Bob Dylan’s Confidant Immigrates to Israel at 82

Bob Dylan and confidant Louis Kemp (Facebook) facebook

Louis Kemp: ‘The country that I love is under attack. I wanted to show solidarity.’

By Shula Rosen, United with Israel

A close friend and confidant of the legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan announced he is making aliyah (immigrating) to Israel.

When asked if he was concerned about making aliyah during the war between Israel and Hamas, the 82-year-old Louis Kemp told Ynet, “It actually encouraged me to come sooner. My people are under attack. The country that I love is under attack. I wanted to show solidarity, and I felt that the best way to do so was by moving to Israel.”

Louis Kemp met Bob Dylan, formerly Robert Zimmerman, at summer camp in Duluth, Minnesota, at 11, and the two have been close friends ever since.

Dylan’s fame didn’t dampen their friendship, but Kemp remained his confidant and produced Dylan’s concert tour, the Rolling Thunder Review.

Dylan made time amid his busy concert and recording schedule to serve as best man at Kemp’s wedding.

Kemp’s memoir, Dylan and Me, will be published in 2019. It details their close friendship and shares memories of the musical legend.

When asked if Dylan would understand Kemp’s decision to make aliyah, Kemp replied, “I think so, in the ‘80s, I talked about possibly buying a house in the Galilee, but unfortunately, I didn’t do it.”

He added, “He has warm feelings towards Israel. I’m sure he was very concerned about Israel on October 7th. He’s probably not surprised that I’m making Aliyah because I travel to Israel often. He knows I have a strong Jewish identity, even before I became religious.”

Kemp said before becoming Jewishly observant, he wore a chai necklace and expressed Jewish pride.

A successful businessman in the fishing industry, Kemp has launched several Jewish programs, including Chabad in Pacific Palisades, California, and the Discovery program, Aish HaTorah, which has reached more than half a million participants.

Kemp is planning an “oasis” program in the US for Israelis who have been wounded, freed from captivity, orphaned, or evacuated from their homes because of the war in Gaza.

The oasis program will fly participants to Orlando for relaxation and healing programs.

Bob Dylan also expressed his Jewish identity by supporting Chabad and other Jewish groups. In 1989, he gave a celebrated performance of Hava Nagilah at the Chabad telethon.

Dylan also recorded the song “Neighborhood Bully” as a pushback against anti-Israel propaganda.

Dylan has visited Israel several times and celebrated his son’s bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

In addition, in 1975, he held a seder and invited Hollywood luminaries, such as Marlon Brando.

Of course, Kemp said Dylan has an open invitation to visit him in Jerusalem.

“I sent Dylan pictures of my house in Mamilla and wrote to him: ‘You have a beautiful place if you come here.”