President Truman’s call in May of 1948 could have gone another way, with most of his top advisors objecting to recognition of the Jewish State. Today, the National Library of Israel houses several historic artifacts from the momentous occasion.
When the Historian Said “No” to Ben-Gurion: The Biography That Never Was
Historian Jacob Talmon admired Israel’s founding prime minister and hoped to immortalize him in the work of a lifetime. But when the controversial Lavon Affair came to represent, in his eyes, a threat to Israeli democracy, the scholar who had built his reputation studying the dangers of political absolutism put down his pen, turned against his hero, and launched a public campaign that would shake one of the most fascinating intellectual relationships in Israeli history.
“History Is Not Written, but Made”: Four Decisions by David Ben-Gurion That Shaped Israel
“The fate of Israel depends on two things,” David Ben-Gurion said, “its strength and its righteousness.” At times, it also depended on making a courageous decision at precisely the right moment. Using the National Library’s Historical Jewish Press Collection, we traced four bold and fateful decisions Ben-Gurion made on behalf of all Israelis.
John F. Kennedy and Israel: A Look Back
Recalling the 35th president’s impact on American-Israeli relations.
Feldenkrais: The Man Who Stood Ben-Gurion on His Head
He was an engineer and physicist who struggled with chronic physical pain, when he developed a unique theory of movement which attracted masses of practitioners and trainers around the world. One of these was Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, who succeeded in doing a headstand for the first time in his life, at the age of 70. This is the story of Moshe Feldenkrais.
Declaring Independence With 150 Lira in Your Pocket
In May of 1948, designer Otte Wallish was given his “mission impossible”: Get everything ready for a Declaration of Independence ceremony. You have 24 hours. Also: Were there nude images hiding behind Theodor Herzl’s portrait?
Where Did Ben-Gurion’s Piano Disappear To?
When David and Paula Ben-Gurion moved to the Hapoalim (workers) neighborhood on the outskirts of the young city of Tel Aviv, it was clear that there would be a piano in the living room of their new home, even though they didn’t have the money to buy one. Documents in archives show how the family obtained the expensive piano, who played it, where it went after the house was donated to the state, and the story of how it was returned after many years. A story befitting a mystery novel…
What Is the Meaning of “Um-Shmum”? David Ben-Gurion vs. the World
What did David Ben-Gurion mean when he shouted “Um-shmum!”, in reference to the United Nations? Did this expression of disdain convey his diplomatic worldview? This is the story of how a controversial phrase entered Israeli national mythology, a strange little historical episode that touches on a much larger question…
The Ballad of Golda Meir and David Ben-Gurion
She was “just a girl from Milwaukee” when he was already the famous “Ben-Gurion.” He was a few steps ahead of her throughout their public and political careers. Still, Golda Meir and David Ben-Gurion formed a delicate and meaningful friendship, which ended suddenly due to an ugly political scandal. After years of detachment, towards the end of his life, Ben-Gurion tried to reconcile with her. Did it work?
When a Grenade Exploded in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament
No one believed it could happen, and even today it is difficult to comprehend how easy it was. In 1957, a man walked into the Knesset, then located in downtown Jerusalem, with a grenade in his pocket. He proceeded to throw it into the assembly hall. David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir were among those injured. The explosion can be heard in a recording found in the National Library of Israel’s Sound Archive…
