Secular, leftist Israelis“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”: This song’s anti-nuke message has even more prophetic impact now in the wake of Japan’s crisis. As a bonus, Dylan should bring up to the stage Israeli rocker Aviv Gefen, who has done a popular Hebrew version. Chances Dylan will do the song? Very good. It’s on the current set list in Asia.
For fans of the 'classics'“Knockin' On Heaven's Door,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35,” “Positively 4th Street,” “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again,” “Tangled Up In Blue,” “Don't Think Twice, It's All Right,” “Like a Rolling Stone.” As a bonus, Dylan should invite "Like a Rolling Stone" original bassist Harvey Brooks, who made aliyah in 2009, to join in on that one. Expect some, but he won’t play all.Religious fans (open-minded)“Highway 61 Revisited”: (“Oh God said to Abraham, 'Kill me a son' / Abe says, 'Man, you must be puttin’ me on.' ”) Chances? Excellent. It’s on the current set list.Religious fans (yeshiva/haredi)“A Satisfied Mind”: This obscure ditty paraphrases the Talmudic epigram about who truly is a rich man (“It's so hard to find / One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind.”) Chances? Slim to none. The song has been performed exactly once in Dylan’s 50-year career.How about “Man in the Long Black Coat”? Just kidding.Religious fans (knitted kipah)“Forever Young”: Dylan’s reworking of the priestly/parental prayers includes a reference to Jacob’s ladder thrown in for good measure. Chances? Very good. It’s on the current set list.Religious fans (settlers)“Neighborhood Bully”: Dylan’s 1983 Likudnik paean to Israel and the Jewish people. Chances? None. He has never performed it.Religious fans (Carlebachian stoners)“Talkin' Hava Negiliah Blues”: This 1961 song would be a great sing-along: “Here's a foreign song I learned in Utah / Ha-va-ne-gi-liah/O-de-ley-e-e-oo.” Chances: None. Never performed.Christians and women who venture to Ramat Gan looking for something especially for them, such as his born again-era tunes “In The Garden,” “Saved” and “Man Gave Names To All The Animals,” or surprisingly moving love songs such as “If You See Her, Say Hello,” “Just Like a Woman” and “Lay, Lady, Lay” are likely to be disappointed. Dylan just doesn’t do those songs anymore.Even if he follows these recommendations, almost everyone who sees the concert will spend the evening swinging wildly from ecstasy to boredom, which at least should make the lines for beer and bathrooms manageable.