Left of the Projector

Bonus! Exodus (1960): with Intervention Pod & Labor Jawn

Jan 18, 2024

01:47:16

We're back with Evan of Left of the Projector for the third (maybe second?) entry in the History in Film series. This time it's 1960's Zionist epic, Exodus. Based on the novel of the same name by Leon Uris, this film aimed to convince American Jewry to consider the State of Israel (at this point, only twelve years old) as a nation deserving their investment, sympathy, and loyalty.

Somehow, we've dragged along Sam and Gabe from Labor Jawn to slog our way through this three and half hour long piece of Zionist propaganda...at least we got a shirtless Paul Newman out of it.

Primary Sources:

In Vigilant Brotherhood by The American Jewish Committee - (see pg 64-70 for "The Blaustein-Ben-Gurion Agreement")

"Is Zionism a Liberating Democratic Movement?" by Henryk Erlich

"This is a struggle between the children of light and the children of darkness, between humanity and the law of the jungle" Tweet by Benjamin Netanyahu

"שטיל, די נאַכט איז אױסגעשטערנט [Quiet, the Night is Full of Stars]" performed by Isabel Frey

Resources:

Answer Coalition

The Anti-Imperialist Archive

If Not Now

Jewish Voices for Peace

Middle East Children's Alliance

The Palestine Children's Relief Fund