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Zionismexplore his legacy and ponder Israel’s future.” A tour ofthe museum is more intellectual than physical; no lesscerebral than visual.Beyond Beard & BalconyA movie is shown throughout the tour which beginswith a noted Israeli director casting a promising youngactor, to play the part of Herzl. The actor is brash andarrogant - ‘a know-it-all’ - who admits however toknowing nothing about Herzl. “What’s the big deal, hethinks. “What more do I need to play Herzl other than abeard and a balcony!”The director makes it clear that if he wants to fill Herzl’sshoes, he needs to dig deep into the character; not to besatisfied with “beard and balcony” superficiality.During the film we jointhe actor on his journey.Slowly he is exposedto Herzl’s world, to thesocial milieu of his era, hisinnermost feelings, the forceof his principles and thedetermination with whichhe acted. We, along withthe actor, gain an intimateview of the visionary ofthe Jewish state, and areprivy to the fascinatingdialogue between “the realHerzl” from the past and the“fictional Herzl” of today.As if in a time machine, weare transported back to abygone era where settingschange from the cafes ofVienna to the anti-Semitic unruly mobs in the streetsof Paris at the time of the Dreyfus trial. We participatein the drama of the first Zionist Congress convened byHerzl in 1897, sitting as a delegate in a replica of the hallin the Casino Hotel in Zurich.We follow Herzl and listen in on his negations with theTurkish Sultan in Constantinople, Lord Chamberlain inLondon and the German Kaiser during both their visitsto Palestine. Visitors feel Herzl’s frustrations and admirehis perseverance as they join him in his study while hereflects on the unfolding saga of a national homeland inthe making.With the benefit of hindsight, we partake in the raucousdebate over the ‘Uganda Proposal’ that Herzl broughtbefore the 6th Zionist Congress and suffer his anguishas his health declines under the strain of his exhaustiveefforts against all odds.As the curtain draws to a close we confront the realitiesof Israel today against the backdrop of Herzl’s vision.Spring-Summer 201236Mount’ing Issues“After visiting the Museum, we want people at stay onthe mountain,” says Sattler. One of the many excitingprojects for children is a walking tour of Mt. Herzl.Actors take the part of famous personalities such asDavid Wolffson, Golda Meir, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, HanahShenesh and David Ben Gurion - many of whom areburied on Mt. Herzl - and who “make the cemeterycome alive,” says Breakstone. The past fuses with thepresent, and “Zionism is placed squarely on the table asa viable, living and evolving philosophy.”Educational as well as entertaining are the ‘ZionistComics’ workshops, “where children learn about thevarious Zionist leaders by learning how to draw themin caricature. “I have to tell you,” says Sattler, “WhileIt’s All An Act. On the walking tour you meet a coach teaching an Israeli athlete before she representsand Golda Meir in her kitchen where she is baking while at the same time speaking about the future ofprimarily for kids, their parents love this workshop.”Families leave with more than physical drawings butinsights into the personalities they have drawn. Inexpressing themselves artistically, they are free toliterally and figuratively draw their own conclusions.The Writing Is On The WallBreakstone is most excited by the soon to open ‘SmartWall’ – an interactive exploration wall, which comprisesseveral large screens – “A bit like a giant iPad” – whereparticipants are able to follow up on issues raised in themuseum but at their own pace.All the issues are what Herzl himself raised in his writingsand which the partipant can then engage in relation towhat is happening today?Breakstone presents an example:“Published in 1902, Herzl in his utopian novel Altneuland(Old New Land) describes a shabbat (Sabbath) in anHerzl Center, Jerusalem