risk and gives birth to a child, a daughter who takes after his own deceased daughter, thus signifying hope for the future-does he pick up the pieces and turn over a new leaf. The land of Israel and the new, emergent generation convey the good tidings, in the sense of . . the more they multiplied. Surprisingly, this family melodrama, which was not particularly sophisticated and did not receive