David Ben-Gurion called this 1958 book “as a piece of propaganda … the greatest thing ever written about Israel”
The Final Jeopardy clue for Tuesday, June 30, 2026, appeared in the category “20th Century Novels” and read: “David Ben-Gurion called this 1958 book ‘as a piece of propaganda … the greatest thing ever written about Israel.’” The clue points to a bestselling historical novel that helped shape popular American understanding of the founding of Israel. The correct response is Leon Uris’ Exodus.
Contents
What Is Exodus?
The correct response is Exodus. Leon Uris’ novel was published in 1958 and became one of the most widely read works of fiction about the creation of the modern state of Israel.
The clue’s quotation from David Ben-Gurion is the key. Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, recognized the book’s immense value in shaping international opinion. His description of it as powerful propaganda was not necessarily a criticism; it reflected the novel’s ability to present Israel’s founding story in a dramatic, emotionally compelling form.
The Story Behind the Novel
Exodus is a historical novel centered on Jewish refugees after World War II and the struggle to establish Israel. Its title refers to the ship Exodus 1947, which carried Holocaust survivors and became a symbol of the fight for Jewish immigration to Palestine.
The novel follows fictional characters against the background of real historical events, including displacement after the Holocaust, British control of Palestine, Jewish resistance movements, and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Uris used fiction to frame a broad national origin story around survival, sacrifice, and statehood.
Leon Uris and the Book’s Impact
Leon Uris was an American writer whose work often dealt with war, identity, and historical conflict. With Exodus, he produced a novel that reached a vast audience and became closely associated with pro-Israel sentiment in the United States and beyond.
The book became a publishing phenomenon. It was later adapted into the 1960 film starring Paul Newman, which further expanded its reach. For many readers and viewers, Exodus became their first major introduction to the history and politics surrounding Israel’s founding.
Why Ben-Gurion’s Comment Matters
David Ben-Gurion understood the power of narrative. As Israel’s first prime minister and one of the central figures in the country’s establishment, he knew that international perception mattered.
His comment about Exodus highlights how fiction can influence public understanding of history. The novel did not function as a neutral textbook; it told a story with a clear emotional and political perspective. That is why the clue’s wording points so strongly to a book that was both a novel and a cultural force.
Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works
This clue works because it combines literature, politics, and modern history. The year 1958 narrows the field, while Ben-Gurion’s reference to Israel makes Exodus the clear fit.
The correct response, Exodus, fits every part of the clue. It is a 20th-century novel, it was published in 1958, and it became one of the most influential fictional works about Israel’s founding.
