Can modern archeology prove Jews’ historic ties to Israel?

Igal Hecht
Canadian film maker Igal Hecht interviews Barak Monnickendam-Givon, the co-director of Western Wall Plaza Excavations, in a newly discovered ancient room in the Western Wall Tunnels site in Jeruslalem, for his new TV series "Secrets of the Land" which debuted last week on YES TV in Canada.

A new TV series by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Igal Hecht explores whether archeology can definitively prove the Jewish connection to Israel. Just in time for Passover and Easter, the first season of Secrets of the Land debuted March 15 on YES TV, a Canadian faith-based channel.

Hecht and his team were given unprecedented access to some of Israel’s most important archeological excavation sites, from the Tower of David to the tunnels below the the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and even the ancient sites of Shiloh and King Solomon’s Mines in Timna near Eilat.

His cameras follow renowned archeologists from Israel and abroad as they unearth fragments of pottery and tile from thousands of years ago, and then use modern scientific techniques to explore whether the Bible stories surrounding these sites might be true–for Jews and for other faiths. As Hecht explains on today’s The CJN Daily, he feels the series will help continue the conversation about the deep ties the Jewish people have to the Land of Israel.

What we talked about

  • Watch the trailer for Igal Hecht’s Secrets of the Land, out on YES TV Wednesday nights
  • Read more about Igal Hecht’s career in The CJN
  • Igal Hecht filmed the 2021 war between Israel and Hamas for The CJN
  • Register for Thursday’s live CIJA webinar on the current situation in Israel, beginning at 12 noon ET, or watch it on CIJA’s Facebook page.

Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To subscribe to this podcast, please watch this video. Donate to The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt by clicking here.