Jewish Journey from Zionism – two films

JVL Introduction

Recently two films made by Jews before October 7th 2023  are now available for free and they are well worth watching; these are “The Tinderbox” and “Israelism”. Both films look at the reality on the ground. Both films start with the impact of being brought up in zionist families to believe that Israel was a force for good but this belief was shattered by finding out about the reality for Palestinians.  They both seem to complement our Jewish Journeys from Zionism series, although obviously stand in their own right.

In the Tinderbox, British film maker Gillian Moseley seeks to understand experiences and perspectives for Israelis and Palestinians and also looks at Britain’s role in creating Palestine.  Moseley’s chosen title of “Tinderbox” is sadly prophetic. Israelism explores the ways in which Young American Jews are indoctrinated as well as shock of realisation through seeing and even perpetuating the brutal reality.  Crucially there is much about how they are fighting back, making themselves visible and taking on the Zionist institutions whose support for Israel’s occupation and siege facilitates its continuation.

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The YouTube introduction to The Tinderbox says:

In this eye-opening documentary, filmmaker Gillian Mosely embarks on a deeply personal journey to uncover the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Raised in a Zionist Jewish family, Mosley grew up believing that Jews had the primary right to the Holy Land. But her perspective began to shift after meeting a Palestinian friend, sparking years of internal struggle over the entrenched beliefs instilled by her family. As she sets out to explore the roots of the ongoing conflict, Mosley is confronted with the often-overlooked role of the British in shaping the tensions that exist today. The story traces back to promises made during World War I, revealing a web of global interests that laid the foundation for the dispute long before the Holocaust. With a mix of historical facts and personal encounters, the film highlights the contradictions and emotional claims surrounding both Israeli and Palestinian narratives.

(758) The Tinderbox: A Story of Israel & Palestine – YouTube

The YouTube introduction to Israelism says:

Two young American Jews – Simone Zimmerman and Eitan – are raised to defend the state of Israel at all costs. Eitan joins the Israeli military. Simone supports Israel on ‘the other battlefield:’ America’s college campuses. When they witness Israel’s mistreatment of the Palestinian people with their own eyes, they are horrified and heartbroken. They join the movement of young American Jews battling the old guard over Israel’s centrality in American Judaism, and demanding freedom for the Palestinian people. Their stories reveal a generational divide in the American Jewish community as more young Jews question the narratives their synagogues and Hebrew school teachers fed them as children.

Israelism: The awakening of young American Jews | Featured Documentary