50 Years Later: What You Need to Know About the Six-Day War

For centuries, their nation had been in exile. For a generation, they had been without access to their ancestral city. For six days, surrounded by enemies, Israel stood alone—and changed history.

This spring marks the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War, and CBN Documentaries commemorates this historical battle with the new movie, In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem.

Coming to select movie theaters across the U.S. on Tuesday, May 23, at 7 p.m. local time, this special, one-night Fathom Events presentation shares the story of Israel’s incredible battle for survival 50 years ago.

In May of 1967, Arab nations joined together with a stated goal to wipe Israel off the map. Less than 20 years after reforming as a nation, Israel was on the verge of extinction.

Yet six days in early June, 1967, changed history forever.

In Our Hands tells the story of Israel’s 55th Paratrooper Brigade and how Israel Defense Forces (IDF) risked everything for the sake of their homeland. With firsthand interviews and historical reenactments, this powerful docudrama focuses on the commitment and sacrifice of the soldiers who reunited Jerusalem.

Whether you vividly recall the historical declaration by the IDF that “The Temple Mount is in our hands” or you would like to learn more about this stunning victory by Israel, In Our Hands will captivate and compel you.

Lest We Forget: The 50th Anniversary of the Six-Day War

David conquered Jerusalem 3,000 years ago. The Babylonians destroyed it; Ezra and Nehemiah restored it. In A.D. 70, the Romans destroyed it again. For the next thousand years, Israel’s ancient capital was not its own—until 50 years ago.

Our stories tell us who we are. Fifty years after reclaiming Jerusalem, Jews and Christians do well to remember the truth of the battles, the humanity of the fighters and the miracles that shape our story.

A Miraculous Victory’s Untold Stories

In the Six-Day War’s first two hours, Israel’s air force victory testified to years of prep and rehearsal. By contrast, the reservist paratroopers were unprepared for city and trench warfare, house-to-house combat, in places new to them. Yet both sets of soldiers won.

Other stories and scenes:

• The paratroopers were both orthodox and secular Jews, which is highly unusual.

• An old woman from another era gave the soldiers the flag to raise.

• In the Old City, a paratrooper delivered an Arab woman’s baby.

• A military leader sobbed as names of the dead were read.

• Husbands, fathers and tradesmen, as temporary soldiers, reclaimed Jerusalem.

• Israeli soldiers buried their Jordanian enemies with honor.

A Good Story Told Accurately

Many battles were filmed in their exact locations. Every line of dialogue comes from records, diaries and interviews. Where politics prevented use of an actual site, filmmakers worked to accurately recreate scenes and surroundings. In battle scenes, the film’s extras are actual paratroopers. The line producer was an Israeli military veteran. The man in charge of training military medics ensured battle-scene medics’ authenticity. Facts were checked against Michael Oren’s definitive book, Six Days of War.

Watch the trailer at inourhands1967.com, and don’t forget to purchase tickets at fathomevents.com.

Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and prerecorded events to 896 locations and 1,383 screens in 181 DMAs. For more information, visit fathomevents.com.