#8: The Miraculous State Takes Shape, 1948 to 1953

Building the Impossible Dream: The History of Zionism

Even after its against-all-odds victory in the War of Independence, the State of Israel’s future was far from assured. It faced the challenge of absorbing massive waves of largely impoverished immigrants, establishing itself as the national state of the Jewish people, dealing with the difficulties caused by Palestinian Arab refugees who fled Israel during the War of Independence, and creating the institutions and traditions needed for effective democratic governance. Dr. Polisar in this episode describes how Israel—led by David Ben-Gurion—overcame these challenges in its initial half-decade and laid the foundations for a thriving society and state.