Ishon : Hebrew for pupil of the eye.

From the diminutive of "Ish" i.e. man.)

JUDITH: Yes, now I know who this enigmatic Ish-krayot is!

(Singing):

This little man inside the eye, inside of me,

Reflecting and reflected on everything I see,

The inner connoisseur of all my dreams and visions,

An urbane-man-of-cities that always judges Judith.

I am a part of the world outside,

But all the while, I am inside,

A city-world within my head,

Made of his dreams and visions.

I have not one, but two worlds full of mystery,

Each goes by its own laws, follows its rhythms,

But, most mysteriously, both get united in me.

(The yellow light starts flickering with great speed. Then it starts being echoed, falteringly, then more steadily, by a blue flicker from the "blue" altar. Then, like a moon rise, a bluish disk appears on the screen opposite the "blue" altar. It is the same image of the stars and crescent moon and the Earth as appeared in the underground planetarium-laboratory into which Judith escaped from the riot.)

JUDITH: The inner and the outer, they fade in and out,

each switching on and off the other world.

It's still a mystery to me, how to unite,

the worlds of the Earth and of the man inside.

(The image of the Earth appears more clearly on the other screen. The play of the alter-nation of the lights of the altars is now repeated, though more slowly, on the screens. On one screen is the image of the eye, with the human figure inside, and on the other, the image of the Earth. Sometimes one image fades as the other shines brightly, and sometimes one image switches the other on. Then there are also alternations. First the colors of the images change till they rub into each other, and both images have more variety of color in them. Then the position of the images sometimes switches. Then at times the image of the Earth stays on one screen, while it also moves to the other screen, so that the new image of the eye unites with the old image of the Earth, which forms the pupil of the eye.)

JUDITH: In and out, each switches the other on and off.

This mystery seems much too much for me.

One Earth outside, another Earth inside my brain.

I wish I could find the Ish who could explain.

I want to hold on to the one and real Earth,

For the city of the mind inside must be made,

Of nothing else but images and simulations,

Of earthly events and of their explanations.

There are two worlds which unite in creation,

like Heaven and Earth created again and again.

I feel I need some well-informed interpretation,

As only Jesus or the Great Parshan could explain.

(The two images start looking like two eyes. An eye blinks, and some other features appear on the wall between the screens. A simulation of a face starts to form, like in some of Magritte's pictures, where several objects from different distances seem to join into the form of a human face. As the face clarifies, the face of the Great Parshan starts to form, first two eyes, from which the image of the Earth gradually fades. A triple wrinkle forms on his brow. Then the other features form, until he is complete, big beard and all. As the face forms, it diminishes in size, with the fixed point being his "blue" right eye, so that eventually his whole face fits within the "blue" screen.)

JUDITH: You, oh old Great Parshan,

who claims to know all answers,

Do you truly know who you are?

And if so, can you also tell me,

Who, or what, I am and why?

(As Judith speaks these words, big letters, "U" and "R", appear in blue on the other screen. Then big letters, "M" and "I" in red, and then " Y" in yellow, appear also on that screen. Then the letters start blinking, changing colors and places, even multiplying a little so that, at times, they form different combinations, such as "I M ", "U R", "Y M I" and "R U I" and " Y R U" and "U R I". Meanwhile, the image of the Great Parshan on the other screen seems to speak, and we hear his voice.)

PARSHAN'S IMAGE: I speak for countless generations,

Of secret clerics of the City of Shalem,

Of agents, by the unfolding of civilization,

to bring about the Heavenly Jerusalem.

I was there when Adam was created, and

I go on giving witness to all humankind.

I am the carrier of the seed, the Eternal Jew.

And mark this, Judith, this seed is in you too.

Yes, I am you Judith, and you are I.

You are as I am, the Eternal Jew.

Whenever you ask: "Am I a Jew?",

you'll see our sign saying " I M U".

(The letters " I M U" and "M I U ", appear on the screen, then also the letters " U R I" and "R U I ". They keep blinking, altering colors and changing permutations.)

JUDITH: If you are I, and I am you, and you are eternal, then I should be eternal too, and without fear. But I have my fears, and so have you. You fear that your work will be threatened if you side with the Savior Jesus, and you deny him. Why do you deny Him who really has eternal life to give? For I have seen that only he can raise the dead.

(The word "dead" hangs on the screen, reverberating, while the yellow and blue lights change place again and again and again.)

PARSHAN'S IMAGE: Even if he raised the dead, soon they would die again. For only the Words of God live on, sustaining the whole of creation. Only if man's mind remains always open to God's words, will man not need to die, and be able to live on and on forever.

God's teachings and genetic instructions can live forever,

as they keep being recreated in the brain and in the womb.

The Lord is alive forever in recurring generations,

When His words resound eternally in the Jewish soul.

In order for the word of God to be known,

it must be incarnated again and again,

by a living tradition, in each generation.

This is the Savior, whose name is Israel.

You may think your eyes have seen your Savior,

but whatever your eye has seen will wither,

as surely as your idol Jesus will die.

Believe what you will, it will not change a thing.

'Cause he got caught in a tale of the Word of God,

In which only his dying will do the best for him.

(The lights turn off and the stage is dark for a moment at the mention of the words "Jesus will die". Then the red and yellow lights flash on the central altar.)

JUDITH: No! It cannot be so! He will not die! I'd rather die myself instead. The pain in my heart is unbearable even at the thought of it. Oh Jesus, come and comfort me!

(The image of Jesus appears on the screen opposite the image of the Great Parshan, and seems to speak, and we hear a voice.)

JESUS'S IMAGE: (to tune of "Do not forsake me" from "High Noon")

Do not fear so my death, my Judith.

No need for grief or sacrifice.

My flesh may die, but not my spirit,

For I shall come again and rise.

Belief in me may wither, Judith,

Be buried in the hearts of men.

From there yet I'll be resurrected,

And from the earth I'll rise again.

JUDITH: I do not understand, my lord. Please tell me. Can you die, or are you immortal? Are you the Son of Man, or the Son of God?

JESUS'S IMAGE: I am that I am.

JUDITH: But what is that? Can you share in my doubts? Would that you knew how it feels to suffer so. But how can you understand my agonies and fears, if you do not even know the fear of death? Without it, how can you be in my place? How can you accept me as I am, let alone be that I am?

JESUS'S IMAGE: Acceptance and pain are my true essence,

Through them, I keep whole the entire universe.

The pain it takes to make the mountains stand,

And then to raise the plants to eat the mountains,

Is much, much more than you could understand.

I take on me much more than you can withstand.

I love the world in spite of its indifference,

Despite ingratitude, disdain and even hate,

I would accept it all along and onto death.

And I accept you, Judith, both as you are,

And as what ultimately you would come to be.

These two are beheld as one with me.

JUDITH: Dear Jesus, I rest assured of your acceptance,

- Of whatever I may be and of whatever I may do.

Yet what if what the Great Parshan told is true,

and you can die in pain like every mortal?

You may not care about yourself, the pain of death,

may look to you no greater than the pain of living.

You may not care, but I sure do.

You may be sure to rise again,

but mortal Judith lives just once.

I must decide who I am and why I am who I am,

and act before I'm gone and it's too late to act.

I also suffer pain, that of the Rasan yoke. And

I must do my best to make a new and better world.

Answer me now! For I must understand!

How can you profess to love the world,

accepting both oppressor and oppressed?

Will you not rise up against the Rasans,

and shake the mountains over them?

(Rather than an answer, Judith is confronted by the image of Jesus fading away. She makes frantic gestures in the direction of the faded image, but there is no response. Judith then turns away from the screen on which Jesus's image appeared, and retreats into herself.)

JUDITH: I am to act. I know it. Whether my action is effective or not, I must act. Jesus could bring down the mountains on the Rasans, but he will not act. I, who am so weak, am the one who must act in his stead. But how? I so much need a real man to help me, but, sweet Jesus, it is not you. So I'm forced to turn again to the Great Parshan for advice.

You, Great Parshan, who have so much knowledge, can you give real help? What wisdom was there in your saying that Jesus shall die, that only his dying will do the best for him? Do you not say this only out of envy or fear, because Jesus challenges and threatens you and what you stand for?

PARSHAN'S IMAGE: That Ish, that son of man, is dangerous as long as he lives, for he is apt to raise up hopes that cannot be fulfilled. Not yet. He is prone to stir up the impatient youth to act too soon, and if they do, they will be crushed before they even start the real quest. He will precipitate repression upon us all, causing the work we Parshans have done to be undone. And that's the most important work in all human history.

JUDITH: You said he should die for the tale he's entailed with, but would you die for your work? For he has told me he would, but you people won't.

PARSHAN'S IMAGE: I would die for our work, just as he said he would - and he most likely should. I'd sacrifice even my only son, if need be.

JUDITH: Again this gruesome tale, of Abraham and Isaac. But Abraham was ready to sacrifice his true son. For God. And you? You are ready to sacrifice Jesus for your work. And what's more - the former had a happy ending, a promise of laughter, as Isaac's name, "Yitzhak", means future laughter. But I find no laughter here; for the issue here, is what Jesus' name, "Yeshua", stands for - namely salvation. Are you prepared to see the promise of salvation die with Jesus?

PARSHAN'S IMAGE: If the issue is indeed the promise of salvation and none else - it is salvation in the female sense. That rash male showmanism of Jesus is of no avail. This is the work for Knesset Yisrael. (pause) There are a few things I would be ready to die for, and only one thing for which I would sacrifice my own son, my future hope. This one thing is to preserve the promise and the mission, given from God to Abraham, the promise to transform this world and to redeem all humankind into God's people, by the endeavor of the whole nation of Israel. Israel is God's only and beloved son - or daughter rather - not just your Jesus, but Knesset Yisrael, which is all the Jewish people, the Judaic community whose name you bear.

JUDITH: But why the Jewish people?

PARSHAN'S IMAGE: We were trusted with this mission because we were the most tenacious people on Earth, tenacious in suffering and tenacious in preserving each letter and iota of the Torah - and even in readiness to sacrifice ourselves for sanctifying God's name. All our other virtues, like cleverness and kindness and love of knowledge, are but incidental, sometimes pleasant, sometimes not. But tenacity is pure and enduring, and this we have always had in plenty.

Even if the books of history were open to you, Judith, you would not believe what the Jewish people have been through. Universes of suffering, and persecution. And like that legendary Phoenix bird, we survived where the mightiest vanished. And why? Just to preserve the Torah from Heaven, and to inject all humankind with our dream of realizing Heaven, the Heavenly Jerusalem, upon this Earth. We have lived to see the offshoots of Judaism flourish and spread, only to get corrupted and be turned against us. But we survived to breed more dreams.

JUDITH: But what has all that to do with the world we live in now? With the whole world under the yoke of the Rasans, what has the promise to the Jewish people to do with anything? And how are the Jewish people keeping their promise nowadays anyway?

PARSHAN'S IMAGE: We are not. Not yet. Today the rule of materialism and its related Rasanal idolatry is total. There are no nations left to overcome it in open battle. All hope for this is gone. The only way to keep this promise for humankind is to vanquish the Rasans from inside, and this is what we, the Parshans, on behalf of the Jewish people, are dedicated to do. This is how the Jewish people are keeping their promise. Jesus' teachings may be based on something similar, but his approach is all wrong. He is so hot, he's already scorched his stew, and he is so self-centered, till he is blind to the needs of the people. That is why he is dangerous to us all while he still lives.

JUDITH: Why do you keep derogating him?

PARSHAN'S IMAGE: Don't misunderstand me. I admire that man from the Galilee, our people knew many great prophets, and he has the heart of one. I could love him as my own true son. But, as Abraham did even to his only son, I am prepared to sacrifice him. At a time like this, his material presence is dangerous to the one hope we have tenaciously clung to for over two thousand years. He is dangerous to the subtle design that we are working for in this University, whose days, I fear, are numbered. If he incites the students once again, everything we have worked for in secrecy will go up in a puff of smoke. We are not ready yet. We need just a little more time, to perfect a new medium of education that will transmit the seed of freedom and redemption from one generation to another. Just a little more time, till it can replace this University. But our time will be terminated - along with our holy work - if Jesus' manifestations are not. Thus it is a question of Jesus or us. It is the Rasans, not me, who have created this situation, but fate obliges me to choose who must be sacrificed, and I have no other choice. It must be Jesus.

JUDITH: The Rasans have created this situation, then they should be the ones to pay. Not Jesus. You're saying one has to choose between the sacrifice of Jesus or the sacrifice of the promise to the Jewish people. I have resolved to act, and I will. But there must be a way to avoid this monstrous choice! I implore you both, isn't there a way to save both Jesus and Israel, and together rid ourselves of the Rasans?

(The lights start flashing madly, like some merry-go-round. The image of Jesus returns, and the images of him and of the Great Parshan change places a few times. On the central screen, the images of the eye, with the little man within, and the Earth, also change places.)

JUDITH: Oh God, it is too much for me. To sacrifice either the promise of Abraham or he who is like his true son. Why should there be sacrifice at all? I cannot hurt either. Please please, show me a another way. Did you not give Abraham both a son and a promise, and then a surrogate for sacrifice? Won't you do the same for me? .......

If there is a way both to act and to avoid choosing between two horrors, it must be to change the situation, to have the courage to laugh and look at it in a new way. What was it that Haki said? I'm to be crucified in three dimensions. This must mean that the resolution is in another dimension. He also said the Rasans were the fourth side to the square. Yes. The Rasans again. They forced this situation. They should become the sacrifice, them and them alone. Not Jesus, nor the promise of Abraham. The wrath of God and of Earth should pour on them alone. There must be a way. Let me look again at the equation, it must be there somewhere. I must find it.

(The lights dim and slow down and glow more warmly and receptively. The image of the eye grows until it occupies the whole center screen. The figure of the man within the eye can be seen clearly. It is Jesus.)

JUDITH: The I within the eye, the Ish within Ishon... this must be the solution. Jesus inside the fourth factor, within the Rasans, as is the Ish within the eye that is I. I cannot fight them. The Parshans cannot fight them. Only Jesus can - if only he could be made to act. I could not convince him with words or theories. I could not force him, but those nasty Rasans could, without thinking twice. Only they could push him to the point where he would be forced to act.... and then he would turn the Earth against them. That Great Parshan indicated that he should be sacrificed. But there must be a way to do so that will lead to the Rasan ruin, without any real harm coming to him. Like with Isaac, with a kind of sacrifice bringing not death but life. Yes, I think at last I have a plan that could work. Dangerous, but it could work. What would Jesus say? Would he think I was helping him or betraying him? Would he forgive me, or shall I be damned? But what about me, the real me, my Ish that is my name? Have I not already seen that he is the Jesus, the human-yet-divine Chrystal within me? Would I be helping or betraying him? Would the little man inside forgive me? It is only proper that he decide for himself, which is for me, for he is in me and of me. (she turns to the image of Jesus) So, what do you say about my plan to give you to the Rasans?

JESUS'S IMAGE: Your plan is yours. You must go your way. You must do what you must do, in order to be you, Judith, so that we can all be who we are. So do it - Judith. The flesh is weak, both yours and mine, and like all flesh, it must die. But death of flesh is not the end. There are those who rise again, if that is their destiny, and no one should deny one's destiny. What counts is to love this world, love all in it, even those who will betray you in your own name, for they too cannot help what they do. Your plan is but a part of a greater plan which cannot be impeded. Go and do what you must do. And I shall accept and forgive you Judith, no matter what. And as for me, don't worry, I will always rise again. Wherever you look - you will find me there. Turn any stone, and you will find me. It is His will, and mine, and yours, that what must be done be done.

(Jesus' image vanishes again.)

JUDITH: It is as if you have made the way easy for me - yet I am still uncertain. I am still not sure of this "Ish" in the eye who watches the "I". I thought it was you who had to decide, the you that was in the eye of the "Ish" that is "I", but it is I who must. That "Ish" agreed to your betrayal, as if "you yourself" did, though I am not sure whether it is your betrayal or your immortality that was decided. All this should have eliminated all doubt, but it hasn't. Some doubt lingers, and there is no one else to consult. I must make up my own mind... No, I have. I must do what I must do. Must do what must be done.

(Haki knocks on the door.)

JUDITH: Come in. It is done.

(Haki enters to confront Judith.)

JUDITH: Have you been watching me?

HAKI: No. Till now you had complete privacy. There's an indicator that signals when the session is over, when the polarization ended. And I watched till I saw it. Is your mind made up now?

JUDITH: So it seems.

H AKI: What does that mean? You have such a distant look in your eyes. Is everything all right? Can I be of any help?

JUDITH: No. Your mechanical Messiah has provided all the help I needed, though it was no fun by any means. Nevertheless I survived. Now it seems you've saved me from the Rasans only to send me back to them.

H AKI: What do you mean? Back to the Rasans? What are you talking about?

JUDITH: Too late. You should have worried before I entered that Messiah Machine of yours. When I needed a human shoulder to lean on, not some electronic system.

HAKI: I was worried about you then - but I didn't know what to do. As I explained - I was as helpless as you. I could not arbitrate a matter - in which I was so involved with one side.

JUDITH: You didn't know what else to do? How come? You who know everything, you who made the machine, you now confess you know less than your creation? Would God have done that to his creature?

HAKI: You're laughing at me.

JUDITH: That bothers you, does it, to be laughed at - you claimed you are the one who always HAD the last laugh!

HAKI: Judith! What has come over you?

JUDITH: I think I've learned to be the "Ish" that I am, the little man inside the eye inside of me. Oh, I am also the Jewess who needs love and caring for, but I am no longer just that. I am much, much more now... thanks to you and your machine.

H AKI: What Ish? What little man? What more? What are you talking about?

JUDITH: The little man inside the eye inside of me. It is not a question of what sex I am, but who I am. It might have been a question of sex before.. But last I understand what Jesus meant about making the woman and the man one. I feel whole for the very first time. I have made up my mind and am going to act just like the Ish I am, the real man in me.

HAKI: But you are a real woman as well! What of her desires? Her dreams? The common dreams we had? What of the garden we - planned to have - within the city - with others of like mind - to show them a better way? What about your future - our future?

JUDITH: Too late. I don't envision much future for me, once I act. It is not that I care for you less, but I have decided what I must do.

HAKI: This is all happening - so fast, I can't follow. You are serious about - going to the Rasans?

JUDITH: Yes. There is no other way.

HAKI: For God's sake, why?

JUDITH: If the mountain will not come to the Messiah, and the Messiah cannot be made to go to the mountain, then the two must be brought together by whoever can...

HAKI: Oh my God! You don't mean it? I see that you do. Would that I could talk you - out of it, but the determination - of this new you is overwhelming. I see it would be - pointless to even try. But surely you will come back, once it is done?

JUDITH: One thing at a time. Now that I know what I must do, I must do it. What happens afterwards, will happen. I cannot even guess what it will be.

HAKI: But what about the things - we've planned? Don't you remember? Our model for the Heavenly Jerusalem here on Earth? Our dreams of a better world? What about you and I?

JUDITH: You and I... and what about those billions of people you called the "Global brain cells"?

HAKI: No. Just you and I, and the love that grows between us, and the knowledge we'll grow, together with friends, and show how to live together - and with the Earth and with - the better city?

JUDITH: It was just a daydream, our plans to build a parcel of the Heavenly Jerusalem in the Earthly Jerusalem... We can't make a reality out of daydreams. And besides, I have my own plan now, and it is definitely not a daydream, and I must pursue it.

H AKI: No, no! We can accomplish our dreams! Together, we can do both. You'll see we can. Even if you proceed with your plan - we need not give out our dreams. I know how we can do it. Go to the Rasans if you must - and do there what you must - but ask for a piece of land for yourself - for us, in return. Tell them it's for an urban agriculture research station - tell them anything you want - but bargain for a piece of land - you can do it, believe me - and you will get it. It's not too far off - from the truth. They will owe you something - for delivering Jesus to them - and will want to pay. It will work, it will - just ask, and it may be yours. And it will give me hope - that we still have a future.

JUDITH: It just might give me credibility with the Rasans if I appeared materialistically oriented, it might prevent them from suspecting my true motives. I'll keep it in mind.

HAKI: Do! Please do. You have nothing to lose - by suggesting it.

JUDITH: I have lost everything already. I must be off. If you want to help me, help me to find the Headquarters of the Rasan Intelligence.

HAKI: Since there is no stopping you, I will help. I happen to know the way to go about it. If this is what you have to do - then do it. But afterwards - don't forget us - and our dream.

(Haki and Judith exit together. He offers her his hand, and she reluctantly takes it. He smiles, but she does not respond, absorbed as she is in what she is about to do. The stage goes dark.)