"La Kula 1930" Musical a Hit in Israel
"La Kula" is Ladino for "Kuledibi" in Istanbul. All the amateur actors are members of "Dostluk Yurdu Dernegi", also known as "Klub Amikal" (Friendship Club) of Istanbul.
Rachel Bortnick, Special to The Turkish Times - In these times of terrorism when so many people fear going to Israel, more than 80 Jews from Turkey took the musical "La Kula" to Israel to express their solidarity. The musical play was performed three times, on the 27th and 28th of October, 2002, in Bat-Yam and in Tel Aviv.

"La Kula" is Ladino for "Kuledibi" in Istanbul, a mostly-Jewish area up to and including the 1950s. My brother Selim Amado was actively involved in bringing the play to Israel and promoting it on the Israeli radio. Plans are under way to bring the play on tour to the U.S.

The Ladino-Jewish actors-singers and musicians (all volunteers) from Turkey took their families to Israel with them, with almost 20 children of five to twelve years of age who acted, sang, and danced on the stage, together with their parents and other actors.

All the actors, members of "Dostluk Yurdu Dernegi", also known as "Klub Amikal" (Friendship Club) of Istanbul, all amateurs, have proved through this play their love for and commitment to the Djudeo-spanish tradition, and their determination to transmit it to the new generations of Jews in Turkey, where the daily language is no longer Ladino but Turkish.

Such musical theater work is providing the opportunity for young Jews of Istanbul to meet, and giving them the motivation to get together, go on stage, revive the tradition which is at risk of disappearing, while at the same time using each one's artistic talent including those of the "chikos" (young ones) at home.

5-The Association of Jews from Turkey in Israel (Itahdut Yotsei Turkiya), with the participation of friends from Istanbul, was able to raise funds to offer financial help to "vaad lemaan ahayal- Comittee for the Soldier" and for the scolarships fund for students from Turkey in Israel.

We wish and we recommend that this play come to the United States and Latin America, so that Ladino-speakers and even Spanish-speakers can savor this festival of tradition, where many will find their own ancestors in their way of life.

"Kol hakavod" (all honor ) to Dostluk Yurdu Dernegi, its president Beno Chukranto, the creators of the play "la Kula 1930" - Izzet Bana, Selim Hubesh, Jojo Eskenazi, and Yehuda Siliki - and all its performers and musicians.