Close to 100,000 Jewish residents in Jerusalem were starving because of an Arab siege of the city. A garrison manned by Jordanian gunners in the high grounds of Latrun overlooking the sole road to Jerusalem saw to it that no trucks bringing relief to the city could pass. Ben Gurion ordered that Latrun be taken, but Israel had neither the manpower nor the weaponry to launch a successful assault and each of its attacks were futile and very costly. A shepherd path was accidentally discovered beyond the view of the Arab gunners, and hundreds of Israeli volunteers worked around the clock to convert this winding path strewn with rocks and pits into a viable road for trucks to bring desperately needed supplies to Jerusalem. The miraculous road, discovered and created so providentially, was named the Burma Road because of its similarity of circumstances to the road built by the Allies during world War II connecting Burma to Southwest China to avert the Japanese sea blockade. This episode has been enhanced by the excellent "History of Israel Explained/Unpacked" series.

Newly declared prime minister David Ben Gurion said that if Israel can hold out for the first two weeks of battle (in the War for Independence) than "we will win." Those first two weeks proved to be the bloodiest of all, but with her back against the wall, Israel prevailed in repelling attacks, enlarging its borders and freeing all but the Old City of Jerusalem which had been under siege.

At the beginning of the War of Independence Israel was vastly outnumbered and did not had sufficient weapons to defend herself. In those initial weeks before weapons began to arrive, primarily form Czechoslovakia, it was only the daring and ingenuity of lone Israeli soldiers coupled with industrial helpings of Divine Providence that enabled Israel to hold on. Ron Feller is one such hero who single-handedly took on and defeated an entire Egyptian mechanized platoon. Swedish diplomat Count Folk Bernadotte was chosen to be the United Nations Security Council mediator in Israel's War of Independence. Bernadotte labored to turn the cease-fire into a binding peace treaty which he figured would earn him a Nobel Peace Prize. It certainly earned him disdain.

• In TFJ's first installment on gratitude, the correlation between gratitude and happiness is explored. Although goals are critically important, expectations are a recipe for misery. Furthermore, the less you expect the more grateful you will be, and the more you expect the less grateful you will be. Counting your blessings is not merely a phrase, but a mantra for a grateful person. It is the only way to avoid the all-too common appreciating what you have, only when it is taken away.

Once Israel declared her independence, she was attacked by all of her neighbors. The Hagana, which will become the Israel Defense Forces, mobilized any able-bodied man or woman and this amounted to barely 30,000. The Arabs had significant manpower and far greater firepower and air forces. The Jews had nothing comparable. Lacking defense in depth the Jews could not afford to give ground on any of their four fronts.

But now that the British mandate was over, the Jews were able to import weapons that had previously been forbidden. The greatest Jewish resource was the dedication of their troops, and the talent of their leaders. If Israel was to hang on, she would have to survive the first two weeks.

Declaring independence was a daring move, for Israel knew that the very declaration was an invitation to immediate war against five organized armies. Ben Gurion understood that it was now or never. Israel's Declaration of Independence assured that Israel would be open for Jewish immigration, and for the ingathering of the exiles. It would foster the development of the country for the benefit of all inhabitants. It would be based upon freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel. It would ensure complete equality of social, religious and political rights to all of its inhabitants. TFJ also looks at the mystery and tension regarding the name that would be awarded to the new country.

Following the UN vote for partition in November 1947, the British informed that they would not carry out on the policy voted on by the General Assembly, and they would remain in Palestine until May 1948. The British would no longer intervene in any fighting between Arabs and Jews, but they would still steadfastly enforce the ban on weapons for Jews. The Hagana was planning its attack to liberate Jewish residents under siege in Jerusalem. The road leading to Jerusalem was subject to sniper fire from Arab terrorist. The Irgun and Lechi wished to assist their brethren in Jerusalem and attacked the village of Deir Yassin and encountered fiercer resistance than expected. Pinned down, the fighters tossed hand grenades resulting in civilian losses.

TFJ Season 2: Episode 9

Character Workshop

Criticizing constructively is an act of friendship and concern. You can help someone, especially if you catch the problem early on before it becomes too ingrained in the conduct of the offender to alter their behavior. But if a relationship does not exist, the critique will be rejected and resented. Several experts will be sharing their advice how to best go about offering feedback including five points from TFJ's friend, Charlie Harary.

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© 2022 Media Education Trust llc

TFJ: The Birth of Israel

Series 2 Episode 9

There was no secure area in the section of the land allocated to the Jews where the Israelis had a geographic and demographic advantage. The embargo of weapons to Palestine made it difficult for the Haganah to arm its troops while the Arab armies had resources in Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Because of the fragility of the situation, and fear that the United States and other countries would not recognize the new Jewish state, Ben Gurion made a gutsy decision.

It was time for the Jews to go on the offensive and start capturing Arab towns, and mixed neighborhoods. This would be the first time that the Haganah operated not in a non-defensive capacity.

The Arabs managed to cut off Jerusalem from other Jewish areas leaving the city's 100,000 Jewish residents stranded in a chokehold. It was time to risk everything to liberate the city and at that crucial moment arms arrived for the Jewish fighters.

Edited and Produced by Alex Drucker

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© 2022 Media Education Trust llc

TFJ: The Birth of Israel

Series 2: Episode 8

It is unlikely that had FDR been the president that he would have recognized Israel. Truman was the first to recognize the Jewish State 11 minutes after her independence had been declared. There are two primary reasons as to why Truman contradicted his State department on this thorny issue, but there is no dispute that were it not for quick-witted and loyal Eddie Jacobson, it would not have happened.

Edited and Produced by Alex Drucker

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© 2022 Media Education Trust llc