The Story of the Jews ; written and presented by Simon Schama (2013)
BBC dvd 2 discs £7 5 programmes 5 hours subtitles
1) In the Beginning
2) Among Believers
3) A Leap of Faith
4) Over the Rainbow
5) Return
From ancient times to the present day, Simon Schama tells a fascinating story of the Jewish people from their biblical past to the present day confrontation between Israel and the Palestinians and he does so in a popular and attractive style. The easy mix of scholarly background and personal family history makes for absorbing viewing and listening as he travels over three millennia of world history with clear focus on the experience of the Jewish people with all its ups and downs. That they have survived despite all the vicissitudes they have undergone is little short of a miracle but, after all, they are God’s chosen people (Isaiah 44 1); they still are.
The geographical spread of this journey as well as its historical span gives the story both depth and interest. Simon Schama is an engaging and sympathetic historian who has a worthwhile, interesting and meaningful story to tell.
Raymond Wilson