The “Nizkor” of the Mayor of Jerusalem

Yosef Bar Yosef’s play, The “Nizkor” of the Mayor of Jerusalem currently running at the Khan Theatre, is all too painfully relevant in its focus on the conflict between the religious and secular world view. Set in Jerusalem before the 1967 war, a bereaved religious father protests the city’s intention to engrave the memorial for fallen soldiers with the word “Nizkor” meaning ‘we shall remember’ rather than “Yizkor” which means He shall remember, God shall remember. The difficulty of determining guidelines for decision making in a city whose residents have conflicting values can be seen daily, in the news and on the streets of Jerusalem; no closer to resolution today than they were forty years ago.

Directed by Roni Ninio, the play is classic in its structure, pitting equally matched heroes against one another in an ideological struggle. Arie Tcherner as the secular Mayor of Jerusalem represents the position of one who has labored with his mind and hands to build a modern city where people can live. He is confronted by Eliezer David Yarden (Yossi Eini) a modest man of strong conviction, who believes that only God can remember the fallen and who will not be able to pray at a memorial inscribed with the word ‘Nizkor.’ The physical characteristics of the actors enhance an already strong performance, as Yarden is indeed a small citizen confronting the mighty presence of the Mayor. Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, the dramatic struggle between the two is suspenseful and moving, with both perspectives represented eloquently and convincingly.

The one jarring note for this writer was a scene that takes place in a beauty pageant, with the Mayor in attendance and in a strangely surreal move – Yarden is allowed to take the mic to fill in performance time. While this takes Yarden and the Mayor out of the confines of the office and out into the public sphere where the memorial will be; it felt somewhat out of sync with the atmosphere of the rest of the play.

In Hebrew, the play’s title takes on another layer of meaning, as the literal translation would be: The “Nun” of the Mayor of Jerusalem. The difference between the two words “Yizkor” and “Nizkor” in Hebrew is one letter, the Hebrew letter “Nun.” Yet colloquially, the letter “Nun” has a specific connotation. It is also the first letter of the word “Nichshal” which means failure, with “Nun” acquiring a slang meaning of failure. Read in this way, the play’s title seems to take sides against the Mayor, or at the very least, to suggest that he did not choose the right manner in which to represent his cause.

Svetlana Berger’s set design employs realistic elements in an allusive way, evocative of Jerusalem and the period.  Musical director Yoram Rotem has created a soundtrack of beloved Hebrew songs, establishing a mood reminiscent of the times, allowing those who remember to indulge in a bit of nostalgia.

Performance dates and times can be found on the Khan Theatre website.