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Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.
The Pursuit of Freedom for Future Generations
The promise of moving from exile and oppression into freedom in Israel is what brings each wave of immigrants to the shores of Palestine. The work of claiming and defending this freedom is continued by the first native Jewish children, who always have their eyes toward the future. As young men, Barak and Akiva hear the Bilu talk about the promised land in their Russian ghetto, which gives the young brothers hope for the future and a new, free life in Palestine. They are early Jewish immigrants of the twentieth century, so they farm a barren and empty land, knowing that this is key for providing for the future. The brothers are later joined by like-minded immigrants and create a safe haven for Jewish people from all over the world. Soon, kibbutz and later moshav are established, and glimmers of hope for Israel start to shine in the face of hardship.
The next generation, including Ari, Jordana, and their friends, are less involved with farming and become, by necessity, more involved in the violence that overtakes Palestine. These young Jewish people, like the ones before them, are willing to sacrifice everything—including their lives—to keep the promise of freedom alive for those who come after them. This comes at a high cost, which is lamented by Barak at the end of his life. Ari too feels the weight of future generations’ freedom. He has lost many of his friends to violence leading up to and following Israel’s declaration of independence. Many young Israelis are united in the belief that their country is worth dying for, but in the process, they become a generation of unemotional warriors who only know war. In spite of the loss that it causes, the Israelis of each generation choose to give up everything to achieve the freedom of a secure future.
Dignity in Work and Sacrifice
The first immigrants to farm Palestine grew up in the ghettos of Europe where they had nothing that they could call their own. They are drawn to Israel by the promise of living on their own land, providing for themselves, and the dignity that comes with it. When they arrive, they work hard, but this work is voluntary and contributes to a higher goal. All Jewish people now have a place where they can hold their head high and take pride in their heritage. Because they all share the same goal, they live in peace and harmony amongst themselves. They only encounter violence and division from outside of their communities. This theme is illustrated in the lives of Barak, Akiva, Karen, Ari, and Dov, the characters who are the most involved in building and later defending the settlements. They feel rewarded and vindicated because they know their labor is bearing fruit, even if they do not get to enjoy it.
The success of the Israelis stands in stark contrast to Uris’ depiction of the stagnation of their Arab neighbors. The Palestinian Arabs of Uris’ novel do not work the land or educate their children the way the Palestinian Jews do. Instead, they are manipulated by their religious and political leaders into believing that the Jewish people are the source of their problems. Barak and other Jewish people offer their hands to the Arabs and give them the opportunity to join Jewish people, but in Uris’ telling, the Arabs reject this, to their own detriment. When the Arab and Jewish people fall out entirely and the fighting commences, the Jewish people find dignity in sacrificing everything, including their lives, to remain on their land.
The Role of Faith and Tradition in Dark Times
Even when they are exiled and scattered to the four corners of the globe, the Jewish people are connected by their enduring faith, which is preserved by their traditions. Living in different parts of the world means they have disparate ways of life, but their faith and observance of traditions sustain them in turmoil. As they grow up in a Russian ghetto, Barak and Akiva’s lives revolve around their synagogue. The family endures countless hardships because of the oppression of the Russian people, but they still experience small joys by celebrating the Sabbath and other religious observances. Biblical prophecies are also recounted and fulfilled throughout the book, as in the case of pilot Foster MacWilliams, who brings the Yemenites to Palestine on the wings of an eagle. While the immigrants to Palestine observe important holy days, they are not overtly religious in a traditional sense. Still, they maintain a connection to their faith by reviving the traditional Hebrew language and often making references to the bible in the names of their Mossad missions and in their communications. Moreover, they have an almost mystical connection to the land of Israel and share a centuries-long Jewish tradition of fighting for freedom. At the end of the novel, their trials are not over, and violence will go on for years in their young nation, but the new generation of Israelis are all connected by placing their faith in the future of their nation.
