The Land

2019-03-08T08:53:00.001-07:00

Today, International Women's Day. With the latest hubbub surrounding this subject, I'm considering staging The Land again.

This article in particular inspired this idea.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/mar/07/debunking-myth-that-anti-zionism-is-antisemitic

Abraham's Daughters

2014-10-19T10:49:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow, Dorit and I will meet with Ana Chavez and Ruth Farbach t

From Zion To Zionism

2014-08-06T12:08:00.000-06:00

My father was stationed in Palestine and Trans-Jordan during WWII with the British Voluntary Corps. The grandson of a holy man ; a Kohen, a Rabbi, scholar and scribe, who had come to America from Russia in 1901. My father's father, the Rabbi's son, came of age in the 20's and promptly rebelled against his Orthodox upbringing, as did my grandmother, against her similar background. My father was brought up in New York by intellectual, assimilated and very successful Jews. He was bar-mitzvahed and brought up Jewish, albeit very secular with no ban on forbidden foods and customs.

They traveled frequently abroad, and my father - a brilliant mind - who also read voraciously and sped through school, graduating at 14, had grown up with already, expanded horizons. He spoke a handful of languages and picked up others quickly. Thus, the eventual cushy gig with British Intel during WWII. It happened by fluke, when he lied about his age during a recruiting session at Cape Town University, and joined the Army. He was 19. They stationed him in Egypt (where he sent a telegram to his mother informing her, he was in Cairo) as a sight man on anti-aircraft guns. He was virtually discharged from the Army, after a near miss with an Allied plane, but pulled the liguistic ability out of his hat, and found himself suddenly promoted and sent to Trans-jordan to hang out with the Bedouin.

After the war, my dad almost converted to Catholocism, obviously having undergone a crisis of faith. Instead, he declared himself an agnostic with Taoist leanings. He respected all cutures and had a live and let live, lifelong philosophy but he despised Zionism, and saw it as a European, Nationalist movement with no ties to Judaism.

He told me as a child, that according to Torah, we Jews are sent into exile until the Messiah returns and are permitted to make Aliyah, but not to lay down the "Law of the Land."

Therein lies the problem, it would seem.

The Land

2014-07-22T17:54:00.002-06:00

Today I saw this link http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/dear-palestinian-mother/ and realized how prescient (and timely) my play was and is. I am thinking of getting it back on its feet.

News of note

2014-07-11T11:53:00.000-06:00

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.604437

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-israeli-palestine-rockets-

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/10/us-palestinians-israel-hamas-idUSKBN0FF1VJ20140710

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21606862-four-brutal-murders-have-sparked-military-escalation-costing-dozens-lives

The Double Standard

2014-07-11T08:41:00.001-06:00

Once more I am amazed at the way Israel is constantly blamed and demonized by everyone from World Leaders to talk backers on online news sites. Anti-semitism (thinly veiled) rears its ugly head with claims that resemble Medieval blood libels and the fake Protocols Of Zion.
It matters little that at the moment (as usual) Hamas continue to rain rockets on Israeli towns, including Jerusalem. One wonders what will happen if they hit Al-Aqsa? Will there be celebrating in the streets with cries of "Victory" then?
They have also bragged about attempts to hit the Dimona nuclear reactor. We are supposed to be impressed by this brave "resistance"? They continue using civilians as human shields despite past experience. Why? Because they want dead women and children to further blacken Israel's name and drum up more blind hatred against Jews.
I do not support all of Israel's measures against the Palestinians, but this ongoing propaganda and incitement of Jews - because basically this boils down to old fashioned anti-Semitic behaviour - has to stop unless it is to spiral out of control with more Jewish gangs and terrorists emerging to "defend "their faith and the dignity of their people, which is how they see it, anyway.
On the other side, the rage against the occupation (and their own, corrupt and now, bankrupt leaders) has made life unbearable for the Palestinians, many of whom are also descended from Jews who remained after the Roman conquest. Therein lies the true tragedy, which my play explores.
Netanyahu and Abu Mazen both contain the deep wounds of their respective people, who are in fact one people - all Semites - who need to start figuring out how to share the Land they are in and finally grow up! Put the war toys away, come to the table and negotiate.
Meanwhile, Israel has every right to defend herself and striking rocket-launching thugs is a good place to start.
Yes, it is terrible that people die. That is what happens in war. Israel plays by legal rules. Hamas does not.By the way, has anyone counted the numbers of dead in Syria? Funny I never see much vitriol directed to that ongoing slaughter of the innocent!
Today Abu Mazen finally condemned the rocket fire. A day ago, Fatah's Al-Aqsa Brigade took credit for a volley of rockets it sent into Israel from Gaza. I imagine Abbas is getting a little worried.
Most world leaders back Israel this time and Egypt, the long-standing mediator for these neighborly conflicts refuses to get involved. Why? Al-Sisi is fed up with Hamas, and has been cleaning up the area himself for the past year - alerting Israel to Islamic Jihad fighters entering the Suez via Gaza, aided and abetted by Hamas.
We see now their presence, including ISIS or IS, even in the West Bank where their flags flew during Abu Khyder's funeral. The Egyptian president probably prays that Israel will finally finish the job.

Women and children

2014-07-09T09:41:00.001-06:00

As per usual, they are the ones caught in the crossfire.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4540159,00.html

The Enemies Of Peace

2014-07-06T09:08:00.002-06:00

Reading this article this morning filled me with shame and sorrow.
We must stand up to the enemies of Peace, be they fellow Jews, Christians or Muslims.
No human being has the right to take another's life. I pray these terrorists will receive their just punishment under Israel's Court of Law. And may they be a reminder to us all, how deep the waters of evil run and how vigilant we must be, in the service of good.
God bless the families who have lost their precious children to wars in the name of God.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/182558#.U7lk03ZX-uY

Holding Back The Dogs Of War

2014-07-05T19:13:00.002-06:00

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.602900

http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=25920#.U7ilxXZX-uY

Women

2014-07-03T12:28:00.000-06:00

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/As-I-See-It-Crocodile-tears-over-the-cult-of-death-361474

2014-07-03T12:20:00.001-06:00

The Land is more relevant now than ever. Please help me take it to the next step by donating $5.00 to the pay pal link provided on the sidebar. I will start updating the blog as the Mid East continues to explode. I'll post a link to the play itself on the blog in the coming days. My prayers go out to all the family members of all the children caught in the crossfire of ignorance and blind hate.

Redux

2014-07-03T12:19:00.001-06:00

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/182461

The Land

2014-06-27T20:04:00.000-06:00

When I wrote this play, I intended it to be viewed as an impassioned plea for forgiveness and understanding after centuries of misunderstanding and deep wounds on both sides. Instead it garnered incredible controversy here in Taos, where I work shopped it, and staged it twice over a two year period. Now, more than ever, it really needs to b

Both Sides Now

2012-11-17T12:36:00.002-07:00

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=292323

Above, from Jerusalem...
Below from Jerusalem...
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=538300

Same As It Ever Was

2012-04-30T12:12:00.001-06:00

The Land does not lie fallow. I've been writing a film treatment of the play in hopes of generating some serious interest and getting this story to a wider audience. The situation in the region remains at a stalemate - no surprise to many of us - Marwan Barghouti is still being held prisoner, the Palestinians are denied real leadership and the Right Wing Zionist Government in Israel persists in its apartheid policies. Nothing has changed. Today Ben-Zion Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu's father passed away at 102 years of age. One has to wonder whether the passing of this formidable man who directly informed his son's ideology, will free Bibi from a lifelong gridlock regarding the Palestinian Arabs.

The More Things Change

2011-10-29T19:12:00.003-06:00

The more they stay the same! Gilad Shalit was finally released after years in Hammas custody. Apparently his kidnappers treated him well and honored their word, returning him to Israel in exchange for over 1000 political prisoners held in Israeli prisons. Parents were happy, people were experiencing glimmers of hope - if the "terrorists" could negotiate w/Israel regarding the prisoner swap, perhaps other things were negotiable as well....Today I see, Gaza was hit by IAF jets and rockets are now raining on Israel's border towns once again. Methinks it is time to resurrect The Land! If you'd like to help, please donate via our paypal button on the sidebar. It's costly to put on this play and although we all work for nothing but the cause, it helps if our expenses are covered! Please browse the blog archives for more information and feel free to contact us with any and all questions. Comments are also appreciated!

Borders what borders?

2011-06-08T10:18:00.002-06:00

It's been awhile since I posted here but the latest events in the so-called Holy Land have made me more determined than ever before to take this play to a wider audience. In the past month we have witnessed the continued failure of the peace process along with protests by Palestinian refugees on Israel's alleged borders. What borders I ask? The Golan Heights were annexed by Israel in War, no international Body of Law recognises them as legally belonging to the Zionist State. Meanwhile inexplicable force has been used to prevent these unarmed protesters from crossing into Israel. Innocent people are once again dying. Over in Gaza, Hamas continues to hold the people it claims to represent, prisoner, by closing the Rafa crossing with Egypt just weeks after it was opened finally for the first time in years! We must start to look at the greater agendas at work, which is what this play, The Land attempts to do. Without placing blame, The Land looks at the ongoing violent scenario through new eyes and gives voice to the people on both sides who's lives have been torn asunder by the few who hold power in their hands. Please help us continue to stage this play wherever and whenever we can. Any donation will be appreciated. Our paypal button is on the right of this page, above ourTwitter and Facebook links. Please click those too. Share our link wherevr you can! Thank you from the cast and crew of The Land.

The Land

2011-03-24T09:52:00.002-06:00

Yesterday's explosion in Jerusalem that killed a British National and wounded over thirty others is a clue that the so-called Peace Process that seeks a two-state solution in Israel/Palestine is an obsolete notion. As rockets fly into Israel from Gaza once more,and Israel retaliates with supreme force, The Land is even more relevant than ever before. Please spread our blog link far and wide and help us have this play staged everywhere, so people can understand the truth about the political agendas that have created this conflict without end.

While the cat's away...

2011-03-22T11:14:00.004-06:00

As the rest of the world concerns itself with Japan, Libya and other uprisings in the Mid-East, Israel takes this opportunity to retaliate to Hamas mortar fire, with five bombings in the last week, killing children and civillians. The Land takes a strong stand against Hamas/Iran's continual interferance in the interests of Peace, along with American backing of a so-called Jewish State that does not stand for Jewish values of protecting ALL life. With Syria now in the loop with peaceful protests being violently shut down, we cannot stand by and watch while greater, global agendas continue to thwart peace in the region. Please share our link and help us in any way you can, to have this play seen everywhere! We can be contacted at the address provided on the right side of this page.

Celebrating Women

2011-03-08T18:43:00.001-07:00

The Land celebrates women everywhere!

Let Freedom Ring

2011-03-06T19:06:00.005-07:00

In a perfect world, all members of the Human family would live and let live. Unfortunately, this world remains shrouded in Darkness. Millions still live without Hope. The Land is dedicated to all good men and women who unceasingly remain dedicated to a vision of Peace On Earth. The ones who have died fighting for Truth and the ones who remain in the trenches. Today, all around the world, Freedom's bells are ringing. The Army of Love grows ever more powerful. And to quote a personal hero, Che Guevera once said, " let me say, at the risk of sounding rediculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love." Please support The Land - help to have it staged wherever the struggle for equality continues. The Israeli/Palestinian story is but a microcosm of the larger picture, but the human drama that unfolds in this story, belongs to all who continue to fight the good fight.

Power To The People

2011-02-14T09:47:00.003-07:00

Today the PA dissolved its Cabinet - the Cairo uprising reveberates through the Middle East - a movement begun by one brave woman has changed our world! Please support The Land which gives voice to the women on both sides of the Palestinian/Israeli divide - more crucial now than ever! Our paypal button is on the right of this page - please be generous and donate what you can. 10% to Grassroots Jerusalem - a combined Israli/Palestinian grassroots movement for change in The Land!

Cairo to Jerusalem

2011-02-11T13:41:00.003-07:00

It's been sometime since I posted here; The Land is in transition - being read in London with hopes of having it shown there - and me, on another writing deadline. The events in Egypt this past month have made it clear that unless we collectively address the balance of global power, uprisings among the people, disenfranchised by corporate greed and other political agendas, will continue. They will also be aided and abetted by fundamentalist groups unless we, in the free world get our heads out of the sand and participate in grassroots movements for change. The Land is again accepting donations for more performances Stateside. Look for our paypal button on the right of this page, and please be generous! The downtrodden people of the region need our voices!

Time Out

2010-08-30T10:20:00.003-06:00

I took the month of August off - except for Kickstarter I've done nothing with The Land. Instead I've been of service and support to members of my family who really needed me through difficult times. On the other side now, in bed with a nasty cold, thanks to Genevieve, my youngest daughter who plays Catherine in The Land and is not affected by the aforementioned problems..As Fall approaches with chilly nights and shorter days, I'm reminded of the fleeting nature of time - right now I feel there is none to waste and it's time to get back into rehearsal and on the road.We need help - not so much but enough to stay on our feet through the winter, while we oil the machine. Hope you'll log onto Kickstarter, check out our page and pledge! There's a link two posts below!

The Land

2010-08-25T09:54:00.002-06:00

As Autumn approaches, it's time to take The Land back into rehearsals - we are hoping to do a few regional shows this season and are asking for your help - please log onto Kickstarter (link in post below) and help us raise the funds we need to do so! Only a $1.00 minimum pledge - less than your morning latte! $10.00 or more gets you our poster (see top of this page) and big virtual hugs for assisting us in getting this crucial message out there via the potent medium of theatre!