The documentary is dedicated to Ms. Starr, who wrote the scripts that her husband directed. I am determined now to complete the series. I am hoping that the reaction to these broadcasts will be so positive that I will be able to go back to the NEH and the CPB and ask for more money. I am hoping that they will see that history appeals not just to Jews, but to the entire American public. The film combines paintings, drawings and photographs with footage of historic sites.
Actors portray several key or representative figures in Jewish American history.
Among those highlighted is Asser Levy, who fought against the regulation prohibiting Jews in New Amsterdam to stand guard duty against Indian attack, a prohibition for which they were being taxed. A half-dozen historians add insight to the events that shaped the Jewish American experience. Despite that shortcoming, the film is sure to become a staple of school and temple libraries and find its way into the videotape collections of many Jewish families. Indeed, given the wealth and influence of its intended audience, one wonders why Mr. Nowak has had difficulty raising funds to finish the saga. The answer is that all of the individuals have their own agendas, their own particular groups they support.