Many artists attended the musical demonstration in Habima Square • MK Alex Kushnir: "A people without a dead culture" • Eli Gorenstein: "It is time to wake up, before there is a disaster"
"Protect Culture"
Photography:
Coco
A demonstration by cultural figures demanding a dialogue on the industry's return to activity was held tonight (Sunday) at the Habima Theater plaza.
This is a continuation of the recent protests in front of the Knesset and near the houses of the Ministers of Culture and Health.
A thirsty audience for music enjoys the performance of about 150 musicians from orchestras from all over the country.
The demonstration was initiated by members of the "Order 8 for Cultural Workers" group, and was attended by, among others, Nitza Shaul, Adi Arad, Idan Alterman, Yael Leventhal, Israel Gurion, Eli Gorenstein and Dvir Bendek.
Signs that read, "People are thirsty for culture," "Minimal sticking to concert halls," and "Culture or die" adorned the stands for orchestra members who played Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Hebrew songs in front of hundreds of people who came to support.
Archive photo: Michael Fabia
Musician Zviki Moran said at the beginning of the demonstration: "We all want the culture alive, uniting us with and despite the different opinions. We have been waiting for eight months. We cannot give up either the culture or the unity. Open the halls."
Keren Hadar, opera singer: "The virus is alive and well and will stay with us for a very long time. Trying to kill a virus with a hammer is stupid. So could the government be stupid? I do not think so. The government is not stupid. This hammer is effective in crushing certain populations. One of them is cultural workers. "A critical population with influence. The musicians here are ambassadors of Israel all over the world. Who are you to harm the glorious culture of this people? To take advantage of the tiny virus to take down a hammer on us? Culture is the mirror and the conscience. It cannot be given up."
"It's time to wake up, before disaster strikes," said actor and singer Eli Gorenstein.
The speech he read compared the situation to the sinking of the Titanic.
After that he burst into song "Fishing Fish".
Former Director General of the Ministry of Culture, Member of Knesset Orly Froman:
I turn to the prime minister who is responsible for this situation: release the world of culture, the artists to the stages, to the parks.
We will do it safely.
'We will have to learn to live with the corona' means giving up the enterprise of our lives?
Open the world of culture immediately and allow the Israeli public to enjoy it. "
Actress Aviv Carmi: "In recent months we have had to deal with the distribution of food baskets, we have produced fundraising shows and created collaborations and employment - and that is because there are people who have fallen asleep on guard. We do not have to turn tables, it is your job, for that we pay you."
"You have a month and a half to open: On January 1, the launch will take place."
MK Alex Kushnir: “There is someone who does this on purpose.
Mr. Netanyahu wants you to be promoted.
Aryeh Deri and Litzman want you to promote them.
They want to suppress the wind.
Throughout history cultural figures have made a difference.
We must not give up.
A people without a culture is a dead people.
Your protest is right and together we will fight - in the Knesset, in the squares.
We will fight for the world of culture to return to action. "
When we played "The Song of the Land" written by Joshua Sobol, the audience joined in the singing, and for a moment one could imagine a real performance, as before.