The Romance of Palestine

This film presents scenes of modern Palestine. In the film's introduction, Cantor Josef Rosenblatt sings a hymn. It is related that in the year 70 A.D., the Jewish people were driven out of Jerusalem and that their temple was destroyed by the Roman emporer Titus. The Jews have since been persecuted because they would not relinquish their religion. In the present day, because the Jews continue to be persecuted in certain lands, they have begun an effort to reclaim the land of Israel, an endeavor called "The Romance of Palestine." In the main part of the film, the ancient city of Jerusalem is shown, as well as the area that can be seen from its hills. As rabbis pray at the Wailing Wall, the narrator relates the early history of the Jews, beginning with their slavery in Egypt, and describing their liberation and then their persecution through the Middle Ages into the period of the Czars, during which they continued to remain loyal to their God and mission. Immigrants are shown arriving in Palestine. On their ships, they dance the new folk dance, the "Hora." They are housed in tents when they reach their destination. An Arab oilpress run by camel-power is contrasted with a steam crane used by Jewish pioneers. The building of roads is shown, as is the reclamation of swamps. Scenes are shown of the city of Tel Aviv, which was founded in 1910, and its agricultural school. The equal responsibility assumed by women in the cultivation of the soil is noted by the narrator. Scenes of irrigation are shown. The narrator states that a new breed of cattle has been produced to support a dairy industry, as has a new breed of chicken for the poultry and egg industry. A typical new agricultural village, the colony of K'far Ezekiel, built by the Jewish National Fund, is shown, as is building construction in cities by the National Fund. The city of Jaffa, a typical Arab city, is shown, and the narrator remarks that the poverty there is typical of that which used to be prevalent throughout the land. Scenes are shown of Haifa, with its modern harbor and its Hebrew Technological Institute. More scenes of Tel Aviv are shown. Villages are shown in the Emek, or Valley of Yezrael, which was once a malarial swamp. In the valley of the Jordan, transplanted banana trees grow. The cultivation of the Jaffe orange is shown. Vineyards, the growing of wheat, a Haifa flour mill, the growing of melons and the production of honey are shown. Tobacco, successfully introduced, is grown. An oil mill and the manufacture of soap is shown. A hydro-electric plant at Haifa is shown, as is the Levant Fair at Tel Aviv. Art in Palestine is exhibited. The Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem is shown. Rachel's tomb and other ancient tombs are shown. In far off Yemen, Jews utter the Kol Nidre prayer on the eve of Yom Kippur . A Yemenite chedar , or Hebrew school, is shown. Back in Palestine, the work of Hadassah, supporting hospitals and child welfare activity is shown. Scenes of children are shown. In Tel Aviv, the festival of Purim is celebrated with a parade and many floats. The narration ends with the statement, "A new flag waves in the sun, the proud flag of the people, of Israel."