Almost without a budget. That is how Foreign Ministry officials are fighting for the status and face of Israel in the world. In a supreme effort, investing endless energy in collaborations, recruiting people voluntarily, with genuine faith in purpose. And through culture, a great deal of culture, Israel's greatest and best explanatory asset.

In cities like New York or Los Angeles it's much less complex. There is no Israeli artist who does not want to appear, the very large Jewish community, including the Israeli community, has plenty of supply and private producers invested in the field. But elsewhere in the world and in the United States, it is much more difficult to produce significant events, especially when there is no money. There, the firm's staff are required for improvisation, creativity and much more effort.

This past weekend, a reading festival of Israeli plays written by women was held in Houston, Texas. One of them is my play that went up in the stage theater. I had the honor and pleasure not only to hear professional actors from the Mildred Umbrella Theater read the text in English, but also to see how culture and art become Israel's best embassy, ​​and how patience and tolerance for any kind of work can bring about real change.

Gilad Katz is the Consul General in Houston. He is one of the 11 personal appointments of the prime minister, was a consultant to Netanyahu, wearing a skullcap, a father of five. The Cultural Annex of Israel in Houston is the Schwartz era. Lived with his partner, a graduate of the Visual Theater School, not exactly part with Katz that same sandbox. The plays presented were not straightforward, and certainly not for the observant. Anat Gov's "Oh God" tells about God coming to psychological treatment; Hannah and Azna's "Maternity" deals with the kidnapping of the Yemeni children and presents the Israeli establishment in an unflattering light; And my play, "Versace there temporarily," includes verbal violence and his stage version included frontal nudity.

But Katz came to a call on Sunday. And he congratulated and listened attentively, not trying to go against the content. Because he, unlike many Israeli officials, knows that this is not just cherry tomatoes and the startup nation. That pluralism and criticism do not take away the libel of Israel is the opposite, proving that Israel is a democratic state that contains different currents and worldviews that all have a place and a voice.

The Israeli government is investing huge budgets in explaining and fighting BDS, and not with great success. Think what would have happened if only these enormous resources had been used to spread Israeli culture around the world, if only someone had understood what this weekend, in Houston, Texas, would have been so clear about.