Educational Media Reviews Online

This video is part historical tour, part travelogue. Presented from an Israeli perspective, the film features sites of spiritual and historical importance throughout Jerusalem. As the narrator leads viewers around the city, both he and noted scholar Rabbi Berel Wein explain the historical and cultural significance of the landmarks and neighborhoods visited. The film traces the history of the Jewish people over the past 4000 years. Rabbi Wein’s insightful comments help to put events and places into context.

Highlights include Ben Yahuda Street; the Nahalat Shiv’a neighborhood; the Old City with its Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim quarters; Jaffa Gate; the Tower of David; the Southern Wall; and the magnificent Western Wall. The video concludes with a brief discussion of Israel’s future and the importance of immigration, particularly by North American Jews, followed by an aerial tour over notable locations in the capital city.

At 90 minutes, the film runs too long. It would have benefited had the first 25 minutes been trimmed. The last hour is far more interesting and entertaining. Still, the video is recommended, particularly for people who have a great spiritual interest in the Holy Land.