Exodus 1947

In 1947, the freedom ship Exodus captured world attention when it joined other Haganah vessels attempting to break the British blockade of Palestine. The initial goal was to run the blockade and beach the ship carrying 4,500 Holocaust survivors, while creating publicity and pressure for a Jewish homeland. The British navy repeatedly rammed the Exodus, boarded it, clubbed and gassed the passengers, resulting in three deaths and many injuries. When the British threatened to forcibly return the Jews to European camps, including some located in the former killing grounds of Germany, world opinion was outraged and galvanized in support of Israel's creation. Morley Safer narrates the story of Exodus 1947 which began life as the President Warfield, an excursion ship running out of Baltimore. The film describes the ship's clandestine mission (never a well kept secret), and shows how the blockade runners tried to further Zionist aims. From a 50 year perspective, American crew members, Jewish former refugees, and a British naval officer look back with pride and anger at the Exodus affair. Newsreels and rare color home movies are included. Although the Exodus burned and sank in Haifa harbor in the early ‘50s, it will forever occupy a small but glorious footnote in Jewish history. A heavily fictionalized movie has told this story before, but this informative, inspiring video will appeal to viewers wanting the equally dramatic facts. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)