Young Israel of Bal Harbour, located at 9580 Abbott Avenue in Surfside, hosted the film “Above and Beyond” on Thursday, May 12, Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The movie, produced by Nancy Spielberg, documents the story of Jewish-American pilots who fought in Israel’s 1948 war of independence.
Just three years after the liberation of Nazi death camps, a small group answered a call for help. In secret, and at great personal risk, they smuggled planes out of the U.S., trained behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia, and flew for Israel to join in its War of Independence. “Above and Beyond” is the tale of these little-known heroes.
The first major feature-length film about these airmen, “Above and Beyond” brings together new interviews as well as stunning aerial footage to present a fascinating story filled with heart, heroism, and high-flying chutzpah. The ragtag group was a band of brothers who not only turned the tide of the war but also embarked on personal journeys of discovery and renewed Jewish pride.
