"> Name: Hanoch Levin's "The Patriot"

Date:  1976 - 1984

Location:  Middle East and Caucasus

Subject:  Religious

Medium:  Theatre

Artist: Hanoch Levin

Confronting Bodies: The Israeli Theater and Film Censorship Board, the National Religious Party (Hetzofeh branch), and ultra-Orthadox Jews.

Date of Action: 1982

Specific Location: Israel

Description of Artwork: "The Patriot" was called into question over it' story involving an Israeli who wants to emigrate to America. The American consul forces him to do things such as spit on his own mother and torture and Arab boy and murder him to prove his loyalty to Israel. One scene that found particular resistance involved him torturing the Arab boy using Sabbath candles. The play harshly satirizes and calls into question Orthodox rituals.



Description of Incident: After complaints from the minister of the interior and the National Religious Party, the Israeli Theater and Film Censorship Board ordered it banned in 1982. It was not even given the opportunity for cuts.



Results of Incident: In response, two members of parliament prepared a bill against art censorship, saying it was only required in cases of slander. Unions of artists and writers also staged rallies, demanding that the censorship board be abolished.

After this, the censorship board gave the play another chance, provided it would cut the scene with the Shabbat candles, in addition to a few others.



Source: Censorship: A World Encyclopedia. Ed. Derek Jones. Chicago; London: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001.

Submitted By: NCAC

 





	


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