Directed by Ilan Ziv • Documentary • 2013 • 52 minutes
The exile of the Jewish people from their homeland in the first century AD, following the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, has been depicted in artwork and lamented in poetry and prayer for nearly 2,000 years. But what if it never happened? This provocative film looks at the exile through the lenses of archaeology, history, myth and religion, asking what it means for our understanding of history and the contemporary struggle over land in the Middle East.
The myth of exile is an essential narrative in Middle Eastern and European history, and of critical importance to both Christian and Jewish theology. The possibility that some Jews simply remained where they lived raises some uncomfortable questions. Could some Palestinians actually be their descendants?
The issues raised in this film are of more than passing historical interest-they can help us re-shape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a new way, and illustrate that history can shape our future.
"Earnest and courageous; issues a challenge to viewers, encouraging them to imagine what a different past could mean for today." —Al Jadid Magazine: A Review and Record of Arab Culture and Arts
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