Saturday, March 14, 2009

Donkey vs. Cinema

Here's a story I heard from a friend yesterday:

"You know my grandfather and his family used to live in Jaffa in the 1930s. They had a donkey back then.

However, when the riots started (mid 1930s), they had to run for their lives, and left their donkey behind. They went to seek refuge in the North of Tel Aviv. Can you imagine - seeking refuge in North Tel Aviv? Hilarious!

Anyway, when the riots had calmed, my grandfather and his family went back to Jaffa. They started looking for the donkey they left behind and someone told them he saw a donkey in the mayor's garden.

They then went to see the mayor's donkey and realized it was indeed theirs. They asked the donkey back. The mayor was reluctant to give the donkey back, since he grew fond of it.

After reflecting for a while, the mayor said: 'I want to keep the donkey. I am willing to give you Noga Cinema in exchange.'

Her grandfather was thinking of the mayor's offer for a moment, then made up his mind: 'Thank you for your generous offer, Mr. mayor. However, we want our donkey back'.

This is the story on how my family inherited donkey leftovers rather than a cinema that had become a successful, famous theatre (Gesher)."

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