Israel 1951

Silent color home movie by JDC Executive Vice Chairman Moshe Lewit, showing the arrival of a ship bringing new immigrants, presumably to the port of Haifa, and scenes of a temporary immigrant camp. One of the locations is likely to be the Sha’ar Aliyah clearing center near Haifa, often referred to as Israel’s Ellis Island. Sha’ar Aliyah was opened by the Jewish Agency in March 1949. Later scenes depict agricultural training and irrigation projects. There is a brief shot of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion greeting members of the visiting group.