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No. 44: Ben-Hur

A parting of the waves

by
Liel Leibovitz
December 07, 2011
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

1959, dir. William Wyler. So what if the movie ends with Ben-Hur meeting Christ and embracing his message? The real subject of the movie is Jewish infighting, and the themes of assimilation, persecution, peoplehood, and pride are as relevant today as they were back when spats were settled with violent horse races. Haya Harareet, a young Israeli actress who plays Ben-Hur’s love interest, Esther, is charmingly innocent in her sole major Hollywood role.

Liel Leibovitz is editor-at-large for Tablet Magazine and a host of its weekly culture podcast Unorthodox and daily Talmud podcast Take One. He is the editor of Zionism: The Tablet Guide.