“Against the Tide”, currently streaming, is a compelling 2009 documentary about what happened in the United States during the Holocaust, narrated by Dustin Hoffman. It highlights how a young activist, Peter Bergson, challenged Washington and the establishment Jewish organizations to demand that the rescue of Europe’s Jews become a top priority. The permeating theme behind this documentary is that the Allied powers did little to nothing to prevent the Holocaust. It showed the inhumanity, apathy, politics, and fear that seemed pervasive amongst leaders in the highest ranks of the U.S. Jewish community as well as in the U.S. administration.
Viewers will learn about clash between Bergson and a prominent Jewish American, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise. It seemed he spent more time fighting Bergson than the Administration. Just as today with many Jewish leaders not speaking out in defense of Israel’s right to defend itself after October 7th, Wise appeared too afraid to make waves, was guarded in criticizing the FDR administration, and did not criticize them publicly to do more to help the Jews.
On the other hand, Bergson founded and led organizations that raised public awareness in the US about the Nazi slaughter of the Jews. He challenged the US government, especially the State Department to take decisive action to rescue Jews. In 1943, he organized the We Will Never Die pageant and a rabbis’ march on Washington to alert the American people about the Nazi mass murder of the Jews.
This movie is still relevant today because it shows what could happen when silence becomes prevalent. This is a must watch if Americans want to understand how the media, some Jewish organizations, and the administration do not take the moral high ground. Below is an interview with Rick Trank, the executive producer of the documentary. Mr. Trank works for Moriah Films, part of the Wiesenthal Center.
Elise Cooper: Why make this movie?
Rick Trank: About seventeen years ago a film was made about the situation in the early 1930s and 1940s when all the doors were closed to Jews. They were trying to escape the Nazis but could not get to the US, Canada, or Palestine. In the process of doing the research I came across this interview of Peter Bergson. While I heard his name, I did not know much about him. We ended up focusing on him.
EC: When did people realize what was going on in Europe?
RT: The first news of the Holocaust came out in 1942 when Rabbi Stephen S. Wise announced he learned from the State Department that two million Jews had been killed by the Nazis. Bergson had been following the situation and tried to get them out of Europe and save as many as possible.
EC: How would you describe him?
RT: He was an iconoclast. He was someone who swam against the tide. He was not warm and fuzzy but very focused. Because of him the War Refugee Board was created by President Roosevelt that ended up saving 250,000 Jews in the last year. He had guilt that more was not done.
EC: What did Bergson do that is relevant today?
RT: He created an atmosphere where Jews speak out related to Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism. He modernized it and created media campaigns, working with Academy writer Ben Hecht.
EC: Did many in the leadership of the American Jewish community tried to thwart him?
RT: Rabbi Wise was an amazing Jewish leader but did clash with Bergson. He was an ardent Democrat and close to FDR and felt the best way to save the Jews was win the war. He epitomized the Reform Jewish movement in America. There were also many non-Jews who were Bergson’s biggest allies, including Republican Congressional representatives.
EC: How would you describe Rabbi Wise?
RT: He was an articulate spokesman and well connected for American Jews. He did try to work behind the scenes but put too much faith in the Roosevelt administration. I look on him as a Shakespeare tragedy. He became a broken man by the end of the war. In so many ways he was a great man but did have failings.
EC: What do you want people to get out of this documentary?
RT: I hope those who watched it will be inspired by Peter Bergson’s example to speak out. Jews should not be afraid to stand up and speak out.
THANK YOU!!
Comments
About the Author
