CREDIT: Movie: Exodus (1960) Director: Otto Preminger Writers: Dalton Trumbo (Screenplay), Leon Uris (Novel) Clip Stars: Paul Newman is Ari Ben Canaan Sal Mineo is Dov Landau Jill Haworth is Karen, Dov's ill-fated Jewish girlfriend DESCRIPTION: Following World War II, the life of the Jewish nation is uncertain. The United Nations is contemplating taking a vote on creating a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Until then, many Jews are exiled from much of Europe, especially Germany and as they have no where to go, they are sent to detention camps among other places Cypress. Ari Ben Canaan (Paul Newman), a Palestinian Jew and Israeli activist, wants to smuggle as many Jews as possible into Palestine. In his mind, the easiest way to influence the United Nations vote is by sheer numbers residing in Palestine. Ari commandeers a ship with 600 Jews, and after many obstacles, manages to make it to Palestine. Ari grew up in a mixed Arab|Jewish community in Palestine. His best childhood friend, Taha, is Arab and is now leader of the Arab section of the community. Regardless of the United Nations vote, the road to Ari's dream of a peaceful Jewish homeland in Palestine will be a difficult one because despite his own model community, extremist factions, both on the Jewish side and the anti-Zionist side, will never see living together in peace and advocate violence to achieve their own ends. SCRIPT: Karen: Do you think the British will give in? Dov: We'll give in first. These schlemiels. Maybe they think they've been hungry once in a while. They don't even begin to know what real starvation is. Karen: Dov, if you hate these people so much, why do you want to go to Palestine with them? Dov: Because there, Jews fight instead of talk. When I get there, I'm going to join the Irgun. They know how to do it. I'm going to blow up every British installation I can find. I'm going to kill Englishmen … and kill and kill them … till there won't be any more. Karen: The British aren't all bad, Dov. Dov: They're rotten, the whole bunch of them. The British, all the Russians, the Poles … Karen: Not the Danes. When I was there ... Dov: Them, too. Don't tell me. Karen: That's not true. The Hansens were CHRISTIANS, and they adopted me. Dov: One exception. No little exception. That proves something? Karen: There are lots of exceptions. You just listen to me for a minute. When the Nazis marched into Denmark … they ordered every Jew to wear a yellow armband … with the Star of David on it. And when they … Dov: That's the worst thing that can happen? Karen: I said, listen! You don't know what you're talking about. The next morning, when every Jew in Denmark had to wear his armband … King Christian came out of Amalienborg Palace for his morning ride. And do you know something? He wore the Star of David on his arm. Dov: But why should he ... Karen: And you know something else? By afternoon, everybody was wearing Stars of David. Jews and Danes, and, well, just everybody. Dov: Why'd they do that? Karen: If you don't just know why they did it, Dov … well, maybe THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Greater Love: John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Okay, the legend script is based upon may not be true in its specifics, however it was certainly true enough in spirit. The rescue of several thousands of Danish Jews was accomplished through the efforts of thousands of Danish policemen, government officials, physicians, and persons of all walks of life. The efforts to save Danish Jews may not have had the flair of the "yellow star" legend, and they may not have required quite so many citizens to visibly oppose the Aldolf Hitler's Nazi army, but the Danish Jews who were rescued this sacrificial humanitarian effort will never be forgotten. And if you can't imagine or don't know why the Danes (or anyone) would do risk their lives to save the lives of others (John 15:13) than maybe you've never experienced GREATER LOVE and that's what's wrong with you.

• published: 10 Nov 2014
• views: 19800