For centuries, Jews have been massacred, enslaved, and exiled from their land and country.

Persecution hit its peak during the Crusades.

During the Middle Ages, Jews were forced to convert to Islam or face death in places such as Yemen, Morocco, and

Baghdad, Iraq.

Mass murders and ethnic cleanings occurred throughout the centuries in North African countries such as Morocco, Libya, and

Algeria.

In 1492, over 200,000 Jews were expelled from Spain, and 37,000 more expelled from Sicily in 1493.

Where they were allowed to live, land ownership was restricted and often, Jews were required to live in ghettos.

However, in the 1600’s, several hundred thousand Jews were slaughtered in the Swedish Wars.

By the 17th century, there were almost no Jews remaining in Western Europe. However, Poland was the most tolerant

European country, thus many Jews took refuge there.

1700 – 1800 … attitudes began to slowly change. More and more countries began to accept the Jewish people.

However, this lasted only a short time.

Eventually, anti-Semitic attitudes began to rise again.

Hatred of the Jews reached a peak again with World War II. By the end of the war, Nazi Germany had executed more than

6,000,000 Jewish people. Thousands more had lost everything, including family, homes, and possessions.

Longing to escape the horrors of Germany, Jews tried to flee…but this proved to be just another difficult journey.

The Exodus 1947… but before we look at this story, let’s

check our maps to ensure they are correct!!

NOTE … look at all the countries the Jews have either been exiled from or persecuted or killed if they stayed!!

Question … where can they go to be safe?? If you were in their shoes, where would you go … or want to go? ... Further revelations to come when we look at the Exodus 1947.

Desperate to escape Germany, 4500 Holocaust survivors crammed into a vessel that was built to hold 400.

The Exodus 1947, as it was called, had originally been built as a pleasure steamer, carrying passengers on voyages of pleasure, excitement, and fun. During the war, the ship had been converted to a war ship, carrying British troops and supplies to support the war effort. However, at the end of its life, it was purchased by Jewish leaders for $60,000 to carry Holocaust survivors back to their “Promised Land”.

Having suffered years of torture, starvation, and confinement, the Jews found themselves with no where to go. Their homes had been destroyed, their families ripped apart, their belongings stripped from them. One thing they knew, they wanted to flee from the country that had so devastated their lives!

Where would they go? Back to the land that God had promised Abraham…the Promised Land.

Where is this promised land?

However, the Palestinians occupied this land now and they were not about to give it up! Although the Palestinians occupied the land, the British were in control of the land. (Remember the British mandate after WWI?) The British took this Palestinian threat seriously, and anxious to avoid any further fighting, refused to allow Jews into Palestine.

Therefore, when The Exodus 1947 was intercepted by British destroyers, a fight ensued.

Armed only with tin cans, screws, potatoes, bottles, wooden boards and whatever else they could find, the passengers of The Exodus held off the 6 British destroyers and 2 minesweepers for 7 hours!

British minesweeper

British Destroyer

Six destroyers and two minesweepers intercepted The Exodus

Only after suffering the loss of 4 people and injuries to over 150, the Holocaust survivors aboard The Exodus finally surrendered to the British fleet.

British soldiers

stand guard as Exodus

1947 passengers disembark from the damaged

ship in the port of Haifa. (July 1947)

Notice the condition of the ship…this was after the battle with the 6 British destroyers.

A British soldier

escorts a wounded

female passenger from the

Exodus 1947 down the pier in the port of Haifa. (July

1947)

After suffering years of torture, starvation, and confinement, the Holocaust survivors aboard The Exodus were forced to board 3 British prison ships. They were taken to France where they were forced to board a train which eventually took them back to the one place they were trying to escape…

…Germany!

Under the supervision of British troops, Exodus 1947 passengers are transferred from trains to trucks, on the last leg of their

journey back to German displaced persons' camps. This group was temporarily resettled in the Poppendorf DP camp.

September 1947 – (DP – displaced persons)

Disgusted with the treatment of the Jews, the rest of the world joins with them in their fight for a country of their own!

The Jews petition the UN to create a country just for them … and the rest of the story will come at a later date!

Choose one of the following writing assignments and complete…Write a poem about The Exodus 1947Write a short story from The Exodus’

point of viewWrite a newspaper article about The

Exodus, as if you were a news reporter covering the story

Write a journal entry as if you were a passenger aboard The Exodus

This will be due Friday … see the rubric attached

Requirements Expectations Does not meet expectations

35

Meets expectations

40

Exceeds Expectations

50

Total

Written assignment

Assignment exhibits knowledge of the events of The Exodus thoughtful insights and / or major events highlighted.

Not enough thoughts to adequately reflect insight OR not enough major events highlighted to adequately exhibit knowledge. In other words, 4 – 5 sentences are NOT enough!

Thoughts adequately reflect insight OR adequate events highlighted to exhibit knowledge of subject. In other words, at least 5 events highlighted and more than a paragraph.

Thoughts exhibit deep insight into the emotions, attitudes, and decisions of the subject OR a complete and precise history of The Exodus is presented (the history that we cover in class).

Neatness and organization

Assignment is neat with no torn edges, no scribbles or mark outs, no wrinkled or torn paper.

There are torn edges OR scribbles OR mark outs OR paper is wrinkled OR torn.

Assignment is neat with no torn edges, no scribbles or mark outs, no wrinkled or torn paper.

Work is exceptionally neat and organized.

Exile – prolonged separation from one’s country by force

Refuge – a place of shelter, protection, or safety Refugee - a person who flees for safety, especially to

another country Ethnic cleansing – the elimination of an unwanted

ethnic group from society, as by genocide or forced emigration

Anti-Semitism – discrimination against or prejudice or hostility towards Jews

Holocaust – the systematic mass slaughter of Eupropean Jews in concentration camps in Nazi Germany during WWII

Algeria Libya

Yemen

Morocco

Spain

GermanyPoland

Italy= Jerusalem = Baghdad, Iraq

characterized by anti-Semitism; hating Jews Anti-Semite - a person who discriminates

against or is prejudiced or hostile toward Jews.

http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/resource/gallery/gallery.htm

http://history1900s.about.com/library/holocaust/blchildren.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_history#The_diaspora

http://history1900s.about.com/library/holocaust/blpdpexodus.htm - pictures of The Exodus