Of Jerry Goldsmith’s few scores that drew on the music of his Jewish heritage, The Going Up of David Lev is the most obscure. Written for a television special made to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the State of Israel, it musically embodies two sides of Jewish culture — sorrow and hope — in colorful, alternately poignant and exuberant terms. The all-star cast included Topol (in his American TV debut, and singing two original songs), Brandon Cruz, Claire Bloom and Melvyn Douglas; the 78-minute film was filmed entirely on location in Israel, yet aired only once on NBC in 1973. Variety raved: “an extraordinarily full and melodious score by Jerry Goldsmith which reflected the spirit of the nation without ignoring the needs of the narrative.” It was a joy to help bring this forgotten score to wider attention.