A young Russian intelligentsia, Grisha, leaves his Christian home in Russia and becomes converted into a legionnaire commandant of Jews in Tel Aviv, under a Jewish name Ben-Israel; a grandfather, a colonist, a young girl also comes to visit, Lili, who in New York becomes chosen as "Queen Esther." With the "Queen Esther" there also comes a friend, Tootsie, with her beloved Jerry, a newspaper reporter. As you might imagine, probably on your own, a love flares up between the gentile Ben-Israel and the Jewish Lili; but with the assistance of the reporter, the story becomes uncovered, that the commandant in truth is a son of Christian parents. The parents are also coming to Tel Aviv (from all over the world, everyone is coming together right in this colonist's house), and it turns out that the old colonist's wife and Grisha's mother are sisters, and that Grisha's parents are converted Jews. Implanted are also a love of an Arab woman for Ben-Israel, and for her lover, an Arab, who burns with hatred towards Jews, and with jealousy to the Jewish commandant.

 This is the dramatic plan around which revolves all of the scenes of the operetta. Here the writer has for himself a brilliant opportunity to give interesting images and types of Palestinian-Yiddish  and Arabic life; but he missed the opportunity, as if out-of-hand, and is off on the old, well-known road.

Hence we have in the new operetta, "Yiddishkayt" to a fuller extent. Here you find an arun kodesh [holy ark], and here you even hear a quartet that sings a special hymn of praise to a Jewish kugel [casserole]. For lovers of such a kind of Jewish content in an operetta, "The Song of Israel" is literally a treasure.

The best impression was made by the beautiful musical melodies, and also the airy and light dance numbers that were neatly performed by a dozen young choristers.

The role of the young commandant, the converted, idealistic Ben Israel, is played by Michal Michalesko, who also directed the entire operetta. Both in his acting, as well as in the direction, he has shown the needed stage experience and abilities.

Betty Simonoff was impressive in the role of the amorous Arab woman, Ratmia. It goes without saying, I think, that she sang for hours, vigorously and pleasantly, because she already had with us the genuinely earned reputation as being of one of the best songstresses on the Yiddish stage. Recently, however, she also developed her dramatic abilities, and she carried out the role of the Arab woman in a lively, temperamental manner.

Unfortunately, one cannot say that about Betty Budanov in the role of Lili. She is entirely weak, both in her acting, as well as in her singing. Her "Queen Esther," which she plays, lacks life.

At the same time, the young, unknown Diana Goldberg in the role of Tootsie, Lili's friend, pleasantly surprised me. She manifests many skills and temperament in her acting. She's mobile as quicksilver, playful and entertaining -- true, she has a tendency to overdo it, to slightly exceed the measure of her power, but under good direction she may seem to me to develop into one of our best soubrettes. It's already the beginning of the current theatre season, and it's with pleasure to notice some new young forces that were hitherto unknown to us: this is Miriam Kressyn at the Lyric Theatre, and today Diana Goldberg in the Rolland Theatre.

The repertoire is performed by Dave Lubritsky with impetus, and with the movements of a traveling salesman, but not for a repertoire.

Yudl Dubinsky, in the role of the old colonist, has had little to play; and it is really a shame:  it's really a pity that such a capable dramatic actor could and should have been used much more than on a song about kugel. However, an operetta generally is not an appropriate opportunity for his abilities.

Bertha Hart played the role of his wife in a sympathetic way.

The jealous and evil Arab was played by Boris Auerbach with a large, and with the movements of a Mephistopheles.

The roles of a proud, older parlor artist, and a female painter, were played naturally by Irving Honigman and Pauline Hoffman.

There was also the role of a newspaper man played by Israel Mandel.

The general impression of the new operetta in the Rolland Theatre is a pleasant one. It is not in vain that the audience accepts it.