Our Journey to Jerusalem, Part V
After years of planning and dreaming about this trip we are now counting down the weeks and days until we leave. It is hard to believe that it is almost here. Our tour guide has begun reaching out with details and giving us some of our materials. It is very exciting! Since I last wrote one of these posts I have finished a few of the books and movies that are on my list. I am going to make one more big push to read as many of the remaining books on my list before we leave.
Books:
My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit
Synopsis: In My Promised Land Israeli journalist, Ari Shavit writes a historical summary of the history of Israel. Ari Shavit uses his journalistic background to combine interviews, historical documents, dairies, and his family history to illustrate his retelling of the background, creation, and current events in the Jewish state. The story begins with a retelling of Shavit's great-grandfather's trip to Palestine in 1897. Shavit continues by telling about early settlements and the creation of the Kibbutz by Jews returning to Palestine. He then discusses the British occupation of Palestine and the eventual creation of the state of Israel. Themes discussed throughout the book include the Arab-Israeli conflict, roles of Jewish refugees in creating the state, the impact on Arab refugees, Israel's security and attainment of nuclear capabilities, and modern Israeli society with the mixing of religious and secular viewpoints. The key theme running throughout this telling of the history of the Israeli state is Zionism. Shavit discusses both the importance of Zionism in the creation of the Jewish state and the challenges it creates as Israel attempts to survive in the hostile Middle East.
“Lost were the depths and riches of the Jewish soul. But the revolutionary Hebrew identity was imperative if the Zionist revolution was to prevail.”
- Ari Shavit, My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel
My Thoughts:
1. One of the key discussions is the importance of Masada to the Jewish State. This is an important theme because the attitude surrounding Masada mirrors a significant change in Zionism and the desire for the Jewish State. It took a while for the Jewish people to embrace the story of Masada. For a time Masada was viewed as a disgraceful event because the defenders of Masada committed suicide. As Zionism grew it embraced the defenders of Masada as heroes who stood up for the Jewish people against overwhelming odds. The story of Masada become a key story taught to recruits in the Jewish defense force. They trained at Masada and embraced the mythology. Masada became the symbol of post-holocaust Zionism. It became the shrine of the new Jew - a Jew who was strong and fought for what they believed in. Listening to Ari Shavit explain the importance of Masada to the Jewish people added context when I watched the mini-series Masada (described below).
2. Ari Shavit tells the story of Israel through a very personal lens. There isn't propaganda in his telling of the story. He both embraces the miracle of Zionism and condemns Zionism for the problems that it has caused. He embraces this duality. He writes: "If Israel does not retreat from the West Bank, it will be politically and morally doomed, but if it does retreat, it might face an Iranian-backed and Islamic Brotherhood-inspired West Bank regime whose missiles could endanger Israel’s security." He celebrates his Jewish heritage and the accomplishments of his people but also has moral outrage over occupation and settlement. He brings a real and conflicted view to the history and current events in Israel.
3. Ari Shavit also talks about the difficulties of mixing the religious and secular Jewish societies. He particularly touches on the changing scene in Israeli nightclubs in the 2000s. In recent years Israel has seen increasing modernization and secular influences. This shows the evolution of Israeli society into what it is today.
Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Michael B. Oren
Synopsis: This is a historical account of the Arab-Israeli war in June 1967. The first half of the book goes through the events leading up to the war in great detail. It details the build-up of armies and tensions in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Israel. The rising tension in the Middle East discusses the political maneuverings of Russia and the United States of America in relation to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The second half of the book details the events of the war from Israel's first strike in Egypt, the response from Jordan, the taking of Jerusalem, international cease-fire negotiations, and Isreal's invasion of Syria. This book ends by illustrating the lasting impact this war had on the state of Israel and the balance of power in the Middle East.
My Thoughts:
1. This book was hard for me to get into. It started off really slow and spent a lot of time talking about political maneuverings and the build-up. I was surprised by how much focus there was on Egypt. There was so much discussion about Nasser and the political climate in Egypt. This portion of the book moved very slowly. It was almost slow enough that I gave up
2. The influence of the cold war on the Middle East in the 1960s is really emphasized in this book. I hadn't really thought about the cold war in this context, but it makes sense that both geopolitical powers had significant interest in the events in the Middle East. Many decisions made by both Israel and the Arab nations were influenced by the expected US and Russian reactions.
3. This war was huge for Israel. The title of this book really hit it on the nose when it describes this war as "the making of the modern Middle East." The territory that was conquered by Israel would set its borders and shape negotiations for years to come. Israel unequivocally won the war and cemented itself as a force to be reckoned with.
Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis
Synopsis: This is a factual retelling of the creation of the state of Israel. It is an account of the economic, cultural, and political maneuverings of the Jewish State. The book does not dive deeply into the details of events but covers succinctly the critical historical events that have shaped the creation of a people and nation reborn. A wide range of events is recounted, including the migration of Jews to Palestine, British occupation, declaring the state of Israel, wars involving the new state, American-Israeli relations, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, terrorism, and the Iran nuclear deal.
Jeremiah 31:16-17
16 Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
My Thoughts:
1. This book focused on recounting the history of Israel. The author begins by explaining that he would like to tell the history in as clear and straightforward a way as possible. He makes every effort to avoid bias, he knows it may not be possible, but he at least makes an honest effort. I learned a great deal from reading this book and felt it did not take a side on controversial issues. I greatly appreciated this book and would read it again. It was very informative.
2. I greatly appreciated the way literature, songs, and poetry were interwoven with the history of the Jewish state. It brings a vibrancy to the history that was missing in other books I read. The poetry and songs illuminate the soul of the Jewish people.
Grafting In: A History of the Latter-Day Saints in the Holy Land by Steven W. Baldridge
Synopsis: This book tells the story of the Latter-day Saints in the Holy Land. It is compiled from histories that were saved by the various branches and organizations of the church that have existed in the Holy Land. It starts with the first missionary efforts in the Holy Land. It then details the early days of the Jerusalem branch and early study abroad programs. A large focus of the book is on the process of building the BYU Jerusalem center. It also discusses the history of the Galilee branch and gives background information on important families that have had an influence on the church in the Holy Land.
My Thoughts:
1. This book was recommended by Daniel Rona. It was very dense. I have actually been working on it for months and could barely bring myself to finish it. There are parts that are very interesting, but most of the history is monotonous. I finished it and I am ultimately glad that I read it because I did learn some interesting facts about the LDS church in the Holy Land.
2. I can see why Daniel Rona would recommend this book. He has a starring role in the history of the Jerusalem branch. He was one of the first branch presidents and he worked quite a bit on the effort to build the BYU Jerusalem center. He had some choice experiences including spending time with many prophets and apostles. Reading about his personal history made me excited that he will be our tour guide in the Holy Land.
Lawrence of Arabia
Synopsis: This is a historical drama based upon the life of T.E. Lawrence. The film tells the story of Lawrence's experiences in the Middle East during World War I. The film actually starts with the death of Lawrence in England, as a reporter attempts to understand what made Lawrence such a famous figure. The film then flashes back to Lawrence serving in the Middle East. Lawrence doesn't really fit in with the British army and is given the assignment to assess the strength of the Arabs and whether or not they could successfully revolt against the Turks. Lawrence develops a rapport with Prince Faisal. Lawrence advises a surprise attack on the city of Aqaba, which is heavily defended against a sea attack but had almost no defenses against a land attack. To get to Aqaba they need to cross the Nefud desert which is considered to be impossible. Lawrence takes 50 men led by Sherif Ali. They push through the desert and barely reach the water. Near the end of the journey, a man falls off his camel. Lawrence, despite the protests due to the risk, travels back into the desert to save the man. This gains him the respect of the Arabs. On the other side of the desert, Lawrence convinces the local Arab tribe to join his group against the Arabs. The agreement is nearly derailed when a member of one Arab tribe kills a member of the other tribe. To keep the peace Lawrence agrees to execute the murderer. He is shocked when it ends up being the man he saved in the desert. Lawrence is deeply impacted by the execution. The Arabs led by Lawrence overrun the Turkish garrison. Lawrence travels to Cairo to personally report to General Allenby. General Allenby gave Lawrence commendations and a promotion. Lawrence at first does not want the promotion and explains he liked killing the murderer and felt he was morally corrupted but eventually accepts the promotion and money and arms to provide to the Arabs. Before returning to the Arabs Lawrence asks General Allenby if the British intend to retain influence in the Middle East. General Allenby assured Lawrence that was not their intention.
INTERMISSION
Lawrence and the Arabs fight a guerrilla war. They blow up trains and wreak havoc on Turkish society. An American reporter travels with Lawrence and published stories of his exploits making Lawrence of Arabia a household name. Lawrence scouts the enemy-held city of Daraa. While there he is taken to the Turkish Bey where he is stripped and abused. Lawrence is traumatized by the experience and returns to the British. He only returns to lead the Arabs when General Allenby convinces him that is a critical role for him to play. He recruits an army of mercenaries and leads them to Damascus. On the way to Damascus, they come across a Turkish column and Lawrence's forces massacre them, showing no mercy. His men beat the British to Damascus and take the city. An Arab council is set up to govern the city but devolves into chaos. The various factions cannot find a way to govern together, much to Lawrence's dismay. This leads the Arabs to abandon the city to the British. Lawrence is promoted and sent back to England. A final scene shows Lawrence driving away waving to a group of Arabs, who do not recognize him.
My Thoughts:
1. I was pretty excited to watch this film. It is acclaimed as one of the greatest films ever made. I have to be honest. I was not really impressed with this film. I thought it was slow and did not strike me as exceptional. I kind of had to force myself to watch it. I can see how it was a fairly revolutionary movie when it was made, but that wasn't enough to intrigue me. I didn't love the story, and I didn't think the characters were compelling. It was not my favorite movie.
2. I do think I have been influenced by the other books and movies I have watched. As a result, when I watch this film I do not see an educational or historically accurate film. That is perhaps not fair as this film was primarily produced to be a popular and successful motion picture. Watching this movie to see what I could learn left me disappointed.
3. T.C. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was undoubtedly an influential character in the history of the Middle East. He was a key figure in spreading British influence in the area. Actions he took contributed to events and shaped the future of the Middle East. I can see why they made a movie based on this man's life.
4. This movie has certainly influenced American views on the Middle East and Arabs. The portrayal of Arabs in this film helped to shape the Western stereotype. In this movie, Arabs are portrayed as savages who cannot govern their own country. This stereotype has been ingrained into our psyche and was prevalent in many of the books I read and films I watched.
Masada
Part I
The show begins in Jerusalem with the destruction of the second temple. Eleazar and his family flee Jerusalem. Together with other Jews, they build a community in the mountainous fortress of Masada. As their strength grows Eleazar and his followers begin a guerrilla war against the Roman occupation. This threatens the victory, that Rome has already declared, and jeopardizes the plan of the Roman commander, Flavius Silva's plan to return to Rome. Silva arranges a meeting with Eleazar and over the course of their interactions agrees to relay terms to the Roman Emperor that will bring peace to the region. Silva returns to Rome, but due to intrigue in the Roman Senate, the Emperor, Vespasian, is unwilling to accept anything short of total Roman victory and domination. Silva is sent back to Judea to finish the war. Before he is sent back he is informed his old second in command was a traitor and was supplying information to the Emperor's enemies. While Silva was in Rome, his second in command broke the truce with the Jews by killing Jews and giving their land to discharged legionaries.
Part II
Silva returns to Judea and finds the truce broken. He marches the 10th legion to Masada and lays siege to the fortress. He takes care of his old second in command by sending him on a suicide mission to scout Masada. His new second in command is Rubrius Gallus, a siege expert, who decides they must build a ramp to take Masada. Eleazar and his defenders successfully attack the Romans building the ramp. In response Romans gathered together Jewish slaves to build the ramp. Eleazar is unwilling to kill Jews, regardless of the danger. Instead, Eleazar resorts to psychological warfare. He flaunts the excess water they have in Masada and mocks the Roman forces' inability to deal with the heat. He also plants live maggots (a bad omen) in goats slaughtered by Roman priests attempting to read the will of their gods and goddesses.
Part III
The Roman Senator Pomponius Falco arrives to inspect the war efforts. When he judges that the progress is not moving as quickly as it should he invokes the authority of the Emperor to personally take control of the 10th legion. He changes tactics and begins catapulting Jewish slaves one at a time to their death. He declares the killing will only stop when Eleazar surrenders Masada. With nowhere else to turn Eleazar goes into the synagogue and prays for deliverance. This is significant as Eleazar is not a man of faith. Below Silva is disgusted by Falco's tactics and forcibly takes back command. He immediately stops the slaughter. The zealots take Eleazar's prayer and the subsequent cessation of slaughter to be a sign that God has chosen Eleazar to be their leader. The Romans continue to build the ramp, but as progress continues Rubrius Gallus is slain by a Jewish arrow as he oversees the work. He is unable to do more than pass on his plan before he dies.
Part IV
The ramp nears completion as the Jews of Masada prepare for a Roman attack. They break into Herod's armory and train for combat. Meanwhile, Romans prepared a special siege tower. When the ramp is complete Romans wheel their armored siege tower with a battering ram up the ramp. The Jews realize they are not prepared for this tactic and quickly build an inner wall to absorb the impact of the ram. This manages to stop the ram, but the Roman legion sets the inner wall on fire. This backfires as the wind shifts, miraculously, forcing the Romans to stay away from the wall. Silva commands his men to stand down as the fire does its work. Eleazar realizes that once the fire has burned through the wall they will stand little chance against the Romans. He devises a new plan. The next morning when Roman's breakthrough they find Eleazar and his people have all committed suicide. They decided they would rather all die on their own terms than let the Roman legion take them.
My Thoughts:
1. This was an excellent mini-series. I thought the story was great, the characters were well developed, and the acting was spot on. I was both thoroughly entertained and educated. I would highly recommend this series.
2. I was pretty interested in learning about the story of Masada because this will be one of the places that we will visit on our tour. I also wanted to learn about it because it was an important symbol in the early days of Zionism. This story of staunch resistance by the Jewish zealots against impossible odds became a rallying cry as the Jewish people fought against seemingly impossible odds to create the state of Israel.
3. This story is somewhat controversial because of the ending. For a long time, the story was rejected because the idea of a mass suicide was seen as cowardly. I thought it is interesting the way it is portrayed in this series. Eleazar sells the idea by saying it gives the zealots of Masada a chance to decide their own fates rather than letting the Roman legion determine it. He makes it their last act of resistance against Rome. The story ends with this statement by Silva, which illustrates that perhaps the Jews of Masada scored a greater victory than they could have ever imagined: "A victory? What have we won? We've won a rock in the middle of a wasteland, on the shores of a poisoned sea." Their legacy of resistance would one day inspire a generation of Jewish soldiers to defy the wisdom of the day and create a stable Jewish homeland.
Comments
Post a Comment