Set in the early years of Israel, the musical follows a group of American widows who travel abroad in search of change, companionship, and renewed purpose. Among them is Ruth, who forms an immediate bond with Phil, an American visiting his daughter. As their relationship develops, both must confront unresolved ties to their pasts, complicating the possibility of a shared future.

The musical is the first Broadway book work by Jerry Herman, combining romance with a portrait of a nation in formation. Against the backdrop of a developing country, the story situates personal decisions within broader themes of rebuilding, migration, and the challenges of starting again.