Exodus Page #10

Tens of thousands of people smuggled in...

...with the whole British Navy

blockading the coast.

The population we've built

is our most valid argument for independence.

How can we ask the UN for a just decision...

...when we keep blowing up things

like a bunch of anarchists?

You have just used the words "a just decision. "

May I tell you something?

Firstly...

...justice itself is an abstraction...

...completely devoid of reality.

Second, to speak of justice and Jews

in the same breath...

...is a logical uncertainty.

Thirdly...

...one can argue the justice

of Arab claims on Palestine...

...just as one can argue

the justice of Jewish claims.

Fourthly...

...no one can say the Jews have not had...

...more than their share of injustice

these past 10 years.

I therefore say, fifthly...

...let the next injustice

work against somebody else for a change.

You just changed the subject on me.

You noticed.

I suppose that means more bombings

and more killings?

I'll put it this way.

Let the National Committee keep on trying

to talk the British out of Palestine.

We have no objections.

We will continue to bomb them out.

- Now tell me, how is your mother?

- She's fine.

And little Jordana?

Little Jordana just won her second

marksmanship medal with the Palmach.

And that young rascal, David Ben Ami,

she's still interested?

She can't wait till he gets back from Cyprus.

And Barak...

...still counts my name among the dead

on Yom Kippur?

Ten years.

It's a long time to be dead

to the only family you have.

Doesn't he understand

I must work for Israel in my way...

...just as he works for it in his?

You can't talk to him about it. I've tried.

Of course.

It's not much of a home, is it?

With only Rose's samovar to make a memory real.

Every time I come home,

I stop here to look for a minute.

- You want to look with me?

- Sure.

It's beautiful!

The Valley of Jezreel.

If you dug straight down far enough there,

you'd find the ruins of Meggido.

You'd find the very same paving stones

that Joshua walked on when he conquered it.

That's Abu Yesha. That's an Arab village.

To the left is Gan Dafna.

- Do you know your Bible?

- In a Presbyterian sort of way.

That's Mount Tabor.

I remember.

Where Deborah gathered her armies.

That's where she stood when she watched

Barak march out to fight the Canaanites.

"So Barak went down from Mount Tabor,

and 10,000 men with him. "

It's in the Book of Judges.

The Canaanites had 900 iron chariots...

...but Barak had men.

That's when the Jews first came to this valley.

It wasn't just yesterday or the day before.

Isn't your father's name Barak?

In Russia, he was Yakov Rabinski.

But when he came here,

he took the name of Deborah's general.

He called himself Barak Ben Canaan.

Barak, the son of Canaan, and this valley

became a Jewish land once again.

He can give you the date every clump

of trees was planted there, to the month.

Don't get excited.

We're not debating now.

I'll grant anything you say.

I just wanted you to know that I'm a Jew.

This is my country.

I do know. I understand.

Sometimes it's not that easy.

It's the easiest thing in the world, Ari.

All these differences between people

are made up.

People are the same,

no matter what they're called.

Don't ever believe it.

People are different.

They have a right to be different.

They like to be different.

It's no good pretending

the differences don't exist, they do.

They have to be recognized and respected.

I recognize them. I respect them.

Don't you understand

that you make me feel like a Presbyterian...

...when you can't, for just a minute or two,

forget that you're a Jew?

You're wrong, Ari.

There are no differences.

Ari, my boy.

Papa, this is Mrs. Fremont.

Shalom, Mr. Ben Canaan.

Welcome to Yad El, Mrs. Fremont.

If you'll excuse me, I will tell your mother.

Mama!

- Mama, where are you?

- I'm here, Barak.

- Have you hurt yourself?

- No. Ari is home.

- Ari?

- He's downstairs! Wait a minute.

- He's got a girl with him.

- A girl?

- An American girl.

- How do you know she's American?

Sarah, I travel. I can recognize national types.

- What is her name, Barak?

- Mrs. Fremont.

Mrs? So, where is her husband?

- Why does she go chasing after my Ari?

- Whether she's chasing him, I don't know.

If you ask me, "Is Ari chasing her?"

Frankly, that is a possibility.

For you maybe. Not for my Ari.

Better stop talking like a goat.

My Ari comes home and there's not a thing

in the house to eat, not a bite.

Hello! Rebecca.

Now, say "ah. "

Yes?

- What a nice surprise.

- Tell my daughter, Jordana.

Of course.

No trouble at all.

There. You're all right.

Jordana, your brother Ari is at Yad El,

I just spoke to your papa.

Ari? Take this for me.

Now, young ladies and gentlemen...

...can you give me a little style?

It's not fair keeping David in Cyprus so long.

He could be doing something just as important

right here in Palestine.

That's exactly what he says.

But he tells me in his letter

that he may be gone another year.

I know Haganah would call him back,

if you would only use your influence.

Any girl that falls in love with a Palestinian boy

has a long wait coming.

- A nice piece of strudel, Mrs. Fremont?

- I couldn't.

Mrs. Fremont, you're a very pretty girl,

but you could stand a little weight on you.

Also your colour is not too good.

If it wasn't for me, David wouldn't be in Cyprus

working for Haganah.

He wanted to join the Irgun. You know that.

I saw Uncle Akiva in Jerusalem.

He sends you his love.

You will not mention that name in my house.

Father, he's all alone.

- He wants to forget what happened-

- To me, he is dead.

At this moment when the very existence

of a free Israel hangs by a thread...

...before the UN, he presents us to the world

like a bunch of murderers!

- He has a right to do-

- He is dead!

I don't remember his name,

I don't remember his face, he is dead!

Barak.

I have to get to Gan Dafna, now.

That is if you are ready, Mrs. Fremont?

- You should see it before dark.

- Sorry you have to leave so soon.

- Maybe I'll wrap your strudel.

- No, don't bother.

Goodbye, Mrs. Ben Canaan.

And thank you for the good food.

Bye. I hope you'll come back soon.

The next time maybe a little hungrier.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Barak, you should be ashamed of yourself,

in front of a stranger.

And do you know something else?

I've been elected to the Rooms Committee,

Bungalow 12.

- Already?

- Yes.

- You remember Edna, the girl with freckles?

- I think so.

She's helping me with Hebrew,

so I can catch up with the others.

- Hebrew?

- Yes. We have a language of our own now.

And there's something else, too.

When you're 16, you join the Palmach.

They're soldiers, and everybody joins, also girls.

I didn't show you the statue of Dafna.

She was a young soldier.

The Arabs captured her and they tortured her

to find out things from her.

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