Artist Dror Auslander painted Reserve General Amram Mitzna (on the left of the red & blue Star of David) calling up Herzl on the phone. There's a newer version of this painting where Herzl is holding a mobile phone and answers him....At the time of the painting General Amram Mitzna was sent to be the mayor of a small town in the Negev called Yerucham. Dror Auslander felt that Mitzna was not enthusiastic to get this job, and his reaction seemed to him fitting to the possible reaction of Herzl, if he could have seen what is going on in Israel nowadays. The fact that both leaders look similar only helped raise the question about the gap between Herzl's vision and its fulfillment.
Photo is courtesy of artist Dror Auslander whom I met at the opening of the Star of David Exhibition in Yavne Gallery on the 23 March 2007.
2 comments:
Dror Auslander`s feelings regarding Mitzna`s lack of enthusiasm for his job as acting Mayor of Yeruham are completely wrong ! As a matter of fact, Mitzna volunteered for this position, and leaved his comfortable seat in the Knesset, and his nice residence in Haifa, in order to go and help Yeruham. And Yeruham changed tremendously since his arrival : school education improved, computers were installed everywhere, music is taught to young children, the community center was reopened, salaries are paid in time, a new waste water treatment plant is being built, and the process of Yeruham lake rehabilitation was started.
I suppose Herzl would have been delighted to know that there are still people like Mitzna ( not many, unfortunately ) who are ready to implement Zionist ideals.
Dr. Bernanda Flicstein wrote to me:
"Dror Auslander`s feelings regarding Mitzna`s lack of enthusiasm for his job as acting Mayor of Yeruham are completely wrong ! As a matter of fact, Mitzna volunteered for this position, and leaved his comfortable seat in the Knesset, and his nice residence in Haifa, in order to go and help Yeruham. And Yeruham changed tremendously since his arrival : school education improved, computers were installed everywhere, music is taught to young children, the community center was reopened, salaries are paid in time, a new waste water treatment plant is being built, and the process of Yeruham lake rehabilitation was started.
I suppose Herzl would have been delighted to know that there are still people like Mitzna ( not many, unfortunately ) who are ready to implement Zionist ideals."
I think Dr. Bernanda Flicstein and painter Dror Auslander are both right- each of them saw some truth and expressed it. Anyhow the main point is to find time to check and re check whether we can ask Herzl how are we doing.
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