Critique de School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Condensing 4000 years of history into an hour-long documentary is nearly as challenging as answering the question: What is the secret to Jewish survival? This film accomplishes its task by concentrating on a few themes which have run through Jewish life since God spoke to Abraham: Jews as the people chosen by God, the Jewish people's use of the Ten Commandments and the Torah to maintain cohesion even when they were exiled, the power of Talmudic learning, the written tradition, responses to pogroms and anti-Semitism, and more. Historical photos, documents, and interviews help present this story of endurance. A distinguished group of scholars including Eli Wiesel, Rabbi Lawrence Schiffman, and Professor Alan Dershowitz marvel at the resilience and success of the people first to embrace monotheism. The Jews are represented from their origins in the five books of Moses through the Jewish Bible (the phrase "Old Testament" is not used), always having the ability to maintain their unique relationship with God and law. Despite millennia of struggles, exile, persecution, and the destruction of their central capital, they emerged intact. The film traces the history of the Jewish people from their enslavement in Egypt through the rule of the Babylonians, Romans, Muslims, Spanish, Soviets, and others. The Holocaust and the return to the ancient homeland of Israel are briefly covered. A hallmark of this documentary is its whirlwind pace which lacks political posturing or comparative religious philosophy. This accurate, concise history of Jewish survival, hosted by Martha Teichner, senior correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning, is arranged chronologically. Teachers will want to preview the film and prepare definitions for some of the terms central to this history.-Robin Levin, Fort Washakie School/Community Library, MO (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.