Rabbi Dov Lior - will examine content of performances
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Kiryat Arba culture center courts controversy
Local council members present proposal that will see performances at soon-to-be opened culture center evaluated by spiritual committee, demand loyalty oath from performers
Kiryat Arba's answer to artist boycott: The local council near Hebron where a culture center
is set to open next week is mulling a proposal whereby only performers who served in the military will be welcome to perform at the center.
The proposal also states that artists hoping to perform at the center will have to declare their loyalty to the State of Israel. But that is not all – they will be forced to undergo an "audition" from a spiritual committee led by Rabbi Dov Lior in order to certify that the content of the performance does not go against the character of the settlement.
Related Stories:
- After Ariel: Kiryat Arba gets new culture hall
- Artists to refuse to perform in Ariel culture hall
- MKs: Boycott artists who won't perform in Ariel
The proposal, which has already received the support of a third of the committee members, was submitted with an official letter to the secretary of the Kiryat Arba Local Council – Shuli Shimon and the council chief Malachi Levinger.
The proposal is the brainchild of the council opposition – Benzion Gobstein, Yisrael Bramson and Mordechai Sayid.
In the letter the council members claim that Levinger is not the man responsible for the initiative: "Of course we welcome the opening of the new culture center in Kiryat Arba, an idea initiated by the previous council chief Tzvi Katzover, but we were astonished to discover statements made by the current council chief in the media claiming that 'we are open to displaying all artists and performances.'"
The Kiryat Arba culture center
The members then detail the conditions which they believe all prospective performers should fulfill: "A person who has shirked military or national service or someone who preaches against military service will not perform.
"No loyalty – no performance, it is inconceivable that actors who besmirched the State of Israel or the residents of Kiryat Arba will be allowed to perform in Kiryat Arba. We do not wish to end up in a situation where we have actors biting the hand that feeds them.
"As is fitting for a culture center, situated in the city of our forefathers, only performances found to be suitable with the character of Kiryat Arba will be invited to perform. To that purpose, a spiritual committee led by the city rabbi, Rabbi Dov Lior who will oversea the spiritual content of the performances."
The proposal is set to be discussed in a special meeting. If the proposal is passed, it will cause a great deal of embarrassment for the local council chief who had stated that the culture center would be open to everyone.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
