‘We shall overcome’ – Exodus 1947 survivor shares lessons of courage, resilience and hope for today in Israel

In an engaging and wide-ranging interview with Christian journalist Paul Calvert, Holocaust survivor Arie Itamar shares his personal memories of escaping Europe aboard the Exodus ship in 1947 and the impact of that journey on his life.

In his recounting, Itamar emphasized the unlikely bond that formed between Jewish Holocaust survivors and the young North African crew recruited by the Haganah to help manage the crowded ship.

“Although there was no language which we know in common, but in a very short time there became to be a friendship, a brotherhood and such beautiful relationship that – in those people – give us courage in very difficult points in the struggle against the British Navy or the detention camp in Germany.”

That bond stayed with him for decades. After the war, Itamar searched tirelessly for one of the North African crewmen, Charlo, whom his family had hidden during the battle. Seventy years later, he finally tracked him down.

“As I looked for photos like this, in three of them, immediately I show my finger on Charlo. And this was the test. After this kind of test, it was clear that Charlo is the man which I am looking for in 70 years. Very exciting, it was.”

Their reunion inspired a documentary called "From Casablanca to Hamburg," created to honor and commemorate the role of North African youth in the Exodus story. The project has since reached more than 4,000 people, including soldiers, schoolchildren, and dignitaries. In 2020, the story was broadcast on Israeli television for Holocaust Remembrance Day and later presented at the President’s residence in Jerusalem.

For Itamar, the purpose of telling the 1947 Exodus story is not just about communicating history, but also about encouraging resilience for today.

“We need the courage to stand and to believe and to be optimistic, to believe that the end will be with us, that we shall survive, we shall overcome.”

He shares these lessons with his grandchildren, several now serving in the IDF, reminding them that just as his generation endured great trials, Israel too can overcome today’s challenges.

Through his testimony, Arie Itamar keeps the courage, unity, and hope of the Exodus generation alive as an inspiration for future generations.

Click below to listen to the full interview, which touched on a range of topics.