By Yehuda Fenton
If you ask most people what piracy has to do with the Jewish people, you’ll probably get blank stares. Surely these swashbucklers have little to do with the Chosen people?
This past tuesday, however, the campers and staff of Gan Yisroel Parksville were astounded to receive a glimpse into the life of the real jewish pirate rabbi, Samuel Pallache.
This year’s staff play told a fictional story which had woven into it some of the most astounding Jewish men in our history. From Abraham Zacuto who gave Christopher Columbus the charts to sail to America, and Menashe Ben Israel, the Jewish statesman that tricked Lord Oliver Cromwell into letting the Jews back into England, to the legendary Jewish pirate, Rabbi Samuel Pallache who founded the entire Amsterdam community on money taken from the Spanish Inquisition, the play was a revolutionary new step in camp drama.
The enchanting story of these real-life characters drew the campers back to this little known time in Jewish history.The music of this dramatic tale and the exquisite backdrops helped set the tone, completed by a variety of magnificent props, including a full scale pirate ship. The wonderful actors were now able to enter the stage and delight the audience with their incredibly versatile performances, ranging from the hauntingly morose to the playful.
The play beautifully brought to life these incredible people and sparked an interest in the campers to find out more about these iconic figures and the role they played in Jewish history. Throughout, the dialogue was scattered with tantalizing tidbits regarding these individuals, urging the audience to explore these fascinating people for themselves. This play was a resounding example of how easily incredible messages and vast amounts of knowledge can be expressed through this wondrous art form, and set the bar very high for all of those involved.
The Making of a Staff Play
Video: Mendy Soffer
GOOD JOB!!!
aweosme
You’re my hero!!
awesome, astonishing, awe-inspiring, breathtaking, impressive, magnificent, mind-blowing, stunning!!!!
Levele, you make me proud!
Regards from Tveria,
papa
I was told that not only did Levy run the play, he dragged his twin brother, Yisroel (teacher in Darchai ??)to act with him in one scene and shocked the campers when they both got on.
Yashar Koach to the staff of Parksville for making a play of the centuary !!!
sholom shayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee broooooooooooooooooooooookkkkkkkkk
in picture 15 and 31 u can see levi pekar at his best – meaning that besides for all the stress he had throughout the whole thing hes always manages to have a smile on.
WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU LEVI
looks like a great play. the backdrops, acting…just everything looks great!
the play was very well written and we all loved it and had an amazing time working on it
Generic Drunk Guy 🙂
Don’t forget one guy who worked day and night as well. Levi Pekars co-director who worked really really hard and then (quite characteristically) disappeared when all the credit was given. He actually wrote the entire play’s dialogue (about 45 pgs.) and then received a main part (menashe ben israel) ON THE DAY OF THE PLAY when someone else couldn’t do it.
we still recognize you behind the beard!!
its amazing what staff can do. keep up the good work LEVI PEKAR
great play
did anyone hear about the part of levi pekars identical twin brother (yisroel). i heard that they acted together in a scene and noone knew it was going to happen and when they were on the stage at the same time everyone was shocked, bewildered and in amazement. i was told it was the best part of the play and that kids were talking about it for a few days afterwards as well. great idea.
RUN AFTER LEVI PEKAR FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE HES GREAT!!!
my son called me also and told me the samething thing. he said it made his summer. id also like to thank levi pekar. it seems like all the kids there are having a blast and that this just topped it off.
my son called me right after the play and was ranting all about the play. he told me that it should be online and that i must see it.
thank you levi pekar for giving my son such an experience which im sure hell remember for the rest of his life.
oh! thats true. ive heard about him as well. campers have told me hes the most caring staff member in the entire camp. they said that hes always exciting them and hes fun to talk with. many kids told me he takes his time to sit with them personally and listens to everything they have to say. and imagine he does all this and still managed to run the entire play, be the winning general in bog war, and is also the head lifegaurd. simply talented.
to bochur
what do you mean “who is it?”?!?!?! hes the one all the kids in camp are raving about – LEVI PEKAR.
looks awesome and frieky.
“GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR LEVI PEKAR!!!!!!”
TO #14
who is it?
havent seen such an awesome play in years. im an older man now but this just makes me want to go back to camp. great job and keep up the good work.
You guys did a grat job ..
BUT , is there anyone out there who remembers the unforgettable CIRCUS of cgi parksville 1972 ?? [maybe even ’71]
Rabbi Zushe Winner directed and starred in an unforgettable evening of entertainment which all took place outside.There was a play,comedy skits,and even acrobats.Everything was just amazing.
And all this happened FORTY YEARS AGO…..
but keep up the good work,and may the show go on and on and on….
go levi go
Levi Pekar, who knew you were so multi-faceted? But seriously, this play looks amazing, even professional. Wish we could’ve been there to see.
is amazing k’ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bs”d
boruch hashem that we still have people that are ibergigeben to plays!
Yeah I guess that once they are mentioning names then they should mention his, but if they are gonna mention every staff member in any camp that doesn’t eat 3 meals a day well then that list would be none ending I don’t remember ever being able to actually sit down for an entire meal in camp and eat without having to leave the table in middle or not being able to come at all because I was helping my campers! That’s the job of a counselor period.
noach…you look great !!!!!!
I am pashut crying with tears that theres someone left out of the article
levis great hes turned around the camp… this has been the best staff play since ’85 when goldberg made it… maybe even better
eli was head organizer of the play and did an amazing job
Looks like thte best play ever!!
I wish i was there
no one gets close to arranging a play like u thank u on behalf of gan israel
You did a great job !!!
The scenery & costumes look fantastic…a talented bunch this year!
if you want to read the book, it is called Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean by Edward Kritzler it is a fascinating historical story.
Levi Pekar
Go Eli Lobenstein u r the best
It seems that whoever did it knows what they are doing !!!