A Twice Promised Land

This fascinating documentary revisits the first two decades of the Hebrew state, from 1945 to the Six-Day War, through the testimonies and interviews of direct eyewitnesses and historians, as well as newly discovered and remastered archives. Organized chronologically, A Twice Promised Land explores the earliest pioneer settlements in Palestine under Ottoman rule as well as the emergence of Nazism and Jewish persecution in Europe. Weaving together political, social, and cultural developments in Palestine under the British mandate, it creates a lens through which to understand the challenges of Israeli nation-building, including mass immigration, shifting cultural norms, the politics of war and world diplomacy, and the creation of democratic institutions and a civil society. Based on archival sources, this authoritative documentary is a must for anyone with a passionate interest in Israel. (Miami Jewish Film Festival)