Original subtitles

[Wind blowing]

* [music]

Narrator: [God] Abraham...

Abraham...

Abraham, get out of your country,

from your family and from your father's house

to a land that I will show you.

I will make you a great nation.

I will bless you and make your name great.

And you shall be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

and I will curse him who curses you.

And in you, all the families of the earth

shall be blessed.

Look now toward heaven and count the stars, if you are

able to number them, so shall your descendants be.

And I will establish my covenant between me and you

and your descendants for an everlasting covenant

to be your god and you my people.

And I will give you and your descendants after you

all the land of canaan as an everlasting possession.

And I will be their god.

This is the story of the descendents of Abraham,

Isaac and Jacob and how god chose a people to fulfill his

eternal plan unto all the families of the earth.

And Jacob went down to Egypt with all his descendants,

and there they grew in number and might.

But afraid of them, the Egyptians made them their

slaves and put them under great hardship and suffering.

And the hebrews cried out to their god.

* [music] *

* ahhh...

* [music]

* have you forgotten your people, oh, god...

* do you remember your promise to us...

* be not idolatrous and sons of the man...

* whom you called Abraham...

* lord, we have never forgotten the covenant...

* to be your people and you be our god...

* your promise to make a great nation of us...

* give us the land from Abraham...

* can't you hear your people cry...

* can't you see our hope is dying...

* set your people free from slavery...

* don't forget your promise to us...

* you said it would come through us, lord...

* take us to the promise land...

* reach to us your saving hand...

* send to us a man of power...

* to lead us through this darkest hour...

* set your people free...

* elohim!

* [music]

* set your people free *

[applause]

- But the more the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed

the hebrews, the more they seemed to multiply.

Then pharaoh commanded all of his people to destroy the

newborn Hebrew boys by casting them into the nile.

But god heard the cry of his people.

- Mama, where are we going?

- Miriam, be quiet.

We don't want them to see us here.

- But why?

- We can't keep your brother at home.

He's not safe there.

- Is he safe here?

- Miriam, god will take care of him

but you have to stay right here and look after him.

And please don't let anyone see you.

- Yes, mommy. I will.

- Oh, my beautiful baby.

God, god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

please take care of my baby.

* [music] *

* my little baby...

* little baby, please don't cry...

* listen to this lullaby...

* every day I'll pray for you...

* I'll wait for your return...

* tell him, god, how much I love him please...

* please don't let him die...

* lead him to a place where he'll be safe...

* he's in your hands...

* [music] *

- it's a baby.

Hello! Hi.

* you are a gift from god...

* you will be like my son...

* the river brought you here to me...

* I will love you faithfully...

* I will call you Moses...

* [music]

* little brother, please don't cry...

* listen to this lullaby...

* every day I'll pray for you...

* I'll wait for your return...

* tell him, god, how much I love him...

* please don't let him die...

* lead him to a place where he'll be safe...

* he's in your hands...

* oh...

* bring us the land of Abraham...

* can't you hear your people cry...

* can't you see our hope is dying...

* set your people free from slavery...

* don't forget your promise to us...

* you said he would come through us, lord...

* take us to the promise land...

* reach to us your saving hand...

* send to us a man of power...

* lead us through this darkest hour...

* set your people free...

* elohim...

* set your people free *

[applause]

- And god fulfilled his promise to the hebrews

and delivered them from the hand of pharaoh.

And Moses led the people out of Egypt through the sea

and the desert on their way to the promised land.

In the wilderness of paran, the lord spoke to Moses

saying, send men to spy out the land of canaan

which I am giving to the children of Israel.

And Moses did as the lord commanded,

and the people waited for their return.

[Crowd commotion]

* I'm so sick and tired of this...

* never ending journey...

* through this never ending desert...

* and this never ending waiting...

* I just can't take it anymore...

* I'm so tired and so bored...

* the sun is burning all day long...

* the desert is the driest home...

* and we're always in search of water...

* and there's no time for talking...

* just work and walk before the sun goes down...

* everyday is just the same...

* and we know who is to blame...

* this promise land is nothing more than just a dream...

* we should never have left Egypt...

* now for sure we all will die...

* let's go back before it's too late...

* we prefer to live as slaves...

* how can you say that...

* I will never go back...

* I prefer dying right here...

* being free...

* god has been faithful...

* don't forget what he has done...

* we must wait, he will never let us die...

* and I know he will take us to the land of Abraham...

[Crowd arguing]

- Please, listen to me. Please!

We must be patient.

We must trust in what the lord has promised to us.

- The spies are coming!

[Horn blowing]

* [music] *

* we have seen this land of god...

* we just cannot describe...

* there is milk and honey everywhere...

* enough for everyone...

* there's water, plants, and flowers of every kind...

* it's just a little problem there...

* that we cannot deny...

* this venture is impossible...

* there is no use to try...

* we'll never even get in there...

* the walls are far too high...

* the people living there are taller...

* than the tower of babble...

* and if we try to fight them...

* we will surely not be able...

* let's go back to Egypt...

* there's nothing we can do...

* everyone will die here, and it's just because of you!

* come on people, let us go...

* this is not our home...

* let's go back to pharaoh...

* and bow before his throne...

- People of Israel, how do you dare to rebel against god

after all he has done for us?

Have you forgotten how he delivered us from the

hands of pharaoh with mighty signs and wonders?

Have you forgotten how he walked us through the sea on

dry land and how we destroyed the armies of Egypt!

This land of canaan is the land god promised us and we

have been dreaming about it all our lives.

So what if the walls are tall and the people strong.

If god is with us, they will be nothing for us.

* god's with us...

* there's no power in the world that can beat us...

* if god is with us...

* we're gonna find a way to get into that place...

* if god is with us...

* no matter how impossible it seems...

* I know we're gonna get the victory...

* for god is with us...

* immanuel...

* I know he is faithful to his promise...

* immanuel, he'll never take us back to slavery...

* immanuel has chosen us forever to be free...

* he gave to us his land eternally...

* for god is with us...

- Do you hear, the people of Israel?

God is with us!

He will never send us back into slavery Egypt.

We are called to freedom!

Come on, let's go to the land of promise!

We'll go to canaan!

* god is here...

* have no fear...

* just believe...

* Israel...

* if god's with us...

* no matter how impossible it seems...

* I know we're gonna get the victory...

* for god is with us...

* god is with us...

* he is with us...

[Applause]

- And god kept his promise and gave the people of Israel

the land of canaan.

Many years later, when the judges ruled the land of

Israel, a man called elimelech from Bethlehem left the

country because of a famine.

He moved to the land of moab together with his wife

Naomi and their two sons,

and there the sons found their wives, orpah and Ruth.

After many years in moab, elimelech and his sons all

died leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law alone.

Then Naomi decided to return back home to Israel.

- Orpah.

- I'm so tired.

- Naomi needs to rest.

- Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

* I think it's time to say goodbye...

* listen to me, please don't cry...

* you know I'll love you 'til the day I die...

* I have nothing more to give you...

* it breaks my heart, but I must leave you...

* go now to the place where you belong...

* god has been so good to me...

* he took away your family...

* how can you still believe in him...

* he's all I have, how could I not...

* I will pray he'll bless you both...

* for all the things you've been to me...

* we cannot leave you, can't you see...

* we are your only family...

* please go now, I set you free...

* from every bond you have to me...

* I'll pray that love will come to you some day...

- Bye, Naomi.

- Orpah.

Orpah.

- You see, Ruth?

Orpah's going back to her people.

You should do the same, my dear.

* please don't ask me to leave you...

* wherever you may go, I want to go with you...

* from now your people, my people...

* your god will be my god...

* but please don't ask me to leave you...

* wherever you may go, I want to go with you...

- And so it happened that Ruth followed Naomi

and went back to Bethlehem in the land of Judah.

- The harvest is ripe, the sun is in.

Where are my workers?

To work now!

* get to the fields, the harvest is ripe...

* from the morning to the night...

* in the fields of boaz...

* working in the fields...

* the harvest is ripe.

* from the morning to the night...

* in the fields of boaz...

* lie, lie, lie...

* lie, lie, lie, lie, lie...

* lie, lie, lie...

* lie, lie, lie, lie, lie...

* [music]

* who is this girl...

* I've never seen her here before...

* she is the one who came with Naomi

* from the land of moab...

* she came to me this very morning...

* just before the day was dawning...

* asking for permission to pick up some grain...

- Listen my child.

Stay right here with us

and don't think about going to any other fields.

I have one of the young men not above you.

And when you are thirsty,

please come and help yourself to the water.

- How can you be so kind to me?

I am a stranger in this land.

- Yes, I know.

And I also know about all the love and kindness you have

shown your mother-in-law since the death of your

husband and how you left your father and your mother in

your own land and have come here to live among strangers.

May the lord god of Israel, under whose wings you have

come to take refuge, may he bless you for that.

- Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

You are so good to me.

- Ruth? Ruth?

Where have you been?

I was afraid something had happened to you, my dear.

* I met this man...

* I met this girl...

* he was to kind...

* so beautiful...

* I've never met someone like her...

* but master boaz, she's not one of us...

* your god, Naomi, is so good...

* he's your god too, remember that...

* I think I fell in love again today...

- My dear, I think it's time to find a husband for you

and to get you happily married again.

And I think that boaz is the right one for you.

- But Naomi, remember I am just a girl from moab.

- Now you just listen to me and do exactly as I tell you.

- And Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did

everything according to all that Naomi instructed her.

- Come, let's celebrate the goodness of the lord!

The lord has been faithful!

* lie, lie, lie...

* lie, lie, lie, lie, lie...

* lie, lie, lie...

* lie, lie, lie, lie, lie...

* lie, lie, lie...

* lie, lie, lie, lie, lie...

* [music]

- Good night, master boaz.

- Who is there?

- It's me sir, Ruth.

* please don't ask me to leave you...

* I'll never leave you...

* wherever you may go...

* I want to go with you...

* please stay forever...

* from now, your people, my people...

* your god will be my god...

* please don't ask me to leave you...

* wherever you may go...

* I want to go with you...

* from now your people, my people...

* your god will be my god...

[Applause]

- And god blessed Ruth and through her,

Israel was to be given its greatest king.

God spoke to his prophet, Samuel,

and said fill your horn with oil and go.

I am sending you to Jesse, the bethlehemite.

For I have provided myself a king among his sons.

So Samuel did what the lord said and went to

Bethlehem to the house of Jesse.

* [music]

* you don't need to search no longer...

* I'm the strongest...

* with me as king, I know the enemy goes under...

* I'm afraid that strength and muscles are in vain...

* to be a king, the most important thing is brains...

* what you need to be a king...[Giggles]

* is a beautiful face...

* no, it's a man who understands...

* what it means to work the land...

* let's go boys, don't make more noise...

* I am the one, he has no choice...

* no, I'm the one...

* that you need...

* can't you see the king in me...

[Brothers fighting]

* let's go, boys...

* make more noise...

* I am the one, he has no choice...

* no, I'm the one that you need...

* can't you see a king in me *

- but god said, Samuel, do not judge a man by his face

or his height, for this is not the one.

I have refused him.

Man looks at the outward appearance,

but the lord looks at the heart.

* because the lord is my Shepherd...

* I will have no need...

* he let's me rest in the Meadow grass...

* and leads me beside the quiet stream...

* he restores my failing health...

* and helps me to do what is right...

* even when I walk through the valley of death...

* I will not be afraid...

* for you walk there with me...

* guiding me, guarding me all the way...

* [music]

* you have welcomed me as your guest...

* blessings overflow...

* you prepared the table before me...

* in the presence of my enemies...

* only goodness and mercy...

* will follow me all the days of my life...

* even then I walk through the valley of death...

* I will not be afraid...

For you walk there with me...*

* guarding me, guiding me all the way...

* even when I walk through the valley of death...

* I will not be afraid...

* for you walk there with me...

* guarding me, guiding me all the way *

- give thanks to the lord, for he is good,

his mercy endures forever!

[Applause]

- There's no one like you in the heavens!

There's no one like you in the heavens!

We praise you oh, lord god of Israel!

* [music]

- Create in me a clean heart, oh, god.

And renew a steady spirit within me!

Take me not away from your presence oh, god.

* hallelujah...

* hallelujah...

* hallelujah, god of Israel...

- With the sound of the trumpet, with the beating of

the drum, let everything give praise to god!

Worship the lord your god, oh Israel!

Who is mighty!

Hallelujah!

* hallelujah...

* hallelujah...

* god of Israel...

* trust the lord, oh Israel...

* he is your help and your shelter...

* trust the lord, oh Israel...

* he was and he is and forever will be the lord...

* hallelujah...

[Applause]

- There has never been a greater time in Israel than

that of king David and his son, Solomon, who built the

first temple of the lord in Jerusalem, but Solomon's heart

was turned away from the lord.

And after him, Israel was divided into two kingdoms

ruled by many ungodly kings.

And after many years, the assyrians conquered the

northern part that was called Israel, and its people were

taken away.

Then nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquered Judah,

the Southern kingdom.

Jerusalem, its capitol, with the temple was destroyed, and

the people were brought into captivity in Babylon.

* [music]

Among them were four young men that kept their faith in the

god of Israel and his covenant.

* [music]

[Applause]

[Trumpets call]

- Oh people of all nations and languages, this is the

king's command.

When you hear the sound of the trumpets, you have to fall

flat on the ground and worship the king nebuchadnezzar.

All who fail to do so will be cast alive into the

flaming furnace.

* [music]

- Shadrach, meshach, abednego, bow down before me.

* [music]

* we will never bow down ...

* before any other god ...

* elohim adonai is our god ...

* Israel, the lord is our god ...

* elohim adonai is one ...

- Then throw them into the flaming furnace and let us see

if your god delivers you.

* [music]

* we are not afraid of anything that you can do ...

* for we know our god is able to deliver us ...

* even if he doesn't save us ...

* should he choose to let us die ...

* we will stand then with our last breath ...

* we will say ...

* we will never bow down ...

* never bow down ...

* to another other god ...

* any other god ...

* elohim adonai is our god ...

* he is our god ...

* [music]

- We're alive!

We're alive!

- Hallelujah!

* we are not afraid of anything that you can do ...

* for we know our god is able to deliver us ...

* he delivered us ...

* he delivered us ...

* elohim adonai is our god ...

* we will never bow down before any other god ...

* elohim adonai is our god ...

* oh hear Israel, the lord is our god ...

* elohim adonai ...

* he is one ...

* our lord ...

* he is one god ...

* he is mighty ...

* and he is lord ...

* we will never bow down ...

* only one god we serve ...

* he is one god ...

* he is mighty ...

* and he is lord ...

* we will never bow down ...

* only one god ...

* willwe serve ...

[Applause]

* [music]

- And god raised up in Babylon a man of excellent

spirit, Daniel, full of wisdom, knowledge and skill.

Daniel had understanding of ll visions and dreams, and fora

this received great favor in the site of the king

of Babylon.

Thus in the days of Darius, Daniel was elevated to the

position of governor, but jealousy burned in the hearts

of those who served with him, and they sought to find some

charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom.

Finally when Daniel opened his window and prayed towards

Jerusalem as was his custom, his accusers charged him of

disloyalty to the king and breaking the law of the land.

For his crime, Daniel was cast into a den of lions.

But the king spoke to Daniel saying, "your god whom you

serve continually will deliver you. "

[Lion roars]

* [music]

* lord, you are a great and awesome god ...

* you keep your covenant with those who love you ...

* those who keep your law ...

* but me, we all have sinned against you lord ...

* we all have turned the way from your commandments ...

* and your perfect will ...

* god, you brought your people out of Egypt ...

* and with your mighty hand ...

* you made yourself a name that lasts forever ...

* hear, oh god, your people crying for forgiveness ...

* open your eyes and see Jerusalem ...

* who worships your name ...

* lord my god, I know that you are merciful ...

* and forgiving even though ...

* we rebel yours word ...

* lord our god, forgive your people one more time ...

* and take us back, lord, to the land ...

* that you gave to Abraham ...

[Applause]

- And god fulfilled his word through Jeremiah and allowed

the Jews to go back to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem and the

temple, but only a few of them returned.

Among those who remained in the kingdom of persia was a

righteous man called mordecai and Hadassah whom he had taken

as his own daughter.

In those days, king ahashverosh had banished his

wife vashti from his presence for she had refused to come at

the king's command.

In order to satisfy the king's desire, beautiful young

virgins were gathered together so that ahashverosh could

choose one to replace his former queen.

* how can you ask me to leave you ...

* if I go, I won't see you ...

* we have no choice but to obey ...

* now, in the palace you must stay ...

* I'll pray that god will keep you safe ...

* that you may win the heart of the king ...

* I don't want to go anywhere ...

* if I know that you're not there ...

* you are everything that I have left ...

* after one night with the king ...

* what if he does not choose me ...

* remember who you are ...

* remember who is your god ...

* shema Israel, adonai, elohanu ...

* adonai ehyeh ...

* shema Israel, adonai, elohanu ...

* adonaiehyeh ...

* may the lord bless you ...

* may the lord keep you safe ...

* may the lord shine his countenance upon you ...

* may the lord give you grace ...

* his glory shine through your face ...

* go now in his peace ...

* [music]

[Sobbing]

* [music]

- And so it happened that Hadassah was also taken to

shushan, the citadel, for she was lovely and beautiful,

but she did not reveal her people or family,

for mordecai had charged her not to reveal it.

So she was called instead Esther.

- Your majesty, I present to you the most beautiful flowers

in your vast and glorious kingdom.

* [music]

* we have come from east and west ...

* we are the kingdom's very best ...

* one of us will be the queen ...

* the most beautiful the world has ever seen ...

* it's going to be me ...

* just wait and see ...

* I'm going to take queen vashti's place ...

* just with the beauty of my face ...

* oh, my lady, I'm the only one who can give this king

* some fun ...

[Giggling]

* I will help him to forget ...

* I'm the only one who has what it takes ...

* nothing is fake ...

* I will make him shake ...

[Laughing]

* aah ...

* we have come from east and west ...

* we are the kingdom's very best ...

* one of us will be the queen ...

* the most beautiful the world has ever seen ...

* it's going to be me ...

* just wait and see ...

* [music]

* the most beautiful the world has ever seen ...

* who could she be ...

* she looks like a queen ...

- I give you Esther, queen of persia.

- Esther?

[Women crying]

[Applause]

- Now, the king loved Esther more than all the others,

and she obtained grace and favor in his sight.

But Esther was unaware of the danger within the walls of the

palace, the king's servant haman.

* [music]

[Sinister laughter]

* I never asked for all this fortune, fame and power ...

* yet the king so wise has given it to me ...

* I am persia's number one man of the hour ...

* it is written in his majesty's decree ...

* I am modest, wise and just ...

* and oh, so humble ...

[Women sigh]

* and I must admit the mirror never lies ...

* never lies ...

* so to recognize the gift we have among us ...

* everyone must bow when I come passing by ...

* this ring I'm wearing on my finger ...

* the king has placed upon my hand ...

* for he delights to bring me honor ...

* but there is something fishy brewing in our kingdom ...

* like a foul smell I just can't tolerate ...

* I suspect the odor is coming from those hebrews ...

* and the one whose always praying by the gate ...

* strangers dwell at my hand ...

* and spread like cancer in our land ...

* with a skillful knife I'll cut them out ...

* from our kingdom ...

- Should we not expect those people who dwell in our

kingdom to obey the laws of our land?

And yet you, mordecai, refuse to honor the king's command

and bow down to me!

Now look here, you dirty Jew, I've had just about

enough of you.

* and god forbid if I were you I'd do just as I was

* told to do ...

* now hit the ground and kiss my shoe!

[Applause]

- When haman saw that mordecai did not bow or pay

homage to him, he was filled with wrath and sought to

destroy all the Jews who were in the kingdom.

Because haman had deceived the king, ahashverosh allowed him

to issue a decree that all the Jews, the people of the

mordecai, should be killed.

When mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his

clothes and put on sack cloth and ashes and went out into

the midst of the city.

He cried out with a loud and bitter cry ...

* shema Israel ...

* adonai elohanu ...

* adonai ehyeh ...

* now we will die ...

* haman condemned us with a lie ...

* the king's command is spreading through the land ...

* anyone can kill a Jew ...

* we have no other hope but you ...

* Hadassah, go to the king and plead for us ...

* how can you ask me that ...

* you know that anyone who sees the king uninvited ...

* he may die ...

* if you don't go, you still may die ...

* Hadassah, please don't ask me why ...

* I just believe that this may be the reason that you

* came to me ...

* you were just a little girl ...

* afraid and lonely in this world ...

* before your father died, I gave my word ...

* that I will love you as my own ...

* and you will never be alone ...

* I would teach of our god and who you are ...

* and you, my Jewish queen of persia...

* servant to the god of Israel...

* now take your place, Hadassah ...

* fulfill your destiny ...

* god may have sent you here for such a time as this ...

* oh ...

* lord, what am I to do ...

* in such a time as this ...

[Sobbing]

* [music]

* shema Israel ...

* adonai elohanu ...

* adonai ehyeh ...

* I come to you ...

* I have no other place to go ...

* oh, hear me lord now ...

* I'm crying out to you ...

* once again our hope is gone ...

* your people facing death, lord ...

* they think that I'm the answer to their prayers ...

* don't walk away from me ...

* I'm helpless ...

* lord, can't you see ...

* there's nothing that I can do but render myself to you

* [music]

* I will be who you want me to be ...

* I will do what you've called me to do ...

* there's just one thing that I would ask of you ...

* walk with me ...

* be my guide through this night ...

* talk through me ...

* let your words be the light ...

* deliver us, lord, once again ...

* I am your servant ...

* take my hand and walk with me ...

* be my guide through this night ...

* talk through me ...

* let your words be the light ...

* deliver us, lord, once again ...

* I am your servant ...

* take my hand ...

- Ho!

* [music]

[Applause]

- And again Esther found favor in the sight of the king.

The evil plot of haman was exposed.

Haman himself was destroyed, and Esther saved her people

from certain annihilation.

* [music]

- Israel was occupied by many foreign nations.

After the babylonians, the persians came, and then the

romans filled the streets of Jerusalem with pagan

gods and customs.

But still there in the land of Israel, the Jews kept

their hope in the promise of god, keeping his commandments

and celebrating his feasts.

[Celebration music]

* hallelujah, hallelujah...

* god of Israel...

* hallelujah, hallelujah...

* god of Israel...

* trust in the lord oh, Israel...

* he is your help and your shelter...

* trust in the lord, oh, Israel...

* he is and forever will be the lord...

* oh...

* hallelujah...

[Applause]

- Look here, we caught this woman in the very

act of adultery.

According to the law of Moses, she deserves to die.

So, what say you, rabbi?

- Everything you say is right.

According to the law, she deserves to die.

But let him who is among you who is without sin, let him

throw the first stone!

Woman, where are now your accusers?

Did not even one of them condemn you?

* there's no one left...

* I don't believe it's possible...

* they went away...

* I really thought this was the end for me...

* I know the law...

* I don't deserve to live...

* but no one condemned me...

- Neither do I.

Go now and sin no more.

* who is this man...

* how could someone like him have been so kind to me...

* I don't deserve this mercy, but he...

* set me free, who is he...

* he talks about a kingdom that will never end...

* where the smallest one will be the greatest...

* and the last one he will be the first...

* who is he...

* he's just a man...

* a dreamer fooling everyone...

* another one...

* proclaiming he will save us from our enemy...

* what kind of king surrounds himself...

* with poor and sinners...

* who is he...

* he's one of us...

* stop fighting with each other sons...

* he dreams like us...

* about that kingdom that will never end...

* god help us all...

* to hold onto that faith...

- Hear oh, Israel, the lord our god is one god!

- You have one god, his name is Caesar.

- Blasphemer, you blasphemer!

Away with you!

[Screaming]

* don't forget your promise to us...

* you said you will come through us, lord...

* give to us this promised man...

* reach to us your saving hand...

* send to us a man of power...

* lead us through this storm...

* set your people free...

* set your people free...

[Applause]

- Many Jews Rose up against the Roman occupation,

dreaming and fighting for the right to live in freedom

in their own land.

But in the year 70 a.D.,

these hopes disappeared as the romans totally

destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, desecrating all that

was holy to the Jewish nation.

From this moment on, the Jews were scattered to the four

corners of the earth, farther and farther away from their

beloved promised land.

As time went by, the Jewish people absorbed many of the

cultural elements of the lands where they settled such

as language, music, dance and literature.

But no matter how far they were driven away from their

homeland, there was one thing that neither time nor

distance, pressure nor persecution could erode; The

eternal covenant god had made with his people.

By keeping his commandments, the spiritual identity of the

Jewish people was preserved through generations.

Every Friday as the sun set, Jewish mothers all over the

world kindled the lights celebrating the sabbath.

London, england, the year 1290.

- Rebecca, is the window closed?

- Mama, why do we always need to hide?

- My darling Rebecca, many people here in London

don't like that we celebrate the sabbath.

- I like the sabbath, I like when we can light

the candles and sing.

[Singing in Hebrew]

- Cordoba, Spain, the year 1492.

- Please, Jacob, don't go to the synagogue today.

Stay with us, you know it's so dangerous.

- But Sarah, we have to be strong in these days and hold

onto our faith because that is all we have.

- Jacob.

* I am so afraid...

* please don't let them see you pray...

* I don't want to lose you...

* I need you...

* Jacob, tell me more...

* about the god of Israel...

* do you think he has forgotten his people...

* do you really believe he will deliver us...

* and that he will take us home to Israel...

* that my eyes one day my see my Jerusalem...

* do you believe that he remembers me...

* you don't need to fear...

* god is faithful to the end...

* everything that he has promised he will do...

* but we have been unfaithful...

* we have turned away from him...

* but I know our god is willing to forgive us...

* and I really do believe he will deliver us...

* deliver us...

* and that he will take us home to Israel...

* that my eyes one day may see my Jerusalem...

* and I know for sure that he remembers you...

* now I know for sure that he remembers you...

- In every generation, the Jews were subject to terrible

persecutions and were driven away from their homes.

But throughout the centuries, the hope of the fulfillment

of god's promises was kept alive in the hearts

of the Jewish people.

And every year, in celebrating the passover

meal, they remembered how god delivered their

forefathers out of Egypt.

Warsaw, Poland, the year 1942.

- Where is your father?

He should be home by now.

Where can he be?

Oh, mendel, mendel, where have you been?

I've been so worried about you.

- Oh, Leah, why do you worry so?

I've only been gone a short while.

- But abba, you know it's not safe to go out

like this anymore.

- Haven't you heard about the klein family from

upstairs in they've already been missing for a week, and

today I heard they were taken in the middle of the night.

- Hush now, let's not speak of such unpleasant things.

You'll upset the children.

After all, it is pesach.

Tonight we will celebrate our freedom.

- Freedom? What freedom?

Here we are trapped like rats with only crumbs to eat.

- But son, we are alive, and as long as we have

breath in our bodies, we will give thanks.

Children, come to the table.

Blessed art thou oh, lord our god, king of the universe who

has chosen us and sanctified us with his commands and with

love has given us, oh, lord our god, sabbath days for

rest, festivals for rejoicing, and in this season

of unleavened bread, the season of our freedom and

remembrance of our exodus from Egypt.

This year, we are here.

Next year in the land of Israel.

This year, we are slaves.

Next year, free men.

- Abba, why is this night different from all

the other nights?

- We were slaves to pharaoh in the land of Egypt, and the

lord our god brought us out of there.

With a mighty hand, he delivered us from our enemies

and brought us to the promised land.

- Do you think he'll do the same for us?

- He will one day.

I know he will.

* have you forgotten your people oh, god...

* do you remember your promise to us...

* we are the daughters and sons of the man...

* whom you called Abraham...

* lord, we have never forgotten your covenant...

* to be your people and you be our god...

* you promised to make a great nation of us...

* and give us the land of Abraham...

* have you forgotten your people oh, god...

* do you remember your promise to us...

* we are the daughters and sons of the man...

* whom you called Abraham...

* lord, we have never forgotten your covenant...

* to be your people and you be our god...

* you promised to make a great nation of us...

* and give us the land of Abraham...

[Loud banging on door]

[Screaming and praying]

[Distressing music]

[Singing in Hebrew]

- [God] Behold, oh, my people.

I will open your graves and cause you to come up from

them and bring you into the land of Israel.

Then you shall know that I am the lord.

I will take the children of Israel from among the nations

wherever they have gone, and I will gather them from every

side and bring them back into their own land.

And I will make them one nation in the land on the

mountains of Israel.

Then people will say, this land that was desolate has

become like the garden of Eden.

And the nations which are left around you shall know

that I, the lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and

planted what was desolate.

I, the lord, have spoken it, and I will do it, and you

will know that I am the lord your god.

- Abba, ema!

- May 14th, 1948.

David Ben gurion declares eretz, Israel was the

birthplace of the Jewish people.

Here, their spiritual, religious and political

identity was shaped.

Here, they first attained to statehood, created cultural

values of national and universal significance and

gave to the world the book of books.

Accordingly, we, by the virtue of our natural and

historic right and the strength of resolution of the

united nations general assembly, hereby declare the

establishment of a Jewish state in eretz, Israel to be

known as the state of Israel.

[Applause]

[Singing in Hebrew]

Hallelujah!

[Applause]

* hallelujah, hallelujah...

* hallelujah, god of Israel...

* hallelujah, hallelujah...

* hallelujah, god of Israel...

* trust in the lord oh, Israel...

* he is your help and your shelter...

* trust in the lord, oh, Israel...

* he was and he is and forever will be...

* the lord, oh...

* hallelujah...

[Applause]

* because the lord is my Shepherd...

* I will have no need...

* he lets me rest in the Meadow grass...

* and leads me beside the quiet streams...

* he restores my failing health...

* and helps me to do what honors him most...

* even when I walk through the valley of death...

* I will not be afraid...

* for he walks with me...

* guiding me, guiding me all the way...

* you have welcomed me as your guest...

* blessings overflow...

* you prepare the table before me...

* in the presence of my enemies...

* only goodness and mercy...

* shall follow me all the days of my life...

* even when I walk through the valley of death...

* I will not be afraid...

* for you walk with me...

* guiding me, guiding me, all the way...

* even when I walk through the valley of death...

* I will not be afraid...

* for you are there with me guiding me, guiding me...

* all the way...

* even when I walk through the valley of death...

* I will not be afraid...

* for you walk there with me...

* guiding me, guiding me all the way...

[Applause]

- Abraham, look now toward heaven and count the stars,

if you are able to number them.

So shall your descendants be.

Lift up your eyes and see for your sons and daughters are

coming home to you from distant lands.

Your eyes will shine with joy, and your hearts will be

filled with gladness.

And I will establish my covenant between me and you

and your descendants for an everlasting covenant, to be

your god, and you my people.

And I will give you and your descendants after you all the

land of canaan as an everlasting possession,

and I will be their god.

* hallelujah, hallelujah...

* hallelujah, lord of Israel...

* hallelujah, hallelujah...

* hallelujah, lord of Israel...

* we are the descendants of your servant Abraham...

* you have gathered us again...

* and you brought us to this land...

* the fulfillment of your promise has begun...

* we came back from all nations...

* as you promised in your word...

* we can clearly see your hand...

* now complete what you have planned...

* so the world will know that only you are god...

* hallelujah, hallelujah...

* hallelujah, god of Israel...

* we have never forgotten your covenant...

* to be your people and you be our god...

* you are our god, god of Israel...

* renew with us your covenant...

* fulfill your promise, god...

* pour your spirit over us...

* take away our hearts of stone...

* so that we can be your people...

* you are god...

* make Jerusalem a place...

* shining brightly with your grace...

* when your peace goes out from here...

* then your kingdom will appear...

* not for our sake...

* but for your holy name...

* hallelujah, hallelujah...

* hallelujah, god of Israel...

* god of Israel...

* hallelujah...

* god of Israel...

* god of Israel...

[Applause]

* [music]