Tamar Rotem, Haaretz newspaper Galleria magazine, 20.8.14
"The play 'Kahane' by Yoav Itamar, deals with some of the most crucial problems of Israeli society such as racism, the fanatical branch of the right wing and more - through the iconic figure of Rabbi Meir David Kahane, portrayed by actor Avraham Shalom-Levy. The play tracks the roots of radicalism in the political right wing and its deep connection with religion. 24 years after his assassination, Rabbi Kahane is found living in a small apartment in Tel Aviv. His supporters have no trouble believing he is still alive, and ask him to step back up into the spotlight and lead the country.
Itamar, a writer and poet with a degree in literature, says he felt the need to wright the play, for in his words, "rabbi Kahane's figure and teachings are still threatening our society like a demon. Twenty five years ago, Kahane was regarded as an outcast, but gradually his views and radical theory made their way into our parliament. When I began doing my research and talk to people, I realized how well spread his doctrine is. He was everywhere. People knew him and were effected by his ideas, more so than what we once believed."
Itamar did make his research. He looked deep into the rabbi's writings and studied his biography. For five years he had worked on the play, and he proclaims that "now is the right time for it to show on stage, taking into consideration the immense growth of racism and radicalism accruing in Israel today. In one of rabbi Kahane's speeches, he said that Hitler was successful because he operated in a place where there was no hope. We don’t have the hope for peace anymore, and it is from this state of hopelessness, that Kahane's doctrine grows stronger."
'Kahane' is Itamar's first play. After being rejected by the "Teatronto" festival, he decided to pull his resources and finance the play's production by himself. Itamar says he believes in change through theater.
Ruti Zuaretz, Maariv, 1.9.14
The 'Tzavta' theater in Tel Aviv had already seen it all: Drama's, tragedy's, standup comedy's, tribute gala nights, cabarets, satire plays and more. But on September the 10th it will be challenged to an entirely different thing, when the premier of 'Kahane' goes on stage.
The play takes place 24 years after the assassination of Rabbi Meir David Kahane. This notorious rabbi is the man who contaminated the Zionist vocabulary with concepts such as "Death to all Arabs", "Transfer", and other fascist ideas. His "Kach" movement, believed in the deportation of all Israeli Arabs by force and in establishing a jewish state ruled by biblical laws.
Kahane had tried to run for parliament in the election of 73' , 77' and 81' but failed. On the 84' elections, using the slogan "give me the power- and I will know how to deal with them" he managed to get two seats for his party. On the 88'elections his "Kach" movement was banned from running after the Supreme Court established that its objectives are racist and therefor illegal. In 94' "Kach" was declared a terrorist organization and was eliminated. Rabbi Meir Kahane was murdered by an Arab gunman during a speech he made in a support rally in Manhattan.
The play 'Kahane' takes place in the center of modern day Tel Aviv, in where a man who greatly resembles Kahane is found living in a small one bedroom apartment in the very heart of the city. His supporters come to him and pledge him to make a comeback and to take command over
the crumbling country.
In the begging, he renounces the request. But slowly he starts liking the idea and openly thinks in over. The play, dealing straight forward with the concepts of the radical right, was written by Yoav Itamar,
a master in Israeli history, an editor, translator and poet, who had published a poetry book that deals with being jewish and secular alike. The play was directed by Elad Sharabi.
Rabbi Kahanes role is portrayed by Avraham Shalom-Levy.
"Yequm Tarbut" online culture magazine 15.9
In order to reach catharsis, one must be willing to use extreme, sometimes disturbing measures.
In this sense, the play 'Kahane' by Yoav Itamar is similar to Keren Yaadia's new movie "Away from his absence" witch deals with an explosive topic by itself: Insect. Like the movie, the play draws its audience into dealing with matters they would otherwise choose to avoid.
In a small Tel Aviv apartment, we find Rabbi Kahane's double. He is making a zucchini pie and jokes about the recipe needing two eggs, to give the pie strength. He misses his dead son. He understands that joy in life is going to the beach, reading books and enjoying what you have. He is angry with his father and sails away down memory lane to key moments in his personal life. Kahane will make you love him as you obviously never did.
Kahane's supporters ask him to step back up. To lead. In the begging he despises the idea but slowly thinks out loud, talking to us, capturing our imagination's and plans a glorious comeback.
What the celebrities have to say:
Film Director and Writer Dover Kosashvili:
"This is the first play in witch my wife didn't fell asleep. 'what's that actor's name?' she asked me later, 'Avraham Levi' I replied . 'He is a great actor' she said. 'He spoke in such honesty, his eyes were always moving, and his face kept changing. And later when he had this madness in his eyes, I wasn’t afraid
of him. I felt just like him'.
Now that’s what I call a mind capturing performance"
Actor Moshe Ivgi:
"I have seen the play. Something about it got a hold of me. But especially Avraham Shalom Levy's remarkable work: professional, intimate and moving"
Professor Samy Shalom Chetrit:
"A brilliant and accurate performance by Shalom-Levy. an elegant text by Itamar. Leaves you paralyzed to your seat and makes an hour feel like a minute"
Online Reviews by the audience:
Maya Hircsh:
"Writer Yoav Itamar succeeds in taking a man who became an icon of evil, and present him as a humane, even tragic figure. His decision in making him a man living in our own time is undoubtedly
a good one. It makes you think, and sometimes it's even entertaining.
Avraham Levy's performance is authentic and full of emotion. He is truly convincing as an old man full of anger and ambition. I highly recommend this play for anyone looking for a special, different theatrical experience."
Nadavi Noked:
"The play is most certainly not what you call 'entertainment'. Watching it, you will experience
a profound encounter with a controversial figure. (In Rabbi Kahane's cays, 'controversial' is an understatement.) In front of you stands an old man filled with pride grudge and regret. He is both a dreamer and a disillusioned man. He is devastated and torn apart when talking about his family, though in his fearsome ideology you will see he did not lose his precise coherence and his rhetorical capability. The play makes you think about the dynamics of political developments through the great perspective of time. It also confronts you with some extreme ideas. Ideas witch would have made it into every possible TV channel if Rabbi Kahane was still alive. Or perhaps he is? "